Richardson optimistic about some ethics bills

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Gov. Bill Richardson says he’s optimistic that four of his ethics reform proposals will be approved before the end of the session. He said at a news conference today that he is most optimistic about three proposals: • Limitations on gifts. Senate Bill 931, sponsored by John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, and House Bill 819, sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, have passed their own chambers but are awaiting approval in the other. • Campaign contribution limits. The Senate has approved Senate Bill 800, sponsored by Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, which places limits on campaign contributions to candidates for offices and political action committees. Continue Reading

Richardson signs whistleblower protection bill

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Gov. Bill Richardson signed today a bill that would give citizens, including government employees, protection and incentive to expose government officials and contractors who defraud taxpayers. “This bill sends a strong message to those who would try to cheat the taxpayers and the state of their money,” Richardson said at today’s ceremony. “Crime doesn’t pay.” House Bill 770, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, protects those who opt to sue the state in an attempt to expose government corruption. Such a lawsuit, when filed, would remain sealed and would be presented to the state agency with authority to prosecute or file civil suit – the attorney general or district attorney, in most instances. Under the provisions in the bill, the agency could prosecute or sue, and the citizen would be compensated. Continue Reading

Heavy negotiating could resurrect housing bill

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House Republicans, the lieutenant governor and others are putting heavy pressure on Speaker of the House Ben Lujan to allow approval of a bill that would remake the state’s troubled housing authority system. In the meantime, Senate Bill 519, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, remains in limbo in the House Business and Industry Committee. At this point, all options are on the table, and there’s a lot of uncertainty. House Republicans spent much of Wednesday evening working on getting commitments that at least eight House Democrats would vote with them to bring the bill directly to the House floor for debate. I’m told several have agreed, but the exact number isn’t certain. Continue Reading

Spaceport will benefit all citizens, including the poor

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This is the third in a series of guest columns debating whether Doña Ana County voters should approve a 1/4 percent gross-receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America. Public officials and other readers are invited to participate in this debate. To submit a guest column for publication, e-mail me at heath@haussamen.com. Baseless personal attacks will not be published. By Delano E. Lewis One of the arguments most often made by those who oppose the spaceport gross receipts tax is that this project will benefit only the rich. Continue Reading

Ethics reform bills slowly progressing as time runs out

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It looks like the push to approve a series of ethics reform bills will come down to the wire. On Monday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 931, sponsored by John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, which would place limits on gifts to elected officials and candidates. On Tuesday, it approved Senate Bill 800, sponsored by Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, which places lifts on campaign contributions to candidates for offices and political action committees. But the two bills haven’t yet made their way on to the calendar in the House, and the Senate hasn’t approved any other bills – House or Senate versions – in the ethics reform package. However, three House ethics bills are on the Senate calendar today, along with 112 other bills. Continue Reading

Bush defends Gonzales, but says he’s ‘not happy’

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President George W. Bush says he is troubled that the Justice Department misled Congress on why it fired eight U.S. attorneys, but defended Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and said he will fix mistakes. “Mistakes were made, and I’m frankly not happy about them,” Bush told reporters at a news conference in Mexico, where he is visiting. “Any time anybody goes up to Capitol Hill, they’ve got to make sure they fully understand the facts and how they characterize the issue to members of Congress. And the fact that both Republicans and Democrats feel like there was not straightforward communication troubles me.” Bush also pointed out that Gonzales has apologized and taken responsibility for making mistakes. Gonzales has also refused calls for his resignation. Continue Reading

Richardson lays out plan for oil independence

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Gov. Bill Richardson outlined today his plan for weaning the United States off foreign oil if elected president. At an oil and gas conference in New York, Richardson, the keynote speaker, said he would, if elected president, set a goal of reducing oil imports by 40 percent, replacing liquid fuels with biofuels by 2025 and reducing greenhouse gasses by 75 percent by 2050, the Associated Press is reporting. He called foreign oil America’s “Achilles heel,” the news service reported. “Our ability to drain the swamps of terrorism depends in part on our political will to change how we produce, distribute and consume energy,” the news service quoted Richardson as saying. “In the West, it’s not just liberal college kids who ask what we are doing about global warming – it’s the conservative farmers and ranchers whose way of living is at risk.” Richardson is scheduled to participate in a presidential candidate forum sponsored by the International Association of Firefighters this afternoon in Washington, D.C., and will hold a fundraiser in Cleveland tonight before returning to Santa Fe to finish out the 2007 Legislature. Continue Reading

Denish wants reconsideration of housing overhaul

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish isn’t happy that a proposal to overhaul the state’s troubled affordable housing system wasn’t approved Tuesday night by the House Business and Industry Committee. On a split 6-6 vote, the committee failed to take any action on Senate Bill 519, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, so it remains in limbo. The committee had previously tabled the House version, House Bill 997, sponsored by Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque. The bills would fund an investigation to determine the extent of mismanagement that led to the system crumbling in scandal last year, and would also replace the authorities with a new system overseen by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. “This legislation was drafted and introduced as part of the systemic ethics reform package I’ve been pushing hard for, and was a governor’s bill,” Denish said in a news release. Continue Reading

Committee OKs housing probe, but not restructuring

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A bill that would fund a widespread investigation into the problems with the state’s regional housing authority system was approved by members of the House Business and Industry Committee this evening, but another bill that would remake the state’s affordable housing system did not receive approval. House Bill 1321, sponsored by Minority Whip Dan Foley, R-Roswell, was approved unanimously after significant changes suggested by committee members were made. It must still be approved by two committees and the House before it can head to the Senate for consideration. With 3.5 days left in the session, that’s a rough road. On a vote of 6-6, the committee members couldn’t agree to either approve or table Senate Bill 519, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, so it remains in limbo. Continue Reading

Senate approves campaign contribution limits

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After a long and contentious debate earlier today, the Senate approved a bill that places limits on campaign contributions to candidates for state offices, but only after making several amendments that make it significantly different than the bill already approved by the House. On a vote of 25-12, the Senate approved Senate Bill 800, sponsored by Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque. It would create a number of new campaign finance reporting requirements for candidates and political action committees and would limit campaign contributions to candidates to $2,300 for state races during each election cycle. Primary and general elections are considered separate cycles under the proposal. Midway through the debate, the bill appeared dead when an amendment sponsored by Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, was approved that stipulated that the bill would go into effect in the year 3007. Continue Reading

Senate may kill bill to limit campaign contributions

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The New Mexico Senate may be ready to defeat a bill that would places limits on campaign contributions to candidates for state offices. A similar bill has been approved by the House, but the Senate just amended the bill so that, if it passed, it would take effect in the year 3007, effectively making it irrelevant. That may be a sign that it’s about to be defeated. Senate Bill 800, sponsored by Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, would create a number of new campaign finance reporting requirements for candidates and political action committees and would limit campaign contributions to $2,300 for state races during each election cycle. Primary and general elections are considered separate cycles under the proposal. Continue Reading

Richardson’s acceptance of massive gifts gives senators an excuse to ignore ethics reform proposals

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Gov. Bill Richardson continues to give lawmakers grounds to believe his ethics reform proposals are hypocritical. In doing so, he’s giving them an excuse to oppose reform. The Associated Press is reporting that legislation heading to the governor for a signature would give $4 million for a road project sought by a major Richardson donor – one whose campaign contributions would be illegal under legislation the governor has proposed. Richardson wants to ban gifts with a value of more than $250, except during legislative sessions, when gifts with a value of more than $100 would be banned. He wants to limit campaign contributions to $2,300 per individual per election cycle. Continue Reading

E-mails reveal details about U.S. attorney scandal

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I’m going through the e-mail exchanges between White House and Justice Department officials about the decision made last year to fire eight U.S. attorneys. The documents were released today, and I’m looking for interesting tidbits. The e-mails can be found online by clicking here and here. For more information on the current status of the scandal, scroll down to read today’s earlier article. Here’s what I found in the e-mails: • Many have pointed out, as evidence that the current administration wasn’t doing anything unusual in getting rid of the eight last year, that former President Bill Clinton got rid of a number of U.S. attorneys when elected. Continue Reading

Richardson signs statewide smoking ban into law

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Gov. Bill Richardson signed into law today a statewide ban on smoking in most public buildings. “The advantages of a law like this – dramatically reducing exposure to second-hand smoke – far outweigh any potential administrative problems,” Richardson said. “The exposure to second-hand smoke, and cancer and lung and heart disease, is a risk that we should no longer take.” House Bill 283, sponsored by Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, bans smoking in restaurants, bars and workplaces throughout the state, in addition to public transportation systems and almost all enclosed public places. It also prohibits smoking within a “reasonable” distance of their doors and windows. Smoking would still be allowed in private residences that don’t provide commercial child, adult or health care; private clubs; bingo halls; retail tobacco stores; tobacco manufacturing plants; film production sets; sole proprietor businesses; and businesses with fewer than two employees. Continue Reading

Commission puts safeguards on spaceport tax

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The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners approved today a resolution that would put safeguards on tax money that would help fund Spaceport America. On a vote of 4-1, with Oscar Vasquez Butler dissenting, the commission approved the resolution and an amendment stating the county’s intent to use 25 percent of the tax money for educational purposes. State law allows the county to keep as much as 25 percent of the tax money for spaceport-related activities. Commissioner Bill McCamley has proposed using the money to fund programs in engineering and business that will focus on the aerospace industry at high schools in all three county school districts. The language in the resolution isn’t that specific, but does state that the county intends to use it for education. Continue Reading