Martin Heinrich

Martin Heinrich is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of the State of New Mexico, since 2009.

Positions, record and controversies
According to his 2008 campaign Web site, Heinrich took the following stances:

Energy Independence
Heinrich believes that previous governmental efforts for energy innovation have failed. He supports the Apollo Project for Energy Independence. This project entails devising solutions and collaborating among various sectors, such as federal and state governments; private industry labor; non-profit research organizations; and colleges and universities. He seeks to create 3 million, high-paying "green collar" jobs. His energy plan also includes penalizing oil speculators, drilling onshore and offshore reserves in the Unites States to reduce gas prices, eliminating tax breaks for large oil companies as per President George W. Bush's policy and allocate that money toward a permanent middle class tax break and investments in renewable energy, continuing funding for national research and development labs for nuclear power, and investigating the potential of geothermal energy.

Heinrich Backs Bill to Create Jobs, Save Energy, and Lower Utility Bills. Representative Martin Heinrich. 5/6/10. &lt;http://www.heinrich.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=11&amp;parentid=2&amp;sectiontree=2,11&amp;itemid=461&gt;.

Heinrich voted in favor of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act. This bill provides incentives for households that retrofit their homes with energy saving technologies. As a result of Heinrich's amendment, the bill will direct its outreach at veterans so that they can opt to retrofit their homes and receive rebates.

Heinrich Meets With Local Coca-Cola Bottling Company Employees. BigNews.biz. 07/13/10. &lt;http://bignews.biz/?id=891849&amp;keys=Congressman-Martin-Heinrich-CocaCola&gt;.

Representative Heinrich visited a Coca-Cola bottling center in Albuquerque on July 9, 2010. He was shown their recycling program for plastics and cardboard and the hybrid and electric delivery vehicles. Heinrich stated, "Here in New Mexico, we already know the potential for clean energy to create jobs and jumpstart our economy."

Jobs and Taxes
Heinrich wants to increase the national minimum wage to compensate for inflation. When he was President of the Albuquerque City Council, Heinrich helped to increase Albuquerque's minimum wage to $7.50. Heinrich also proposes tax cuts for the middle class and a repeal of President Bush tax cuts for top earners. He proposes a a permanent tax cut for individuals and couples earning less than $250,000. Through tax credits, Heinrich also hopes to reward small businesses that offer health and wellness programs to their employee. He also supports the effort of Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman to extend the Wind Production Tax Credit to encourage investment in New Mexico's renewable energy economy.

Health Care
Heinrich wants to expand access to high-quality, affordable health care to all Americans. Through tax credits, Heinrich hopes to reward small businesses that offer health and wellness programs to their employees.

Martin Heinrich’s Lobbyist Godfather: K Street’s Robert Raben. New Mexico Watchdog. 6/29/10. &lt;http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2596/martin-heinrichs-lobbyist-godfather-k-streets-robert-raben/&gt;.

Heinrich has been adopted by the Raben Group lobbying firm at the request of Nancy Pelosi. The Raben Group represents such interests as the Center for Reproductive Rights and other pro-choice advocacy organizations. However, the group's client list also includes large corporations like Microsoft and MasterCard.

Iraq War
He believes in utilizing diplomatic relations with countries in the Middle East to help bring the U.S. troops home. Upon returning back to the United States, soldiers should receive the health care and benefits that are afforded to them.

Environment
He assisted in naming the Ojito Wilderness as a protection area, protected two new Open Space properties in the Sandia Mountains, and contributed to defending the Valle Vidal from oil and gas development.

Heinrich Introduces Legislation To Protect Crest of Montezuma. Representative Martin Heinrich. 5/25/10. &lt;http://www.heinrich.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=11&amp;parentid=2&amp;sectiontree=2,11&amp;itemid=469&gt;.

Heinrich proposed a bill on May 25, 2010 that would expand the Cibola National Forest in addition to designating a research area as wilderness. He stated that these lands would allow for recreation and act as wildlife corridors for migrating species. Furthermore, Heinrich stated, “For families living near Placitas, this legislation will ensure their access to critical water infrastructure for farm irrigation and other important uses.”

NWF Action Fund Announces 3 Endorsements. National Wildlife Federation Action Fund. 07/20/15. &lt;http://online.nwf.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&amp;id=15271&amp;security=4061&amp;news_iv_ctrl=-1&gt;.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Action Fund endorses Representative Heinrich. Heinrich is a proponent of several policies that the NWF Action Fund supports. He wants to develop clean energy, pass climate legislation, and protect public lands. He supports the Clean Water Restoration Act, which would protect bodies of water in New Mexico, the No Child Left Inside Act, which would promote nature education, and the Arctic Wilderness Act, which would prohibit oil drilling on the coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Research and Development
Science policy tracking by Erica Hart, SEA (Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill) Intern

Bio
Heinrich was born October 17, 1971 in Fallon, Nevada. He and his wife, Julie, have two children. Heinrich earned a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree from the University of Missouri, and he has taken graduate courses in the University of New Mexico's Community and Regional Planning program. Heinrich served as an AmeriCorps volunteer, and he later founded a small consulting firm that served not-for-profit and education clients. He served as the Executive Director of a not-for-profit organization, the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, that is dedicated to providing young people with natural science and environmental education experiences through wilderness expeditions. Heinrich was elected to the Albuquerque City Council in 2003, serving a term as City Council President. In 2006, he was appointed Natural Resources Trustee by Gov. Bill Richardson.

2008 Election
Heinrich was the Democratic nominee in the race to replace Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) in the 2008 congressional elections. . Heinrich defeated Republican challenger Darren White in November 2008 general elections.

Money in politics
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External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District
 * Heinrich's FEC filings for the 2007-08 election cycle
 * "Martin Heinrich for Congress," Official Martin Heinrich for Congress Website.