U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez speaks at a canvassing event ahead of the election at the N.M. Democrats' South Valley headquarters on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. Vasquez earmarked $10.1 million for direct spending in and around his district, which would flow down after Congress passes the budget for next year. (Photo by Shelby Wyatt for Source NM)
Rep. Gabe Vasquez represents Congressional District 2. The district is expansive, stretching across the state’s western flank from Grants, including a slice of the South Valley, encompasses the Gila National Forest region, and reaches across Southern New Mexico from the bootheel to Hobbs.
Vasquez’ original requests for Community Project Funding totaled a little more than $31 million. The allocations from the House Appropriations bills amount to a third of what he asked for, about $10.6 million, a Source NM analysis found.
His largest earmarks are both $1 million dollars. The first is for a city of Las Cruces project called “Lift Up Las Cruces,” which would add new streetlights, accessibility ramps and improve sidewalks, according to the request.
The other $1 million would go to reconstruction of a 2.35-mile strip of Atrisco Vista Boulevard on Albuquerque’s far westside. The original request asked for $4 million to fund that project.
In a written statement, Vasquez called his 15 requests a “statement of values,” for his district.
“I’m proud that all of my projects have been allocated funding, as we finalize the appropriations negotiations, I will work diligently to keep my community projects included and funded,” he said.
Yvette Herrell, a republican who represented the district in 2021 and 2022, did not request any funds for the district and signed a “no-earmarks pledge,” in 2021. Herrell is an early GOP frontrunner to run against Vasquez for the seat.
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