Harry Teague

Harry Teague has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 2nd district of the State of New Mexico, since 2009 (map).

Economy
Teague seeks to represent the working families. He supports Rural Jobs Tax Credits. These credits will be granted to businesses and companies that offer employment opportunities in locations other than large cities for the purpose of creating competition and encouraging employment in New Mexico rather than in other states. He also supports safeguarding wages, paralleling the minimum wage with inflation levels, and providing health benefits to all employees and their families. Furthermore, Teague is a passionate proponent of fiscal responsibility, in-check government spending, and reduction of pork barrel measures. Recognizing that broadband access will increase access to educational and other resources, Teague wants Internet access to be available for everyone (students, institutions, organizations, etc.). Finally, Teague supports the development of American alternative energy sources; new ways to produce energy will help to create jobs, boost the economy, promote responsible environmental practices, and lessen the United State's dependence on foreign resources.

Education
Teague believes that the No Child Left Behind Act should be reformed because it is a uniform education plan that fails to improve diverse school systems, inadequately measures progress, and inefficiently allocates funding to states. However, he supports the renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. While he opposes distributing public tax dollars to private schools, he supports the creation of charter schools, magnet schools, more diverse courses, and other ways to improve public education. Teachers, according to Teague, should be paid starting at $40,000, the national average starting salary. Additionally, teacher training programs should be further developed, and more math and science teachers should be hired. Adding new teachers and creating more physical learning space will help to reduce the teacher to student ratio. Furthermore, universal and affordable healthcare should be provided to children, which Teague believes will improve their education. In the same way, he supports bettering the nutrition guidlelines in schools and supporting more productive physical education programs.

Healthcare
He believes in universal health care; he claims that it is a right, not a privilege. Health care options must also be affordable and flexible. One of Teague's proposals is to enable people to buy insurance through the same plan offered to politicians in Congress. Another suggestion is to enable lower income families to enjoy the benefits of Medicaid and SCHIP. People in the family should be covered until age 25, a reform that Teague seeks to implement. Furthermore, insurance should cover preventative measures. Employers that encourage healthy lifestyles and implement various health services should be rewarded through tax incentives. Teague seeks to repeal the law banning Medicare from negotiating drug costs with drug makers and help states take advantage of Medicaid's services to buy drugs for less money. Responsibly importing prescription drugs from Canada and Mexico should also be supported.

Iraq
Teague passionately believes that the U.S. troops should be brought home as efficiently and safely as possible. The U.S. forces should work with the Iraqi government to enforce an effective, mutually beneficial withdrawal plan. In certain areas, such as Afghanistan, troops should be re-sent for the purpose of further protecting our security interests. Teague offers to aid Congress in tracking down Osama Bin Laden. Focusing on the war in Afghanistan is a top priority for Teague; Congress must refocus its attention on the troops located there so as to successfully fulfill the mission's goals.

Immigration
Understanding that immigration effects the health, security, economic, and social arenas in the United States, Teague favors reforming current immigration laws and policies. Borders should be made more safe to protect citizens and reduce illegal immigration levels. To carryout this plan, Teague suggests augmenting funds for human security and technology. Teague also believes that most immigrants are "good" and that they heavily contribute to our economy;therefore, they should be offered means to obtain citizenship. Immigrants would have to undergo English-language instruction, pay back taxes, pay a fine, and pass background checks. Law reform should encompass improving the efficiency of the visa acceptance system to increase the amount of accepted immigrants and the speed by which they are admitted. Finally, Teague holds that reaching out to the Mexican government is vital. Collaboration between the United States and Mexico will help address the most important issues, such as Mexico's middle class and economic development along the borders. Mexico should be offered a leadership position and help the United States in forming plausible, effective solutions.

2008 elections
Teague was the Democratic nominee to replace Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) in the 2008 congressional elections. Pearce vacated his position to seek the open Senate of retiring Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) Teague defeated Ed Tinsley in the November 2008 general election.

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Committees

 * House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Contact
DC Office: 1007 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2365 Fax: (202) 225-9599 Web Email Website

District Office - Hobbs: 200 E. Broadway, Suite 200 Hobbs, NM 88240 Phone: (575) 393-0510 Fax: (575) 393-0026

District Office - Las Cruces: 400 North Teleshore, Suite E Las Cruces, NM 88011 Phone: (575)-522-3908 Fax:

District Office - Las Cruces: 111 School of Mines Rd. Socorro, NM 87801 Phone: TBD Fax: Teague for Congress 1720 Telshor Dr. Las Cruces, NJ 88011 575.993.5197

Email: info@harryteagueforcongress08.com

Related SourceWatch articles

 * 2008 U.S. congressional elections
 * 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
 * Portal:New Mexico and the U.S. Congress

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District
 * "Harry Teague for Congress"