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The first meeting of the true blue delegation

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Yes, this is the first photograph of the new “true blue” New Mexico congressional delegation. From left to right, the members are 3rd District Rep.-elect Ben Ray Luján, 1st District Rep.-elect Martin Heinrich, U.S. Sen.-elect Tom Udall, 2nd District Rep.-elect Harry Teague and Sen. Jeff Bingaman.The group met on Wednesday for the first time since the election. They gathered in Bingaman’s Washington office, where this photo is taken. It’s quite stunning, really, to see the five Democrats together. Somehow it makes the fact that, come January, there will be no Republicans in the delegation seem more real. Continue Reading

Pearce may run for state GOP chairman

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Former U.S. Senate candidate also considering running for governor or another seat in 2010 Fresh off his loss in the U.S. Senate race, Rep. Steve Pearce is seriously considering running in January for the position of chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico. Though a Pearce spokesman would not confirm it, a number of Republican sources said Pearce talked with several county Republican Party chairs about the possibility during a conference call earlier this week. Word of the call has spread quickly, and the possibility of Pearce attempting to lead the GOP back to prominence is being widely discussed in Republican circles today. “There are several folks who are thinking about running for state chairman. The possibility of Steve Pearce taking up that mantle would be a very exciting one,” said Mark Van Dyke, chairman of the Republican Party of Doña Ana County. Continue Reading

Domenici’s field offices to close Friday

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s field offices around New Mexico will close Friday.The senator, who is retiring at the end of the year, announced today that, as required by Senate rules on transition, his offices in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Roswell will shut their doors for good. Constituents in need of assistance can continue to contact Domenici’s Washington office through mid-December. New casework should be referred to the offices of U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman. “Friday will be a sad day for me as my field staff moves on to different work. I salute them for all their efforts on behalf of New Mexicans over the years. Continue Reading

A mandate for cooperation and bipartisanship

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We’ve known since the first rebuking of the GOP in the 2006 election that 2008 was going to be a Democratic year. We all knew the party of the right would lose some additional ground in the U.S. House and Senate. But, as the dust settles in New Mexico, it’s becoming clear that this was a complete slaughter. Barack Obama won nearly 57 percent of the vote in a state that went to George Bush in 2004. Democrat Tom Udall took the retiring Republican Pete Domenici’s U.S. Senate seat with 61 percent of the vote. Continue Reading

Biden rallies southern NM voters for Obama

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Following today’s rally featuring Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden in Mesilla, a couple hundred supporters of Barack Obama and John McCain had a verbal standoff. On one side were anti-abortion activists and McCain supporters armed with signs and graphic photographs of aborted fetuses. On the other side were energetic Obama supporters coming off the high of having just watched Biden give a rousing speech. “Save lives, stop the war!” Obama supporters chanted. “Save lives, stop abortion!” McCain supporters countered. Continue Reading

Presidential candidates need to level with Americans

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With the final presidential debate of the 2008 election being held tonight, there’s only one thing on my mind: As long as John McCain and Barack Obama refuse to treat Americans like adults, nobody has my vote. I’m referring to their statements about our troubled economy. I was so disappointed that I didn’t even finish watching the last debate after both candidates refused to level with the American people about the situation. Specifically, they were asked by a 78-year-old woman from Chicago — a child of the depression — what sacrifices they would ask individuals to make “to help restore the American dream and to get out of the economic morass that we’re now in.” McCain talked about cutting government programs, so he didn’t even answer the question. Obama said the government needs to work toward energy independence but said “effort” will be required from each of us. Continue Reading

Senate to vote on bailout; pressure remains on House

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The offices of U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Tom Udall continued to be inundated on Tuesday with phone calls and e-mails from people wanting to weigh in on the proposed $700 billion bailout, with most speaking against the bill the House rejected on Monday. But it appears that the Senate, not the House, will make the next attempt to pass a bailout package to try to provide aid to the struggling economy. In a surprise move, Senate leaders announced late Tuesday that they’ll vote today on a bailout plan that also includes a number of tax breaks the House rejected last week. Before that move was announced Tuesday, leaders in both parties were trying to make minor changes to the bailout proposal in an attempt to win about a dozen additional votes in the House to ensure passage. Continue Reading

Few politicos comment on House rejection of bailout

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The proposed $700 billion bailout defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday appears to be a hot potato for many politicos who didn’t have to vote on it. U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce, Tom Udall and Heather Wilson all commented on the bill after Pearce and Udall voted against it and Wilson voted for it. Click here to read their comments. Beyond that, few of the top politicos and candidates for office in New Mexico chose to comment on Monday’s vote. Continue Reading

Who’s getting cash from companies in crisis?

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With all the news about financial meltdown and government bailouts of companies, I thought it might be interesting to know how much money members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation had taken from some of the companies at the center of the crisis. So I went to OpenSecrets.org to see what I could find. The bottom line: It appears that New Mexico’s members of Congress haven’t taken nearly as much over the years from these companies as some other Democrats and Republicans. Here’s a breakdown: The money-in-politics Web site lists contributions since 1989 from employees and political action committees tied to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to each member of Congress. According to the site, Sen. Pete Domenici has received $16,226, Rep. Steve Pearce has received $5,000, Sen. Jeff Bingaman has received $3,000, Rep. Heather Wilson has received $1,250 and Rep. Tom Udall has received nothing. Continue Reading

Teague walks a tightrope on energy issues

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As an oilman and a Democrat, 2nd Congressional District candidate Harry Teague doesn’t necessarily fit the mold typically associated with either: He made his millions in an industry that many members of his party — including presidential nominee Barack Obama — want to take additional dollars from through an “excess-profits” tax. The combination of his party affiliation and profession put Teague in a difficult position: To win, he needs to tap into the energy of the progressive movement that helped his primary opponent, Bill McCamley, nearly defeat him. But he also needs the votes of people friendly to the energy industry, including conservative Democrats who have voted three times for right-wing Republican Steve Pearce over Democratic candidates. While Teague has spoken during this election season about the need to increase the use of alternative energy, and has said he opposes an excess-profits tax, he hasn’t said a lot publicly on some other key oil-related issues. His GOP opponent, Ed Tinsley, has hammered Teague, accusing him of dodging questions related to energy. Continue Reading

Pride and progress

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By Diane Denish DENVER — Incredible! That is the only way to describe the 2008 Democratic National Convention. This makes the third convention I have attended, and while they all have their own unique flavor, at the end of a long heated battle between two outstanding and historical candidates this convention marked a true coming together. Wednesday started with a presentation to the New Mexico delegation by T. Boone Pickens on his plan for diversifying energy. Unusual? Continue Reading

Convention reveals a united Democratic Party

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By Diane Denish DENVER — The first night of the convention painted an incredible representation of who the Democratic Party is. President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama were powerhouses, producing an indescribable hum of energy even before the speaking started. My daughter Sara and I boarded a shuttle to Pepsi Center at the Crowne Plaza. As we took our seats, the energy and excitement built higher and higher as folks from different delegations buzzed about the line-up of speakers intended to empower the party and stir solidarity. It was fantastic to share the experience with Sara. Continue Reading

NM Dems get behind VP pick Biden; GOP attacks

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Starting with Gov. Bill Richardson, a number of New Mexico Democrats were quick today to get behind Barack Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as his running mate. “Joe Biden brings seasoned judgment, foreign policy expertise and a great sense of humor to the ticket,” Richardson said in a prepared statement. “Joe has paid his dues as a public servant, and the vice presidential spot is a deserved capstone to a great career. Barack Obama has shown solid judgment by selecting Joe Biden as his running mate. Joe is someone that Sen. Obama and our country can trust.” Biden beat out Richardson and several others who Obama considered for the vice-presidential spot on the ticket. Continue Reading

A time to praise: Officials honor Domenici

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The man who has dominated New Mexico politics in recent years today made a humble acknowledgment. “I am going to make an admission that I never, never make,” Gov. Bill Richardson said to the retiring U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici. “Had I run against you, you probably would have beat me.” Richardson was speaking during a ceremony to honor Domenici at the Domenici Public Policy Conference at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. His remark came after he recalled an encounter he had with Domenici shortly after he was appointed energy secretary in the late 1990s. Richardson said he went to Domenici — then the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee — to inform him of his appointment. Continue Reading