Common Cause: Tired of scandal? Approve reforms

By |

Following the recent outrage expressed by some legislative leaders at the many scandals plaguing New Mexico, Common Cause is making a renewed push for ethics reform. “The leadership of the Legislative Finance Committee recently stated that they’re tired of all the scandals in New Mexico and that there’s a need for additional oversight of state institutions,” Steven Robert Allen, Common Cause executive director, said in a news release. “We couldn’t agree more, and look forward to working — in a serious and concerted manner — with legislative leadership to address these concerns.” “In particular,” the release states, “New Mexico is still one of only a few states with no independent ethics commission to investigate allegations of wrongdoing by public officials. Likewise, New Mexico needs to take big money out of the political equation entirely by expanding public campaign financing to offices such as governor and attorney general.” More from the release: “An independent bipartisan ethics commission is the single best way to provide reliable objective oversight of state agencies. Likewise, private campaign contributions could very well be viewed as a hidden tax, a cost of doing business with the state that’s ultimately passed on to the consumer — that is, the citizens of New Mexico. Continue Reading

Capitalizing on corruption is key for GOP in 2010

By |

Republicans have, thus far, been unable to capitalize on scandals that have plagued Democrats in New Mexico since 2005. If they can’t find a way to do it next year, and win the governor’s race, they won’t have much of a say in redistricting. Ever since two state treasurers were arrested on corruption charges in September 2005, Republicans in New Mexico have been trying to capitalize — with election gains — on the Democratic scandals that just keep spreading. But instead, Republicans have actually lost ground in the New Mexico Legislature and gone from having a majority of seats in the state’s congressional delegation to having none. With the next round of redistricting taking place early in the next decade, under the watch of a governor who will be elected next year, Republicans are focused intently on the race to replace the term-limited Bill Richardson. Continue Reading

U.S. attorney subpoenas investment council records

By |

Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed the State Investment Council (SIC) for documents related to its investment deals, Bloomberg is reporting.That’s just one of several news items in the last two days that indicates that the investment scandal that began in New York is spreading even further in New Mexico. In addition, a third-party marketer who did business in New Mexico has pleaded guilty to charges he faced in New York, and a company involved in the scandal has agreed to pay $20 million and reform its investment practices to avoid prosecution. But first the subpoena. SIC spokesman Charles Wollmann, speaking to Bloomberg, confirmed the subpoena from the U.S. attorney in Albuquerque but would not describe the contents. “We’re working to comply with the request of the authorities,” Bloomberg quoted Wollmann as saying. Continue Reading

Roberta Vigil convicted in fraud case

By |

Roberta Vigil was convicted of two felonies today for misusing public money in her former role as head of the West Las Vegas Public Schools’ bilingual education program. Vigil was convicted of fraud over $2,500, a third-degree felony, and conspiracy to commit fraud over $2,500, a fourth-degree felony, according to a news release from the attorney general. She faces a maximum of 4.5 years in prison. The AG’s office, according to the release, “is pleased with this morning’s verdict. It sends a message that misuse of public monies will be prosecuted by this office and that this type of behavior will not be tolerated by the people of New Mexico.” Vigil was accused of misspending state and federal money on a number of items, including an annual, invitation-only party — one that took place late at night and included an expensive band — under the guise of a staff training event. Continue Reading

Obama pushes credit card reform in Rio Rancho

By |

This article has been updated.By Eric Maddywww.The-SCORE.info RIO RANCHO — President Barack Obama traveled to New Mexico today to urge Congress to pass a “consumer bill of rights” that would place tighter restrictions on the credit card industry. Speaking to a capacity crowd of more than 2,000 in the Rio Rancho High School gym, Obama said, “You should not have to worry that when you are signing up for a credit card that you are signing away all your rights. You shouldn’t need a magnifying glass or a law degree to read the fine print that sometimes doesn’t look like it’s been written in English — or Spanish.” “But these practices have only grown worse in this recession. Enough is enough. It is time for strong, reliable protection for our consumers,” Obama said. Continue Reading

Richardson had ‘cordial’ meeting with Obama

By |

This article has been updated.Gov. Bill Richardson may not have been on stage with President Barack Obama today in Rio Rancho, but he rode in Obama’s motorcade to and from the event (though not in Obama’s vehicle), a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed. And Richardson was among a handful of state political leaders who met with Obama before the town-hall meeting at Rio Rancho High School. “The governor met with President Obama backstage before the event in Rio Rancho,” Richardson Communications Director Pahl Shipley said. “The meeting was cordial and productive. They talked the stimulus, the New Mexico economy, North Korea and the border. Continue Reading

White House news release on credit card reform

By |

The White House just put out a news release about today’s town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho. Obama’s speech is essentially following the release. Here it is: PROTECTING AMERICAN CREDIT CARD HOLDERS President Obama Discusses Need for Credit Card Reform; Urges Congress to Pass Comprehensive Legislation Today, President Obama will hold a town hall meeting in Rio Rancho, New Mexico where he will discuss the need for immediate reform of the credit card industry and his commitment to signing the Credit Card Bill of Rights into law by Memorial Day. Americans need a durable and successful flow of credit in our economy, but we can’t tolerate profits that depend upon misleading working families. For too long, credit card contracts have been deceptively complicated, often leading consumers to pay more than they reasonably expect due to unfair practices. Continue Reading

Richardson isn’t on stage with Obama

By |

This article has been updated.Gov. Bill Richardson isn’t on stage with President Barack Obama at the president’s town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho. No other New Mexico elected officials are on stage with Obama. Richardson did meet with Obama before arriving in the Rio Rancho High School gymnasium, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican’s Steve Terrell. And Obama, in his opening remarks, referred to Richardson as “a great friend, one of the finest governors in the country.” This is their first public encounter since Richardson withdrew his nomination to be commerce secretary because of the ongoing probe into allegations of pay to play in his administration. Continue Reading

NMPolitics.net has your Obama coverage right here

By |

This article has been updated.People were lining up at 5:45 a.m. to see President Barack Obama later today in Rio Rancho. That’s according to The SCORE’s Eric Maddy, who will be covering Obama’s visit for this site. Obama’s town-hall meeting on credit card debt is scheduled to last from 10-11:15 a.m. If all goes as planned, you’ll be able to watch it live right here via embedded video from KNME-TV in Albuquerque. Shortly after the event, look for Maddy’s coverage here as well. And during the event, while you’re watching, you can participate in a live blog hosted by the New Mexico Independent. Continue Reading

Guv asks about trains, pledges aquatic center cash

By |

On Tuesday, I shared my opinion that a commuter rail between Las Cruces and El Paso makes sense, but spending more than a billion dollars on a line that would connect Las Cruces with the current end of the Rail Runner Express in Belen does not. On Wednesday, a number of southern New Mexicans told Gov. Bill Richardson they prefer a Las Cruces-El Paso line to a Las Cruces-Belen line. (From Belen, people can already ride the commuter train to Albuquerque and Santa Fe.) That came at Richardson’s town-hall meeting in Las Cruces, where he was soliciting opinions on how to best spend federal stimulus money in Doña Ana County. Richardson announced tens of millions of dollars already approved for the widening of Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and El Paso and a number of other projects related to roads, bus shelters, airport upgrades, schools, water systems and other projects. There’s more cash available, and the governor is traveling the state to solicit input into how to spend it. Continue Reading

Newspaper profiles man at center of pension scandal

By |

Remember Hank Morris, one of the men at the center of the New York pension scandal that has spread to New Mexico? He’s under indictment in the New York case, accused of using his position in that state’s comptroller’s office to shake down companies wanting to do business with the state’s pension fund. He’s also the third-party marketer who helped secure investment contracts in New Mexico for a couple of firms at the center of the scandal. Anyway, the New York Times is out this evening with a profile of Morris that’s a fascinating read. Check it out by clicking here. Continue Reading

Three more added to NMSU prez search committee

By |

The New Mexico State University Board of Regents announced today that it has finalized the membership of its presidential search committee with the addition of three more members. The new members are Michael Johnson, vice president of the NMSU Foundation’s board of directors; Delano Lewis, director of NMSU’s International Relations Institute; and biology professor Elba Serrano, according to a letter Regents Chairman Blake Curtis sent to the NMSU community this afternoon. The committee will be chaired by former Regents President Adelmo “Del” Archuleta. The other nine members announced last week are College of Business Dean Garrey Carruthers, NMSU Grants President Felicia Casados, Las Cruces City Councilor Dolores Connor, student body President Travis Dulany, Faculty Senate Chair Chris Erickson, New Mexico Association of Counties Director Paul Gutierrez, former basketball coach Lou Henson, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Eastern District Director Bruce Hinrichs and College of Agriculture Assistant Dean Tim Nesbitt. You can find more information on the search from NMSU’s Web site. Continue Reading

Smith ’embarrassed’ by scandal: I would be too

By |

State Sen. John Arthur Smith said on Tuesday at a legislative hearing about the controversy plaguing the state’s investment boards that he’s “embarrassed” to be a public official in such a scandal-plagued state. No kidding. I would think all public officials in New Mexico would be embarrassed. Officials convicted of corruption-related felony crimes in the last few years include two former state treasurers, a former deputy insurance superintendent and a former Senate president pro tem. Those currently caught up in controversies — some involving criminal probes — include the governor, the land commissioner, the former head of the state’s affordable housing system, the former secretary of state and the investment boards. Continue Reading

Cornelius plans to run for land commissioner or PRC

By |

Former congressional candidate Bob Cornelius says he’ll be on the ballot next year, running either for land commissioner or a seat on the Public Regulation Commission. Cornelius is a Republican, so running for the District 2 PRC seat would pit him in a primary against Land Commissioner Pat Lyons, who is term-limited from seeking re-election and announced earlier this week that he’s running for the PRC seat. Cornelius said that doesn’t worry him. “No matter which seat I choose to run for, I don’t plan on losing,” he said in an interview. Cornelius said he’s met with GOP leaders and other Republicans around the state about his consideration of both races. Continue Reading