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Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson discusses the president’s jobs bill, and how to lower unemployment and energy costs.
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We Begin tonight with the big story of the day jobs.
Joining us now Bill Richardson former governor of New Mexico and energy secretary under Bill Clinton.
He also ran for president in the last election governor welcome great to see you I wanna start with that job story.
What do you make of nine point 1% unemployment we had some payroll growth here but the headline numbers still bad.
Let me start up by saying on the debit card issue I'm with you on that especially now that -- private citizen but let me say on the jobs issue.
Look the economy is is is in trouble.
I think the president inherited.
Like a frozen engine when He came into office with the economy.
If we pass a jobs Bill Perry if there's passage of that bill.
Leading economists according to a Bloomberg survey it said.
There will be a slight increase.
It decrease in unemployment numbers that GDP will get better that the economy.
Won't head into -- recessionary mode.
And so I think this is an argument that.
Both parties should get together the president to -- our congress and pass a jobs bill unemployment compensation payroll tax holiday incentives to the -- -- sector the high let me let me talking about this idea of growing jobs because what the president says is my plan He says will grow jobs by two million.
Now -- -- fourteen million Americans looking for work.
So if you take his word and his plan really works like He thinks it does and we create two million jobs in short order.
You're still gonna have twelve million people still looking for work we're gonna be disappointed yet again in another federal program.
That Justin does doesn't cut.
-- -- Well but the focus -- of the president's plan is the private sector partner with the private sector don't create a bunch of government jobs.
Maybe save some save some teachers and firefighters out in the states and there is that is part of the plan.
But what what He is doing is incentivizing the private sector look it's gonna take a while to get the economy back.
On -- -- unemployment again.
But again what we need more than anything it's some kind of bipartisanship what the politics.
In the election next year going to be.
Who is doing the most to get us out of this recessionary mode -- economy.
I think it's gonna be up the Republicans at least come to the president half way and pass some kind.
-- governor there I don't know I think the president's got it.
Compromise here is well I think that you have to come together don't.
Yeah that's true they have to come together.
But what I'm hearing on the presidential trail in the Republican debates what I'm hearing in congress.
Speaker.
They wanted.
That that they don't want precedents built the past that's the message I'm -- well -- -- -- act you're dead on that they are not -- the president's plan.
And the reason they don't like it is because it raises taxes they say now is not the time to raise taxes what do you say that.
Well now.
Look I cut taxes and New Mexico so I subscribe to that economic growth philosophy.
But what I wanna hear what's the Republican plan.
They can't just be against the president what are they proposing.
I've yet to hear any concrete plan.
Other than saying well let's not cut taxes I think I we need -- that are big part of their point that they don't want to -- where you they have and they wanna get rid of regulation what do you think of those two -- well.
I think what we need to do is the entire tax structure needs to be there's no question about it so total tax equity.
Yeah tax reform we need that.
But I do think here that we need some investments in industries and Green jobs we need some infrastructure I believed to create our highways.
Green energy.
Bridges.
You have to put you at the pump money into the economy.
But government we just had the example with the lender -- where realized half a billion dollars down this gives a company goes belly up a company.
That will that we is supposedly through the Department of Energy which you have run and know all about.
We vetted looked at closely it's.
You know if we're gonna sponsor Green industry should we be picking individual companies can the government pick winners and losers.
Well look you're gonna have to take risks and -- constant biofuels.
Wind energy solar energy.
And you know in the past we have.
Made investments that sometimes don't -- but you have to find ways to take a risk that is also.
The role of the private sector this was a company that for mall indicators.
Was gonna do well it's renewable energy.
But again it it it fell apart.
But there are a lot of other loans that were approved renewable energy companies that are doing while that are creating jobs.
And and so I think we shouldn't politicize this issue.
I think you gotta look at those companies having with a with a clear I hear act and say it's a mixed bag.
Is it better for government to if it's gonna help Green and energy if the goal is to grow Green energy.
Is is there a better way to do it now I know you've been doing a lot of things in your own stake there with Green.
Well -- you know we we also invests in some state funds and some of these.
Green energy initiative but what we did mostly which I think makes sense is.
Have an energy policy where you're treating all energy.
Equally but recognizing that natural gas and renewable energy.
Have the most potential and now that means tax incentives that means investment that means passing an energy bill that says states should.
You -- renewable energy -- and we don't have an energy bill because both parties.
Keep fighting each other we've got to have nuclear energy safe nuclear energy I think it can be it doesn't emit greenhouse gas emissions.
Deal with a safety issues.
Natural gas.
We got a deal with a fracturing issue.
We've got up.
Met recognize -- renewable energy is going to be some aggressive likes a lender nothing is perfect but if we just do nothing.
If the government doesn't become a partner -- create public private partnerships let the private sector to the main.
Incentives but find ways where the government gets out of the way but is also helpful and I think these.
Energy launched these loan guarantees are not giveaways.
She mountain you you know.
So much more to talk about it's a pleasure talking with you governor thank Hillary for equity out same with -- gotta you gotta come back so we can talk some more thank you are.
