State of New Mexico secondary Archives: on Jobs


Ben Ray Lujan: Republicans blocking bills to end pay discrimination

Lujan accused Republicans of standing in the way of legislation to end pay discrimination against women, and noted his support for legislation to defend LGBTQ rights."We need to bring that moral compass again and be leaders like we were before President Trump," Lujan said.
Source: Franklin IN Daily Journal on 2020 New Mexico Senate debate Oct 6, 2020

Ben Ray Lujan: Unions built the middle class in our country

I was born into a proud union household--one that always understood that working people and unions built the middle class in our country. Throughout my tenure in Congress, and if elected to the U.S. Senate, I will pursue policies that support working people by directing investments into New Mexico and finding new ways to grow our state's economy.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website BenRayLujan .com Jul 8, 2020

Ben Ray Lujan: Raise the minimum wage, lower taxes for working families

I also believe in creating an economy that works for the American worker. Far too often, we've seen the deck stacked against workers who are trying to build a life for themselves in New Mexico. This is why I support raising the minimum wage, enacting tax policies that put more money back in the pockets of New Mexico's working families, and protecting the right to form unions and negotiate for better pay and benefits.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website BenRayLujan .com Jul 8, 2020

Bill Richardson: Film industry initiatives create jobs

We’ll continue to recruit high wage industries, expand New Mexico companies and grow the New Mexico film industry. We’ll do it by sustaining efforts in business marketing and recruitment, investing in workforce training and in-plant training, expanding efforts of the Film Division of the Economic Development Department and funding the New Mexico Film Advisory Board. Our bold film industry initiatives and aggressive marketing have created hundreds of new, high-wage jobs for New Mexicans.
Source: 2004 State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature Jan 20, 2004

Bob Walsh: Opposes affirmative action hiring

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Legally require hiring more women/minorities"?

A: Strongly oppose

Source: OnTheIssues interview for 2020 New Mexico race May 1, 2020

Bob Graham: Repeal Bush tax cuts that went to top earners

Q: How do you create jobs in that way across the board in all sectors?

GRAHAM: While I was governor, 1.4 million new jobs were created. Those jobs had the effect for the first time in my state’s history, raising the average per capita income above the national average. For three years, Florida was designated as the state that had the best climate for economic expansion and growth. So I am not speculating. I am bringing the experience of actually creating good jobs for our people.

Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Bob Graham: Need national program to rebuild infrastructure

Q: You have said that you would create new jobs by using federal funds to rebuild infrastructure, to build bridges and highways.

GRAHAM: We should have an interstate-like program to rebuild America. We got a wake-up call a couple of weeks ago when our electric system went down. The same thing could have happened with the bridges falling into the Mississippi River, with schools tumbling in on children. If we can spend the money to rebuild Afghanistan, we can do it in the US.

Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Carol Moseley-Braun: Rebuild schools, roads, & bridges

Q: Let’s talk about the economy.

MOSELEY-BRAUN: If you invest in the masses of the people, you can create jobs and create the kind of stimulus for the economy that will give prosperity to everybody.

Q: How do you create those jobs?

MOSELEY-BRAUN: When I was in the Senate, I proposed rebuilding our nation’s crumbling schools. That’s one way. A second way is to begin to rebuild traditional infrastructure--roads and bridges and the like. Another way is to invest in environmental technologies.

Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Dennis Kucinich: Rebuild infrastructure with a program like FDR’s WPA

On Labor Day, I announced a new initiative, a new initiative which will enable the United States to rebuild its cities in the same way that Franklin Roosevelt rebuilt America during the Depression, called a new WPA-type program, rebuild our cities, our streets, our water systems, our sewer systems, new energy systems. It’s time to rebuild America. We have the resources to do it, we have to have the will to do it.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Gary Johnson: Eliminate federal minimum wage instead of raising it

Q: Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 /hr?

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Raise to $15.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Eliminate federal minimum wage.

Mick Rich (R): "Remove all regulations that discourage hiring."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Gary King: Increase minimum wage & whole economy will do better

King said, "I think we need to get out there and see what we can do to stimulate the economy in rural New Mexico, in particular. But I did see where Albuquerque, out of the 100 largest cities in the U.S., is dead last in economic growth right now, and job creation, so it's not just rural areas that are struggling."

"I've been proposing an increase in the minimum wage. It's been a long time since we had an increase in New Mexico. We talked to a lot of small business owners who wondered how that impacted them. I saw a study about a month ago that said of the 22 states that increased minimum wage, their economies all had improved. States where they have not increased the minimum wage have not by and large. I think that really is an indicator that people living at minimum wage level, if they get more money, they spend it on groceries (or meals and activities within the community). If people at the base level in New Mexico are doing better, the whole economy will do better," he said.

Source: Ruidoso News on 2014 New Mexico governor race Jul 31, 2014

Howard Dean: We're exporting jobs if we trade with no labor standards

LIEBERMAN: Dean said in an interview that he would not have bilateral trade agreements with any country that did not observe fully American standards. Now that would mean we'd break our trade agreements with Mexico & with most of the rest of the world. That would cost us millions of jobs. If that ever happened, I'd say that the Bush recession would be followed by the Dean depression.

DEAN: Our trade relations should rely on labor standards. It doesn't have to be American labor standards; it could be the International Labor Organization standards. We cannot continue to ship our jobs to countries where they get paid 50 cents an hour with no overtime, no labor protections and no right to organize.

LIEBERMAN: Dean, in The Washington Post, referred to American standards, not international standards.

DEAN: Either is fine with me.

LIEBERMAN: That's a reassuring change of position. I totally support the application of international labor standards to all of our bilateral trade agreements.

Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Howard Dean: Invest in small businesses & renewable energy

We need to stop corporate welfare and start doing something for small businesses in this country. Small businesses create more jobs than large businesses do and they don't move their jobs offshore because they're rooted in their community. If you want to invest in America, we ought to invest in America and stay in America with those jobs.

We also ought to invest in renewable energy because we ought to stop sending our foreign oil money to the Middle East where it's used to fund terrorism.

Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Jay Block: Has opposed raising minimum wage, paid sick leave

Block has opposed common sense reforms that would benefit workers, including opposing measures such as raising the minimum wage and providing paid sick leave.
Source: N.M.Democrats press release on 2022 New Mexico Governor race Apr 17, 2021

Jeff Apodaca: Raise minimum wage, starting at $10

According to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, the minimum wage in New Mexico is $7.50, .25 cents higher than the federal minimum wage. He would also like to see the minimum raised by at least $10. "We can literally create a plan at $10, and every six months, $10.50, $11, $11.50... I'm not saying that we're stuck at $10, but that's like a good starting point for a conversation," Apodaca said.
Source: Los Alamos Monitor on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race Aug 2, 2017

Jeff Apodaca: Turn New Mexico around: equal pay for women

Together We Can Turn New Mexico Around. By creating.
Source: 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial campaign website apo18.com Mar 21, 2018

Joe Cervantes: Support raising state minimum wage to $9/hour

SB 386: Raise minimum wage to $9/hour, with training wage of $8/hour.

Analysis by N.M. Political Report: Back in 2013, Martinez vetoed a bill to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour. At the time, Martinez said she would have accepted a smaller minimum wage increase. In 2014, Martinez said she would have supported an increase to $8.00 per hour. The Legislature was unable to pass a minimum wage increase that year.

Veto Message: These minimum wages would have a disproportionate impact on our rural small businesses, without any corresponding protections for business owners. Our small businesses are the backbone of our state's economy, and those businesses, especially those in rural areas, cannot sustain the changes this bill puts forth.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 24-6-12 on Mar/1/17; State Sen. Joe Cervantes voted YES; Passed House 41-27-2 on Mar/16/17; Vetoed on Apr/6/17.

Source: N.M. Political Report on New Mexico voting record SB 386 Mar 1, 2017

John Kerry: Jump start jobs at home via energy independence

We need to jump-start jobs here at home. We have an extraordinary ability, an entrepreneurial capacity second to no people on the planet. Education could be more invigorated, science could be more invigorated, the most anti-science administration in modern history. We need to push energy. Energy independence for the US will create thousands of jobs in our country. We need to push the environmental standards.
Source: Democratic Primary Debate, Albuquerque New Mexico Sep 4, 2003

Mark Ronchetti: Lowering taxes for small business will create jobs

Mark is a strong supporter of local small businesses, understanding they are the backbone of our local economy. Mark will fight for job-creating policies, such as lowering taxes for small businesses and eliminating senseless red-tape. Mark is also a strong supporter of our energy economy in New Mexico. Mark understands that a responsible energy economy in New Mexico creates thousands of good-paying jobs and funds 40% of our school funding.
Source: 2020 New Mexico Senate campaign website MarkRonchetti.com Aug 30, 2020

Mark Ronchetti: Supports right to work laws

Q: Support expansion of union rights?

Mark Ronchetti: Mostly no. Supports "right to work" laws that eliminate the ability of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent.

Ben Ray Lujan: Yes. Voted for Protecting the Right to Organize Act.

Source: CampusElect survey of 2020 New Mexico Senate race Sep 30, 2020

Martin Heinrich: Raise minimum wage from $7.25 to $15

Q: Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 /hr?

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Raise to $15.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Eliminate federal minimum wage.

Mick Rich (R): "Remove all regulations that discourage hiring."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Increase minimum wage to $10 and then higher in the future

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham said that she would push to increase New Mexico's minimum wage to $10 an hour--and even higher in the future--and either eliminate or bump up an annual limit on spending on film tax credits.

Lujan Grisham, a three-term member of the U.S. House from Albuquerque, is one of four Democrats running for governor. She included both the minimum wage hike and the proposed changes to the film rebate program in a newly-released economic plan. "We need to create jobs right away in order to jump-start New Mexico's economy," Lujan Grisham said in announcing the plan.

New Mexico has not increased its $7.50-an-hour minimum wage since 2009, though Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Las Cruces have all enacted minimum wages that are higher than the state's base rate. In her plan, Lujan Grisham said she would push to increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour in 2019, and then raise it again to $12 per hour by 2023. Future increases would be tied to inflation.

Source: Albuquerque Journal on 2018 New Mexico governor race Oct 18, 2017

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Opposes right-to-work law (supports unions)

Q: Enact right-to-work law, preventing unions from mandating dues for workers they represent?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No, opposes.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes, supports.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Raise minimum wage to $10 now & $12 later

Q: Raise the minimum wage from current $7.25/hour?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supports raising to $10 immediately, & to $12 in 4 years, indexed to inflation.

Steve Pearce (R): No. Raising the minimum wage would hurt small business & people at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Raise minimum wage from $7.50 to $12

More than 110,000 New Mexicans make $7.50 an hour. This is a poverty wage. And I do not intend to lead a state where we simply tolerate poverty in our communities. No one who works hard in this state will be left behind--which means we will send a very clear message to New Mexico families by making $7.50 an hour a thing of the past. Ten dollars now, 12 dollars soon, and an index to inflation so the rate is fair forever after that.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Mexico legislature Jan 15, 2019

Mick Rich: Remove regulations that discourage hiring, like minimum wage

Q: Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 /hr?

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Raise to $15.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Eliminate federal minimum wage.

Mick Rich (R): "Remove all regulations that discourage hiring."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Rebecca Dow: Oppose raising state minimum wage to $9/hour

SB 386: Raise minimum wage to $9/hour, with training wage of $8/hour.

Analysis by NM Political Report: It isn't the first time Martinez vetoed a minimum wage bill. In 2013, Martinez vetoed a bill to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour. At the time, Martinez said she would have accepted a smaller minimum wage increase. In 2014, Martinez said she would have supported an increase to $8.00 per hour. The Legislature was unable to pass a minimum wage increase that year.

Veto Message:These minimum wages would have a disproportionate impact on our rural small businesses, without any corresponding protections for business owners. Our small businesses are the backbone of our state's economy, and those businesses, especially those in rural areas, cannot sustain the changes this bill puts forth.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 24-6-12 on Mar/1/17; Passed House 41-27-2, Roll Call #505 on Mar/16/17; State Rep. Dow voted NO; Vetoed on Apr/6/17.

Source: N.M. Political Report on New Mexico voting record SB 386 Mar 16, 2017

Steve Pearce: Enact right-to-work law (no automatic union dues)

Q: Enact right-to-work law, preventing unions from mandating dues for workers they represent?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): No, opposes.

Steve Pearce (R): Yes, supports.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Steve Pearce: Raising minimum wage hurts small businesses

Q: Raise the minimum wage from current $7.25/hour?

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. Supports raising to $10 immediately, & to $12 in 4 years, indexed to inflation.

Steve Pearce (R): No. Raising the minimum wage would hurt small business & people at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Mexico Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Susana Martinez: Cover some salary when businesses hire unemployed workers

When people are out of work, we must provide a safety net for the unemployed worker to ensure people can continue to feed their families. But we must do more than just hand out unemployment checks. We must also help people get back to work. That's why I propose encouraging small businesses to hire unemployed workers by covering part of their salaries for the first six months through the unemployment fund. This will help the state by getting people off the unemployment rolls; it will help small businesses by making it easier for them to grow. And it will help families by getting more New Mexicans back to work. And we must refocus our mission outward--on helping small businesses grow. That's why we'll cut wasteful programs that do little for job creation. And redirect resources to open an Office of Business Advocacy within the Economic Development Department. We'll do more, with less. This office will help small businesses break through regulatory roadblocks.
Source: 2011 New Mexico State of the State Address Jan 18, 2011

Susana Martinez: Vetoed minimum wage law; it would kill jobs

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham said that she would push to increase New Mexico's minimum wage to $10 an hour--and even higher in the future--and either eliminate or bump up an annual limit on spending on film tax credits. Both ideas would represent a departure from the policies of Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican who is barred from seeking a third consecutive term in 2018.

Martinez vetoed two minimum wage bills this year. She also struck down 2013 legislation that would have increased the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, saying at the time that the bill would "kill New Mexico jobs."

As for the film incentive program, New Mexico offers a 25% tax rebate to film companies for most direct, in-state expenditures, though long-running television programs are eligible for an additional 5% credit--or 30% in all. Martinez signed legislation in 2011 that enacted an annual $50 million limit on annual film rebate spending, which had been steadily increasing in previous years.

Source: Albuquerque Journal on 2018 New Mexico governor race Oct 18, 2017

Susana Martinez: Vetoed raising state minimum wage to $9/hour

SB 386: Raise minimum wage to $9/hour, with training wage of $8/hour.

Analysis by N.M. Political Report: Back in 2013, Martinez vetoed a bill to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour. At the time, Martinez said she would have accepted a smaller minimum wage increase. In 2014, Martinez said she would have supported an increase to $8.00 per hour. The Legislature was unable to pass a minimum wage increase that year.

Veto Message: These minimum wages would have a disproportionate impact on our rural small businesses, without any corresponding protections for business owners. Our small businesses are the backbone of our state's economy, and those businesses, especially those in rural areas, cannot sustain the changes this bill puts forth.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 24-6-12, Roll Call #296 on Mar/1/17; Passed House 41-27-2, Roll Call #505 on Mar/16/17; Vetoed by Gov. Martinez on Apr/6/17

Source: N.M. Political Report on New Mexico voting record SB 386 Apr 6, 2017

Tom Udall: AdWatch: Protect jobs at military bases & national labs

Tom Udall emphasizes his role in protecting federal facilities in New Mexico--namely military bases and national laboratories--in his latest campaign ad. Udall, a Democrat, doesn't even mention his Republican opponent, Allen Weh, in this ad or his previous ones. The 30-second commercial, titled "The Best Part," features a cheerful Udall doing all the talking, as well as scenes of children pretending to be flying military jets and working on a science project in a classroom. This is the script of the spot:

"I'm Tom Udall, and we're not allowed to film campaign ads at military bases and national labs. But I can show you who will work there in the future. Our saving Cannon Air Force Base and its thousands of jobs means now it will be there for them when they grow up. And protecting Sandia labs and Los Alamos from budget cuts means all of those jobs will be there, too. I'm Tom Udall, and I approved this message because this is the best part of my job."

Source: Santa Fe New Mexican AdWatch on 2014 New Mexico Senate race Aug 9, 2014

Tom Udall: Supports the Paycheck Fairness Act: equal pay for equal work

Tom is a long-time supporter of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the very first bill that President Obama signed into law. He also supports the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which extends federal employment discrimination protections to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Source: 2021 New Mexico Senate campaign website TomUdall.com Jul 28, 2021

Yvette Herrell: Oppose raising state minimum wage to $9/hour

SB 386: Raise minimum wage to $9/hour, with training wage of $8/hour.

Analysis by N.M. Political Report: Back in 2013, Martinez vetoed a bill to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour. At the time, Martinez said she would have accepted a smaller minimum wage increase. In 2014, Martinez said she would have supported an increase to $8.00 per hour. The Legislature was unable to pass a minimum wage increase that year.

Veto Message: These minimum wages would have a disproportionate impact on our rural small businesses, without any corresponding protections for business owners. Our small businesses are the backbone of our state's economy, and those businesses, especially those in rural areas, cannot sustain the changes this bill puts forth.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 24-6-12 on Mar/1/17; Passed House 41-27-2, Roll Call #505 on Mar/16/17; State Rep. Yvette Herrell voted NO; Vetoed on Apr/6/17.

Source: N.M. Political Report on New Mexico voting record SB 386 Mar 16, 2017

  • The above quotations are from State of New Mexico Politicians: secondary Archives.
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