Albuquerque Journal - Compromise has to Stop at Values

Op-Ed

By Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

In its Dec. 18 editorial, the Albuquerque Journal correctly characterized my distaste for gridlock in Washington. I've spent much of my first term in Congress trying to move past gridlock and get things done for the constituents who live in the communities I represent.

But I take exception with the editorial board's definition of "compromise." The underlying $1.1 trillion spending bill was itself a compromise. Yes, it included important investments in federal priorities throughout New Mexico. I support those investments, despite the fact that I believe the Republican leadership in the House isn't investing enough in New Mexico. In fact, I hope the Journal and Republican leaders in New Mexico will join with Democrats who continue to fight for those investments.

I also agree with the Journal that the spending bill was "larded up with stuff that shouldn't be there." Where we disagree is the Journal's recommendation that I hold my nose and vote for the Republican leadership's pet projects -- all in the name of compromise and keeping the government open.

I have consistently argued for the need for more compromise in Congress, regardless of the political leanings of groups and constituents I meet with every day. My voting record and my work with my colleagues in Congress reflect that philosophy. But I'm not willing to compromise my values and lose sight of everything I believe in, just for the sake of forcing through bad legislation.

The "statesmanlike approach" to the spending bill would have been for the Republican leadership in the House to deal with the budget in a timely and fiscally responsible manner, and not wait until the 11th hour, threatening another government shutdown. By forcing another last-minute face-off, the House leadership paved the way for special interests to corrupt the bill. That's exactly why voters don't trust Congress.

The Journal points out, correctly, that the 2013 government shutdown adversely affected New Mexico more than most other states. Here's another fact: New Mexico was hit harder by the Great Recession than nearly every other state and is the only state to suffer from a double-dip recession. So many New Mexico families and businesses -- those that haven't moved out of the state -- continue to dig out from financial ruin.

Few would argue that the too-big-to-fail banks and financial institutions were at the epicenter of the financial crisis. So, why on earth would the Republican leadership allow Citibank to write legislation that allows big banks to go back to the days of making risky bets that are backed by taxpayers? They are opening the door to another taxpayer bailout.

I have met with leaders of community banks in New Mexico who make a persuasive case for changing the bank reform legislation known as Dodd-Frank. I agree that community banks in rural states like New Mexico should not be regulated the same way as the big banks on Wall Street, which were responsible for abuses. That's why I have voted for several bills that address this inequity. We should be focusing on freeing up community banks to make more loans to small businesses and lead to job creation in New Mexico.

I am equally appalled by the use of the spending bill to further erode campaign finance limits. Coming so soon after an election in which big donors spent millions to influence political campaigns, special interests were able to dramatically increase the amount of money wealthy people can contribute to national political party committees. I've been fighting to reform the campaign finance system by requiring disclosure of campaign donors. How could I vote in good conscience to give big donors more influence over campaigns?

These legislative gifts to big banks and special interests are just two of the most egregious examples in the spending bill that was supposed to simply fund government agencies for the next year. If this is the Journal's idea of "compromise," count me out. I'd rather roll up my sleeves and work toward a solution that truly benefits New Mexico.

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