Wilson hits Obama over remark about Clinton backers

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U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson is going on the offensive on behalf of Republican presidential nominee John McCain by attacking Barack Obama for suggesting that supporters of Hillary Clinton should “get over” her loss and back the Democratic presidential nominee. ABC News reported on Friday that, at a meeting with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Obama was asked by a Clinton supporter to reach out to the millions of women who are disappointed that Clinton lost. Obama, according to ABC, said healing is needed and he hoped Clinton supporters who were present at the meeting would help him. “If women take a moment to realize that on every issue important to women, John McCain is not in their corner, that would help them get over it,” Obama said, according to ABC. At least one congresswoman at the meeting, Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., took issue with Obama’s comment, saying she found the words “get over it” to be dismissive, ABC reported. Continue Reading

Pearce wants no wilderness areas in Doña Ana County

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce introduced a bill last week that would eliminate all wilderness study areas in Doña Ana County and require the sale of tens of thousands of acres of federal land, igniting new controversy in the longstanding battle over the area’s land and development. At issue is what to do with hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land around Las Cruces, the state’s second-largest city. In introducing House Resolution 6300, Pearce is taking the side of People for Preserving Our Western Heritage, a coalition of ranchers and other business owners who want a less-restrictive designation for most or all of the land in question. The group formed two years ago in opposition to the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance’s proposal to give a permanent wilderness designation — the highest level of protection — to more than 300,000 acres of land in the county. The Wilderness Alliance plan has widespread support from local governments and newspapers. Continue Reading

Audit of State Land Office is justified

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By Steve Fischmann State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons claims that partisan politics and anti-development sentiment are behind the state auditor’s decision to review real-estate deals at his office. However annoyed Mr. Lyons may be, speculation about the auditor’s motives is counterproductive. Instead, the commissioner should work closely with auditors to ensure the State Land Office does the best job it can on behalf of New Mexico’s citizens. The primary legal obligation of the Land Office is to maximize returns for the beneficiaries of state trust lands — usually the public schools. Mr. Lyons’ protestations that trust revenues are increasing are irrelevant if state land is being sold off too cheaply. Continue Reading

New GOP Web site targets Hispanics

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The state’s Republican Party has launched a new social-networking Web site, politicalvida.com, aimed at providing a forum for Hispanics throughout New Mexico and the United States “to gather and exchange ideas about politics,” according to a news release from the party. “As the Hispanic population continues to grow in states like California, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, Political Vida will serve as a unique vehicle for the exchange of ideas between younger Hispanic voters,” the state party’s Spanish communications director, Ivette Barajas, said in a news release. “I’m excited that the Republican Party is honoring its commitment to engage the Hispanic community in a dialogue about the future of our state and country by offering a place for that open discussion to take place.” Political Vida is a user-driven Web site that offers various features, including a collection of videos and a frequently updated list of postings from Hispanic bloggers from around the nation. There is also an open forum section where people can leave and view comments about issues relevant to the Hispanic community. “The road to the White House will go through our Hispanic Community,” Dan Garza, chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of New Mexico, said in the news release. Continue Reading

Universal health care wrangling continues

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Gov. Bill Richardson and the Senate may be on the way to compromising on some health-care reforms, but not the switch to universal health care the governor wants. In an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, Senate Finance Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said there isn’t money to pay for the universal health-care plan Richardson pushed but lawmakers rejected earlier this year. Still, Smith said, Richardson and a key group of lawmakers have agreed to “find a way to help physicians adopt electronic medial record systems,” according to the Journal. They also agreed that the state retirees’ health-coverage pool needs reform, and that they all support insurance reform. The last is a broad topic, and how to reform the system has caused widespread disagreement in Santa Fe. Continue Reading

Teague gets help from top Democratic group

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made electing 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Harry Teague a top priority last week. In adding Teague to its “Red to Blue” program, the fundraising arm of House Democrats ensured that an already hot race between Teague and Republican Ed Tinsley will become even hotter. In 2004, the program raised nearly $7.5 million for 27 campaigns across the nation — an average of more than $250,000 per campaign. In 2006, the program raised nearly $22.6 million for 56 campaigns. “The Red to Blue Program will give Harry’s campaign for change the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman said in a release from the Teague campaign. Continue Reading

Obama in ABQ today for invitation-only event

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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will be in Albuquerque today for an invitation-only event with women. The event will be held at 12:30 p.m. but the campaign did not authorize the release of the location other than to say it’s at a local business. The visit is part of Obama’s “Change That Works for You” economic tour, according to a news release from the campaign. Obama will “have a discussion with working women” at the Albuquerque event. Former state Attorney General Patricia Madrid said she was invited to and will attend the event. Continue Reading

White wins this site’s non-scientific poll

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Darren White will win the 1st Congressional District race. Of 367 voters, 204, or 56 percent, said White, the Republican, will win, while 163 voters, or 44 percent, said his Democratic opponent, Martin Heinrich, will win. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Bingaman goes to ANWR

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By Jim Scarantino Watching Democrats mishandling America’s energy crisis feels like 2002: There we were fighting Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. They had attacked us with hijacked planes. They wanted to upgrade from flying coach to detonating nuclear weapons in American cities. Al Qaeda had hoped to provoke us into doing something stupid. Al Qaeda knew it couldn’t defeat us. Continue Reading

Help wanted: University president to schmooze

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By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “The university has lost its way, and everybody knew it except the Board of Regents, the alumni, the faculty and 90 percent of the students” – James Michener, The Drifters Another New Mexico State University president moves on. In the dozen years I’ve lived in Las Cruces, I believe there have been at least four university presidents at NMSU. Apparently, this short tenure of university presidents is not unusual. I checked with my alma mater, the University of Colorado, and found that in the past 35 years there have been eight presidents, with each president’s tenure averaging a bit more than four years. The longest any stayed was six years. Continue Reading

New Mexico’s 2nd District race is already heating up

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The primary has just ended, but New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District general-election race between Democrat Harry Teague and Republican Ed Tinsley is already heating up. The fundraising group for House Democrats has set its sights on electing Teague. And a nonpartisan political analysis group has recently shifted its rating of the race from one Tinsley is likely to win to one that leans in his favor, but not as strongly. There’s good reason for that. The district is conservative and one where outgoing Republican Rep. Steve Pearce has had few difficulties winning re-election. Continue Reading

Most voters in non-scientific poll pick Teague

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Democrat Harry Teague will win the 2nd Congressional District race. Of 282 voters, 160, or 57 percent, picked Teague to win the race, while 122, or 43 percent, said Republican Ed Tinsley will win. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Guv praises Russert upon learning of his death

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Upon learning today of the death of Meet the Press host Tim Russert, Gov. Bill Richardson praised him as a journalist who “set the standard for tough but fair political coverage.” Russert collapsed today while at work and was later pronounced dead. He was 58. You can read about his death from NBC News by clicking here. Russert, the host of the most widely viewed Sunday news program, was a tough questioner, and, as NBC reported, “A ‘Meet the Press’ grilling was often considered an essential proving ground in the career of any national politician.” Time Magazine named Russert one of the 100 most influential people in the world this year. Richardson, as a presidential candidate, appeared for his hour-long grilling on Russert’s show in May 2007. Continue Reading

McCain to return to ABQ for fundraiser

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Republican presidential nominee John McCain will be in Albuquerque next month for a private fundraiser, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Tickets for the July 14 gathering will be $1,000 apiece, McCain’s New Mexico finance chair, car dealer Ken Zangara, told the newspaper. The fundraiser will be hosted at Zangara’s home. This will be McCain’s second 2008 campaign trip to New Mexico. He was in Albuquerque on Memorial Day. Continue Reading

Lawmaker no longer seeks audit of Lyons’ dealings

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A special audit of the dealings of the State Land Office begins today, even as one of five lawmakers who requested the review has withdrawn his support for it. The land office announced today in a news release that Democratic state Rep. Ray Begaye of Shiprock has withdrawn his name from the letter that sought the formal involvement of state Auditor Hector Balderas. In an interview, Begaye said he has come to respect Land Commissioner Pat Lyons and his staff and is concerned that the controversy that has ensued over Lyons’ dealings with a Las Cruces developer is costing the state money that could help fund education. Begaye said that, until the controversy began, Lyons was increasing the amount of money the land office was making for education, which “tells me that Pat Lyons and his office staff are doing a pretty good job.” The controversy, Begaye said, caused the land office’s business and planning lease revenue to drop during the 2007 fiscal year by about $400,000 from the previous fiscal year. Asked if he believes the controversy is politically motivated, as Lyons has alleged, Begaye said there “is some internal strife” in Las Cruces but he doesn’t know a lot about it. Continue Reading