Jennings’ strong words heat up hearing

There was a somewhat contentious exchange in the Senate Rules Committee today when Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings demanded that a cabinet secretary promise to always tell the Legislature the truth even if it would cost him his job.

Legislators have complained in the past that some cabinet secretaries in the Richardson administration have been dishonest or, at least, not forthcoming with information. Rick Homans was before the committee today to be confirmed as head of the Taxation and Revenue Department.

Homans has been running the department on an interim basis for months.

Jennings spoke at length about what he said was a lack of honesty by some cabinet secretaries, and specifically mentioned the secretary of the Human Services Department. He said that makes it difficult to know when any are being honest, so he’s going to begin asking during each confirmation hearing whether he can expect that secretary to be truthful.

When he catches one who has pledged honesty in a lie, Jennings said he will do all he can to make sure that person is forced from his or her job.

At times Jennings appeared to be directly threatening or at least speaking about Homans, in part because he used the word “you” while addressing the secretary instead of speaking generally about those he catches lying.

But the leader of the Senate qualified his comments by telling Homans that he had never had a problem with him personally. That wasn’t enough to cool things off after Jennings’ strong words.

“This has gotten personal rather quickly,” Homans said when it was his turn to speak. “… I do take some offense.”

Homans did pledge to provide truthful information to lawmakers at all times.

“You have my truest commitment and pledge to deal with you in an utmost and forthright manner,” he said.

After Homans spoke, Jennings again qualified his prior statements by saying he didn’t intend for his comments to be taken personally.

“I don’t mean to put you on the spot, but I’m going to ask that of every cabinet secretary from now on,” he said. “… I think you did a pretty good job at your last cabinet position (at the Economic Development Department).”

Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, didn’t appear to be impressed by Jennings’ qualification of his statements.

“We have not always agreed, but I believe you to be a person of the highest integrity, and I just wanted you to know that,” Feldman, a member of the committee, told Homans. “… We have to disagree without being disagreeable and leave our personal grudges against one department there and not take it to other officials.”