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

Richardson, other 2008 hopefuls square off

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Gov. Bill Richardson is about to take part in a 2008 presidential forum with most of the other democratic hopefuls in Carson City, Nev. I’ll have updates every few minutes in this article, with each new update appearing at the end of the article. Check back often, or come back later for complete coverage of the forum. You can watch the forum live by clicking here. Chris Dodd Update, 1:25 p.m. In the first-in-the-nation 2008 presidential candidate forum, Sen. Chris Dodd got the first chance to address about 1,000 people in Nevada and more on national television. Continue Reading

Coal plant tax credit up for vote on Friday

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The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to reconsider on Friday a bill that would give an $85 million tax credit for a coal plant on the Navajo Nation, and Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Las Cruces, is under a lot of pressure in the days leading up to the hearing. Gutierrez voted on Jan. 29 along with other Democrats on the committee to table the bill, which usually kills such a proposal. But on Friday, Gutierrez made a motion to revive the bill and voted along with Republicans to bring it back to life. Following the 7-6 vote, House Bill 178, sponsored by Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Farmington and the minority leader, has new life. Continue Reading

Rounds named interim LCPS superintendent

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Members of the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously appointed Stan Rounds of Hobbs to be the district’s interim superintendent. Rounds, 55, will make an annual salary of $130,000, and begins work Monday. He will serve for at least 12 months while the board searches for a new superintendent. In addition to having the votes of all five school board members, Rounds also had the endorsement of incoming board members Connie Phillips and Bonnie Votaw, who will be sworn in next month. “This decision was based on many factors, ranging from the recommendations made by a citizen-based interview committee to his many years of educational experience,” Board President Sharon Wooden said. Continue Reading

University economic development gets Senate OK

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A bill that would allow the state’s colleges and universities to take a more active role in economic development has been approved by the Senate. With only two senators voting against it earlier today, the proposal now moves to the House. Senate Bill 773, sponsored by Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, would expand the University Research Park Act to allow institutions of higher learning to pursue any sort of economic development partnership with a private company that could be used to develop new technology, create learning opportunities for students or support university teaching, research or service initiatives. The act currently limits universities to private partnerships strictly for research and development. Papen said that has been an obstacle “when some of our institutions of higher education have been approached to form research park corporations to work with students to produce movies or other media products, or to lease research park property to businesses that would offer educational and training opportunities that would prepare students for entry into the larger employment world.” The bill has the backing of the state’s Council of University Presidents. Continue Reading

House approves $5.6-billion budget

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The House has approved a budget that would increase spending next year by nearly 11 percent, the Associated Press is reporting. Critics of the 259-page document, which you can read by clicking here, argue that the state’s budget has grown too rapidly in recent years, which will lead to funding cuts or tax increases in future years that aren’t so prosperous. The $5.6-billion budget was approved on a 48-20 vote, and increases spending by $540 million, or 10.6 percent, the news service reported. The budget now heads to the Senate, and will likely increase as senators add money for additional programs. After the Senate publicly approves the budget, a committee made up of three representatives and three senators will meet in secret to work out the differences between the two budgets. Republican House members criticized the proposal during today’s debate, warning that the budget is at an unsustainable level. Continue Reading

Richardson to square off Wednesday with 2008 contenders in Nevada, and you can watch it live

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Gov. Bill Richardson will square off with most of the candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s 2008 presidential nomination at a forum Wednesday in Carson City, Nev. You’ll be able to watch it live on television or the Internet. C-SPAN will broadcast the forum beginning at 1 p.m. MST. You can watch it on the Internet by clicking here. The event is sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and is the first major forum of the 2008 presidential season. Continue Reading

Doña Ana County jail head placed on paid leave

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Doña Ana County Manager Brian Haines has placed jail Administrator Chris Barela on paid administrative leave during an internal investigation of the events surrounding his arrest on Saturday. Barela, 42, was arrested Saturday night and charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. He was taken to the jail he runs, but released after posting $1,000 bail. “I have authorized an internal investigation to determine the facts surrounding the matter from the time of Mr. Barela’s arrest to the time of his release on bail from the Doña Ana County Detention Center,” Haines said in a news release. “I have placed Mr. Barela on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, the results of which will assist me in proceeding properly in the interests of Doña Ana County.” In the meantime, Major Cheryl Roach will run the jail. Continue Reading

Domenici to make several appearances in Cruces

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After kicking off his 2008 re-election campaign at a fundraiser tonight in Albuquerque, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., will spend Wednesday and Thursday at several public events in Las Cruces. The fundraiser and public tour are designed to quell rumors that the 74-year-old senator’s health will keep him from seeking re-election next year. Speculation has been widespread in recent months that Domenici will be forced to retire, which would set off a scramble among New Mexico’s political powerhouses for his seat. Domenici is set to be the keynote speaker at a luncheon of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce today. This evening, he’ll hold a fundraiser there. Continue Reading

House approves campaign contribution limits

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A bill that would limit campaign contributions and overhaul other financing laws was approved by the House on Monday, and now moves to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 821, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, was approved on a vote of 50-16, with those voting against it all republicans. Nine republicans voted in favor of the bill. “I am pleased that this essential element of ethics reform received bi-partisan support today,” Stewart said in a news release. “The public has been asking us to enact laws like this one for years and it is our responsibility as the state Legislature to do so.” The bill would create a number of new campaign finance reporting requirements for candidates and political action committees designed to increase the ability of the public to know about the money involved in elections. Continue Reading

Jail director charged with assaulting cop

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The head of the Doña Ana County Detention Center is charged with assaulting a Las Cruces Police officer, but disputes and plans to fight the allegations, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting. Chris Barela, 42, was arrested Saturday night and charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, the newspaper reported. He was arrested, taken to the jail he runs, and released after posting $1,000 bail. County spokesman Jess Williams said Manager Brian Haines hasn’t yet made a determination on whether the arrest will affect Barela’s work status. He said officers were called to the home on a report of a domestic disturbance and “an emotional situation escalated,” the Sun-News reported. Continue Reading

Senate standing in the way of ethics reform

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Resistance in the Senate may mean comprehensive ethics reform doesn’t have a chance in the 2007 Legislature. Shortly after being one of 20 Senators on Thursday to vote to kill a proposal to open legislative conference committees, Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, had this to say to the Albuquerque Journal about ethics reform proposals: “The reason that people are mentioning ethics issues is because of one man who was not a member of the Legislature,” he said. “What did the Legislature do to warrant the push for change? … Give me something factually that we’ve done to warrant all the changes that have been proposed.” Sanchez made similar remarks during the conference committee debate. He’s wrong. Continue Reading

Lots of news on the Richardson campaign trail

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The Albuquerque Journal ran the final installation in its five-part series on Gov. Bill Richardson’s career on Sunday. The final part was an in-depth look at his chances of being elected president, and honestly examined his strengths and weaknesses. You can read Part 5 by clicking here. You can visit the series’ home page by clicking here. The Journal also ran a sidebar looking at First Lady Barbara Richardson that you can read by clicking here. Continue Reading

Gutierrez criticized after changing her vote and reviving $85-million taxpayer subsidy for coal plant

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Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Las Cruces, is in the hot seat after changing her vote and siding with Republicans on Friday to revive a proposed taxpayer subsidy for a coal plant in Northwestern New Mexico. Gutierrez voted on Jan. 29 along with other Democrats on the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee to table a bill that would give an $85-million tax break to a huge coal plant that will be built on the Navajo Nation. Such action usually kills a proposal. But on Friday, Gutierrez made a motion to revive the bill and voted along with Republicans to bring the proposal back to life. Continue Reading