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Pearce, Dems spar over pay raises
Steve Pearce (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Earlier this week, the director of the state Democratic Party accused Republican Steve Pearce of “happily” accepting pay raises during his previous tenure in Congress.
“Pearce’s six years as a Washington insider taught him that it is going to take a lot of money to convince the voters of the 2nd Congressional District to forget about his record… and the $14,600 in congressional pay raises that Steve Pearce happily accepted as he helped the federal debt grow by over $2 trillion during his years in Washington,” Executive Director Josh Geise said.
The accusation came in a statement about Pearce’s fundraising for his attempt to unseat U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M.
But a look at the congressional record reveals that, while Pearce did receive pay raises during his time in Congress, it’s because the majority of his colleagues voted to give themselves a raise while he voted against getting a raise.
Pearce voted four times against pay raises – in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 – while the was the representative of Southern New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, Pearce Campaign Manager Paul Ciaramitaro said. The pay raises were approved anyway, and Pearce received them along with everyone else.
The difference in Teague’s case is that, when he tried to stop the pay raise, he and those siding with him were successful.
Harry Teague (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
The day Teague took office in January, he signed on as a cosponsor of a bill that would have eliminated the automatic pay raise that was scheduled for next year. The House never voted on the bill – there was no need – because the work of Teague and others resulted in Democratic leadership instructing the Appropriations Committee to strip the cost-of-living increase from the 2010 appropriations bill, according to Sara Schreiber, communications director in Teague’s government office.
Teague voted for that bill after the House took out the pay increase, she said.
Teague went a step further while he was fighting to stop the pay increase, Schreiber said: “Although he didn’t publicize it, Congressman Teague did pledge at the beginning of the year that he would return to the U.S. Treasury any pay raise given to members of Congress – including the $4,700 pay raise that was approved last year for 2009.”
Regardless, Ciaramitaro said it’s inaccurate to say that Pearce “happily accepted” pay raises.
“The willful misstatements from the Democrat Party are almost as mind-blowing as Harry Teague’s irresponsible vote for the job-killing cap-and-trade bill,” he said. “The simple and indisputable fact is that Steve Pearce never voted for a congressional pay raise. Not once. Harry Teague’s minions are trying to create a smokescreen to distract from Teague’s failure to create economic opportunity and new jobs for the families of Southern New Mexico.”
Sparring comes as finance reports released
The sparring comes in the context of the candidates filing quarterly reports that shine light on how each campaign is doing financially. Pearce raised more than $500,000 in the last quarter for his campaign, while Teague raised a little more than $250,000. But Teague ended September with nearly $300,000 more on hand than Pearce.
In announcing his fundraising total, Teague said he had focused less on fundraising and more on “staying in touch with constituents and doing the work I was elected to do — like turning our economy around, ending our dependence on foreign oil so we can build the energy economy here at home in New Mexico, and fighting for our veterans who have been neglected for far too long.”
Teague also said he is “committed to raising the resources necessary to get our message out and defend against the extreme partisan attacks already underway.”
When Pearce released his report, Ciaramitaro said it “not only signals the high level of grassroots support for Pearce and his conservative principles, but it also serves as a repudiation of the liberal job-killing policies that Harry Teague is actively supporting in Washington.”
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For yet another time over the years, the Democrats have had opportunities slip by them that would have given them, absolutely hands down, the next 10 elections in an handbasket. But they continue to miss them. Every year its the same old tune, no compromise on Social Security fixes, health care reform that’s not getting reformed without battles from the left, right, and middle.
With the Democrats in the majority, it would appear that any bill presented by them would sail by without opposition. Just look at New Mexico. This party has been in power since Statehood, and still, poverty, teenage births, drunk driving, our murder and drug rates top the nations headlines every morning. These problems still go on, and no one steps forward with any resolution to them. What will the excuss be next time? Yes, I apologize as I am being scarcastic, but not without good reason. I am tired of the smoke and mirror, dog and pony show, that has been going on these past months.
I believe that the Democrats are beginning to show that they, as the united party they are supposed to be, can not and will not come together and help this nations recovery without damaging Democracy and our long standing free market. They, the Democratics, are seeing that the continued path they take with these mandatory programs, pushes America towards a more Socialist Nation and as a wife of a Vet, that is unacceptable to me.
I know there are simple “fixes” to health care reform without damaging our Democracy and free market. Seems to me the Dem’s have turned yet again a deaf ear and blind eye.
But in my opinion, the most severe and damaging move that the Democrats have pulled off and DROOPED the BALL on, is COLA raises. Cutting this will cut the Democrats throat. You can not pray on Seniors like this. You can not make Seniors pay for the shortfalls and hindsight of government by government continuing to spend taxpayers money on pork projects. Social Security receipiants have a chance to get a little ahead with a COLA raise this year. Give the Seniors the COLA RAISE.
I don’t think that racing your racehorse at Ruidoso Downs while our State government is facing one of the largest financial crisis in history was a positive way of showing your absolute concern with our States issues Mr. Teauge. And since the horse won… just what are you going to do with the prize money Harry?
I know Steve Pearce. OUR Steve Pearce WILL NOT CUT SENIORS OFF and toss them to the wolves like this administration is going to do. As a Vet, OUR STEVE PEARCE will not let our free market fail us, and he will not institute programs that force OUR AMERICA towards more Socialisim. I know Steve worked tirelessly for our State and his constituants. Steve went to Iraq and visited our servicemen and women. I can not recall Steve taking time off, I am sure he did, but Steve Pearce was never far from a cell phone or took on any crisis that came about even after hours or on weekends. I know.
When my fianances stable out again, you bet your tail I’m donating to the political campaign for Steve Pearce again. Put a cap on that Harry.
I’m glad Teague and the newbie Democrats were able to get the pay raises stopped, at least for 2010. Especially since seniors will receive no COLA increase in 2010.
This is the big debate. War, health care reform, joblessness, and this is what the Dems and Repubs choose to debate!