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Obama nominates first Hispanic for Supreme Court

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This article has been updated.U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman was the first politician from New Mexico to comment today on President Barack Obama’s nomination of the first Hispanic for the Supreme Court, federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor. “I have never met Judge Sotomayor, but everything I’m aware of would indicate that she is a very well qualified appointee,” Bingaman said in a statement released by his office. Senate Republicans took a wait-and-see approach to the nomination, with one Republican leader saying it was important to not “pre-judge” Sotomayor. Obama, in announcing the nomination this morning, said Sotomayor “would bring more experience on the bench and more varied experience on the bench than anyone currently serving on the United States Supreme Court had when they were appointed.” Sotomayor, in accepting the nomination, called it “the most humbling honor of my life.” “My heart today is bursting with gratitude,” she said. If confirmed by the Senate, Sotomayor would be the third woman and first Hispanic on the nation’s high court. Continue Reading

Obama signs land-protection omnibus bill

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State’s delegation praises legislation that includes a number of new conservation efforts in New MexicoPresident Barack Obama signed an omnibus bill today that would enact a number of new land-preservation measures in New Mexico, including creation of a national monument in the Robledo Mountains in Doña Ana County and a new wilderness area in San Miguel County.In signing the bill, carried in the Senate by Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., Obama called it “among the most important in decades to protect, preserve and pass down our nation’s most treasured landscapes to future generations.” The bill designated an additional 2 million acres across the nation as wilderness — the highest protection allowed under federal law.Included in the bill is Bingaman’s measure to protect fossilized prehistoric trackways in the Robledo Mountains that are 290 million years old. The bill does that by establishing a new, 5,367-acre national monument around the trackways. “Doña Ana County has gained an important national monument that will be protected for generations to come,” Bingaman said in a news release.U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., touted the establishment of the 16,000-acre Sabinoso wilderness area in San Miguel County in his news release. As a former House member, Udall authored the legislation creating that wilderness area.“The Sabinoso Wilderness is the product of years of work by the entire community, including local leaders, sportsmen, land owners and ranchers,” Udall said in a release. “The preservation of this incredible landscape will now remain for the permanent benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations.”House members also praise signing of billMembers of the U.S. House from New Mexico also praised the president’s signing of the bill.“From the Snowy River Cave in Lincoln County to the prehistoric trackways in the Robledo Mountains in Doña Ana, this package of bills provides important protections for some of the natural treasures we have throughout southern New Mexico,” said Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M.“In the West, we know the value of water and the value of the places where we hunt, fish and recreate with our families,” said Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. “This law will help us maintain these places and the cultures that they support.”“By protecting and enhancing the natural and cultural resources which are integral to the identity of New Mexico and America, this bill ensures the prolonged existence and availability of forest lands and natural resources for future generations,” said Rep. Ben R. Luján, D-N.M. Continue Reading

NM officials praise new focus on border

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New Mexico’s political leaders praised President Barack Obama’s plan, announced today, to redirect resources to the U.S.-Mexico border to help combat drug-related crime and strengthen border security. Obama announced that he’s moving more than 450 law enforcement agents and additional equipment to the border to help combat cartel violence that has led to the deaths of more than 7,200 people in Mexico since 2008 and resulted in the deploying of the Mexican Army to the border city of Ciudad Juárez, which has become a battle zone. The violence has the American government on edge. According to the Washington Times, The U.S. Defense Department believes “Mexico’s two most deadly drug cartels together have fielded more than 100,000 foot soldiers — an army that rivals Mexico’s armed forces and threatens to turn the country into a narco-state.” The violence has also spilled over, to some degree, into the United States. Phoenix’s police department, according to its mayor, is overwhelmed by drug-related kidnappings and torturing, CNN is reporting. Continue Reading

Kilmer continues politicking with DC visit

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Val Kilmer is continuing politicking as he considers running for governor, this time with a visit to Washington, D.C. that includes attending a speech on American Indian issues and paying visits to the offices of at least three members of the New Mexico congressional delegation. Kilmer was in attendance at Tuesday’s speech in Washington by Joe Garcia, of the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo in northern New Mexico, to the National Congress of American Indians. Garcia heads the organization. There Kilmer ran into U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, according to Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla. Following the speech, Kilmer stopped by Udall’s office yesterday and again today, Padilla confirmed. Continue Reading

Politicos comment on Obama’s inauguration

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This article has been updated. Here are some comments about the inauguration of President Barack Obama from New Mexico politicos.From 1st Congressional District Rep. Martin Heinrich: “What an incredible day for all Americans! Having just witnessed the inauguration of President Barack Obama, I am filled with a tremendous sense of hope, patriotism and pride,” he said in a statement released by his office. “I look forward to working with President Obama to renew America’s promise. Our times are certainly challenging, but I am confident that together we can overcome any obstacle to move this great nation forward and achieve the change our constituents asked for and deserve.” From 2nd Congressional District Rep. Harry Teague: “Today I witnessed the historic swearing in of President Barack Obama,” he said. Continue Reading

A new delegation, a new chance for wilderness

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Democrats Bingaman, Udall and Teague work toward permanent protection of land in Doña Ana County A bill U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman sponsored on Sunday that would set aside land in nine states as wilderness doesn’t include the Organ Mountains or other land in Doña Ana County, but the senator’s office says he plans to introduce legislation to extend wilderness protection to land in the county in the coming months. In the meantime, the bill the New Mexico Democrat sponsored over the weekend does include one proposal sought by many in the Las Cruces area: the creation of a 5,367-acre national monument in the Robledo Mountains to protect fossilized prehistoric animal tracks there. That proposed monument is important to conservation groups in the area, but it’s only a part of the larger battle over how to protect land in Doña Ana County — and how much land should be protected — that has raged for years as a coalition led by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance has sparred with a group led by some ranchers and four-wheeling enthusiasts. The wilderness coalition wants to designate about 300,000 acres in the county as wilderness and another 96,000 as a national conservation area. The ranchers’ group wants no wilderness at all and proposes new, less-restrictive designations for the land, in addition to requiring the sale of 65,000 acres of the land owned by the Bureau of Land Management. Continue Reading

Yates announces candidacy for GOP chairman

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Harvey E. Yates Jr. has formally announced his candidacy for chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico. The oil giant’s candidacy had been previously known, but he formally announced it Wednesday in a letter to members of the party’s state central committee, who will select new officers at a meeting on Saturday in Albuquerque. “You will remember that Ronald Reagan once said, ‘…man is not free unless government is limited.’ That is true, and it is also true that the transfer of more and more power to government enhances the opportunity to engage in corrupt ‘Pay to Play’ activities by those who have no integrity,” Yates wrote in the letter. “Yet, today, we are faced with an increased liberal majority in our state legislature whose orientation is toward increasing the power of government and diminishing the rights of individuals,” Yates wrote. “To defeat them we are faced with daunting challenges. Continue Reading

Pearce won’t seek GOP chairmanship; Yates will

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Steve Pearce, who is pondering his political future as he leaves the office of southern New Mexico congressional representative, has decided not to seek the state GOP party chairmanship.Pearce had floated the idea of running and was widely expected by many to seek the chairmanship as he explored future political options, but he has decided to instead support oilman Harvey Yates for the position, several sources confirmed. Yates will face at least three other candidates for the chairmanship at Saturday’s meeting of the state GOP central committee. The most formidable, according to the sources, is expected to be Farmington doctor Allen McCulloch, who ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman in 2006. Republican sources said they have no doubt that Yates can raise money, but the media-shy oil giant, who rarely speaks to any journalist about any subject, would have to hire staffers who can build good relationships with the media and communicate with the public, the sources said. The Yates family controls a quarter of all federal land leased for oil and gas drilling — more than any other family or group in the nation. Continue Reading

Conservative to the end

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Steve Pearce stayed true to his right-leaning views even as his Senate campaign went down in flames. What will he do now? In the end, few would say Steve Pearce didn’t stand by his principles. As the Republican congressman from southern New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District prepares to leave office and face an uncertain future, one thing that can be said about him is that he has consistently held to his right-wing values during his six years in office and his failed campaign this year to replace Pete Domenici in the Senate. Many would say Pearce’s Senate campaign went down in flames at least in part because of his refusal to budge. Continue Reading

2008 brought change, change and more change

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It was a year of almost unfathomable change in New Mexico’s political landscape. Giants retired, lost elections or left the state. A new crop of elected officials will be in charge come January. The economy tanked, and its effects colored the election. In all, the theme that ties it all together is change.Voters are demanding change. Continue Reading

Domenici closes Washington office

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s Washington office closed on Friday, and Domenici gave his last radio news conference today.Here’s the statement Domenici released in announcing the closing of his office: “This is a difficult day after all these years in the Senate, but I am upbeat about the change. I will be forever grateful to the people of New Mexico for sending me to Washington and for continuing to support me as I worked for them here,” Domenici said. “I have also been blessed over the years with a very loyal and talented staff, who worked hard to serve our state. “I have met with Sen.-elect Udall and my long-time friend Sen. Bingaman and have told them I am willing to help them where I can to advance the best interests of our state,” he said. “So, I again thank everyone. Continue Reading

$14 billion auto bailout dies in Senate

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The $14 billion bailout for the American automobile industry collapsed tonight after the auto union refused to accept GOP demands that it agree to big wage cuts for its workers and the bill failed a key test vote in the Senate.New Mexico’s U.S. senators, Republican Pete Domenici and Democrat Jeff Bingaman, voted with 50 others to bring the bill to a vote on the floor of the Senate, but they needed 60 votes to make it happen. Some 35 senators, most Republicans, voted against the procedural motion. The offices of Bingaman and Domenici had no immediate comment on whether the senators would have voted to approve the bill if it had made it to a floor vote. Bingaman’s spokeswoman said earlier in the day that he supported the version of the bill that existed at the time, but with negotiations still up in the air, she said that could change. Domenici’s office has released no comment on his stance on the auto bailout. Continue Reading

Former NM First Lady Alice King dies

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This article has been updated. Alice King, the wife of former Gov. Bruce King and a tireless advocate on behalf of children, died tonight after suffering a massive stroke on Thursday. She was 78.Her death was announced in a news release from her son, state Attorney General Gary King. “On behalf of the entire family, I want to thank the many people who have been so supportive and for all their prayers,” Gary King said in the release. “We will let everyone know about public funeral arrangements as soon as possible. Continue Reading

Richardson to NM: I will never forget you

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Obama says governor is uniquely qualified to lead department that’s critical to nation’s economic recoveryThis article has been updated. Gov. Bill Richardson had only a few words for New Mexicans today as he appeared with Barack Obama in Chicago to be nominated commerce secretary. “New Mexico, I will never forget you, and I will forever be grateful,” Richardson said. This morning’s news conference formalized what has been known for weeks: Richardson is leaving his job as governor of New Mexico with two years left in his term, meaning Lt. Gov. Diane Denish will become governor. In a news release that followed the news conference, Richardson provided additional details on the transition to the Denish administration. Continue Reading

Marty Chávez raising money… but for what?

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez is clearly gearing up to run for something, but just what he’s getting ready to run for isn’t clear at all.He’s put up a new Web site at www.martychavez.com that wishes visitors a Happy Thanksgiving and asks for their contact information. In addition, he’s holding a Dec. 11 fundraiser for the Marty Chávez for New Mexico committee. It’s not clear whether the committee is a city, state or federal committee, so that doesn’t help reveal Chávez’s intentions. Click here to view the flyer for the fundraiser. Continue Reading