Font Resize
LAS CRUCES - As the 112th Congress convened Wednesday in the nation's capital, a familiar figure was sworn in to represent southern New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District.
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, a Hobbs Republican, was one of 242 GOP House members who took the oath. It wasn't the first time he's done so.
Pearce has served three previous terms, from 2003 to 2008. He resigned his seat two years ago to run for the Senate, but regained it in the most recent general election.
Pearce is the only Republican member of Congress from New Mexico. U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman and Reps. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan are all Democrats.
The 2nd Congressional District covers all or parts of 18 counties in southern part of the state.
Pearce answered questions in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon about his upcoming two-year term. Here are some excerpts from the interview.
Question: How does it feel to be back in office?
Pearce: "The feelings of being back are one of excitement. Of course, being sworn in as a member of Congress is always a tremendous honor. But then, this time we know a lot more and we see the challenges that lie in front of us. ... We have tremendous challenges economically and have to start making some right moves."
Was the first order of business the swearing-in?
"First of all, we voted for the speaker. Surprisingly, with (Rep.) Nancy Pelosi ... about 10 percent of her caucus didn't vote for her. Our side was
Question: What are your priorities at the start of your new term?
Pearce: "What I hope to do in the Congress ... is to begin to create a clear path toward creating jobs. For instance, I think we'll introduce a bill that says BP should be accountable for the problems they caused offshore, but that we shouldn't kill one job offshore because of it. We should bring the best experts in to see that it doesn't happen again, but we shouldn't kill 100,000 jobs and allow those 33 deepwater platforms to steam away to Africa and South America.
"If we begin to ... say, 'Yes we can keep the environment clean and produce jobs at the same time,' Americans are going to look for that pendulum swinging back toward the middle.
Question: What pendulum?
Pearce: "Now, the pendulum is all the way on one side, so we choose protection - protection of the species, protection of the worker, protection of the environment over jobs. And I'm saying we can keep our oceans clean and still have jobs.
"The Spotted Owl killed 20,000 jobs in the timber industry in New Mexico. I think we should introduce a bill that says, keep the owl alive in a sanctuary, but let's not kill those jobs in the process. ... I think that's been a false choice that's been presented to the American public the last 20 years.
Question: Even though the Republicans have taken control of the House, won't their proposals have to be moderated to clear the Democratic-controlled Senate and presidency?
Pearce: "I think we leave that up to the Senate. In other words, I'm asking our leadership to take bold steps, not foolish steps, but bold and courageous and let the Senate change them if they will. But the American public will know that the Senate is changing them.
"If President Obama begins to veto jobs-creation bills, I believe the nation will judge him harshly. If he vetoes the overturn of government health care, I think the people will respond very negatively. Let's put the bold bill in front of the president and let him choose it or not choose it. I do expect him to veto that, and I expect that to be the context of the 2012 presidential election.
Diana M. Alba can be reached at (575) 541-5443.
On the Web
•U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce: http://www.peopleforpearce.com
