Your search for bingaman returned 340 results

Wilson says Pearce trying to rewrite Cannon history

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Republican Senate candidate Heather Wilson accused primary opponent Steve Pearce today of attempting to rewrite history while defending his vote to OK the mothballing of Cannon Air Force Base. Wilson has often pointed out Pearce’s vote to support placing Cannon in “enclave” status. He was the only member of the New Mexico delegation to support the base realignment and closure plan that originally would have done that. But Pearce said today in an interview with 770-KKOB AM radio in Albuquerque that, shortly after Cannon appeared on the closure list, “all five of us, including Heather, signed a letter saying, ‘please let us mothball it.’” “And then she’s saying Steve voted to mothball. That’s misrepresenting your position. Continue Reading

Blair announces candidacy for ABQ-area Senate seat

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John Blair, Democratic candidate for state Senate District 15, yesterday submitted more than 2,000 signatures with his declaration of candidacy at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office. “Voters are hungry for new leadership and fresh ideas in Santa Fe,” Blair said in a news release announcing his candidacy. “The overwhelming support we received in the district shows that Democrats are behind us and will give us the edge in June.” Blair was only required to submit 69 signatures, but said he has walked more than 125 miles to talk with voters about their concerns and his goals and gather signatures. His campaign has knocked on more than 3,200 doors in the district, with Blair personally knocking on more than 2,200, the release states. Blair estimates that he’ll need 2,500 votes to win the primary, and he’s excited by the early response to his “message of change.” “It has been hard work, but time very well spent getting to know everyone I can in the district,” he said. Continue Reading

Feds tell tribe it shouldn’t open Akela Flats casino

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The National Indian Gaming Commission has informed to Fort Sill Apache Tribe that it should not open its planned casino at Akela Flats. The action comes a day after Gov. Bill Richardson ordered state police to block public access to the planned high-stakes bingo parlor because the federal government had not ruled on its plans and Richardson had information that the tribe planned to open the facility as early as today. You can read the commission’s letter to the tribe by clicking here. It states that the commission has not made a final determination but has preliminarily concluded that gaming will not be allowed on the land. The tribe plans to open a bingo parlor on land that was taken into federal trust in 2002 with the condition that it was not to be used for gaming. Continue Reading

Guv orders state police to block access to bingo parlor

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Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered the state police to block access to a planned “illegal casino” that an Oklahoma tribe is planning to open between Las Cruces and Deming. Richardson took the action against the Fort Sill Apache’s facility at Akela Flats, according to a news release, after receiving no assurance from the federal government that it would act on the tribe’s plans.The action comes after the state learned the facility could open for business as soon as Thursday. “We have emphatically stated our opposition to what clearly would be an illegal gaming operation in the State of New Mexico,” Richardson said. “Because the federal government is abdicating its responsibility, I have no choice but to take immediate and forceful action to protect the citizens of New Mexico and the integrity of our gaming laws.” The tribe plans to open a bingo parlor on land that was taken into federal trust in 2002 with the condition that it was not to be used for gaming. State police will block members of the public from entering the facility but not tribal members and employees. Continue Reading

Kennedy: Obama inspires and can bring change

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Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said today during a visit to Albuquerque that Barack Obama is the presidential candidate who can inspire uninvolved people to become active in their government. Kennedy talked about young people and others who haven’t been involved in politics during a stop at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and said Obama gives Americans “the opportunity to have a very unusual candidate” who can change the nation. “There is one person, there is one candidate, there is one individual who has the ability to bring about that enthusiasm, that idealism, that commitment, that kind of spirit, that kind of vision for our country and the world, and his name is Barack Obama,” Kennedy said. “Are you going to be with us for change?” Kennedy said the eyes of the nation will be on states like New Mexico on Tuesday. He said Obama has done just about all he can, and it is now “up to each and every one of you” to campaign for Obama in the coming days. Continue Reading

N.M. leaders urge action following Bush speech

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New Mexico’s members of Congress had mixed reactions to President Bush’s last State of the Union address on Monday, but all urged action and expressed hope that important issues can be addressed during the coming year. Bush focused much of his time on the war, economy and taxes, and again called for immigration reform and an end to congressional earmarks. You can read the full text of his speech here. U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, in a news release, said Bush outlined good policy initiatives and urged Congress to act. “President Bush sent a very clear message that he intends to work up to the very end of his term pushing what he believes will make us a stronger nation,” Domenici said. Continue Reading

Protecting our mountains will require compromise

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Just about everyone in Doña Ana County agrees that it’s time to protect the Organs and other mountains surrounding Las Cruces from development. But there isn’t consensus on how to do it. And, especially after two city council elections in November and earlier this week polarized the community, backers of two competing proposals aren’t in the mood to compromise. But unless both sides agree to negotiate and give a little ground, protecting the mountains is an idea that doesn’t appear to be on its way to gaining traction in Washington. The first proposal, from the Doña Ana County Wilderness Coalition, quickly earned a great deal of support when it was unveiled in late 2006. Continue Reading

Most of N.M. delegation hails approval of energy bill

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All members of the New Mexico delegation except U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce supported a bill the president signed this morning mandating the first increase in vehicle fuel economy in 32 years. The House approved the final version of the bill on Tuesday by a vote of 314-100, and President Bush was accompanied by Sens. Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Pete Domenici, the committee’s ranking member, when he signed it today. Bingaman had a major hand in drafting the legislation, which the Senate approved last week on a vote of 86-8. “After many years of struggle, we are enacting needed and long-overdue requirements for more fuel-efficient vehicles and more energy-efficient appliances, especially for lighting,” Bingaman said following House approval on Tuesday. Continue Reading

Liberal rhetoric on energy takes us nowhere

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By Mario Sanchez The New Mexico of my grandfather has long been the backdrop of the quintessential Rockwellian image of small-town America, a place in which Democrats were conservative and Republicans were, well, conservative. This was a New Mexico in which Republicans and Democrats alike were proud to be the cradle of the atom, and those many pump jacks slowly bobbing up and down around our landscape were a sign of prosperity, ensuring the future of American supremacy. So, what happened? Did we loose the Cold War? Coup? Continue Reading

Udall says he won’t respond to negative attacks

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall said today he won’t respond to negative attacks that are coming at him from all sides as he formally begins his campaign for Senate. Udall made the comment during a phone interview today with New Mexico bloggers. He’s been under attack from the other Democrats in the race – Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez says he’s too liberal and has betrayed New Mexicans in supporting cuts at the state’s national laboratories, and alternative media publisher and editor Leland Lehrman says he lacks the courage and willingness to represent the state’s Democrats because he won’t support impeachment of the president and vice president. The Republicans in the race – U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson – have also been highly critical of the proposed lab cuts. Continue Reading

Dems unleash criticism after SCHIP veto override fails

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After an attempt to override a presidential veto of a children’s health insurance bill fell 13 votes short in the U.S. House of Representatives today, Democrats released a barrage of criticism against Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, who refused to change their votes. Democrats and a number of Republicans had spent almost two weeks pressuring Pearce and others to vote for the proposal, which would expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion to cover another 4 million children, and fund it through an increase in the federal cigarette tax. Supporters of the bill had enough votes to override the veto in the Senate, but, without the same support in the House, it didn’t matter. Pearce and others opposed the bill on the grounds that it was a step toward socialized medicine and expanded coverage to undocumented immigrants, an assertion I examined in a recent article. Democratic Senate candidate Don Wiviott put out a news release calling fellow Senate candidate Pearce “a reliable rubberstamp for this White House.” “No matter what excuses the congressman tries to make for his vote, he can’t change the facts. Continue Reading

Colleagues, McCamley dispute Pearce’s SCHIP claim

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One of the reasons U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has given for his opposition to a bill that would expand a children’s health insurance program is that it would allow undocumented immigrants to receive government-funded medical care. It’s an assertion three of Pearce’s colleagues in the New Mexico delegation say is false, and one that prompted a Democrat seeking the GOP congressman’s seat to call him a liar. Pearce and other House Republicans who recently voted against the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill are coming under increasing pressure as Democrats and moderate Republicans work to secure enough votes to overturn the president’s veto of the bill. The proposal would expand the program by $35 billion to cover another 4 million children, and fund it through an increase in the federal cigarette tax. There are enough votes in the Senate to overturn the veto, but supporters of the bill in the House are some 20 votes short of that goal. Continue Reading

Poll finds Pearce stronger than Wilson against Dems

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The first public polling done on the dynamics of the 2008 U.S. Senate race finds Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., significantly stronger than GOP Rep. Heather Wilson in potential head-to-head contests against Democratic opponents. With Pearce still undecided on whether to challenge Wilson in a primary, the SurveyUSA poll is certain to put further pressure on Southern New Mexico’s congressman to get into the race. He has said his decision won’t be based on polls, but will instead be based on what he believes is right. Read the poll’s full results by clicking here. Regardless of what Pearce says, the numbers are hard to ignore. Continue Reading

Newcomer to battle Wilson in Senate primary

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A Republican oil man who had previously considered a primary run against U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici told a group of 60 people in the Alamogordo area on Saturday that he will run for the seat next year. That means U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson will have a primary battle regardless of whether U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce decides to jump into the race for the open Senate seat. Spiro G. Vassilopoulos made the formal announcement at a pig roast, the Alamogordo Daily News is reporting. “I will begin my campaign this coming January,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “And I feel my only serious competition will be Stevan Pearce, if he decides to run for the position. Continue Reading

Dems attack Bush, Pearce for kid’s insurance veto

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Sensing an opportunity, Democrats unleashed a barrage of harsh criticism on Wednesday against President Bush and those, including U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., who supported his veto of a bill that would have expanded children’s health insurance. “Steve Pearce doesn’t get it. As a member of Congress, he can get the best health insurance money can buy, paid for by our tax dollars,” Bill McCamley, who is running against Pearce next year, said in a news release. “But apparently he doesn’t think 11,000 New Mexico kids deserve any. This is what’s wrong with Washington, and this is what I will fight to change when I get there.” The criticism is driven by more than politics. Continue Reading