Last week, New Mexico Senator Tom Udall and six of his fellow Democratic colleagues proposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow Congress to regulate the campaign finance system.

Today, Rep. Martin Heinrich, another longtime advocate of campaign finance reform, co-sponsored his own House version, in a bill that calls for the “power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in kind equivalents” in both Federal and state elections.

The legislation calls for overseeing: “the amount of contributions to candidates for nomination for election to, or for election to, State office; and the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates. Congress shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.’’

Alarmed just as much by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision as Udall and his colleagues were, Heinrich and his House colleagues drafted a proposal that would repeal the Court’s ruling. “The Supreme Court made an enormous mistake when they said in their Buckley v. Valeo ruling that money and free speech are the same thing,” said Heinrich moments before presenting his bill. “Then the Citizens United decision took that to a whole new level. We’re all put at risk by decisions like that. They’re very scary.”

In order for the bill to become law, it has to pass with a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress and then be ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures. “I have yet to find somebody who thinks this is a bad idea,” said Heinrich. “Unfortunately, if you look at the other people who are behind this bill, it’s largely Democrats. Still, I think even the most ardent Tea Party activists are concerned that corporations have been given this status of being more important than individuals, and that Republicans are going to wake up to that. It’s a mistake that the Republicans don’t already see this. But I do think they’ll have to respond to the growing sentiment that’s out there.”

Heinrich also expressed concern over James Bopp Jr.’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of New Mexico’s campaign-contribution limits. “The piles of money that flowed into the state in the last election are of huge concern,” he said. “What we’re seeing with these campaigns of unlimited spending is that it’s undermining the democratic process.

“In New Mexico in particular, we have inexpensive media markets and they’re very vulnerable to this money that floods in from out of state,” he added. “This bill stems from the same logic as the bill that passed into law in New Mexico in 2010: it’s the logic of not serving corporations but serving the voters.”

Which is why Heinrich decided to co-sponsor this bill. “It’s indicative of how deep this issue is and it’s not coming from some special interest group,” he said of its origins. “It’s coming from the people. It’s an issue that has a life of its own and it should. How it does and whether or not it passes will depend on the intensity of the support that’s out there.”

While amending the Constitution is no small task, Heinrich sees the impetus behind the bill as part of a larger battle. “It really is the choice between serving Americans and serving the interests of a corporation,” he said.

Rep. Ben Luján (D-N.M.) and other Democratic members of the New Mexico congressional delegation are asking the Obama administration to open a regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in central New Mexico. Unlike his fellow Democrats, Luján voted against the America Invents Act, the patent reform law that establishes the new USPTO branches that he wants to bring to the state. The law was backed by the House Republican leadership, but opposed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as well as other progressive Democrats. They were joined with some conservative or “Tea Party Caucus” Republicans like Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and Rep. Steve King (Iowa).

Last week, Luján joined Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) in sending a letter that cited low property costs, a skilled population, and the potential for job creation as reasons to locate a new USPTO branch in central New Mexico.

Currently the only other regional patent office is located in Detroit, Mich. The Act preserves this office and requires that two more offices be created in order to reduce the massive backlog of patent applications.

Luján proposed an amendment to the bill while it was being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives that requires officials to take into consideration the economic impact of the new patent offices, as well as the need for local skilled personnel, when determining its location. Here’s Luján defending his amendment:

In an interview with KNME’s Gwyneth Doland, State Auditor Hector Balderas, who is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, said he “absolutely” supported gay marriage.

“Absolutely. But more importantly than that, I’ve been advocating for civil rights for almost all my life,” said Balderas. “I’m an attorney, I was a prosecutor that fought hard for victims’ rights. So, any type of discrimination in this country really needs to be addressed swiftly.”

His opponent, Rep. Martin Heinrich, co-sponsored a bill in 2009 repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which disallows the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage.

In 2008, while running for the U.S. House, Heinrich said, “I am not supportive of gay marriage but I do believe that everybody in the United States has the same civil rights in front of the government.” He added, “So I think it’s important that civil rights that are available to heterosexual couples should be available to every single gay couple who also wants to make the same sorts of commitments.”

That is essentially President Obama’s position.

Former Rep. Heather Wilson, running for the Republican nomination, voted for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. In 2006 she said marriage “is an institution we should protect and nurture. It is a union between one man and one woman, and it’s something we should honor in law and in our communities.”

In a Public Policy Polling survey released in early July, 42 percent of New Mexico voters indicated they thought gay marriage should be legal, while 49 percent said it should be illegal. However, when asked about civil unions and gay marriage, 37 percent said gay marriage should be legal, 31 percent said civil unions should be legal, and 30 percent favored no legal recognition for same-sex couples.

There is no legal recognition for same-sex couples in New Mexico.

Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich raised $485,000 from 2,200 individuals in the second quarter in his bid to become a U.S. Senator in 2012, his campaign announced yesterday. The campaign has more than $700,000 in cash-on-hand.

Yesterday, his primary opponent, State Auditor Hector Balderas, announced that he had raised $400,000 in the quarter. However, the quarter was short since Balderas only announced his campaign in late April.

Rep. Heinrich, who has represented Albuquerque and its suburbs since 2009, has a 47–24 lead over Balderas, according to a recent Public Policy Polling survey.

Heath Haussamen of NMPolitics.com gets the scoop that former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish is considering running for the First District House seat being vacated by Rep. Martin Heinrich. She said a run is “still on the table.”

Denish lost the 2010 gubernatorial race to Susana Martinez.

The only declared candidate on the Democratic side is State Sen. Eric Griego of Albuquerque. On the Republican side, former State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones and Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis are running.

Heinrich is running for U.S. Senate to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

Congressman Ben Ray Luján will face attacks from the National Republican Campaign Committee over his vote to raise the debt limit. Luján was one of 97 Democrats voting to raise the debt limit $2 trillion to avoid a default on the debt the United States government owes.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that Luján will face robo-calls from the NRCC on the vote. Luján doesn’t have an announced Republican opponent yet and is considered in a safe Democratic seat.

“The American economy is still in trouble,” the recording says. “We are drowning in government debt, owed to countries like China. The national debt is now $14 trillion, and Congressman Ben Ray Luján just voted for $2 trillion more debt, without any budget cuts.” 

Luján spokesman Andrew Stoddard fired some political ammunition of his own, saying in Luján’s defense that “Republicans had no problem borrowing money to give bigger tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires.

No Republicans voted for the legislation.

In addition to Luján, Congressman Martin Heinrich also voted to raise the debt limit. Heinrich is a candidate for U.S. Senate.

David Catanese of Politico noted that the vote was a Catch-22 for Democrats. The NRCC attacked Democrats on both sides of the vote.

If you’re used to the political games in Washington, this isn’t anything that turns heads. Damned if ya do, damned if ya don’t. 

But if you’re a logical person, you might ask: So what did the NRCC really want Democrats to do?

Perhaps they could chalk it up as a victory that so many Democrats crossed the aisle, changed their mind and joined the Republican mantra about the need for spending cuts.

Democrats warn that defaulting on the national debt could hurt the world economy in an already tough time. Republicans say that the high amount of debt shows that governmental spending needs to be drastically cut.

Lt. Gov. John Sanchez officially announced his Senate candidacy on Tuesday with a web video that highlighted his personal background and outsider status — including something that may foreshadow one of his campaign’s messages against Republican frontrunner Heather Wilson.

“We don’t want to return people back to Washington, D.C.. who got us into this mess in the first place,” Sanchez says in the video. “It’s time for a new voice. I can be one of those leaders who can stand up for principled, conservative values.”

Wilson is a former representative who left her seat in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District to run for Senate in 2008. Wilson lost in a close and bruising primary against Steve Pearce, who also left his congressional seat for the run.

Wilson faced attacks from the right from Pearce and conservative groups in the 2008 primary.

If Sanchez were to get past the Republican primary he could face Martin Heinrich, who currently represents the 1st Congressional District.

Sanchez also mentioned spending, saying that it is “immoral to think that we’re spending money that we don’t have.”

Sanchez has won two statewide primaries before. In 2002 he was the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and in 2010 he became lieutenant governor on Susana Martinez’s ticket after winning the Republican primary for the position.

Another focus from Sanchez is his time as a business owner, something that may have baggage for him. He has been hit by political opponents in the past for hiring illegal immigrants at his roofing company.

During his 2002 governor campaign and his 2010 lieutenant governor campaign, his opponents hit him for employing 10 illegal immigrants at his roofing company. Sanchez is quick to point out the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also given him special recognition for his work to combat the employment of illegal immigrants.

In addition to Wilson, there are two lesser known Republican candidates who have announced candidacies. Businessman Greg Sowards and columnist William S. English have also said they are running for the statewide office.

On the Democratic side, Heinrich is joined by State Auditor Hector Balderas and activist Andres Valdez as announced candidates.

Rep. Martin Heinrich sent a letter to President Barack Obama Thursday asking him to being a troop withdrawal in July of this year. “We have a responsibility to leave Afghanistan in a responsible way,” Heinrich wrote, “and I believe it is time to begin this progress.”

Heinrich called on Obama to “follow through on the pledge we made to the American people to begin the drawdown of U.S. forces from Afghanistan this summer.”

There are currently 100,000 American troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Heinrich cited the cost and length of the war in Afghanistan in his letter:

We have spent over $450 billion in Afghanistan since the start of this war. Our youngest soldiers were just eight years old when our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001. It is time we start bringing our troops home.

He also mentioned that he visited Kandahar City in May of 2010 and saw “firsthand that progress is being made.”

Obama said earlier this month that the drawdown this summer “will be significant” and “is not not just a token gesture.”

He said he would have to speak with Gen. David Petraeus before discussing any specific numbers.

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Obama administration had not yet decided how many troops will come home in July.

Letter to President Obama re Afghanistan 04 25 2011

Balderas filed statements of candidacy and organization with the FEC.

Politico reports that a formal announcement will come next week, following the Easter holiday.

Balderas was first elected to be state auditor in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010. Before that, Balderas served in the New Mexico House representing Wagon Mound.

A report Wednesday said that Balderas would make his decision within a matter of days.

The race will be for the seat being vacated by current U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who announced earlier this year that he would not run for a sixth term.

The seat has already drawn a top-tier Republican candidate in former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson. Wilson previously ran for Senate in 2008, when she lost in the primary to Steve Pearce. Pearce, who like Wilson left his U.S. House seat to run for Senate, went on to lose to Tom Udall in the general election.

Wilson will face businessman Greg Sowards and columnist Bill English in the Republican primary. Pearce and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez are also named as potential Republican candidates for the position.

Other potential Democratic candidates for the Senate seat include USDA rural development state director and former Bingaman state director Terry Brunner and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján. Activist Andres Valdes is also currently in the race.

Heinrich has received the backing of two major labor groups which could have a large impact in the Democratic primary.

Senate candidate Martin Heinrich has received two endorsements from major labor groups in recent days. So far, he’s the only top-tier Democratic candidate in the race and the endorsements may stop other top-tier candidates from entering the race.

Last week, Heinrich received the endorsement of the New Mexico International Brotherhood of Teamsters. And on Thursday morning he received another endorsement from organized labor, this time from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME.

“Our members are middle class, hard-working New Mexicans. Martin is one of us, and he has gone to bat for regular working people both here in New Mexico and across the country,” said AFSCME’s New Mexico PEOPLE Chair Patty French in an e-mailed statement. “That’s why our members on our political committee voted unanimously to do everything we can to ensure that Martin wins the Democratic nomination for Senate.”

“Heinrich will continue to push for more jobs in our state,” said Walter Maestas, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local Union 492 in Albuquerque, in a statement. “He has been firmly committed to working families and 100 percent behind the issues that are important to us. We will work to get as many voters as possible to choose his name on the ballot in 2012.”

Heinrich is hoping to replace U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who announced he would not seek a sixth term in office when his current term expires in 2012.

State Auditor Hector Balderas will make a decision about whether or not to run for Senate by the end of the month. Former Bingaman state director and current USDA Rural Development state director Terry Brunner is also reportedly considering a run at the Senate seat.

On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, businessman Greg Sowards and columnist Bill English have announced that they will run for the seat. Lt. Gov. John Sanchez and U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce are also reportedly considering runs at the open Senate seat.

Labor has been a hot-button issue throughout the country thanks to a flashpoint in Wisconsin where the legislature passed a law that ended collective bargaining for public sector unions.