Local political shift may signify the national mood

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Many analysts predict that the shift to the left that gave Democrats control of Congress in 2006 will continue this year, but there’s a lot of debate about how strong the wave will be. If the recent overthrow of the Las Cruces City Council is an indication of the national mood, the wave might be stronger than some suspect. New Mexico didn’t experience the shift to the left that was seen across the nation in 2006. Anger against Washington Republicans was cancelled out by frustration over Democratic scandals in Santa Fe. The only exception was Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Krahling will seek to replace Evans on commission

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New Mexico State University alum and long-time county resident Scott Krahling announced today that he will seek to replace Kent Evans as the District 4 representative on the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners. “This county is facing incredible amounts of growth, and we need leaders who will be proactive and work with all parties when making decisions that affect the future of our residents,” Krahling said. In order to address the needs of a growing community, Krahling, a Democrat, said he will push for a comprehensive plan for the future that attracts new jobs, meets the county’s security needs and protects the environment. He said he will seek to “address infrastructure needs and add new amenities like parks and walking paths.” Krahling said he will also work to ensure that all interested people can participate in their government, saying that’s important to ensure that the area “remains the kind of community our kids will be proud to call home.” No other Democrats have announced their intention to run for the seat, which is open because Evans has served two terms and cannot run again. Two Republicans – Doyle Pruitt and Anna Mae Evans, who is Kent Evans’ wife – have announced their candidacies for the seat. Continue Reading

Clinton begins airing TV ad in Albuquerque market

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Hillary Clinton began airing her first television ad in New Mexico today, a 30-second spot about the economy. The ad is airing in the Albuquerque television market, which does not include Doña Ana County. “Our economy is in real trouble,” the ad’s narrator states. “And while George Bush helps his friends, the middle class gets slammed.” The ad focuses on Clinton’s plan to freeze foreclosures and take other action to help the nation’s struggling economy. “We need more than talk,” the narrator says. Continue Reading

Bill would let 16- and 17-year-olds be poll workers

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A bill sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, could help encourage young people to become involved in the political process by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to be poll workers. Steinborn worked with Doña Ana County Elections Supervisor Lynn Ellins to draft House Bill 335, which has been approved for consideration in the current 30-day session by the governor. Currently, a person has to be 18 to be a poll worker. “This is a win-win situation for everyone,” Steinborn said in a news release. “It helps our electoral system recruit more citizens to meet our perpetual shortages during elections while giving our young adults an opportunity to participate in our democracy. Continue Reading

Plan to provide alternate path to ballot faces hurdles

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What do you do if you want to create the appearance that you support providing an alternate path to the ballot for major-party candidates but don’t actually want to provide such an alternate path to the ballot? You sponsor a bill that places requirements that are nearly impossible to reach and, in practicality, don’t provide an alternate path to the ballot. That’s especially effective in a 30-day session, when creating dissent can bog down a bill until there’s no time left to pass it. That’s exactly what Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, is accused of doing. At issue is whether Democrats and Republicans who don’t secure 20 percent at their party’s preprimary nominating convention should be allowed another way to get on the ballot. Continue Reading

Wilson to campaign in Las Cruces this week

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U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson will be in Las Cruces Thursday and Friday for two events that are open to the public. She will meet with college Republicans at New Mexico State University from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. That event will be held in the Rio Grande Room at Corbett Center Student Union on campus. Wilson will speak on Friday to the Federation of Republican Women from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. That event will be held at Good Samaritan Village, 3025 Terrace Drive. Wilson, a Republican, is the U.S. Representative for the state’s First Congressional District. Continue Reading

An argument for the governor’s health-care proposal

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By Diane Denish As we were preparing to embark on an effort to reform our state’s health-care system in this year’s legislative session, a newspaper cartoon caught my eye. Titled “The simplified health care program,” it showed two street vendors of the hotdog-stand variety. One of them offered “Fried Stuff” for $1. The other offered a defibrillator, $10 a jolt. While it was a humorous exaggeration, the sad fact is that too many of our citizens aren’t as healthy as they can be and, all too often, drastic and expensive health care is the best they can hope for. The problem affects every New Mexican – even those who have insurance and get basic, preventive care. Continue Reading

Former Gov. Johnson endorses Ron Paul

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Former Gov. Gary Johnson is endorsing Ron Paul for president. Johnson’s endorsement of Paul isn’t a surprise. Both are Republicans but are almost Libertarian in their philosophy. “I am endorsing Ron Paul for the Republican nomination for president because of his commitment to less government, greater liberty and lasting prosperity for America,” Johnson said in a statement released by Paul’s campaign. “We are at a point in this country where we need to reduce our dependency on government and regain control of our future,” he said. Continue Reading

Guv to meet with House Dems on health-care plan

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Gov. Bill Richardson will meet this afternoon with the House Democratic caucus, apparently in an attempt to try to build momentum for his health-care reform proposal, which has gained little traction thus far in the legislative session. The meeting between the governor and all House Democrats will be held on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse. It’s being called a “crisis caucus” by some House Democrats, though none I spoke with knew why or who started calling it that. But here’s the bottom line: The crown jewel of Richardson’s legislative agenda is universal health care. The governor’s plan, which would use a combination of government and private programs to cover all New Mexicans, is sponsored by John Heaton, D-Carlsbad, and co-signed by only two others: Speaker Ben Lujan and Majority Leader Ken Martinez. Continue Reading

U.S. attorney probes might resurface before election

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Though there hasn’t been much public activity in recent months, probes into the 2006 firings of nine U.S. attorneys could re-enter the spotlight in the heat of the 2008 election cycle. That has the potential to threaten the legacy of the retiring U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and the political future of U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson. The Hill is reporting today that there has been recent behind-the-scenes activity in several investigations related to the firings of David Iglesias of New Mexico and others. That includes investigation into the October 2006 phone calls Domenici and Wilson placed to Iglesias to discuss an ongoing investigation weeks before the November 2006 election. Iglesias alleges Domenici and Wilson pressured him to speed indictments to sway voters, a charge both deny. Continue Reading

Clinton won’t be in N.M. today or tomorrow

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Contrary to published reports, Hillary Clinton won’t visit New Mexico today or Wednesday. Clinton campaign spokeswoman Kathleen Strand confirmed that the senator has no plans to visit the state in the next 48 hours. Clinton’s presidential campaign has said she will visit before the state’s Democrats caucus on Feb. 5 but has not released a date or location. The Associated Press first reported Monday night that Clinton would leave South Carolina to campaign in other states, including New Mexico, today and Wednesday. Continue Reading

Richardson for VP movement continues

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A grassroots movement to make Bill Richardson the next vice president is continuing despite a statement from the governor’s presidential campaign spokesman earlier this month that Richardson isn’t interested in the job. Perhaps most telling is this reality: One of the organizers of the movement, Ken Camp, said he would cease pushing for Richardson to become vice president if the governor or his staffers told him to. In contrast to what’s being said publicly, Richardson and his staffers have not asked Camp to stop. Two Richardson for VP movements have merged into one. An official Web site has been created. Continue Reading

The church and the government

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By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “Although he’s regularly asked to do so, God does not take sides in American politics.” – George Mitchell “The government must pursue a course of complete neutrality toward religion.” – John Paul Stevens The other day, one of my students declared that she would not vote for Barack Obama because he is a Muslim. That evening, a friend sent me a copy of a chain e-mail she had received alleging that Obama is a radical Muslim and stating that “Muslims have said they want to destroy the U.S. from within and what better way than… through the president.” Of course, the person who originated this e-mail offered no proof, nor did she cite sources that one could access to verify her statements. A minor amount of research proved the falsity of these statements. Obama did have exposure to the Muslim religion via his father, but his divorced parents and his stepfather were essentially non-religious. However, he now is a baptized member of the United Church of Christ. Continue Reading

Voters in poll not optimistic about ethics reform

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The vast majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said the state Legislature won’t approve significant ethics reform during the 2008 session. Of 88 voters, 74, or 84 percent, said lawmakers won’t approve significant ethics reform, while 14, or 16 percent, said they will. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Obama will be the first on TV in New Mexico

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Barack Obama will become the first presidential candidate on Saturday to air television ads in New Mexico, and his campaign appears to be the most active on the ground with 18 days until the state’s Democrats caucus on Feb. 5. Obama’s 30-second ad focuses on health-care reform at a time that the state’s Legislature is also debating the issue, and provides a Web address – barackobama.com/healthcare – where people can learn about his plan. “My mother died of cancer at 53. In those last, painful months, she was more worried about paying her medical bills than getting well,” Obama says in the ad. Continue Reading