Fight to open conference committees begins

By |

Here we go again: A group of lawmakers are continuing their quest to open legislative conference committees to the public. Such a change is necessary to help weed out the culture of corruption in state government. Such a change isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. But we can always hope. This year, Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque, have all introduced bills to open conference committees to the public. Continue Reading

Vigil sentenced to 37 months in federal prison

By |

Former state Treasurer Robert Vigil has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison. His sentencing took most of the day, the Associated Press reported, and came after U.S. District Judge James Browning rejected a last-minute attempt to secure a new trial. Vigil, 53, was also sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to pay a fine of $97,000 for his conviction on attempted extortion. Vigil remains free for now, the news service reported, but must wear an ankle monitoring bracelet and report for prison time within 60 days. “Mr. Vigil, good luck to you,” Browning was quoted as saying. Continue Reading

Richardson supporters discuss Internet buzz about governor’s behavior toward women

By |

Supporters of Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential run who are members of the Yahoo! Group Bill Richardson for President 2008 have been discussing recent Internet buzz about the governor’s behavior toward women. Since he announced Sunday that he’s running for president, the Internet has been full of allegations and rumors that Richardson has certain indiscretions in his past that should concern Democrats, that he behaves inappropriately around women and has, at times, made lewd gestures toward them. Group member Eli Blake wrote in a posting on the site that such talk is “crap.” “Just keep in mind that Richardson just beat John Dendahl, former head of the N.M. GOP. My own experience with Mr. Dendahl is that he is a real snake in the grass and there’s nowhere he won’t go or strategy he won’t try to tar Democrats,” Blake wrote. Continue Reading

NMSU’s Martin looking at Purdue job

By |

New Mexico State University President Mike Martin is a candidate for the leadership job at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Martin confirmed to the Las Cruces Sun-News that he has spoken with the school’s board of trustees about the job. But he played down the likelihood that he’s leaving. “Rumors are rumors. I’m still the president of NMSU,” the newspaper quoted Martin as saying. Continue Reading

Impeachment bill could be more than symbolic

By |

A resolution introduced by two Democratic state senators calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, if it’s approved, might be more than symbolic – it might have an effect on the actions of lawmakers in Washington. The resolution by New Mexico Sens. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, and John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, invokes Section 603 of Thomas Jefferson’s Rules on Parliamentary Practice, part of the rules of the House of Representatives. That section essentially grants state legislatures the power to set impeachment proceedings in motion. Here’s the full text of Jefferson 603, courtesy of the Cincinnati Beacon: “… there are various methods of setting an impeachment in motion: by charges made on the floor on the responsibility of a Member or Delegate; by charges preferred by a memorial, which is usually referred to a committee for examination; by a resolution dropped in the hopper by a Member and referred to a committee; by a message from the President; by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State or territory or from a grand jury…” What exactly that means is still under discussion. Continue Reading

Papen to carry governor’s housing authority bill

By |

Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, will introduce a bill today that would give oversight of the scandal-plagued regional housing authority system to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. Papen will be pushing Gov. Bill Richardson’s proposal to deal with the problems that toppled the state housing authority system last year. She’ll announce the legislation today at a joint news conference with Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and MFA Director Jay Czar. The news conference is at 10 a.m. in the Governor’s Cabinet Room at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. “The purpose of this bill is to provide accountability and oversight when it comes to housing,” Denish said in a news release. Continue Reading

Most N.M. leaders are skeptical of Bush proposals

By |

Most of New Mexico’s leaders in Washington were critical of at least some of the proposals President Bush made Tuesday in his State of the Union address. You can read about Bush’s speech by clicking here, and read a transcript of the speech here. On energy independence and climate change, Bush called for reducing the nation’s gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next 10 years by increasing the use of alternative energy – in particular ethanol – and pushing tougher fuel efficiency standards. He acknowledged for the first time the need to confront “the serious challenge of global climate change.” U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. and chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said he was encouraged that the president has set a goal of reducing the nation’s gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next 10 years. “That is an initiative all Americans can get behind,” Bingaman said. Continue Reading

Bush to give State of the Union address tonight

By |

President Bush is set to give his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress tonight at 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. He’s expected to reinforce his strategy in Iraq and call for the cutting of gasoline usage in the United States by 20 percent. You’ll be able to watch Bush’s speech live from CNN Pipeline by clicking here. It will also be televised on several channels. For resources from the White House on the speech and Bush’s policy announcements, click here. Continue Reading

Cockfighting ban might be placed on fast track

By |

A bill that would outlaw cockfighting in New Mexico will likely get its first hearing this week or next week, and might be placed on a fast track so the Senate can get on with other business. Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana and sponsor of Senate Bill 10, held a news conference this morning with the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, which announced its support for the state ban on cockfighting. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Conservation Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose and an opponent of the cockfighting ban. Garcia said Griego has pledged to hold a hearing on the bill later this week or next week and to give it a fair hearing. Griego is under a lot of pressure, as Gov. Bill Richardson and many Senate leaders are supporting Garcia’s bill. Continue Reading

Cote proposals would help veterans, their families

By |

State Rep. Nate Cote, D-Las Cruces, has introduced four bills aimed at providing support to military families and veterans. The most far-reaching bill, House Bill 207, would exempt active-duty military members from paying state income taxes. That’s a proposal Gov. Bill Richardson called for lawmakers to approve in last week’s State of the State address. “One group is making enormous sacrifices on behalf of our state, our country, and our freedom – brave New Mexicans serving in the U.S. military,” Richardson said in his speech. “We have done more than most states to show our gratitude. Continue Reading

Chávez raising cash for possible gubernatorial run

By |

If you think the 2008 presidential race is off to a fast start, what you should be watching is the 2010 New Mexico gubernatorial race. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has already announced her intention to run in 2010, and made clear that she’s ready to step in before that if Gov. Bill Richardson takes a job in Washington. Now comes the news, reported in today’s Albuquerque Journal, that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has filed paperwork to form the “Marty Chávez for New Mexico” committee and is having an “exploratory kickoff event” next week that costs $2,000 to attend. Chávez, who like Denish is a Democrat, told the Journal that 2010 is far away and he isn’t certain he’ll run for governor – he might instead seek re-election to his current job – but Denish’s early entry in the race has forced him to start raising money so he can keep up. “I’m opening doors,” Chávez told the Journal. Continue Reading

Lawmaker proposes criminal penalties for giving birth to a child who has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

By |

Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces, wants to make it a crime to give birth to a child who has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. She has introduced House Bill 141, which would make such an occurrence a misdemeanor, unless the child dies, in which case it would be a second-degree felony. Misdemeanors carry a prison term of six months to one year. Second-degree felonies are punishable by a maximum of nine years in prison. FAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is “one of the leading known, preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects.” Studies have shown that women who drink during pregnancy can give birth to children with permanent physical and mental disabilities that include abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies and central nervous system problems. Garcia said the proposal came from two local pediatricians who wanted to help address the problem. Continue Reading

Doctors remove tumor from Evans’ colon

By |

Doctors successfully removed a tumor from Doña Ana County Commissioner Kent Evans’ colon this evening. Evans was in surgery until shortly after 8 p.m. today, said his wife Anna Mae. Evans is now in recovery, and the tumor will be tested to determine whether it is malignant. “The doctors said it went well and they got the whole mass,” Anna Mae Evans said. “Now they have to figure out what it is.” Continue Reading

LCPS board upholds its decision to fire Diaz

By |

The Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education has upheld tonight its November decision to fire former Superintendent Sonia Diaz. On a 5-0 vote following a brief closed session, the board upheld its firing. Diaz’s attorney has said she would appeal such a decision. The motion to uphold the firing was made by outgoing Board member John Schwebke and seconded by Board member Gene Gant. As soon as the district serves Diaz’s attorney with the appropriate paperwork, her salary will cease, said District spokeswoman Jo Galvan. Continue Reading