Gay-rights forum a disaster for Richardson

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Gov. Bill Richardson blew a chance to win support in the gay and lesbian community on Thursday evening by asking people to focus on his actions instead of his words and then telling a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group, on a program broadcast on a gay and lesbian television network, that homosexuality is a choice. The forum, put on by Human Rights Campaign and the lesbian and gay network Logo, didn’t pit the candidates against each other on stage. Each instead had a 15-minute interview with a three-member panel and a moderator. Richardson and Barack Obama essentially took the same approach – saying they’re focused on legalizing domestic partnerships, not gay marriage, because, in Richardson’s words, it’s “what’s achievable” and, in Obama’s, the president’s job is to focus on full legal rights before trying to change societal attitudes. The difference was that, when pressed, Obama revealed himself to be a deeply empathetic person who could relate on some level to the struggle of homosexuals and who would treat them with honesty and respect. Continue Reading

Are the frontrunners giving up on the Indian vote?

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It appears as if the three frontrunners for the Democratic nomination for president may be abandoning the American Indian vote to Gov. Bill Richardson. Only Richardson, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel have confirmed their attendance on Aug. 23 at the Prez on the Rez forum, the first on Indian land in the history of the United States. It will be held on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ reservation in California at 4:30 p.m. MST on that day. Hillary Clinton has refused an invitation. Continue Reading

Democrats assail Pearce, Wilson

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U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson, both New Mexico Republicans, are under fire today from Democratic groups. Pearce, who is in Hobbs today holding a town-hall meeting about combating the use of methamphetamine, voted in July against a bill that included $975,000 to help combat meth in rural New Mexico – money he helped get included in the bill, the Democratic Party of New Mexico pointed out in a news release. The funds were part of the larger Commerce and Justice and Science Appropriations bill that passed the House and has been referred to the Senate. “Rep. Pearce voted against state and local law enforcement’s battle against meth – pure and simple,” said state Democratic Party chair Brian Colón in the release. Continue Reading

2008 calendar shifts again, creating uncertainty

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South Carolina Republicans forced a rewrite of the nation’s presidential primary calendar today by moving their primary date up to Jan. 19. The move triggers a shift in the entire calendar because, by law, New Hampshire must move up its primary and, when that happens, Iowa must move up its caucuses. That throws not only the calendar but campaign strategies into uncertainty. For Gov. Bill Richardson, it’s bad news. Continue Reading

Heinrich announces high-profile endorsements

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Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, the frontrunner among three Democrats seeking the right to take on U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., next year, has announced a number of high-profile endorsements of his candidacy. The list of visible Democrats includes state Sens. Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Cisco McSorley; state Reps. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, Mimi Stewart and Gail Chasey; Albuquerque City Councilors Debbie O’Malley, Michael Cadigan and Isaac Benton; and Public Regulation Commission Vice Chair Jason Marks. The endorsements were announced at a news conference Wednesday in Albuquerque. Continue Reading

Foundation gives other perks to Martin, Menzies

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An examination of President Michael Martin’s contract with New Mexico State University reveals some perks provided by the foundation beyond what the university announced in May, when it restructured the agreement. The perks were in public records and may have been known to some, but I’ve never seen any media coverage that has disclosed them to the public. On Tuesday, I received copies of the contracts for Martin and the new men’s basketball coach, Marvin Menzies. The regents announced in May that Martin’s annual salary was being increased to $335,000. In addition, he would receive a $6,000-per-month housing allowance paid for by a secret donor and a $100,000 deferred payment that he will receive if he stays at NMSU through 2012, with 70 percent of it paid by a secret donor. Continue Reading

Guv falls against Giuliani, gains against Thompson

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A new Rasmussen Reports poll out today has Gov. Bill Richardson losing ground in a potential head-to-head match up with GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani but gaining ground against another GOP candidate, Fred Thompson. The new poll finds that, in a head-to-head contest, 47 percent of likely voters picked Giuliani, while 39 percent picked Richardson. The eight-point lead is greater than the six-point edge Giuliani had over Richardson in the group’s June poll. Thompson, in the new poll, had a one-point lead over Richardson, 41 percent to 40 percent. Two months ago, he led Richardson by eight points. Continue Reading

Guv gives an unmemorable debate performance

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Gov. Bill Richardson was the only Democratic presidential candidate who wasn’t involved in the fighting that characterized Tuesday’s candidate forum in Chicago. Those who support candidates who don’t attack were probably impressed but, for many, it probably meant he wasn’t noticed at all. The controversy-hungry media gave little mention to Richardson in articles about the debate. His answers didn’t demand much attention. Frontrunner Hillary Clinton was assaulted repeatedly by Barack Obama and John Edwards. Continue Reading

Ethics task force recommends special session

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The governor’s ethics task force will recommend that Bill Richardson call a special session before April 1, 2008 to deal with ethics reform. The time will be left to the governor and Legislature to work out. I’m not at the meeting today, so I only have a few details of what was decided, but some of the other recommendations the task force decided on are: • Expansion of the voluntary public campaign financing system to the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, land commissioner, treasurer and auditor in 2010, and to the offices of governor and lieutenant governor in 2014. • Campaign contribution limits equal to the federal limit of $2,300, with an exception for local governments that already have lower levels in place. • Additional employees in the Secretary of State’s office to help with faster notification and publishing online of campaign finance reports. Continue Reading

Richardson unveils universal health-care plan

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Gov. Bill Richardson said today that it will take $100 billion give every American health insurance, but said he would offset the cost as president by expanding preventative coverage and reducing administrative costs. “We need universal health care now,” Richardson said during a speech in Iowa. “Now is the time. For every American who wants to look a suffering loved one in the eye and tell them that tomorrow will be better than today – now is the time. For the good of our nation, now must be the time.” You can read the text of Richardson’s speech by clicking here and the details of his plan here. Continue Reading

Guv to release health-care plan, participate in forum

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Gov. Bill Richardson is set today to unveil his universal health-care plan and participate in a union-sponsored candidate forum. Meanwhile, the Democratic presidential candidate is getting attention because of a new article highlighting his funny television commercials. Also, several new polls show he’s not gaining much traction outside the early primary states. Richardson is scheduled to release his health-care plan this afternoon in a speech to a firefighter’s union in Iowa. “My plan focuses on guaranteeing universal coverage, keeping down the cost of care for all and improving care in general,” Richardson said in a news release. Continue Reading

Domenici fundraiser with Bush to be at mayor’s home

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A fundraiser later this month for U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici that will be attended by President Bush will be held at the home of the mayor of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, a community surrounded on all sides by the state’s largest city. The fundraiser will be held Aug. 27, according to the invitation, at the home of Mayor Larry Abraham, a registered independent. “It’s a historic moment for the entire village and our family,” the mayor told the Albuquerque Tribune. “We’re honored to help Pete. Continue Reading

Wilson to tour Santa Teresa port today

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U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., will tour the Santa Teresa Port of Entry today. She’ll tour the state’s newest border crossing, located west of Sunland Park, this morning and will visit with officials from the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement “to learn more about the issues on the front-line,” according to a news release. She’ll hold a news conference afterward, at 10:45 a.m. Wilson is on a quick trip to Doña Ana County while Congress is in recess. She visited the Cervantes chile plant in the southern part of the county on Monday afternoon. Continue Reading

NMSU rejects request for vice president’s e-mails

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New Mexico State University and its non-profit foundation have rejected my request to release the e-mails of the university vice president who also runs the foundation, prompting me to send another request to the attorney general. I’ve asked the Attorney General’s Office to consider whether the university violated the state Inspection of Public Records Act in rejecting my request for inspection of all e-mails regarding the foundation sent from, received by or copied to Rebecca Dukes’ NMSU e-mail address from Jan. 1 to July 31 of this year. That’s on top of the original request I sent the attorney general on July 26 asking the office to look into a number of possible violations of the public records and Open Meetings acts, and an addendum I sent July 30 on another potential violation. That office is looking into the situation. Continue Reading