D e s e r t E x p o s u r e June 2010

Sharp Right Turn

Rep. Harry Teague axes employees' health insurance, wins award from group that endorsed 2008 opponent.

Second District Democrats already wondering if the "D" beside Harry Teague's name was really a Post-it Note hiding an "R" got some more head-scratching news in the wake of the congressman's vote against healthcare reform. In 2008, Teague had campaigned on a promise to support healthcare reform, dramatized by TV commercials touting the fact that his oil-industry businesses cover employees' health insurance. "All his life Harry Teague has worked to bring people together. That's why he provides healthcare for co-workers and their families," proclaimed one ad.

Now, according to the Politico website, that's no longer true. About 70% of the roughly 250 employees at Teague's five oil-industry companies opted out of the health-insurance plan by the end of 2008. The remaining 54 employees were told they'd be losing their insurance in a memo four days before Christmas in 2009.

In an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, Teague said the decision was made by his two grown children, who run day-to-day operations. (The congressman has yet, however, to fully divest himself of all interest in the companies, which he promised to do after being elected.) The choice was dropping health insurance, Teague said, or cutting jobs.

With a net worth estimated at more than $40 million, Teague is one of the wealthiest members of Congress.

The Politico revelation garnered a lot more ink than an even more surprising bit of news announced by Teague himself in an April 28 press release: The US Chamber of Commerce honored the New Mexico Democrat with its Spirit of Enterprise Award, recognizing a pro-business voting record.

"The Chamber applauds Rep. Teague for supporting the private sector and job growth through these difficult times," said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the US Chamber. "He has demonstrated great courage and we commend him."

What made the announcement eyebrow-raising was that in the 2008 election, the US Chamber of Commerce endorsed Teague's GOP opponent, restaurant owner and cattle rancher Ed Tinsley.

How did Teague go from the Chamber's hit list to being a star in the conservative organization's galaxy? He voted the group's way on 70% or more of key bills in 2009, including financial regulatory reform (against), mortgage modification (against) and of course the original House version of healthcare reform (against). The most prominent bill on which Teague parted ways with the Chamber was the "cap and trade" American Clean Energy and Security Act, which he supported.

No other New Mexico congressman (all are Democrats) earned the Chamber's award. Other honorees included both of Arizona's GOP senators; Tea Party favorites Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.); and fellow Democrats Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.). Both Lincoln and Specter (a converted Republican) faced primary challenges last month from the left; Lincoln was forced into a runoff and Specter was defeated. Teague will face former Rep. Steve Pearce in November.

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