Domenici won’t support immigration reform bill

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici has decided he won’t support an immigration proposal he helped draft because amendments he believes are critical won’t be approved. In response to a question, Domenici’s office confirmed for me moments ago that he no longer supports the bill. The GOP senator’s decision came after the Senate, on a vote of 53-45, rejected earlier today an amendment proposed by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that would have required all adult illegal immigrants to return home within two years to qualify for permanent legal status in the United States. The bill requires only heads of households to return to their home countries to apply for legal status. Many oppose that because they say it provides amnesty to adults who have broken the law. Continue Reading

Guv must show he’s as capable as he is personable

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In his quest for the presidency, Bill Richardson has managed recently to climb above the margin of error in at least one national poll – to 5 percent – and to reach 10 percent in polls in Iowa and New Hampshire. He’s done it while making a number of, at best, mediocre nationally televised appearances. Richardson’s attempts to set himself apart on Iraq and energy independence have been only marginally successful. And while he’s trying to score points for being Hispanic, most people across the nation don’t know he’s three-fourths Mexican. So why has Richardson gained significant ground in the last few weeks? Continue Reading

A look at our new statewide elected officials

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By Whitney Cheshire New Mexico’s leadership overhaul, six months later. Is it reform, or just status quo? Last November, New Mexicans elected four brand-new leaders, and re-elected two old ones, to statewide office. But despite the fresh blood, the dominating political philosophy in Santa Fe hasn’t changed much. Six of our seven statewide leaders were Democrats before the election and six of our seven statewide leaders are Democrats now. Continue Reading

Conservation group forgives Gutierrez’s flip-flop

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Despite a flip-flop in the 2007 Legislature that angered environmentalists, state Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Las Cruces, is one of seven legislators to receive a perfect score this year from the Conservation Voters of New Mexico. The other lawmakers to receive perfect ratings in the group’s 2007 Legislative Scorecard were Democratic representatives Antonio Lujan of Las Cruces, Miguel Garcia, Rick Miera and Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque, Elias Barela of Belen and Peter Wirth of Santa Fe. No senators received a perfect score. The lowest scores went to Rep. James Strickler, R-Farmington, who was given a 0 percent rating, and Sen. Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, who was given a 10 percent rating. The conservation group analyzes a number of environmentally related bills – including this year’s Surface Owners Protection Act and renewable energy legislation – and examines how each lawmaker voted to come up with the scores. Continue Reading

County committee will consider how spaceport tax money set aside for education should be spent

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The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners voted today to create a committee that will help it determine how to spend the money from the spaceport tax that will be set aside for education. When voters approved the tax to help fund Spaceport America in April, they also OK’d the setting aside of 25 percent of the proceeds – about $1.6 million annually – for spaceport-related education in the county. The commission has already approved a resolution stating that the funds will be divided among the Las Cruces, Gadsden and Hatch school districts according to population and will be used education related to the aerospace industry in grades 6-12. How the districts will use the money is what is yet to be determined. On a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kent Evans absent, commissioners approved the creation of the committee. Continue Reading

County might have to pay for unused voting machines

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In 2005, Doña Ana County was required by the state to spend more than $500,000 to purchase new electronic voting machines. A year later, the state changed courses and switched to paper ballots. The machines, which are sitting in a warehouse, have never been and will never be used. A similar situation played out in counties across the state. Doña Ana County made one payment of $50,000 for purchase of the new machines in 2005 before the state Board of Finance declared a moratorium on payments pending proposed legislation that would have the state, instead of counties, foot the bill. Continue Reading

Cornerstone of New Mexico political journalism crosses over to join lieutenant governor’s staff

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Kate Nelson, the managing editor of the Albuquerque Tribune and a longtime political junkie, is leaving to become deputy chief of staff and communications director for Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. The move comes the day after Denish’s office announced that spokesman Michael Henningsen was leaving to take a job as public information officer for the Economic Development Department. Nelson will take some personal time after finishing duties at the Tribune in July, and will begin her new job on Aug. 1. Nelson is one of the most respected political journalists around. Continue Reading

Immigration reform bill has new life

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An immigration reform bill that stalled earlier this month in the Senate was revived today. On a test vote of 64-35, lawmakers voted to move ahead with the bill – 39 Democrats, 24 Republicans and the independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman. The bill still faces a number of obstacles before it is approved. Read more from the Associated Press by clicking here. Continue Reading

Guv wraps up busy week with Cruces visit on Friday

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Gov. Bill Richardson will wrap up a busy week of campaigning by attending fundraisers in Las Cruces on Friday evening. He is in Iowa today campaigning and will spend this evening fundraising in New York City, according to a news release from his campaign. On Wednesday, he’ll campaign and raise money in Boston and Washington, D.C. He will also deliver a major policy speech on Iran at the Center for National Policy in the nation’s capitol. Richardson will focus on how the United States can prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “As we know from the Cold War, deterrence is above all a matter of clarity and credibility. Continue Reading

27 want to be next state Democratic Party director

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Twenty-seven people have applied to be the next executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Party Chair Brian Colón is expected to make a decision in the next couple of weeks with the help of a search committee. The applicants are: • Sisto Abeyta of New Mexico • Richard Anderson of Texas • R. Carlos Caballero of New Mexico • Joseph Casados of New Mexico • Chris Cervini of New Mexico, formerly a staffer for the lieutenant governor • Eamonn Donovan of Maryland • Marcy Fromberg of New Jersey • Theresa Holland of New Mexico • Christopher Honey of California • Mitch Kennedy of Washington, D.C. • Kenda Kirby of Washington, D.C. • Christopher Lee of California • Emily Maher of New Mexico • Michael Minh Nguyen of Washington, D.C. • Laura Montoya of New Mexico • Laura Nevitt of Minnesota • Jeffrey Parsons of Virginia • Jen Patterson of Michigan • Yvette Ramirez Ammerman of New Mexico • John Riordan of Indiana • Crystal Romero of New Mexico • Laura Sanchez of New Mexico • Maura Satchell of Tennessee • Art Terrazas of Anthony, N.M. • Rebecca Vigil-Giron, former secretary of state for New Mexico • Nathan Williams of Wisconsin • Peter Zollinger of New Mexico Continue Reading

Documentary aims to raise meth-use awareness

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., who has made combating the use of methamphetamine a priority, is producing a documentary on the effects of the deadly drug throughout the state’s 2nd Congressional District. The goal is to raise awareness and let users know help is available. Pearce is sending staffers throughout the district to interview inmates, former meth users and their families, law enforcement officers, judges and meth dealers, according to El Defensor Chieftain of Socorro. The staffers were in Socorro last week to talk to inmates at the Socorro County Detention Center who are participating in an anti-meth program. Pearce’s staffers are scheduled to complete the documentary in August, the newspaper reported, but still have to visit Alamogordo and Truth or Consequences, and the completion date may change. Continue Reading

Sports: A diversion or an obsession?

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By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek “If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work.” – William Shakespeare So, Coach Reggie Theus is leaving New Mexico State to go to the Big Show for the Big Bucks. Who cares? Apparently, lots of people. The local Sun-News has given his departure front-page, banner headlines for several days. New Mexico and El Paso TV have covered it endlessly. Continue Reading

County HR director fired after DWI arrest

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Doña Ana County has fired its human resources director after he was arrested Friday for drunken driving. The termination of Robert “Rick” McRoy, who has served in the job since January, is effective at 5 p.m. today. Assistant County Manager Sue Padilla made the decision after reviewing arrest and booking reports, according to a county news release. McRoy was in a county vehicle with an open container and subsequently failed to pass field sobriety tests. He’ll receive 37 hours of unused vacation pay and eight weeks severance pay, as his contract requires. Continue Reading

Longtime community leader killed in head-on collision

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Barney Rawson, the father of state Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson and a mentor to a number of influential Las Cruces business and community leaders, was killed Sunday night in a head-on collision in Illinois. Barney and Joan Rawson were in Moline, Ill., to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary and visit friends when a man who appears to have been drag racing crossed the median and struck their vehicle head-on, Lee Rawson said. His father died, and his mother will be hospitalized for a week or two and need several months to recover. Barney Rawson was 77. Rawson was a successful home builder in Las Cruces for many years before retiring. Continue Reading