Catching Up With Rep. Ben Ray Lujan

Rep. Lujan at DC rally for American Clean Energy & Security Act

Mary Ellen and I had the pleasure of sharing a wide-ranging conversation over lunch with Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03) in Rio Rancho earlier this month when he was home for the Independence Day recess. Rep. Lujan has long been interested in blogs, bloggers and new media, and he's gone out of his way to keep in touch when he can find the time.

Topics ranged from a report on the eight or so hours he devotes to air travel when he flies home, to health care legislation, the energy bill that recently passed the House, what he was most surprised about in Congress and how we can win in 2010 and keep New Mexico True Blue.

We thought you might be interested in some of what Rep. Lujan had to say, so I'm providing a summary of our notes on some of the high points. I've been meaning to do this ever since we had the meeting, but better late than never, right?

• The House Quad-Caucus -- which includes the Progressive, Hispanic, Black and Asian Pacific American Congressional Caucuses -- will continue to take a strong stand on requiring a robust public option in health care reform legislation. Many are saying they won't vote for a bill that does not have one. The success or failure of the health care reform effort will have a long-range impact the Dem candidates and the Dem Party generally. If Obama fails to get a strong bill through Congress, people will be angry. Dems can no longer use the excuse of not having 60 votes. Networking among the members of the Quad-Caucus is increasing, and their clout will grow as relationships grow.

• Look at the budget bill for reconciliation sections that already indicate a willingness to use the reconcilation process, if necessary, to avoid the need to overcome a filibuster with 60 votes on health care reform. Under reconcilation, a bill could pass with only 51 votes. The budget bill already provides a way to do that, but it's still not known whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would agree to use it.

• The energy bill could have been stronger, but it was tough getting it through the House. There is hope it can be made stronger on renewable standards and other requirements in the House-Senate conference committee. However, the green job provisions already in the bill are powerful and will greatly help New Mexico if we actively pursue the opportunities provided.

• Rep. Lujan was surprised at how much support and assistance he gets from other House members, both inside the Hispanic Caucus and generally. He said it's also been great working with Rep. Martin Heinrich and Congressman Harry Teague.

• He commented that the same parroted (and usually inaccurate or distorted) talking points we hear on conservative talk radio, on right-wing blogs and on Fox News are also heard on the House Floor -- sometimes verbatim. People get the wrong idea, but we can counter them by using our strong passion for what's right and what's needed -- and using the facts to argue points. Dialogue is vital to counteract the right-wing spin machine.

• Rep. Lujan voted for the war supplemental, but he reminded us that he also voted for an amendment that would have inserted an exit strategy. He believes Obama when he says this was the last supplemental and all future war spending will have to go through a much more stringent review as part of the regular budget.

• He's had a chance to sit down with Obama in the White House several times, always with Rahm Emanuel by his side. Remember that Rahm was a New Democrat and is always pushing toward what he perceives as being "the middle," even though Obama often takes a different tone in his public rhetoric.

• He hasn't been targeted too much by lobbyists, partly because he has made his views known early and with clarity. He's not viewed as a swing vote on matters like climate and health care so he escapes some of the pressure.

• He expressed a lot of excitement about the coming clean energy economy, and how New Mexico can play a pivotal role. Universal health care will also be a job producer and New Mexico is in dire need of more and better coverage of its citizens.

• We discussed the opportunities that universal health care coverage would provide in terms of freeing people to become entrepreneurs, start small businesses, take risks by going out on their own as consultants and more -- because they won't have to worry about being without health care coverage. This alone could be a strong boost to the economy as things develop.

• He is a co-sponsor of the single-payer bill in the House. Although he doesn't believe that bill will pass, Rep. Lujan said it shows how much support there is for drawing a line in the sand over a genuine and powerful public option.

• Rep. Lujan said he thinks that Steve Pearce's early entry into the NM-02 race can give a boost to Harry Teague's early fundraising. He expects that Peace will be aiming his criticisms not just at Teague, but at all three House members from New Mexico. Ben Ray reminded us that now-Senator Tom Udall beat Pearce handily in many areas of the Second District in the 2008 Senate race, and that Rep. Teague won his Congressional race by a healthy margin of 12 points over Republican Ed Tinsley. He believes we can hold the seat if we all help out.

We really appreciate that Rep. Lujan took time out of his busy schedule to touch base with us and keep the lines of communication open. It would be wonderful if other members of our Congressional delegation followed suit, wouldn't it?