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Senate might derail Richardson’s special session

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There’s a chance that the New Mexico Senate will only convene today long enough to adjourn. The reasons for Gov. Bill Richardson’s call for a special session can be summed up easily: The Senate didn’t do what he wanted. A number of senators, however, say there’s good reason for that. What’s not clear is how many Senate Democrats will opt to try to derail the special session when it begins at noon today. “We’ll see what happens,” said Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces and the minority whip. Continue Reading

Celebrating this site’s one-year anniversary

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This site made its debut on March 20, 2006, with an article about former state Rep. William “Ed” Boykin’s plan to drop out of the race before the November election. On that day, this site had 88 unique visitors (in general, the number of computers that visited) and 157 page views (number of pages on the site that were viewed). At the time, I was still a reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News, but the site grew so rapidly that within seven weeks I quit my day job and became a full-time online journalist. Less than two weeks ago, on March 8, this site had its best day yet – 1,047 unique visitors and 1,997 page views. March 2007 is on track to be its best month yet, with about 12,000 unique visitors and 30,000 page views. Continue Reading

Good, common sense should defeat spaceport tax

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This is the fourth in a series of guest columns debating whether Doña Ana County voters should approve a 1/4 percent gross-receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America. Public officials and other readers are invited to participate in this debate. To submit a guest column for publication, e-mail me at heath@haussamen.com. Baseless personal attacks will not be published. By Greg Lennes Every Doña Ana County resident should vote against an increase in the local gross receipts tax for Spaceport America on April 3 because it is unfair. Continue Reading

Informal poll: Domenici, Wilson acted unethically

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson acted unethically during phone calls to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias last year. Of 220 voters, 174, or 79 percent, said the two members of Congress acted unethically, while 40, or 18, percent, said they did not. Six voters, or 3 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

Richardson calls special session for ethics reform

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While proclaiming this the most successful legislative session in the state’s history, Gov. Bill Richardson announced less than an hour after its end that he will call lawmakers back to Santa Fe on Tuesday for a special session that will deal with a number of issues, including ethics reform. “I want to do what’s right, and we’re on a roll, so let’s continue,” Richardson said at a news conference that followed the end of the session. “The main reason I’m calling a special session is I want a complete ethics package.” The Legislature approved a gift ban and amendments to the Governmental Conduct Act, but on a vote of 21-20 the Senate killed a proposal to limit campaign contributions minutes before the end of the session. In addition to that proposal, Richardson said he wants approval of an ethics commission and a public financing system for judicial races. Richardson will also push for the approval of more than $200 million for road projects, the creation of a methamphetamine registry, approval of domestic partner benefits and a water infrastructure bill. Continue Reading

Liveblogging the last hour of 2007 Legislature

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Since the ethics reform proposals and the road funding are bogged down in the Senate, I’m going to do some liveblogging from the Senate for the last hour. Check back frequently as time expires on the 2007 Legislature. Time is up at noon. Shortly after it became clear that Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, was intentionally skipping over ethics bills, he received a phone call and was on the phone for several minutes. Those of us in the media gallery are assuming Gov. Bill Richardson’s people are pushing him to hear the ethics bills. Continue Reading

Gift ban, campaign contribution limits on life support

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Proposals to limit gifts and campaign contributions to public officials and candidates are in the hands of Senators, but Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, just skipped over them as the group prepares to hear another controversial bill that could run out the clock on the session. The House just sent Senate versions of the bills back to the Senate for the concurrence, but not before the House Judiciary Committee last night stripped amendments made by the Senate. The move sets up a showdown with about 65 minutes left in the session. Senate Bill 931, sponsored by John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, would prohibit public officials and candidates for state and local offices from accepting gifts with value of more than $100 during legislative sessions and $250 during the rest of the year. It would also prohibit lobbyists from giving gifts whose combined value total more than $1,000 to any state official or candidate for state office each year. Continue Reading

Senate approves housing overhaul compromise bill

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The Senate has approved the new version of a bill that would overhaul the state’s scandal-plagued regional housing authorities. The bill now heads to the governor for a signature. Senate Bill 519, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, was approved on a unanimous voice vote. It was approved earlier this morning by the House on a vote of 64-0. During the brief Senate hearing, Papen thanked those in the House who made the compromise possible. Continue Reading

Spaceport road funding awaiting Senate OK

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A bill that would provide $25 million to build a paved highway from Interstate 25 in Doña Ana County to Spaceport America in Sierra County is still awaiting passage in the Senate. House Bill 496, sponsored by Rep. Dan Silva, D-Albuquerque, was approved by the House almost three weeks ago on a vote of 62-5, but it’s been stalled in the Senate. Many senators don’t want to provide any more funding for the spaceport after appropriating more than $100 million last year. The state has much of the money it needs to build the spaceport facility, but not the money to build a paved road to reach it. Currently, several rugged dirt roads are the only paths to the spaceport. Continue Reading

House approves housing overhaul compromise

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The House approved early this morning the new version of a bill that would overhaul the state’s scandal-plagued regional housing authorities. Senate Bill 519, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, was approved on a vote of 64-0. The bill now goes to the Senate for concurrence before it can head to Gov. Bill Richardson for a signature. The Senate is scheduled to meet for another four hours today. The bill had been scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee before heading to the floor, but the committee’s chair, Rep. Kiki Saavedra, D-Albuquerque, allowed the bill to bypass his committee. Continue Reading

Ethics reform bills in danger as time runs short

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With 10 hours left in the 2007 legislative session, most ethics reform proposals are in danger of dying. With the exception of House Bill 823, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, the package of ethics reform bills remains in limbo. Cervantes’ bill, which would make amendments to the Governmental Conduct Act, was approved by the Legislature Friday. Sources tell me the Senate isn’t likely to touch House bills that have been on its calendar all week. They would place limits on gifts and campaign contributions. Continue Reading

Committee approves housing overhaul compromise

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A new version of a bill that would reform the state’s affordable housing system was approved unanimously this morning by members of the House Business and Industry Committee, and now appears to be on the fast track through the House. A bipartisan group of lawmakers and the lieutenant governor are hailing the new bill as a great compromise that will provide necessary oversight of the regional housing authorities. Many said it was a stronger bill than the original version. “I’m really pleased, because this shows great bipartisan cooperation in the Legislature and between the House and Senate,” Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces and the sponsor of Senate Bill 519, said in an interview. The new version of the bill would keep the regional housing authorities in existence, but put in place extensive oversight: Bonding and eminent domain authority would belong to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, not the housing authorities; the Department of Finance and Administration and state treasurer would have roles in administering finances; and the authorities would be required to submit quarterly audits – most agencies have to submit them annually – to the DFA. Continue Reading

Compromise reached on housing overhaul bill

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A compromise has been reached on a proposal to remake the state’s affordable housing system, sources tell me. The House Business and Industry Committee will meet sometime soon to consider the bill. Its chair and another member were part of the group that worked out the compromise, so the bill will likely be sent to the House floor for a vote. I’ll have details soon. I can tell you that the bill is significantly different than the one approved by the Senate, and, with 13 hours left in the session, the bill will have to go back to the Senate for consideration if the House approves it. Continue Reading

Minimum wage headed to governor for signature

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A compromise on raising the state’s minimum wage is now headed to the governor for signature. On a vote of 22-20, the Senate concurred today with changes the House made several days ago. “This is a great day for working New Mexico families,” Gov. Bill Richardson said. “Raising the minimum wage is the crown jewel of our legislative agenda. Combined, this wage increase and the $52 million in tax cuts that I signed into law today are a major victory for working New Mexicans.” Senate Bill 324, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano, D-Silver City, raises the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour in January 2008 and $7.50 per hour a year after that. Continue Reading

Officials optimistic about finding housing compromise

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Officials are expressing optimism about the work of a committee that is attempting to negotiate a compromise on the proposal to overhaul the state’s troubled affordable housing system. Speaker of the House Ben Lujan put together today a committee whose members are Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, and Democratic Reps. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, Al Park of Albuquerque, Debbie Rodella of Ohkay Owingeh and Jose Campos of Santa Rosa. The committee has done its work in secret. The governor, lieutenant governor and Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, have been involved in negotiations. Continue Reading