Guard equipment shortage worries N.M. delegation

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The New Mexico congressional delegation today launched a push to get answers about why the New Mexico National Guard has the lowest level of available equipment of any Guard operation in the nation, and to find a solution. Among the problems cited is that the state’s Guard is using outdated helicopters that need to be replaced. U.S. Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman, along with Reps. Heather Wilson, Tom Udall and Steve Pearce, issued a letter today to the secretary of the Army requesting a briefing on the equipment shortage and a plan to correct the situation. In a study released in January, the General Accountability Office reported that as of November, non-deployed Army National Guard forces in New Mexico ranked last in the nation regarding equipment readiness, having only 33.8 percent of the total amount of dual-use equipment they are authorized to have for war-fighting missions. Continue Reading

Cockfighting ban on fast track through House

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A statewide ban on cockfighting appears to be on the fast track through the House, which has approved it before. Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, will be heard Saturday by the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee. What’s unique is that members of the House Judiciary Committee will listen in on the hearing so that they can quickly vote on the measure during their own hearing on Monday without listening to testimony. That will move the bill to the House floor as early as next week, assuming both committees approve it, which is likely. Saturday’s hearing will take place approximately 30 minutes after the end of the House floor session. Continue Reading

Senate to reconsider open conference committees

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A Senate committee has given new life to the push to open legislative conference committees to the public. Last week, on a vote of 20-19, the Senate killed Senate Bill 288, which would have done just that. But a second bill that is slightly different was endorsed by the Senate Public Affairs Committee on a 5-3 vote on Thursday, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Senate Bill 322, sponsored by Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque, now moves to the Senate floor. “Conference committees are small groups of lawmakers that hash out differences in the final version of legislation behind closed doors,” the newspaper quoted Carraro as saying. Continue Reading

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack drops out of 2008 presidential race; move could benefit Richardson

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Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has abandoned his bid for the presidency, which could give a boost to the campaign of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. The move leaves Richardson as the only Democratic candidate for president who has experience as a governor, and voters historically like sending governors to the White House. Vilsack, 56, worked hard but failed to attract the attention and cash to compete with the top candidates in the race – Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. “It is money and only money that is the reason we are leaving today,” the Associated Press quoted Vilsack as saying at a news conference. Vilsack’s withdrawal leaves eight candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination. Continue Reading

Back from Iraq, Pearce upbeat about troop surge

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has returned from a secret trip to Iraq expressing confidence in the new commander of U.S. forces and the controversial troop surge. Pearce spent four days earlier this week in Iraq and Israel along with several other Democratic and Republican lawmakers. They met with the commander of forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus, in addition to several other American and Iraqi leaders. Pearce shot video, which you can view by clicking here. “To gain a real understanding of the situation in Iraq, there is no substitute for talking directly to our commanders and troops on the ground,” Pearce said in an e-mail newsletter to supporters. Continue Reading

House approves whistleblower protection bill

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A bill that would give citizens, including government employees, protection and incentive to expose government officials and contractors who defraud taxpayers has been unanimously approved by the House. House Bill 770, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, was approved Thursday on a vote of 66-0, and now moves to the Senate. It’s essentially a whistleblower law that 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

Vote gives new life to tax break for coal plant

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The back-and-forth lobbying is intense on a bill that would give an $85-million tax break for the Desert Rock coal plant on the Navajo Nation, and a Senate committee voted to give it new life Thursday evening. Senate Bill 431, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano, D-Silver City, was approved on a vote of 5-4 by the Senate Conservation Committee. It now moves to the Finance Committee before it can be voted on by the full Senate. This morning, the bill’s companion, House Bill 178, sponsored by Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Farmington and the minority leader, will be reconsidered by the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It must also pass the Taxation and Revenue Committee before heading to the House floor. Continue Reading

Housing overhaul bill begins trek through House

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After being approved by the Senate last week, a proposal to remake the state’s troubled affordable housing system was endorsed by its first House committee today. House Bill 997, sponsored by Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, was approved unanimously this morning by members of the House Health and Governmental Affairs Committee. It must be approved by two additional committees before the House votes on it. “This bill is on track,” Arnold-Jones said. The proposal, which has the endorsement of the governor, would, over a period of several months, shut down the state’s scandal-plagued regional housing authorities and replace them with a system overseen by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. Continue Reading

Cervantes’ ethics reform bill passes House

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Another ethics reform bill proposed by House Democrats was approved by the House this afternoon. House Bill 823, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, was approved unanimously and now moves to the Senate for consideration. Though several ethics reform bills have been approved by the House, Cervantes’ is the first to have such widespread support. The bill would make several amendments to the Governmental Conduct Act, which attempts to set ethical standards for public officials. It would require that public officials disclose, in cases of contracts and other business with the state, not only their own business but also that of spouses, children, parents and siblings. Continue Reading

Lawmakers shouldn’t give tax break to coal plant

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This guest column was submitted in light of the decision by Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Las Cruces, to change her vote and revive a proposal to give a massive tax credit for this coal plant. You can read more about that by clicking here. In addition, the Senate version of the bill was tabled on Monday but may be reconsidered today. You can read about that by clicking here. By Robb Thomson The legislature is currently considering a proposal – House Bill 178 and Senate Bill 431 – that would give away $85 million in tax credits over a period of years to the owners of a conventional coal-powered electric plant proposed for the Four Corners region, Desert Rock. Continue Reading

Rawson threatens county over censure of treasurer

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State Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, contends the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners didn’t have the authority to censure the treasurer earlier this month, and is apparently threatening that he won’t seek capital outlay funds for the county unless it rescinds the vote. Rawson made the comments to Republican Commissioner Kent Evans and the Las Cruces Sun-News. The county says Rawson is wrong, but the senator, according to the newspaper, cites a 1987 attorney general opinion that says county commissioners don’t have general oversight of the county’s other elected officials, with a few exceptions. Rawson said since the commission doesn’t have authority to censure, the act is “a malicious attack.” County Treasurer Jim Schoonover and his deputy were censured by commissioners, with only Evans voting in opposition, on Feb. 5 for a laundry list of complaints that includes misusing county staffers and equipment to benefit the Elks Lodge. Continue Reading

Like he has done so many times before, Richardson stood out in Nevada by being the peacemaker

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Though Gov. Bill Richardson was his typical casual, confident and friendly self during Wednesday’s Democratic presidential candidate forum in Nevada, one thing about him stood out: While other candidates were taking shots at each other, Richardson was playing peacemaker. The three frontrunners for the party’s 2008 nomination spent Wednesday fighting, with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama trading barbs in the media and John Edwards taking cheap shots at Clinton during the forum. Read about the Clinton/Obama incident by clicking here and the Edwards comments by clicking here. In addition, some of the second-tier candidates, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, repeatedly took shots at their own party and Washington politics. Richardson took a different approach. Continue Reading

Common Cause reports make case for ethics reform

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Two new reports from Common Cause New Mexico further reveal the need for ethics reform in state government. The reports, released Tuesday, examine the roles the health care and real estate industries have played in New Mexico politics in recent years. They’re enlightening looks at how corporate money has influenced the Legislature, governor and other elected leaders. The first, which you can read by clicking here, reports that the real estate and development industry gave almost $1.5 million in campaign contributions to New Mexico politicians during the 2006 election cycle. The second, which you can read by clicking here, reports that the health care industry, during the last four election cycles, has contributed more than $660,000. Continue Reading

House sends more ethics reform bills to Senate

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The House has approved two more ethics reform bills and sent them to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 818, sponsored by Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, D-Nambé, would create a public financing system for statewide and judicial candidates similar to the system already in place for Public Regulation Commission races. It was approved Wednesday on a vote of 41-28. House Bill 820, sponsored by Majority Leader Ken Martinez, D-Grants, would prohibit lawmakers from spending campaign funds except, for the most part, on politically related activities. It would also provide an annual disbursement to each lawmaker equal to 15 percent of the salary of New Mexico Supreme Court justices for expenses directly related to their duties. Continue Reading

Domenici appears healthy on Las Cruces trip

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If public appearances in Las Cruces today are any indication, rumors that U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., will be forced to retire because of failing health have no basis. Considering the fact that he’s 74, Domenici appeared spry, witty and lighthearted during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new federal courthouse in Las Cruces. Though I wasn’t able to attend the other two public events today, others told me his energy lasted through both events. I last saw Domenici about a year ago, and he looked much healthier today than he did back then. At the groundbreaking, Domenici poked fun at his age and said he is old enough that a luncheon in Albuquerque on Tuesday was attended primarily by younger people he had never met. Continue Reading