GRIPgate probe in the hands of U.S. attorney general

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This article has been updated.The federal probe into allegations of pay to play in the Richardson administration is complete and has been forwarded to the office of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for consideration, a public official whose agency has been at the center of the probe said today. “It’s my understanding is that the grand jury investigation has been completed. It has been forwarded to the U.S. Attorney General’s office,” Stephen Flance, chairman of the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA), said today at a legislative hearing, according to the New Mexico Independent. When the AG’s office will make a decision on whether to take action in the case is not known publicly. Though a previous media report has suggested that the grand jury had wrapped up its work and the case was in the hands of officials in Washington, today’s was the first confirmation of that by any public official involved in the probe. Continue Reading

New nonprofit aims to counter progressive movement

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Southwest Citizens Coalition says it’s time to stop ‘left-wing’ groups from ‘working to destroy the cause of freedom in the Land of Enchantment’ The debate over the political and policy work of nonprofits is taking a new turn with the formation of a nonprofit that aims to stop progressives from “building a permanent ultra-liberal majority in New Mexico.” Southwest Citizens Coalition (SCC) Chairman Allen McCulloch urged those who support “free-market values and constitutional freedoms” to unite behind the group in a recent mass e-mail. “In the state of Colorado, left-wing non-profit organizations — like the progressive groups operating right here in New Mexico — have singlehandedly changed the face of that state’s government from free-market to ultra-liberal in just a few short years,” McCulloch’s e-mail states. “Now, these progressive groups see New Mexico as the next state to fall prey. They’re working to destroy the cause of freedom in the Land of Enchantment.” “… The time is short. It’s time to fight fire with fire,” the e-mail states. Continue Reading

National Journal profiles Bingaman, energy debate

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A new article describes U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., as an attentive listener, straight shooter and gentleman who also has “a bit of a stubborn streak.” Sounds about right to me. The article is published in The National Journal Magazine, and takes a look at energy reform legislation being developed in the Senate by profiling the leaders of two committees working on the effort. They are Bingaman, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee. The link to the magazine’s June cover story is here, but you can only read it if you have a subscription. An accompanying interview with Bingaman is here, but also requires a subscription. Continue Reading

How far does the guv’s executive privilege extend?

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I first encountered the Richardson administration’s use of executive privilege several years ago when the Office of the State Engineer cited that as the reason for denying my records request related to dealings with the Verde Group on a controversial development project in southern Doña Ana County. At the time, I was a reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News, and the newspaper was unwilling to challenge that justification for denying my request. End of story. Now the New Mexico Independent (for which I write) has experienced the use of executive privilege by the governor’s office as the justification for denying a request filed under the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act. The Independent’s Trip Jennings has been trying to find out whether Gov. Bill Richardson met with investment marketer Marc Correra, the son of a friend and fundraiser, before the state decided to invest $90 million in a fund Correra was pushing. Continue Reading

Voters overwhelmingly OK beer and wine sales

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Voters overwhelmingly approved the selling of beer and wine in unincorporated areas of Doña Ana County in an election held today. With all results in except 33 provisional ballots that have yet to be considered, the serving of beer and wine at restaurants outside the Las Cruces, Hatch, Mesilla and Sunland Park city limits was approved by 84 percent of voters, County Clerk Lynn Ellins said. Turnout was a little more than 3 percent, Ellins said. Some 1,128 people voted in favor of allowing the sale of alcohol, while 208, or 16 percent, voted against it. The canvass will be held on Friday, Ellins said. Continue Reading

‘Very, very light’ turnout in alcohol election

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“Very, very light” is how Doña Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins is describing turnout for today’s election on whether to allow the selling of beer and wine in unincorporated areas of the county. That’s according to a Las Cruces Sun-News article. Only registered voters who live in the county but outside the Las Cruces, Hatch, Mesilla and Sunland Park city limits can vote on whether to allow the serving of beer and wine with meals, which is not currently allowed. Polls are open until 7 p.m. Click here to find your polling place. Continue Reading

What do you think about a Teague/Pearce matchup?

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We’ve known for months that Republican Steve Pearce is looking at running for governor or his old congressional seat next year. The Washington publication CQ Politics takes a look, in a new article, at whether, now that Pearce is no longer the incumbent, he could topple U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M. Read the article and you’ll find out what I think about the possibilities. The bottom line is that I don’t see Pearce running for governor after his last shellacking in a statewide race. So a Teague-Pearce matchup is a real possibility. Which raises a number of questions: Can a former incumbent beat a current incumbent? Continue Reading

Flores taking university president job in Houston

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William Flores is leaving his job as deputy secretary of higher education to be president of the University of Houston-Downtown. “We are very fortunate to have found a leader of Dr. Flores’ caliber who is an excellent fit with the vision and mission of UH-Downtown. He has a depth of experience in every category of specific interest for us,” University of Houston System Chancellor Renu Khator said in a news release. Flores is the former provost at New Mexico State University and also served as interim president for a time. He had Gov. Bill Richardson’s backing in 2004 to become NMSU president, but the regents instead picked Michael Martin, who has since also moved on. Continue Reading

Did businessman get special treatment from DOT?

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Did an Española businessman get special treatment from the state when it moved through his area, trying to secure a number of parcels of private land needed for a road project? That’s the question the Albuquerque Journal probes today. Consider this e-mail from a top official with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to Jim Franken, vice chairman of the state Transportation Commission: “Hi Commish! I know you’re getting pressure from our friend to resolve Mr. Atencio’s issue. I know it is taking a while but it by no means (is) being ignored. Continue Reading

Guv: Negotiating release of journalists a ‘poker game’

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This article has been updated.The battle surrounding the detention and sentencing of two American journalists in North Korea is “a high-stakes poker game,” Gov. Bill Richardson said today during a national television interview. He also said this might be the time to try to secure the release of the journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were sentenced earlier today to 12 years in labor camps for illegal entry into the country, “hostile acts” and spying. “This is a high-stakes poker game,” Richardson said on NBC’s “Today” show, according to The Associated Press. “… In previous instances where I was involved in negotiating, you could not get this started until the legal process had ended.” CNN reported earlier today that Obama administration officials have floated to the North Korean government the idea of sending either Richardson or former Vice President Al Gore to that nation to negotiate the release of the journalists. Ling and Lee work for California-based Current TV, which Gore co-founded. Continue Reading

CNN: Guv might be headed to North Korea

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Gov. Bill Richardson might be called upon once again to travel to North Korea to negotiate with the government of the rogue nation. CNN is reporting that Obama administration officials have floated to the North Korean government the idea of sending either Richardson or former Vice President Al Gore to that nation to negotiate the release of two U.S. journalists who were sentenced earlier today to 12 years in labor camps there. The journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were accused of illegal entry into the country, “hostile acts” and spying. They work for California-based Current TV, which Gore co-founded. According to CNN, the North Koreans have not responded to the possibility of a visit from Gore or Richardson, but the Obama administration expects that, now that the trial has ended, the North Koreans will OK a visit from one of the two to seek the journalists’ release. Continue Reading

Retirement board chairman wants subpoenas released

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The chairman of the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board (ERB) wants the agency to reconsider its decision to withhold release of federal grand jury subpoenas it has received. The Friday letter from Bruce Malott to ERB General Counsel Christopher Schatzman states that Malott wants to discuss the issue during an upcoming board meeting if Schatzman is unwilling to reconsider. “… sunlight is the best disinfectant,” Malott’s letter states. “… when in doubt, I expect our staff to put its collective thumb on the scale in favor of disclosure, rather than nondisclosure.” Late last month, the ERB and State Investment Council (SIC) both denied requests from me and others for copies of subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney’s Office related to investments. In denying my request, Schatzman cited the exemption to the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act that allows for denial “as otherwise provided by law,” and wrote in his letter that the federal public records law in some instances exempts records compiled for law enforcement purposes. Continue Reading

Keller proposes sweeping investment reforms

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The Legislative Investments Oversight Committee meets Monday, and Sen. Tim Keller is announcing a sweeping reform proposal that a news release from the Albuquerque Democrat says would “preserve the sanctity of our state funds and work to restore public faith in our investment process.” Keller, a member of the committee, plans to discuss his proposal at the meeting, which comes as the state investment process is under scrutiny because of a third-party marketer scandal that started in New York and has spread to at least 30 other states, most notably New Mexico. Among the reforms Keller is proposing are creating a formal oversight committee structure; redesigning the investment structure to separate stakeholders, experts and staff; requiring a public fund prospectus; requiring tracking of allocation and performance of “peer” funds; and, to reduce conflicts of interest, ending the use of advisors and fund managers. “The recent issues surrounding our state funds speak to a clear need for better performance, accountability and the mitigation of conflicts of interest in our investment operations,” Keller said in the release. “We need to address the structural causes that allowed this to happen. The public deserves more than just knowing what has been occurring inside our state investment funds. Continue Reading

Anthony Correra worked closely with SIC

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It’s been widely reported in recent weeks that Gov. Bill Richardson has a very close relationship with Anthony Correra, whose son, Marc Correra, shared in as much as $16 million in finders’ fees for winning investment companies big contracts in New Mexico. In a weekend article, the Albuquerque Journal provides new insight into the close relationship Anthony Correra had with the State Investment Council (SIC), which Richardson controls. New details on Anthony Correra, from the Journal: “• Although not an employee, he was temporarily provided work space at the SIC office after Bill Richardson became governor in January 2003. “• Correra attended meetings between representatives of the office and a Texas company seeking a state investment. “• He was appointed director of a private company to fill a seat allocated to the State Investment Council after it made an investment in the company.” Among the companies Marc Correra helped win state investment deals was Vanderbilt Financial. Continue Reading

Most voters in poll say don’t call in guv on N. Korea

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said President Barack Obama should not call on Gov. Bill Richardson to help resolve the current situation with North Korea. Of 249 voters, 144 or 58 percent, said Obama should not call on Richardson, while 99, or 40 percent, said he should, and six, or 2 percent, said they don’t know. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading