Dear Friend:
We saw fascinating examples over the weekend of double-talk from Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish.
First, Denish tried to stage a fight with Governor Bill Richardson about New Mexico failing to secure federal funding under the Race to the Top education reform grant. Denish blamed Richardson. Richardson fired back that Denish never had anything negative, or productive, to say about the proposal until after the fact.
Here’s the best part: Denish says the proposal failed because it wasn’t “innovative” enough. But Richardson produced a letter from Denish herself praising the proposal. Guess what Denish called it? “INNOVATIVE.”
Then, there’s Denish’s double-talk on the food tax.
Denish initially claimed to oppose an “across-the-board tax on all food.” That sounded to me like a cleverly-worded statement that left the door open to a “partial” tax increase on “certain” foods (like maybe tortillas, for example, as was proposed during the regular session). So in January, I called on her to clarify.
Her response? Silence.
Sure enough, as the “partial” reinstatement of the food tax was flying though the legislature and she was presiding over the state Senate, she did nothing.
And just last week, Denish was acting Governor… As acting Governor, she even signed legislation.
So, that raises this question: If Denish is so opposed to the food tax, and she was acting Governor, why didn’t she take the opportunity to show real leadership and VETO the food tax increase?
I’m sure she’ll have all sorts of excuses why she couldn’t veto the bill. But why hasn’t she even publicly and clearly called on Richardson to veto it? She should do so immediately and stop trying to have it both ways.
We cannot give Denish a pass on her double-talk – saying one thing to the voters, while doing just the opposite in office.
Can I count on your generous contribution of $100, $50, or even $25 to bring real change to New Mexico?
We need a leader who will stand up for hard-working families and put an end to the tax-and-spend policies of the Richardson/Denish Administration.
Together, we can change the way business is done in Santa Fe and bring reform and accountability to the Roundhouse.
Sincerely,
Susana Martinez
P.S. Your help will change the future of this state. Help me fight for New Mexico against the failed policies of Diane Denish!
Paid for by Susana Martinez for Governor, Anna Emerick-Biad, Treasurer
