Non-scientific poll: Special interest groups have too much influence over state government in N.M.

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The vast majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said special interest groups have too much influence over state government in New Mexico. Of 138 voters, 116, or 84 percent, said special interest groups do have too much influence, while 22, or 16 percent, said they do not. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Richardson within striking distance of Obama in Iowa

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A new poll released Thursday has Gov. Bill Richardson at 11 percent and within striking distance of the third-place Barack Obama in Iowa, the state that hold’s the nation’s first presidential nominating contest on Jan. 14. Eleven percent is the highest Richardson has climbed in any independent poll of likely Iowa Democratic primary voters, though a poll conducted for his campaign a month ago had his support at 13 percent. The news that Richardson is within striking distance of the third-place candidate in Iowa comes as Richardson has recently passed John Edwards to become the third-place candidate in the newest poll in New Hampshire. The two states are the most critical to race and are the focus of Richardson’s campaign. Continue Reading

Is NMSU violating government transparency laws?

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That’s the question I’ve asked the attorney general to consider. The New Mexico State University Board of Regents stepped into a gray area in May by using money from private donors to boost the financial compensation for President Michael Martin and then-men’s basketball coach Reggie Theus. Since then, a number of actions raise questions about the integrity of university leaders and the decisions they are making. Theus received a $100,000-per-year pay increase from the private sector. The new contract, university officials announced at the time, included a buyout clause of almost $1 million if Theus didn’t stay for another two years. Continue Reading

Accident kills 3, shakes commercial space industry

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Three workers were killed and three others were badly injured Thursday afternoon in California while working on a commercial spacecraft Virgin Galactic eventually plans to use to launch paying customers from Spaceport America in Southern New Mexico. The deaths have shaken the fledgling and tight-knit commercial space industry. Rick Homans, executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, cancelled a planned news conference scheduled for this afternoon in Las Cruces at which the selection of an architect to design Virgin Galactic’s facility at Spaceport America was to be announced. Officials from the company were scheduled to attend and update the public on the secretive SpaceShip Two program. The accident occurred Thursday afternoon during testing of a propellant flow system for SpaceShip Two. Continue Reading

Task force considers lobbyist disclosure proposals

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The state Task Force on Ethics Reform is considering a number of proposals designed to increase transparency in state government. In chairing the subcommittee proposing changes related to transparency, state Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, has an opportunity to make an impact. The subcommittee made several recommendations to the task force at Monday’s meeting in Socorro: • Improving the campaign finance reporting system on the Secretary of State’s Web site. • Requiring lobbyists to wear badges that identify them and disclose their client lists. • Requiring lobbyists to disclose how much they’re being paid by their clients. Continue Reading

U.S. attorney controversy flares up again

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The controversy surrounding the firings of several former U.S. attorneys, including David Iglesias of New Mexico, has flared up again this week with a possible perjury probe against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and a subpoena for White House Political Director Karl Rove. Gonzales’ job once again appears in jeopardy after he testified before a Congressional panel on Wednesday. Four Democratic senators wrote the U.S. solicitor general today asking for the appointment of an independent council to investigate the truthfulness of Gonzales’ sworn testimony about the U.S. attorney controversy and President Bush’s warrantless domestic spying program, the Associated Press is reporting. Gonzales’ previous testimony in the U.S. attorney controversy contradicted that of employees who work below him. And the FBI director became today the newest official to contradict testimony Gonzales gave Wednesday about the spying program. Continue Reading

Here’s Richardson video from CNN/YouTube debate

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Remember me writing on Tuesday that I thought Gov. Bill Richardson’s answer on a question about Darfur at Monday’s CNN/YouTube debate was perhaps his strongest yet in any debate? Well, here’s the video, provided by the Richardson campaign. Here’s Richardson answering a question about Iraq. And a question about the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Obviously, the campaign put up video of Richardson’s three strongest answers. Continue Reading

Three in running to replace Flores at NMSU

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Three finalists have been selected for the position of executive vice president and provost at New Mexico State University. The successful applicant will replace Bill Flores, who recently left the job to become deputy secretary of higher education for the state. Flores has a unique working situation – one that’s under review by the state attorney general. He technically remains on staff at NMSU as an assistant to the provost assigned to work with the higher education department. The university is paying his entire $220,000 annual salary for the state. Continue Reading

Denish to co-teach NMSU course this fall

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish will co-teach a course at New Mexico State University this fall on women leaders in public service and the journalists who cover them. The course, “Women, Politics and the Media,” will be co-taught by Mary Benanti, a former reporter, editor and public relations professional. The weekly course, which will meet Tuesday evenings beginning Aug. 28, will explore the role of women in politics and media coverage of them. “As more young people consider public service, it’s important that they understand the political arena and the significance of 24/7 media coverage in shaping the debate,” Denish said in a news release. Continue Reading

Richardson isn’t gaining ground in Florida

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A new poll finds that Gov. Bill Richardson isn’t gaining any ground in Florida, the X-factor in the Democratic presidential primary. The newest Rasmussen Reports poll has Hillary Clinton at 46 percent, Barack Obama at 15 percent and John Edwards at 13 percent in that state. Richardson and the four other candidates in the race split 4 percent in the poll, and 21 percent were undecided. Florida moved up its primary earlier this year to Jan. 29 – the same day as South Carolina – in opposition to the wishes of the Democratic National Committee. Continue Reading

Task force explores complexities of ethics commission

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Most members of the state Task Force on Ethics Reform seem to agree that New Mexico needs an ethics commission. But they’re wresting with a lot of complicated issues in trying to determine its structure. For example, should it have oversight of judges, or leave that to the state’s Judicial Standards Commission? Should it have oversight of the Legislature or leave that to the Interim Legislative Ethics Committee? Should it oversee local governments? Continue Reading

Foley case a political hot potato for judges

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The police officer who arrested House Minority Whip Dan Foley last month has moved the case out municipal court, ensuring that a judge who has faced criticism for refusing to recuse himself won’t preside over the proceedings. The police department didn’t tell the Roswell Daily Record whether Municipal Judge Clyde McKee’s decision to stay on the case resulted in Officer Pete Hernandez’s decision to move the case from municipal to magistrate court in Roswell. Regardless, the move was wise after McKee refused to recuse himself. McKee gave $50 to one of Foley’s past campaigns, and his son is a close friend and financial backer of Foley. In addition, McKee told the Record last week how he would likely rule on a motion to delay the trial date in the case even though he hadn’t yet seen the motion, creating an appearance of prejudice. Continue Reading

Pearce wins immunity for reporting suspicious activity

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In case you haven’t noticed lately, I really like when congressional offices provide video for blogs. Our state’s representatives and senators often get lost in the shuffle in Washington, and the video is a way to not only be assured that they’re paying attention to issues about which New Mexicans care, but to also see exactly what they said. U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce has begun providing such video. Today, Democratic leadership in the House and Senate decided to include a provision in the Homeland Security Bill he sponsored that would give civil immunity to citizens who report suspected terrorism. The move follows outcry the resulted from the Democrats stripping the provision last week. Continue Reading

With guv on campaign trail, Denish steps up

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For the past three months, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish estimates that she has been acting governor all but 12-15 days. As Gov. Bill Richardson continues his quest for the presidency, she doesn’t see that changing anytime before Feb. 5 – the day so many states hold primaries that we’ll most likely know who wins the Democratic nomination. That doesn’t mean Denish is calling all the shots, however. “We’re working really closely with his staff,” she said. Continue Reading

Auditor tells task force he should remain independent

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State Auditor Hector Balderas urged the Task Force on Ethics Reform during a meeting Monday in Socorro to recommend that his office remain independent of the governor. The task force didn’t make a final decision on whether to recommend that the auditor become an appointed, instead of elected, position. The group is also considering whether to recommend, if the auditor remains independent, placing requirements on who can run for the office. I wrote last year that I believe the auditor should remain an elected position. But Monday’s discussion shed some interesting light on the debate about how to improve the system. Continue Reading