Candidate Steve Fischmann Promises Responsible Leadership for Jobs
October 23, 2008
CONTACT: Steve Fischmann 575-635-9582
(Las Cruces, NM) – State Senator Lee Rawson (R-37) cast two votes in the 2008 Legislature that cost residents of Las Cruces high-tech employment and business opportunities while feuding publicly with Democrats, it was today revealed. Candidate Steve Fischmann criticized the Rawson votes, and said Rawson’s erratic actions in the Legislature and political resentments are harming southern New Mexico’s economic prospects. S.B. 53 and S.B. 262 were high-tech job creation measures pushed by Democrats that Rawson rejected in his ongoing antagonism for political opponents in the Capitol.
“Senator Rawson was irresponsible and reckless to vote ‘No’ twice to promising job opportunities for residents of Las Cruces,” Steve Fischmann, candidate for State Senate, said. “In these difficult economic times, families here cannot afford to have someone representing them who votes against bringing high-paying jobs to our community solely for vindictive, partisan reasons. I promise to serve the people of this community better.”
The two bills Rawson opposed in the 2008 regular session of the Legislature would have promoted long-term, high-tech economic development through NMSU-Las Cruces and other campuses in New Mexico.
Senate Bill 53 - Technology Development Authority, would have established a State authority to support emerging technologies in the small-to-medium size business sector and create high-wage, sustainable jobs in New Mexico. Rawson alone voted No on the measure in the Senate Finance Committee, and voted No again on the Senate floor. The bill failed to pass 18-20. As a result, $2 million was denied to our universities, including NMSU-Las Cruces, to translate their R&D into the commercial sector -- a missed opportunity to create high-paying high-tech jobs.
House Bill 262 - Research Applications Act, would have created the Research Applications Center to house the Governor's Supercomputing Initiative. The goals of the supercomputing center are economic and workforce development, and education. Rawson blocked the measure from getting a vote by the full Senate. Rawson’s action, motivated by partisan scuffling, denied New Mexico the capacity to transition R&D from our universities and labs into the commercial sector.
“Senator Rawson’s partisan games in the Capitol are costing us good jobs. I will fight for sensible polices that support businesses and high-tech employment for the citizens of our community. The average wage in the technology pays nearly 90% higher than the average private sector wage. As Senator, I will support the needed investments to turn our world-class universities’ research and development into good jobs in New Mexico,” added Fischmann.
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» Veto Message SB 683
» An Act: Relating to Public
Works Projects; Requiring
Payment for Materials Not
Delivered To Or Stored
On A Job Site.
» Rawson Using Public
Office to Enrich Himself
» Sen. Rawson's Accusations
of
'Voter Fraud' Ring
Hollow: Opposed
Paper Ballots, Funds to
Train Election Judges
» Sen. Rawson Cost
Las Cruces High-Paying
Tech Jobs,
Nursing
Partisan Grudges
Took Priority
» 4 steps to energy
independence:
Steve Fischmann is leading
the
way to energy and
economic independence
in New Mexico
» Fischmann Op-Ed on
State Land Office Deals
» Steve Fischmann and Lee
Rawson Comparision
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