CD3 Candidate Laura Montoya
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series in which the Los Alamos Daily Post presents the same set of questions to each of the candidates running for Congressional District 3, which serves the northern half of New Mexico.
Democratic candidate Laura Montoya provided the following answers:
POST: Why do you believe you are qualified to represent New Mexico in Congress?
MONTOYA: I was born, raised and educated in Northern New Mexico. I know the people and the struggles New Mexicans face because my family and I have lived through many of the same challenges. I have almost 20 years of government experience working at the federal level as a Constituent Representative for US Senator Jeff Bingaman; the state, working in several capacities in the New Mexico House of Representatives and the Senate as well as the State Treasurer’s Office and the Human Services Department as an Outreach Coordinator for Insure New Mexico/NewMexi Kids; and currently at the local level, serving my second term as the elected Sandoval County Treasurer.
As legislative Chair for the Treasurer’s Affiliate for the past seven years, I have assisted in getting 20 pieces of legislation passed and signed that have helped remove tax loopholes saving millions of dollars for taxpayers; helped our seniors, disabled and Veterans; and have expanded the investment options for Class A counties and municipalities.
As Vice-Chair of the Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee with the National Association of Counties (NACo), I have assisted in several federal policies including fighting for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PiLT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) as well as the deduction of state and local taxes (SALT), advance refunding on bonds, full funding for the US Census, municipal financing, opposing preemption of taxing authority, public pension and retirement benefits reform, supporting a uniform credit rating, and promoting a fair online sales tax.
As Chairwoman for the past six years of Next Generation, young elected officials through NACo, I have assisted the next generation of public servants in leadership training, community service, public policy that promotes our counties, education and training that helps bridge the gap between elected officials from different generations and worked on policy initiatives that are important to the younger generation of elected officials.
POST: What is your overall governing philosophy?
MONTOYA: I believe in creating policies that promote fairness and equality for all residents of New Mexico. I believe that the federal, state and local leaders need to collaborate for the best interest of the people we serve. We need to insure that policies do not negatively impact our constituents and that we do not have unfunded mandates for counties to feel the burden. It is imperative that government understand that we serve because of the people and that we ensure that the stakeholders are at the table when discussing policies or laws. Government should be transparent, prudent and collaborative and the decisions should be made based on what is in the best interest of the people and not special interests.
POST: What would you do to promote the interest of Los Alamos National Laboratory in Washington?
MONTOYA: When I worked for US Senator Jeff Bingaman, he and Senator Domenici worked diligently to keep the labs open. My first initiative would be to work toward keeping the funding that was allocated for the labs (Sandia as well) solvent instead of going toward the Wall or any other presidential wasteful spending projects. The labs are a significant part of our economy and need our support. We need to educate other legislators of the work that is accomplished at the labs and what benefit they bring to our economy and country.
POST: How would you balance arms proliferation with national defense?
MONTOYA: Current policy lacks monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, leaving the identification, documentation, and punishment of noncompliance to individual member states. Limited resources and issues with enforcement bring additional challenges to implementation. Land borders, seaports, and air space requires trained personnel and functioning equipment, both of which are in short supply in many developing countries. It is also important for the equipment to be maintained.
Finally, many states are not bound by the agreements, either because they are not members of the regional organizations through which the agreements were negotiated or because they simply have not ratified them. Reducing the proliferation and misuse of arms requires a multifaceted approach pursued at multiple levels both nationally and internationally. Finally, states and countries should take additional steps to remove the weapons already in circulation by expanding voluntary weapons collection and buyback programs in post-conflict situations. Those governments that are not already doing so should train their law enforcement personnel in the internationally accepted codes of conduct for firearms use and monitor their compliance with these codes.
POST: In general terms, what would your foreign policy goals be?
MONTOYA: My policies would be inclusive and collaborative with countries that have the same goals and values as the United States. I would not agree with leaving our allies out to die or make decisions that put our military and other Americans that work overseas in jeopardy because of careless, selfish decision-making as is being done by the current President. I would work on healthy partnerships, fair trade agreements, building economic stability and democracy in order for other countries to prosper and eliminate so many families from having to flee their home country. I would be aware of the unintended consequences and outcomes of international policy that impact the United States. I would hold the president accountable for having each Secretary position filled and for using already allocated funds toward the wall or other irresponsible projects he thinks of. Our New Mexico military bases and labs need their full funding to be utilized for the work they are doing.
POST: What do you think should be done about the growing income inequality in the United States?
MONTOYA: Women still get paid less than men and women of color get paid even less than the national average at 63-75 cents to each dollar. We need legislation that removes that gap not only in fair and equal pay but fair and equal access to healthcare and education. When we accomplish these three goals, we will be much closer to income equality. It is critical that we fix the recent “Tax Reform” that was enacted two years ago under the Trump administration. This tax policy only works for the rich and only widens the gap between the middle class and the rich as well as puts our children’s children in long lasting debt. We need to rethink what it is we value such as putting more value into our educators and ranchers and farmers.
POST: Do you have a plan for increasing access to healthcare in the U.S.?
MONTOYA: Yes. Healthcare should be a right that everyone should have equal access to. Healthcare should be affordable, accessible, timely, and compassionate to their needs. I believe in healthcare that provides for options so that our government employees and union members can continue to keep the insurance they currently have if they so choose but also provide everyone else great healthcare. When I worked for the Human Services Department as the Coordinator for Insure New Mexico/New MexiKids, we worked diligently to get everyone insured that qualified under the insurance program guidelines. As a rotary scholar, I was given the opportunity to study at the University of Costa Rica and while there, I learned what it felt like to live in a county that had no military and prioritized healthcare and education.
POST: Where do you stand on increased regulation of firearms?
MONTOYA: We need to work on policies that keep our communities safe. As you look at gun safety measures, it is critical to pay attention to the specifics, especially how items are defined because entities change the technology to circumvent the rules. All stakeholders need to be involved in the discussion. We need people that are gun owners and users at the table just as much as we need people who have never owned or held a gun in their lifetime.
I support similar legislation at the federal level that we got passed at the state level with background checks for gun purchases whether or not they are purchased in a store, excluding “immediate family” purchases and heirlooms. I support a different level of expertise and clearance for automatic weapons.
POST: What programs do you support on immigration to deal with the situation at the border?
MONTOYA: It is important to remember that the United States was built on the backs of immigrants and we are stronger as a nation because of their contribution to our country. Although national security is of greatest importance, we also need to develop an efficient pathway to citizenship for those that seek to be Americans with proper vetting within a reasonable amount of time.
I recently visited Monument 1 which is where Texas, New Mexico and Mexico connect. I was accompanied by Johana Bencoma, Executive Director of Comunidades de Accion y de Fe (CAFE), Amanda from Southwest Environment Center (SWC) and the ACLU to be briefed on the legislative policies, the humanitarian concerns as well as the environment concerns for our land, water and animals that are being damaged because of the wall. I am adamantly opposed to the way this administration is handling our immigrants and asylum seekers as well as the manipulation of the message that is being conveyed. There are less immigrants crossing today than there were in the past 10 years, there are more families crossing than has been in the past where it used to be more individual persons. The administration is intentionally bottle-necking the system and with the wall being built and families having to now stay in Mexico, people are in fear of their lives and try to cross through the rough terrain which has caused several deaths. The treatment of people at the border is inhumane and should be stopped immediately. The funding that is being redirected to build a worthless wall instead of staying in the areas it was budgeted for, like our military bases and labs, is crippling our economy and disrupting our environment. The amount of money being put towards that wall could feed every child in America and provide universal healthcare for the entire United States. The process taking years to complete and only allowing for those who have money to work toward getting their papers, is a form of new age slavery. It is not just to utilize immigrant workers that pay gross receipts taxes and property taxes but aren’t given a real pathway to vote and work as a US citizen.
Another concern that negatively impacts New Mexico is the decennial census. A court case was just filed last month on the Presidents order to require “Census citizenship data redistricting efforts.” The census is critical for federal funding and for us to possibly get a fourth congressional representative and vote in Congress. CD3 makes up 16 counties in whole or part. Everyone needs to be counted because we provide services to everyone. We also need to ensure that gerrymandering is not a problem in New Mexico as we work through this census.
POST: What would you do to combat climate change?
MONTOYA: There are plenty of ways that we can combat climate change. I believe it is important to incorporate our ideas into the schools to teach young people the importance of turning the lights off when you are not in the room, turning off the water as you brush your teeth and recycle your weekly trash. I went to a school assembly where they showed us that 1 aluminum can provides up to three hours of electricity. Ever since then, I have to recycle or I feel like I’m losing out on that energy.
We need to also educate and incentivize the importance of recycling and increased solar and wind in our businesses and government entities. Sandoval County put solar panels up on our county building as a parking shade which will assist us with cost savings once we pay off the debt. New Mexico is third in solar and 5th in wind. We should utilize both in how we conduct business in New Mexico. I also believe that we need to utilize our farmers and ranchers to help us with this climate crisis and allow for them to have more resources to work the land and sustain it as well as to provide healthy local food. In addition, we need to work on our dependency on oil and gas and look at renewable energy as a way to sustain for New Mexico jobs and our environment. We also need to hold those industries that leave a carbon footprint or are possibly affecting our water or environment to have stricter guidelines; independent research that is shared with the public; enforcement of any rules, policies and guidelines; and accountability.
Learn more about Laura Montoya here: www.lauramontoya4nm.com