Heads or tails, it's "two" bad for New Mexico

Get the Facts

Heather Wilson Steve Pearce

HEATHER WILSON

STEVE PEARCE

In 2007, named one of the most corrupt members of Congress by an independent watchdog group1. 

In 2007, named one of the most corrupt members of Congress by an independent watchdog group2. 
Accepted over $500,000 from the oil and gas industry3 and then voted for energy bills that gave oil and gas companies billions in special tax breaks4. Wilson then voted against rolling back those tax breaks5 even as Americans were paying nearly $4 per gallon and oil and gas companies were making billions in profits. Accepted over $460,000 from the oil and gas industry6 and then voted for energy bills that gave oil and gas companies billions in special tax breaks7. Pearce then voted against rolling back those tax breaks8 even as Americans were paying nearly $4 per gallon and oil and gas companies were making billions in profits.

Has voted with President Bush more than 80 percent of the time since he became president, and continues to support his failed policies that have put our country on the wrong track9.

Has voted with President Bush more than 90 percent of the time since he became president, and continues to support his failed policies that have put our country on the wrong track10.

Voted against increased fuel-efficiency standards for cars which would help combat global warming and save money for consumers11. Voted against increased fuel-efficiency standards for cars which would help combat global warming and save money for consumers12.

Voted against renewable energy bills that would have reduced America’s dependence on foreign oil13.

Voted against renewable energy bills that would have reduced America’s dependence on foreign oil14.

Abused her position as a representative by calling a U.S. attorney prior to the 2006 elections to seek information about sealed indictments against Democratic officials15. The attorney, who was later fired as part of the Bush administration’s "attorney-gate" scandal, testified that Wilson’s call was highly unusual and inappropriate16.  

Download this Factsheet (pdf)

MTBE and the forces behind the toxic chemical

New Mexico has hundreds of sites where the groundwater is contaminated with the toxic chemical called Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether, better known abbreviated as MTBE, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies as a “potential carcinogen.”1

EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey say that MTBE dissolves easily into water and is hard to remove.  It is often released into groundwater and surface water through underground storage tanks and pipelines, spills or emissions.2

Contributions from Producers of MTBE

Rep.Heather Wilson
2004-06

 Producers of MTBE

Rep. Steve Pearce
2004-06
$27,500 Valero Energy $17,000
$15,000 Exxon Mobil $16,500
$13,000 Chevron Texaco $7,000
$4,000 BP $4,000
$2,000 Lyondell Chemical
$61,500 TOTAL $44,500

 

Factsheet References

1 Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Beyond DeLay
2 Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Beyond DeLay
3 www.opensecrets.org
4 HR 6 Roll Call Vote 445, July 28, 2005
5 House Vote 40, 1/18/07
6 Center for Responsive Politics; www.opensecrets.org
7 HR 6 Roll Call Vote 445, July 28, 2005
8 House Vote 40, 1/18/07
9 Congressional Quarterly Inc.; http://www.cq.com
10 Congressional Quarterly Inc.; http://www.cq.com
11 House Vote 311, HR 4, 8/1/01; House Vote 121, HR 6, 4/20/05
12 House Vote 121, HR 6, 4/20/05; House Vote 1177, HR 6, 12/18/07
13 House Vote 118, HR 6, 4/20/05; House Vote 392, HR 2754, 7/18/03; House Vote 363, HR 2646, 10/3/01
14 House Vote 118, HR 6, 4/20/05; House Vote 392, HR 2754, 7/18/03
15 The Santa Fe New Mexican, October 6, 2007
16 House Judiciary Committee, 3/6/07

MTBE References

1 www.epa.gov
2 Denver Post, 09/28/04