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Lawmakers won’t be able to ignore ethics reform

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Lawmakers hoping the ethics-reform front would remain quiet during this session – and this election year – aren’t going to get their wish. Legislative leaders had an initial plan to consider only four issues – contribution limits, an ethics commission, funding for the Secretary of State’s online reporting and disclosure system and a study on the possibility of creating an election commission. Activists are complaining that it isn’t enough. They’re drawing attention to ethics reform and, it appears, having some success in shifting the debate. • Gov. Bill Richardson on Wednesday said he will allow debate on public financing during the session, and Speaker Ben Lujan said he might introduce a bill to expand the state’s public-financing system. Continue Reading

Ethics bills introduced as push for reform continues

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Some ethics-reform bills have been introduced in the Legislature in recent days and received the blessing of Gov. Bill Richardson to be considered during the 30-day session. • Senate Bill 264, sponsored by Majority Leader Michael Sanchez of Belen, would place limits on campaign contributions to individuals equal to the federal limit, which is currently $2,300 for a primary and $2,300 for a general election. • House Bill 309, sponsored by Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces, would create a state ethics commission to investigate complaints of ethical misconduct by public officials from all three branches of government. Its membership would be balanced between the two major political parties and consist of people appointed by the governor, legislative leaders from both parties and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. • State Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, introduced legislation today calling for a study on the possibly of creating a state commission to oversee elections in New Mexico. Continue Reading

Cervantes, Lujan among politicos endorsing Obama

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State Reps. Joseph Cervantes and Antonio Lujan of Las Cruces joined 14 other prominent New Mexico politicians in endorsing Barack Obama today. The endorsements were announced in a news release and at a news conference outside the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. “I share Obama’s passion and commitment for reform of government and I share his belief that we have to entirely change the way we think of government, both at a federal and state level, before we’re going to meet the challenges of our modern world and modern society,” Cervantes said in a phone interview. “Sen. Obama has demonstrated a willingness to challenge the status quo, which is something I share too.” Co-chairs of Obama’s campaign in New Mexico are state Treasurer James B. Lewis, former U.S. Sen. Fred Harris, former state Rep. Patsy Trujillo and civil rights attorney John Pound, the campaign announced. Continue Reading

Local political shift may signify the national mood

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Many analysts predict that the shift to the left that gave Democrats control of Congress in 2006 will continue this year, but there’s a lot of debate about how strong the wave will be. If the recent overthrow of the Las Cruces City Council is an indication of the national mood, the wave might be stronger than some suspect. New Mexico didn’t experience the shift to the left that was seen across the nation in 2006. Anger against Washington Republicans was cancelled out by frustration over Democratic scandals in Santa Fe. The only exception was Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Krahling will seek to replace Evans on commission

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New Mexico State University alum and long-time county resident Scott Krahling announced today that he will seek to replace Kent Evans as the District 4 representative on the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners. “This county is facing incredible amounts of growth, and we need leaders who will be proactive and work with all parties when making decisions that affect the future of our residents,” Krahling said. In order to address the needs of a growing community, Krahling, a Democrat, said he will push for a comprehensive plan for the future that attracts new jobs, meets the county’s security needs and protects the environment. He said he will seek to “address infrastructure needs and add new amenities like parks and walking paths.” Krahling said he will also work to ensure that all interested people can participate in their government, saying that’s important to ensure that the area “remains the kind of community our kids will be proud to call home.” No other Democrats have announced their intention to run for the seat, which is open because Evans has served two terms and cannot run again. Two Republicans – Doyle Pruitt and Anna Mae Evans, who is Kent Evans’ wife – have announced their candidacies for the seat. Continue Reading

Clinton begins airing TV ad in Albuquerque market

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Hillary Clinton began airing her first television ad in New Mexico today, a 30-second spot about the economy. The ad is airing in the Albuquerque television market, which does not include Doña Ana County. “Our economy is in real trouble,” the ad’s narrator states. “And while George Bush helps his friends, the middle class gets slammed.” The ad focuses on Clinton’s plan to freeze foreclosures and take other action to help the nation’s struggling economy. “We need more than talk,” the narrator says. Continue Reading

Bill would let 16- and 17-year-olds be poll workers

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A bill sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, could help encourage young people to become involved in the political process by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to be poll workers. Steinborn worked with Doña Ana County Elections Supervisor Lynn Ellins to draft House Bill 335, which has been approved for consideration in the current 30-day session by the governor. Currently, a person has to be 18 to be a poll worker. “This is a win-win situation for everyone,” Steinborn said in a news release. “It helps our electoral system recruit more citizens to meet our perpetual shortages during elections while giving our young adults an opportunity to participate in our democracy. Continue Reading

Plan to provide alternate path to ballot faces hurdles

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What do you do if you want to create the appearance that you support providing an alternate path to the ballot for major-party candidates but don’t actually want to provide such an alternate path to the ballot? You sponsor a bill that places requirements that are nearly impossible to reach and, in practicality, don’t provide an alternate path to the ballot. That’s especially effective in a 30-day session, when creating dissent can bog down a bill until there’s no time left to pass it. That’s exactly what Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, is accused of doing. At issue is whether Democrats and Republicans who don’t secure 20 percent at their party’s preprimary nominating convention should be allowed another way to get on the ballot. Continue Reading

Wilson to campaign in Las Cruces this week

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U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson will be in Las Cruces Thursday and Friday for two events that are open to the public. She will meet with college Republicans at New Mexico State University from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday. That event will be held in the Rio Grande Room at Corbett Center Student Union on campus. Wilson will speak on Friday to the Federation of Republican Women from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. That event will be held at Good Samaritan Village, 3025 Terrace Drive. Wilson, a Republican, is the U.S. Representative for the state’s First Congressional District. Continue Reading

The other Nuevo Mexico

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By Carter Bundy New Mexico has the name, but Nevada is pretty close to a real New Mexico. In Nevada, there’s a huge first-generation Mexican-American population that does the hard work that makes Las Vegas so popular. The food, the cleanliness, the rapidly-developing infrastructure and room availability – none of it happens without first-generation Mexican Americans. Last Saturday, they gave us all a lesson in what it means to be an American. I write this not as a Hillary supporter (I am, although I think highly of the other candidates as well), nor as a member of a union that did a lot of good work in Nevada with our members (humbly, I think we did). Continue Reading

An argument for the governor’s health-care proposal

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By Diane Denish As we were preparing to embark on an effort to reform our state’s health-care system in this year’s legislative session, a newspaper cartoon caught my eye. Titled “The simplified health care program,” it showed two street vendors of the hotdog-stand variety. One of them offered “Fried Stuff” for $1. The other offered a defibrillator, $10 a jolt. While it was a humorous exaggeration, the sad fact is that too many of our citizens aren’t as healthy as they can be and, all too often, drastic and expensive health care is the best they can hope for. The problem affects every New Mexican – even those who have insurance and get basic, preventive care. Continue Reading

Former Gov. Johnson endorses Ron Paul

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Former Gov. Gary Johnson is endorsing Ron Paul for president. Johnson’s endorsement of Paul isn’t a surprise. Both are Republicans but are almost Libertarian in their philosophy. “I am endorsing Ron Paul for the Republican nomination for president because of his commitment to less government, greater liberty and lasting prosperity for America,” Johnson said in a statement released by Paul’s campaign. “We are at a point in this country where we need to reduce our dependency on government and regain control of our future,” he said. Continue Reading

Guv to meet with House Dems on health-care plan

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Gov. Bill Richardson will meet this afternoon with the House Democratic caucus, apparently in an attempt to try to build momentum for his health-care reform proposal, which has gained little traction thus far in the legislative session. The meeting between the governor and all House Democrats will be held on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse. It’s being called a “crisis caucus” by some House Democrats, though none I spoke with knew why or who started calling it that. But here’s the bottom line: The crown jewel of Richardson’s legislative agenda is universal health care. The governor’s plan, which would use a combination of government and private programs to cover all New Mexicans, is sponsored by John Heaton, D-Carlsbad, and co-signed by only two others: Speaker Ben Lujan and Majority Leader Ken Martinez. Continue Reading

U.S. attorney probes might resurface before election

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Though there hasn’t been much public activity in recent months, probes into the 2006 firings of nine U.S. attorneys could re-enter the spotlight in the heat of the 2008 election cycle. That has the potential to threaten the legacy of the retiring U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and the political future of U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson. The Hill is reporting today that there has been recent behind-the-scenes activity in several investigations related to the firings of David Iglesias of New Mexico and others. That includes investigation into the October 2006 phone calls Domenici and Wilson placed to Iglesias to discuss an ongoing investigation weeks before the November 2006 election. Iglesias alleges Domenici and Wilson pressured him to speed indictments to sway voters, a charge both deny. Continue Reading

Clinton won’t be in N.M. today or tomorrow

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Contrary to published reports, Hillary Clinton won’t visit New Mexico today or Wednesday. Clinton campaign spokeswoman Kathleen Strand confirmed that the senator has no plans to visit the state in the next 48 hours. Clinton’s presidential campaign has said she will visit before the state’s Democrats caucus on Feb. 5 but has not released a date or location. The Associated Press first reported Monday night that Clinton would leave South Carolina to campaign in other states, including New Mexico, today and Wednesday. Continue Reading