Vote totals from House speaker race kept secret

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The vote totals for speaker, majority leader and majority whip from today’s House Democratic caucus were kept secret by leadership and those who counted ballots. I can tell you a bit more about how the meeting played out. After Ben Lujan of Santa Fe and Ken Martinez of Grants were nominated for speaker, both gave speeches. Then Rep. Mary Helen Garcia of Las Cruces challenged the speaker with several questions about his leadership and actions, including one about the $75 million he slipped into this year’s capital outlay bill without the knowledge of most legislators and at the last minute. Several legislators told me Lujan didn’t really answer Garcia’s questions. Continue Reading

Martinez elected majority leader

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Ken Martinez will remain House majority leader. Joseph Cervantes withdrew from the majority leader race, and the members elected Martinez. I don’t yet know what happened with Mimi Stewart, who was also in the running, and I don’t know the vote count. House Democrats are now working on who will be whip. The race is between Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Jose Campos. Continue Reading

LFC proposes $5.7 billion budget

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The Legislative Finance Committee recommended today that New Mexico increase its budget by 11 percent next year to $5.7 billion, according to the Associated Press. It’s just a proposal to work from when the session starts on Jan. 16, and would represent a $537-million increase in spending from this year. New Mexico has an estimated $723 million in new money from oil and gas revenues. The proposal also provides $105 million in tax cuts, the news service reported. Continue Reading

Garcia won’t reveal how he’ll vote

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Well-placed sources say newly appointed State Rep. Thomas Garcia will vote for Ben Lujan in the speaker race, but Garcia isn’t confirming that. Garcia spoke during a break in an ethics training seminar all legislators are in this morning. When asked, Garcia would not confirm or deny that he’ll vote for Lujan, saying he will visit with those seeking all leadership positions before this afternoon’s vote. “It all happened so quickly,” Garcia said of his appointment. “I’m going to be visiting with them all before the vote. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: Richardson appoints Thomas Garcia in time to vote in today’s speaker race

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About two hours before House Democrats are set to vote on who will be the next speaker, Gov. Bill Richardson has appointed Thomas Garcia of Ocate, a likely supporter of Ben Lujan, to the House District 68 seat. Garcia is expected to vote later today for Lujan. The race between Lujan and Ken Martinez is so close that Garcia’s might be the deciding vote. Richardson also appointed David Ulibarri of Grants to replace the retiring Joe Fidel in the Senate. The House Distrcit 68 seat was vacated when former Rep. Hector Balderas resigned following his election as state auditor. Continue Reading

Richardson may head back to Sudan

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Gov. Bill Richardson has been asked to travel to Sudan to help push the government to allow peacekeeping forces in the devastated Darfur region, the Associated Press is reporting. The Washington, D.C.-based Save Darfur Coalition made the request, and Richardson is consulting with the State Department, the Sudanese Government and the United Nations, spokesman Pahl Shipley told the news service. The United Nations passed a resolution in September that approved sending 22,000 peacekeeping troops to Darfur, but the Sudanese government has refused to allow them in. The invitation could continue to give Richardson national press and boost his image as a foreign-policy expert at a time when he’s considering a run for president. He met last week, for the second time since he was elected governor, with North Korean officials in Santa Fe to discuss that ongoing conflict. Continue Reading

Cote, other new lawmakers could pick speaker

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State Rep.-elect Nate Cote of Las Cruces is gaining some quick statewide exposure because of his willingness to talk with the media. In an article in today’s Albuquerque Tribune, he is featured as one of five incoming Democratic House members who may decide today’s speaker of the House vote. As the only one who spoke with reporter Kate Nash, Cote is the focus of the article. He told the Tribune he was a bit anxious and wouldn’t say who he’s leaning toward supporting. “I don’t necessarily feel pressure, but I feel that this is a big decision,” the Tribune quoted him as saying. Continue Reading

Richardson spends weekend in New Hampshire

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Gov. Bill Richardson spent the weekend in New Hampshire setting up a run for president. The trip was well covered by the Albuquerque Journal and Tribune. Click here to read the Tribune’s article on the lobbyist who is guiding Richardson in that state. Click here to read the Journal’s Sunday article on the visit and here to read today’s article. One notable fact: Richardson’s appearances drew much smaller crowds than those of Barack Obama. Continue Reading

Quiet weekend leaves speaker race unpredictable

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Two weekend newspaper articles painted an interesting picture of Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, but neither had the power to change the minds of a significant number of caucus members, and the outcome of today’s vote on who will be the next speaker is still impossible to predict. In addition, Gov. Bill Richardson didn’t fill the House District 68 vacancy, raising questions about whether 41 or 42 members will vote today. The Albuquerque Journal’s Sunday article explored Lujan’s relationship with his friend Vincent “Smiley” Gallegos, a lobbyist, former legislator and the man who ran the state’s housing authorities when they crumbled in scandal earlier this year. Much of the information had already been disclosed publicly, but there were a couple of new revelations. One was that, just three months before the housing authority system collapsed earlier this year, Lujan sponsored legislation that would have created a statewide regional housing council with a $5 million appropriation. Continue Reading

Poll reveals crowded Senate field

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There are several potentially credible candidates who could replace U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici in 2008 if he retires, according to the results of last week’s non-scientific poll on this site. Of 222 votes cast, 51, or 23 percent, went to Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez; 38, or 17 percent, went to U.S. Rep. Tom Udall; 28, or 13 percent, went to U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson; 25, or 11 percent, went to U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce; 22, or 10 percent, went to Gov. Bill Richardson; 15, or 7 percent, went to Attorney General Patricia Madrid; and 13, or 6 percent, went to Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. Thirty votes, or 14 percent, were cast for “someone else.” Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Madrid won’t look into governor’s hiring practices

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Attorney General Patricia Madrid has declined to investigate whether Gov. Bill Richardson has illegally made hires without legislative approval. In an advisory letter issued late today, Madrid said the allegations are too broad and the evidence presented is too little to warrant an investigation. “Controlling authority establishes that the wide-ranging inquiry into executive practices being requested is neither appropriate or warranted,” Madrid said in a news release. “In their submission, those requesting an investigation have neither made allegations or presented any evidence that a public servant has received pay for services not rendered or that payments have been made in excess of legislative appropriations.” Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque, delivered a petition in April to Madrid calling for an investigation. It was signed by a bipartisan group of 25 legislators. Continue Reading

Incredible power at stake in House speaker race

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The weekend before House Democrats choose one of the most powerful people in state government will be colored by private phone calls, closed-door meetings, deals and other political wrangling. Lots could happen before Monday’s vote. House members are anxiously awaiting articles about Speaker of the House Ben Lujan that may run in newspapers this weekend. The Santa Fe New Mexican will profile Lujan and take a look at his career. Many sources have also told me the Albuquerque Journal plans to run an article looking at ties between Lujan and former Region III Housing Authority Director Vincent “Smiley” Gallegos, but I’ve been unable to confirm that. Continue Reading