Obama pushes credit card reform in Rio Rancho

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This article has been updated.By Eric Maddywww.The-SCORE.info RIO RANCHO — President Barack Obama traveled to New Mexico today to urge Congress to pass a “consumer bill of rights” that would place tighter restrictions on the credit card industry. Speaking to a capacity crowd of more than 2,000 in the Rio Rancho High School gym, Obama said, “You should not have to worry that when you are signing up for a credit card that you are signing away all your rights. You shouldn’t need a magnifying glass or a law degree to read the fine print that sometimes doesn’t look like it’s been written in English — or Spanish.” “But these practices have only grown worse in this recession. Enough is enough. It is time for strong, reliable protection for our consumers,” Obama said. Continue Reading

Richardson had ‘cordial’ meeting with Obama

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This article has been updated.Gov. Bill Richardson may not have been on stage with President Barack Obama today in Rio Rancho, but he rode in Obama’s motorcade to and from the event (though not in Obama’s vehicle), a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed. And Richardson was among a handful of state political leaders who met with Obama before the town-hall meeting at Rio Rancho High School. “The governor met with President Obama backstage before the event in Rio Rancho,” Richardson Communications Director Pahl Shipley said. “The meeting was cordial and productive. They talked the stimulus, the New Mexico economy, North Korea and the border. Continue Reading

White House news release on credit card reform

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The White House just put out a news release about today’s town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho. Obama’s speech is essentially following the release. Here it is: PROTECTING AMERICAN CREDIT CARD HOLDERS President Obama Discusses Need for Credit Card Reform; Urges Congress to Pass Comprehensive Legislation Today, President Obama will hold a town hall meeting in Rio Rancho, New Mexico where he will discuss the need for immediate reform of the credit card industry and his commitment to signing the Credit Card Bill of Rights into law by Memorial Day. Americans need a durable and successful flow of credit in our economy, but we can’t tolerate profits that depend upon misleading working families. For too long, credit card contracts have been deceptively complicated, often leading consumers to pay more than they reasonably expect due to unfair practices. Continue Reading

Richardson isn’t on stage with Obama

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This article has been updated.Gov. Bill Richardson isn’t on stage with President Barack Obama at the president’s town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho. No other New Mexico elected officials are on stage with Obama. Richardson did meet with Obama before arriving in the Rio Rancho High School gymnasium, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican’s Steve Terrell. And Obama, in his opening remarks, referred to Richardson as “a great friend, one of the finest governors in the country.” This is their first public encounter since Richardson withdrew his nomination to be commerce secretary because of the ongoing probe into allegations of pay to play in his administration. Continue Reading

NMPolitics.net has your Obama coverage right here

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This article has been updated.People were lining up at 5:45 a.m. to see President Barack Obama later today in Rio Rancho. That’s according to The SCORE’s Eric Maddy, who will be covering Obama’s visit for this site. Obama’s town-hall meeting on credit card debt is scheduled to last from 10-11:15 a.m. If all goes as planned, you’ll be able to watch it live right here via embedded video from KNME-TV in Albuquerque. Shortly after the event, look for Maddy’s coverage here as well. And during the event, while you’re watching, you can participate in a live blog hosted by the New Mexico Independent. Continue Reading

Guv asks about trains, pledges aquatic center cash

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On Tuesday, I shared my opinion that a commuter rail between Las Cruces and El Paso makes sense, but spending more than a billion dollars on a line that would connect Las Cruces with the current end of the Rail Runner Express in Belen does not. On Wednesday, a number of southern New Mexicans told Gov. Bill Richardson they prefer a Las Cruces-El Paso line to a Las Cruces-Belen line. (From Belen, people can already ride the commuter train to Albuquerque and Santa Fe.) That came at Richardson’s town-hall meeting in Las Cruces, where he was soliciting opinions on how to best spend federal stimulus money in Doña Ana County. Richardson announced tens of millions of dollars already approved for the widening of Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and El Paso and a number of other projects related to roads, bus shelters, airport upgrades, schools, water systems and other projects. There’s more cash available, and the governor is traveling the state to solicit input into how to spend it. Continue Reading

Newspaper profiles man at center of pension scandal

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Remember Hank Morris, one of the men at the center of the New York pension scandal that has spread to New Mexico? He’s under indictment in the New York case, accused of using his position in that state’s comptroller’s office to shake down companies wanting to do business with the state’s pension fund. He’s also the third-party marketer who helped secure investment contracts in New Mexico for a couple of firms at the center of the scandal. Anyway, the New York Times is out this evening with a profile of Morris that’s a fascinating read. Check it out by clicking here. Continue Reading

Three more added to NMSU prez search committee

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The New Mexico State University Board of Regents announced today that it has finalized the membership of its presidential search committee with the addition of three more members. The new members are Michael Johnson, vice president of the NMSU Foundation’s board of directors; Delano Lewis, director of NMSU’s International Relations Institute; and biology professor Elba Serrano, according to a letter Regents Chairman Blake Curtis sent to the NMSU community this afternoon. The committee will be chaired by former Regents President Adelmo “Del” Archuleta. The other nine members announced last week are College of Business Dean Garrey Carruthers, NMSU Grants President Felicia Casados, Las Cruces City Councilor Dolores Connor, student body President Travis Dulany, Faculty Senate Chair Chris Erickson, New Mexico Association of Counties Director Paul Gutierrez, former basketball coach Lou Henson, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Eastern District Director Bruce Hinrichs and College of Agriculture Assistant Dean Tim Nesbitt. You can find more information on the search from NMSU’s Web site. Continue Reading

Taxpayers deserve to see what they’re paying for

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By Rep. Dennis Kintigh As a first-time state legislator, I have been surprised by the intensity of the interest in my position on the film industry subsidy, or as some call it the “film incentives.” The film-subsidy program requires the state to pay film-production operations 25 percent of their qualifying expenses. This program will cost New Mexico over $50 million. The question is whether this is worth it. When my legislation to repeal the film industry subsidy died in committee on March 3, I expected that to be the end of the matter. However, a few days ago, Mr. Eric Witt, the governor’s deputy chief of staff, published an essay critical of my position. Continue Reading

Smith ’embarrassed’ by scandal: I would be too

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State Sen. John Arthur Smith said on Tuesday at a legislative hearing about the controversy plaguing the state’s investment boards that he’s “embarrassed” to be a public official in such a scandal-plagued state. No kidding. I would think all public officials in New Mexico would be embarrassed. Officials convicted of corruption-related felony crimes in the last few years include two former state treasurers, a former deputy insurance superintendent and a former Senate president pro tem. Those currently caught up in controversies — some involving criminal probes — include the governor, the land commissioner, the former head of the state’s affordable housing system, the former secretary of state and the investment boards. Continue Reading

Cornelius plans to run for land commissioner or PRC

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Former congressional candidate Bob Cornelius says he’ll be on the ballot next year, running either for land commissioner or a seat on the Public Regulation Commission. Cornelius is a Republican, so running for the District 2 PRC seat would pit him in a primary against Land Commissioner Pat Lyons, who is term-limited from seeking re-election and announced earlier this week that he’s running for the PRC seat. Cornelius said that doesn’t worry him. “No matter which seat I choose to run for, I don’t plan on losing,” he said in an interview. Cornelius said he’s met with GOP leaders and other Republicans around the state about his consideration of both races. Continue Reading

Invest in commuter rail only where it makes sense

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I’m a big fan of programs that reduce our dependence on foreign oil and our impact on the environment. I’ve become more impressed with the Rail Runner Express — the commuter train that runs from Belen through Albuquerque to Santa Fe — over time as significant numbers of people have continued to ride and expressed satisfaction with the system. And, because of that, I like the idea of another commuter train between El Paso and Las Cruces, connecting communities in this populated region like the Rail Runner has done in north-central New Mexico. But, as an El Paso-Las Cruces train continues to be discussed, another idea keeps coming up that makes no sense to me. First, it was state Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, who, earlier this year, publicly floated the idea of funding a study on the possibility of extending the state’s commuter train from Belen to Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Kilmer says he’s not running for governor

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It’s starting to look more and more likely that Lt. Gov. Diane Denish won’t have a challenger next year when she runs in the Democratic primary for governor of New Mexico. That’s because actor Val Kilmer told New York Magazine he isn’t running. “No, I’m not,” he was quoted as saying. That came after he gave a goofy answer when first asked about whether he would run. “Well, I’m running. Continue Reading

Probate judge out for a month on medical leave

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Doña Ana County Probate Judge Alice Salcido announced today that she will be on medical leave for about a month starting Thursday. She’ll return to work on June 15, according to a news release from the county. The reason for her medical leave was not disclosed. Salcido said her assistant, Lydia Chaparro, will keep the office open to update open cases. Salcido said new cases will either have to wait until she returns or be filed in Third Judicial District Court. Continue Reading