Commentary: If you have read my column regularly, you know it’s focused on science and technology. Most of the people I spend my days with are involved in federally funded programs that require some degree of technical, scientific and administrative know-how.
While I work in technical fields, I still think most of us can read a plan and go a couple of levels deep to gain understanding. See if you can give the president-elect the benefit of the doubt.
I read Donald Trump’s plan, called the Contract with the American Voter. It is his action plan to make America great again.
The plan contains five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law. Number three is to remove all federal funding sent to sanctuary cities. A sanctuary city adopts local policies designed to not prosecute people solely for being undocumented. Some consider Las Cruces or Doña Ana County to be sanctuary cities. I’d like more input on this from our local attorneys to see how our local law enforcement and their federal immigration control and enforcement colleagues work together.
Our system of government relies on the collaboration among governments at the city, county, state and federal levels. When the government shutdown occurred for 13 days in October 2014, my conference was in progress. Our colleagues at NASA White Sands Test Facility and White Sands Missile Range, the people who protect our nation and national assets like the International Space Station, were furloughed but eventually paid for those days. Only essential personnel were allowed on the sites. It cost American taxpayers $13 billion.
The federal government had to rely on city and county resources to assure all necessary functions, including police and infrastructure maintenance, were still being provided to those sites. We are all reliant on each other.
Just one threat, like removing federal funds from a city the size of Las Cruces, with all of the federal employees we have here, would be targeting the very people Mr. Trump wants to help. Middle-class workers. So, I decided not to take the plan personally and read it again, not as a Las Crucen but as an American.
This time trying to find something I agreed with. I do like the idea of looking at the restrictions on lobbying. Yet, this is also targeting a lot of middle-class workers. Successful lobbyists on Capitol Hill are often former members of the general staff of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Folks who work at the assistant secretary level in the Pentagon, or in any of the independent federal agencies.
Not exactly middle class, but they would likely fall into Mr. Trump’s definition of middle class. When you go to work for the government, you are not usually earning a competitive salary. After leaving the government, some very talented people go into the private sector and grow our economy. They advise our large corporations, they help congressional staffers understand the importance of our military capabilities, for example. Or, they help staffers understand the importance of the safety regulations for airlines and the necessity of better air traffic control systems to ensure the safety of the flying public.
I have met with staffers on Capitol Hill for the past 25 years. These middle-class workers are learning how our government can serve Americans. Who do they rely on for information? The people here in our community who work for our congressional delegation, who know how the federal government’s funds are helping the community. Darn, it looks like I am not sure about this part of the plan, either.
OK, last look, what can I find that I like?
Here’s one: create a task force on violent crime and increase funding for programs to train and assist local police. Increase resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars. OK, this is good, as long as our federal prosecutors are still at work, and the U.S District Court is still open in Las Cruces. Remember the recommendation that federal funds be canceled because we are a sanctuary city? Darn. OK, I have decided this is more of a draft of a contract that still needs lots of work and discussion with the people Mr. Trump wants to help.
What do you think?