By RICHARD D. ELLENBERG
5/7/2011
Santa Fe New Mexican

Jobs are priority one, but Gov. Susana Martínez has blocked practical jobs initiatives not fitting her national conservative image.

Film credits create jobs. The governor's most visible effort was limiting these credits. The result so far: Loss of two movies budgeted at a total of $70 million. Loss of the post-production facility with 175 construction jobs and 120 permanent skilled jobs.

Studies conclude that a state maximizes its benefits from films when it has a trained local labor market. Our colleges have invested in film curricula and have created that job force, just in time to lose business.

The governor is attempting to break contracts with films signed prior to the film-credit reductions. She is sending the clearest message to film jobs that they are not welcome.

Film credits are the only credit the governor allows to be questioned. No asking if oil and gas credits are a good investment. Oil companies are spending fortunes to find and extract oil in difficult places and not replacing supplies as fast as they use them. It would be fair to ask if their tax credits increase the number of jobs significantly. Yet the governor vetoed the bill to examine the benefit of all credits, not just film credits. Why? Politics. The film industry tends to support Democrats. The oil and gas industry tends to support Republicans.

Democratic job-creation bills were dead on arrival since she would not sign them. She would not support: green job initiatives; depositing state funds in local rather than national banks to increase local lending; and a development bank based upon the successful models in other states. Nor did she have her own job-creation initiatives.

One bill, passed unanimously, allowed universities to issue bonds for renewable energy improvements, creating jobs and saving money. She pocket-vetoed this initiative, with her staff saying she did not support renewable energy.

She vetoed the Health Exchange Act to protect her Republican image. New Mexico would have received $1 million to work on planning for this exchange with more to follow without that veto. Now New Mexico loses those dollars and the odds that the federal government will have to step in and set up New Mexico's exchange are substantially increased.

She vetoed an unemployment-tax increase supported almost unanimously to protect businesses from much higher assessments that will hurt jobs. This helps her record of not supporting tax increases, but harms our business community.

Most damaging to the state's long-term growth was breaking her promise not to cut education. A weak education system is the primary reason we do not attract high-paying businesses. Yet school districts are facing a 4 percent to 5 percent cut in their budgets. The Legislature could have avoided this by closing loopholes used by multi-national companies gaining an unfair advantage over local businesses. But the governor would not support this or other revenue-raising proposals. Why? To protect her record opposing any tax increase, loophole closing or tax-credit reduction, except of course for cutting tax credits for those Democratic film jobs.

Richard D. Ellenberg is chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County.

URL: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Opinion/My-View--Richard-D--Ellenberg-G...

For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester

March 9, 2011 505-934-681

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Apparently still in full campaign mode more than four months after the election, Gov. Susana Martinez yesterday rejected a compromise on the driver's license issue.

"Susana Martinez's rhetoric and actions seek to divide New Mexicans. And what's even worse? She has spent absolutely no time during her first legislative legislative session focused on what the people truly care about: jobs and job creation," said DPNM chairman Javier Gonzales. "Let her adopt the no-compromises attitude of George W. Bush and Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin. Getting her driver's license bill by attacking those who disagree with her won't change the fact that her lack of leadership on jobs so far has been apalling."

In fact, the only substantive thing she's done so far on jobs is to kill them -- leading a personal crusade to kill the film industry in New Mexico.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      Contact: Scott Forrester

March 2, 2011                                                                                                505-934-5681

Gov. Martinez's Assault on Film Industry -- and the 12,000 Jobs it has Created -- Continues

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- While most New Mexicans agree that attracting and promoting good jobs and bringing new industries to the state should be the top priority of our leaders, Governor Martinez apparently doesn't see it that way.

Martinez this week continued her war on the film industry in New Mexico, seeking to reduce a film tax credit to a level that would effectively end the industry in our state. 

What does that mean? It means 12,000 jobs gone. It means crushed hopes and dreams for thousands of young people studying at our community colleges for careers in film. 

“Democrats have lead the way in fighting for film jobs.  Under Democratic leadership and support, the film industry has become a beacon of light and given New Mexicans opportunity in a troubled economy,” said DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester.  

"Apparently Gov. Martinez didn't get the memo that part of her job is to promote good jobs and bring in new industries, not kill them," said Scott Forrester. "Martinez's harsh rhetoric and dangerous proposals have sent an ugly message to the film industry and to the thousands of New Mexicans who earn their living making movies and TV shows. I guess the larger message might be that innovative clean industries of the future need not consider New Mexico -- we'll be closed for business as long as Martinez has the reins.”

Below is a rundown of recent coverage of Martinez's assault on the film industry and a Youtube video on her film flip-flop.

Film Projects Back Out Of NM Amid Uncertainty – KOAT, http://www.koat.com/news/27052364/detail.html

How to flame your dragon – by Eric Witt, http://www.nmpolitics.net/index/2011/03/how-to-flame-your-dragon/

Film subsidy throws lawmakers for a loop – KOBTV, http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1997205.shtml?cat=500

FILM FLIP-FLOP, CARGO'S DOUBTS - NM Politics with Joe Monahan, http://joemonahansnewmexico.blogspot.com/2011/03/brooks-stands-firm-against-guv-in.html

Video Outlines Martinez Flip-Flop on Film, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-4VqlcltTE