SANTA FE — U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, a Santa Fe Democrat, is aiming for a promotion to the upper chamber of Congress. He announced late last year he’d be a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring six-term Republican Sen. Pete Domenici—after first saying he wasn’t interested. 

 

It’s still early, but according to most of the prognostication (and polling) to date, Udall is looking like the favorite. That’s especially the case given the bruising primary battle playing out right now between Republicans Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce, colleagues of Udall in the House, as well as Udall’s free ride on the Democratic side.  

 

Udall spoke with the New Mexico Independent from his desk at the Longworth House Office Building Thursday afternoon. In a wide-ranging interview, he outlined his views on a number of issues. 

 

But he also talked about what he’s trying to communicate in his newly released TV ads, about his family, and about what he called “legalized loan sharks,” just to name a few subjects. 

  

The interview had to be rescheduled a couple times due to votes on the House floor earlier in the week. But then Udall himself called somewhat unexpectedly, before this interviewer had confirmed a new time with the congressman’s campaign press secretary. What follows is the full transcript of the interview. 

 

NMI: I’m ready now. 

 

TU: OK, fire away. 

 

NMI: The first question I was going to ask was about some of your recent votes in Washington. One of them is the extension of the renewable energy tax credit. You voted on that yesterday, right? Is that pretty much a done deal now? 

 

TU: Well, we got that out yesterday. It’s not done because the Senate still needs to deal with it. We’ve gone back and forth on this one with the Senate. But this has a lot to do with our energy future and, as you know, middle-class families are hurting terribly when it comes to gas prices, heating and cooling prices. So we need to get an energy policy in place that’s going to work for the middle class and the American people and that’s what I’ve been fighting for here in Washington. and the renewable energy package is a part of it.

 

NMI: But how do you pay for extending all these tax credits?  

 

TU: I believe we pay for ours with the taxes that, the tax subsidies which the oil companies have to the tune of $18 billion dollars. So we take back those subsidies which, as you know, President Bush said, over $55 a barrel the big oil companies don’t need subsidies, so we’ve followed his advice, take those back and put them into a future renewable energy fund and renewable tax credits. 

 

NMI: The next question I was going to ask, Congressman, was… 

 

TU: You said other recent votes, let me just hit two more? 

 

NMI: Sure. Absolutely. 

 

TU: We just last week passed the new GI Bill which will bring our veterans the return from Iraq and Afghanistan up to full par with what veterans received after World War II. This is an investment in America and our economy. What we saw after World War II was the most dramatic increase in our economy and for the middle class in 30 years. And making that same investment in our veterans I think will help us pull out of this recession we’re in. So the new GI Bill is one of the significant pieces of legislation that I think is going to pass before we let out in the fall. And then we also passed supplemental appropriations bill which had a number of amendments added to it that would try to end the war in Iraq as soon as possible. And we’re hoping that the Senate will accept those amendments.  

 

NMI: Your Senate campaign today released two new TV ads, one entitled "What’s Right," and another called "Same Opportunity." Why did you choose these particular themes or messages? 

 

TU: The most important thing, I think, at this point is to try to emphasize to people how positive our campaign will be. You’re seeing all the negative ads by the other candidates that are out there. We’re emphasizing the positive. We’re talking about my record as a federal prosecutor, as state attorney general, and now as a member of a Congress. And that record is one that I can stand on and be able to build on and do a better job for the middle class and for New Mexicans in the future. If you want to ask about any specific themes I’m happy to talk about those. But as you know, one of the major parts of the ad is about my background and what I did as a federal prosecutor, fighting crime as attorney general, lowering the number of DWI deaths on our highways, targeting scam artists that were getting after our senior citizens. And then in Congress, fighting for the middle class on education, health care and strengthening Social Security. 

 

NMI: One of the themes in one of the ads is Los Alamos National Laboratory. As you know, you’ve been accused of voting to slash lab funding that would have the effect of harming our national security. That’s something you wanted to address head on? 

 

TU: The people are dead wrong that say that I voted against Los Alamos. I have been fighting to have Los Alamos be a viable, strong laboratory since I’ve been in the Congress. My vote was about future jobs at Los Alamos and strengthening the future for Los Alamos. And so I thought it was important that we get out front and let people know what the record is. 

 

NMI: What’s the best thing about being a member of Congress? 

 

TU: Being able to fight for New Mexicans, being able to help New Mexicans fulfill the dreams they have for their communities. One of the things that inspires me is being back in New Mexico and holding town hall meetings and hearing from people what they want to do in their communities and I take those ideas back and try to get them assistance in any way I can. 

 

NMI: Many people may not know this, but political junkies know that your cousin is also running for the U.S. Senate in Colorado. Do you talk with him frequently?  Do you strategize together?  

 

TU: Mark and I meet on the House floor frequently and get caught up. I wouldn’t say we strategize because our states are very different and he has his campaign to run and I have my campaign to run. But we had a chance to climb a mountain together last Memorial Day up in southern Colorado very close to the New Mexico border. And those are the things we like to do together and get into the outdoors and spend a little bit of time with our families.  

 

NMI: What mountain? 

 

TU: It was Culebra Peak. It’s one of the 50 14,000 peaks and it’s the southern most fourteen-er, closest to the New Mexico border.  

 

NMI: Sounds like a great time.  

 

TU: It was fun, it was a lot of fun. Mark’s wife was along, my nephew was along, my friend from Santa Fe was along. We had a good climb. The piece that came out of it, an Outside Magazine reporter climbed with us, and he wrote a piece you may have seen.  

 

NMI: About your family, a lot of people may not know that U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, a Republican from Oregon, is also a relative of yours, a cousin of yours. Is he a first cousin? 

 

TU: He’s a very close cousin. We share the same great-grandfather. We’re close cousins. He, in fact, clerked for Justice Vern Payne in New Mexico in the 1990s. and I got to know Gordon a lot better during that time period. 

 

NMI: Do you know if it would be unprecedented in U.S. history to have three senators who were all related if you and Mark Udall end up winning? 

 

TU: Well, I think there were some cousins back in the Andrew Jackson days that were elected. So I’m not so sure it would be unprecedented. But maybe if it happens, we should do that research. We’re not spending much time right now focusing on that. I’m trying to get my campaign organized and reaching out to voters and doing the work to let people know what we stand for and what we’re going to work for when we get into the Senate. 

 

NMI: Looking ahead to the general election, what do you expect to be top general election issues in your race? 

 

TU: I would say number one, the economy and getting the economy to work again for the middle class. Number two, the war in Iraq, how we bring this to an end and take care of the disabled veterans who are returning. Number three, pensions and retirement security and strengthening Social Security. Those are going to be some of the, oh and fourth I would add, health care. How we get to universal access for health care. 

 

NMI: By the way, congratulations on winning the Democratic primary in a landslide. 

 

TU: (laughs) Well, it was a real honor to be able to have all the elected Democrats unite behind my campaign. And I’m so happy to have the support of Sen. [Jeff} Bingaman and Gov. [Bill] Richardson and [Albuquerque] Mayor [Martin] Chavez and many others. We’ve showed some real discipline and I’m proud of that. 

 

NMI: About the farm bill you recently voted for, do we really need those subsidies? Don’t they exacerbate world poverty when rich nations like the United States and European nations heavily subsidize their agriculture? 

 

TU: The farm bill wasn’t perfect. But it was a huge improvement. After fighting to make it better I decided to vote for it and I think it’s a step in right direction on subsides and it provides absolutely crucial increases in funding for New Mexico nutrition programs.  

 

NMI: But does it deepen world poverty? 

 

TU: I don’t think so. But I would like to work on that issue too. I know that when it comes to ethanol we need to definitely revisit the ethanol bill that we passed recently so that fuel isn’t competing with food. And that’s an important issue that I think we need to get back on the front burner right away. 

 

NMI: One more question on poverty, as you know, in your district there are some pockets of extreme poverty. The Navajo Nation comes to mind where unemployment hovers around 50 percent, something like 70 percent don’t have telephone service let alone Internet service in terms of being able to tap into future opportunities. What have you done in Congress regarding the problem of poverty in northern New Mexico? 

 

TU: First of all, I fought for an increase in the minimum wage. It hadn’t been increased for a number of years and we finally got that done. I have fought for an expansion of the [State Children’s Health Insurance Program] which would give insurance to our children. I supported the farm bill which provides an additional $10.4 billion for nutrition and food security programs and urged the leadership to add that additional funding. You know, New Mexico ranks second in the country in food insecurity and third in hunger and I always fight for the needs of New Mexico’s most vulnerable and I’ve been a leader fighting for nutrition programs and health care. 

 

NMI: Do you think the financial services industry has too much power in Washington, D.C.? 

 

TU: The Bush administration and the Republican Congress have allowed the financial service industry to become legalized loan sharks. I think what we need is more oversight, not necessarily more regulations. I mean, we really need to move toward an oversight situation that will take care of the problems that we have. And we need to start worrying about the people that live on Main Street not just the executives who work on Wall Street. 

 

NMI: One new regulation that has been proposed relating to the credit card industry would require the industry to print clearly on your credit card bill exactly how long it would take you to pay off your card if you just pay the minimum payment each month. And the industry has vigorously opposed this modest regulation. Would support a new regulation like that? 

 

TU: I would support that reform. When we can do labeling which helps consumers be more financially responsible, we should do it. 

 

NMI: On health care reform, in the Democratic presidential race Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have both outlined similar plans with one major difference: Clinton’s plan includes a mandate, Obama’s doesn’t. Which approach would you favor? 

 

TU: We need to increase access to affordable health care for all New Mexicans. Both Senators Clinton and Obama have plans that are better that what we have now. It’s much better than what’s being offered by the Bush administration and I look forward to working with the next president and the Congress to make access to health care a reality. 

 

NMI: But to you support or oppose a health insurance mandate, like the mandate that everyone has to have auto insurance? 

 

TU: I think we’re going to get into those details when we get into the new year. The important thing is remembering the goal and getting to the goal of every New Mexican having quality, affordable health care. And however we get there we need to weigh carefully what impact that has on the current system. 

 

NMI: One foreign policy question. In your view, congressman, should we be talking with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Hamas, at the highest levels? 

 

TU: (pause) We need to do what’s right for what’s (best for) America in our foreign policy instead of making it up as we go along. We need a change from the Bush administration’s approach to foreign policy that has hurt America’s standing abroad. We need to do a better job of engaging our friends and foes. And I would not support, however, any talks with Hamas or any other terrorist organization until they end their terrorist attacks and recognize Israel’s right to exist. And specifically, to Iran and Syria, our overriding goal should be to ensure that they don’t get nuclear weapons and they don’t support groups and that they recognize Israel’s right to exist. 

  

NMI: On religion, I read in an E.J. Dionne column a few months back when Mitt Romney was still running for president that you’re a member of the Democratic Mormon Congressional Caucus along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, among others. How does your religious background inform your views on questions of war or the environment or poverty, if at all? 

 

TU: Well, I’m a baptized Mormon. And I’m proud of my Mormon heritage. And my values and my value system are a very much a part of how I put together, are very much a part of my approach to issues. 

 

NMI: Including issues like war and the environment and poverty? 

 

TU: I think I’ll just leave it there. 

 

NMI: As you probably know, a recent California Supreme Court decision determined that it’s unconstitutional in the state of California to prohibit same-sex couples from petitioning for a civil marriage license. Does that ruling change your position at all on the issue of gay marriage or other arrangements like domestic partnerships? 

 

TU: This is an issue that has been handled by the states for over 200 years. Marriage has been regulated by the states it is very much a part of the state civil system. And I believe that’s the way it should stay. I support New Mexicans that are trying to get civil unions legislation through the New Mexico Legislature and I support the idea of equality that’s built into the civil unions legislation. 

 

NMI: Is it fair to say that you’re not at this point in time a supporter of civil marriage extended to same-sex couples? 

 

TU: That’s fair to say, yes. 

 

NMI: How are you different ideologically, if at all, from your famous father or uncle who obviously are very well known due to their own political careers? 

 

TU: Probably the biggest difference is they were public servants in a different age. That was an age where collegiality and civility were very much a part of the political process. That’s the way I was raised and what I’ve tried to do back here in this very partisan atmosphere is to bring people together around issues that all of (us) care about. But probably the main point is that it’s s completely different time and place. 

 

NMI: Speaking of your dad, Stewart Udall, the Santa Fe Reporter’s Julia Goldberg recently interviewed you about your father’s endorsement of 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Ben Ray Lujan. Is it wrong to see that as a family endorsement, a tacit endorsement from you as well?  

 

TU: This was my father’s endorsement. I don’t endorse in primaries. I haven’t endorsed in this primary or any other primary and I will continue that policy. 

 

NMI: I thought you’d say that. 

 

TU: (laughs)  

 

NMI: Your party’s presidential primary looks like it’s pretty much over. So, as a superdelegate to the national convention in Denver, you’ll be voting for Obama, right? 

 

TU: I promised New Mexico citizens that I would let the voters speak first and I told them I would wait until June 3rd until all the voters in the nation had spoken. So I’m going to keep that promise and then shortly after that be visiting with superdelegates with both campaigns and make up my mind. 

 

NMI: Just in terms of practical politics, one reason you’re not endorsing anyone is because you don’t want to unnecessarily alienate any Clinton supporters, right? 

 

TU: Well, one of the practical reasons I chose not to endorse was so that I could be a healer and I could bring both camps together. I think that’s a very important role for some of us to play so that we have a united party going into the fall. 

 

NMI: Two last questions, both about the congressional seat you’re vacating. Is it true, congressman, that you’ve ever told supporters that you’d really like to be succeeded by a Native American given the fact that no Native American has ever been elected to Congress from New Mexico? 

 

TU: I love the diversity of the 3rd Congressional District and the diversity of our state and I’d love to see people of all races and ethnic backgrounds in public service. And I’ve said that on a number of occasions, especially when young people ask me should they run for office. I tell them you should get out there and work hard and it would be great to see you succeed.  

 

NMI: As I’m sure you’ve hard, in the last few days there’s been an unusual, some might say bizarre, back-and-forth in the race to succeed you on the Democratic side in which one candidate has questioned another candidate’s sexual orientation. Is that a legitimate issue in your view? 

 

TU: I don’t think I’m going to get into the debates going on, debates on any of the issues going on in the 3rd Congressional District or any of the other congressional districts.