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As historic global warming report becomes public, New Mexico’s senators are at forefront of debate

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The most definitive report yet on the cause and predicted effects of global warming comes at a time when New Mexico’s two U.S. senators will be at the forefront of discussions on what the United States should do about it. The report will also likely be cited by Gov. Bill Richardson as he campaigns for president. One of Richardson’s main campaign issues is alternative energy, and he has attempted to make New Mexico a leading state on the issue in recent years. The lengthy report from a United Nations panel made up of hundreds of scientists from 113 countries, including the United States, issued a bleak report today that found that global warming is “very likely” caused by human activity, which means the scientists behind the report are 90 percent certain. If nothing is done to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the global temperature could increase as much as 11 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, the report found. Continue Reading

Republican House member tries to level the playing field for minor parties and independents

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In September, I wrote that it is unfair that minor political party candidates and independents in New Mexico have to jump through more hoops that Democrats and Republicans to get on the ballot. I wrote that the system is set up by Democrats and Republicans to make it harder for other parties to challenge their dominance. At least one of the state’s Republican lawmakers wants to change that. House Bill 331, sponsored by Rep. Brian Moore, R-Clayton, would eliminate the state’s requirement of two petitions before minor parties can place candidates on the ballot. The issue stems from an unsuccessful lawsuit filed last year by the American Civil Liberties Union and Libertarian Party of New Mexico challenging the law on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. Continue Reading

State lawmakers must educate residents on consequences of opposing federal Real ID Act

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New Mexico House members voted 46-17 on Thursday to oppose a federal law that requires applicants for driver’s licenses to show proof of legal residence or citizenship. House Joint Memorial 13, sponsored by Majority Leader Ken Martinez, D-Grants, now goes to the Senate for consideration. New Mexico is one of several states that allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses as a way of decreasing the number of uninsured motorists on the streets. The 2005 Real ID Act set several federal requirements for state-issued driver’s licenses, but proof of legal status is by far the most controversial. A handful of states have or are in the process of formally opposing the act. Continue Reading

Steinborn tackles terrorism, border security

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When he was campaigning last year to become the next representative of District 37 in the state House of Representatives, Democrat Jeff Steinborn promised to help improve security along New Mexico’s border with Mexico and combat terrorism. As that district’s new representative, Steinborn introduced four bills this week aimed at helping him keep that promise. House Bill 653 aims to strengthen New Mexico’s antiterrorism act by further defining acts of terrorism that are prohibited and increasing penalties for such acts. Under the proposal, anyone who practices or teaches a broad range of terrorism techniques defined in the bill is guilty of a third-degree felony punishable by up the three years in prison. Anyone who commits an act of terrorism is guilty of a first-degree felony punishable by up to 18 years in prison. Continue Reading

If you love your roosters, why raise them to die violently and painfully for your entertainment?

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I’m struggling to understand and believe a quote from a cockfighting supporter published in this morning’s Albuquerque Journal. Vincent Otero of Moriarty said during yesterday’s Senate Conservation Committee hearing, according to the newspaper, that cockfighters care for their “feathered warriors,” and said their “love and devotion to these animals should be admired and respected.” Love and devotion? To breed an animal to die violently? To cheer as yours goes up against another and they slash each other to death with sharp metal? To smile with pride as yours cuts another’s throat, or punctures its lung, and to watch as the opponent’s bird takes its last breaths and blood spills? Continue Reading

National radio, TV personality blasts Richardson

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A national radio and television personality who owns a ranch in Northern New Mexico went off on a seven-minute rant against Gov. Bill Richardson on Thursday, calling him a “fat sissy,” and “fat baby,” and telling him in Spanish to “kiss my (you know what).” Don Imus, host of the show Imus in the Morning, which airs on television on MSNBC but doesn’t air on the radio in the Las Cruces area, is mad because he claims Richardson and his staff were rudely unresponsive to a community request to turn an old schoolhouse in Ribera, near Imus’ ranch, into a community center. He said the governor’s office promised to consider it and has dodged the community ever since. Imus claimed that Richardson was set to appear on his show Thursday but, after the host began talking about the schoolhouse earlier this week, Richardson’s people demanded an apology and, when it was not forthcoming, “the fat sissy canceled and he’s not going to be on now.” “If he wants to run for president, he’s got to get his act together, stop being a fat baby about all of this,” Imus said. Richardson’s campaign, through its communications director Pahl Shipley, released a statement to the Albuquerque Journal saying Richardson supports the renovation project “and has been working to secure the funds.” He also said Imus “is eager and is using his position to advocate and his having some fun at our expense, and that’s OK.” Imus called Richardson’s campaign staff an incompetent group not ready for the presidential primetime, and berated Shipley. You can listen to part of Imus’ rant by clicking here. Continue Reading

Bill to open conference committees may have life

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Rep. Joseph Cervantes’ proposal to open conference committees to the public was unanimously approved today by the House Health and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Associated Press is reporting. House Bill 297 must pass two more committees – judiciary, of which Cervantes is vice chair, and appropriations – before going before the full House. A companion bill sponsored in the Senate by Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, has not yet been heard in its first committee, the Rules Committee. It would also have to be approved by the Public Affairs Committee before going before the full Senate. Continue Reading

Cockfighting ban clears first hurdle in Senate

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Sen. Mary Jane Garcia’s quest to outlaw cockfighting in New Mexico cleared its first hurdle this afternoon when the Senate Conservation Committee, whose chair opposed the proposal, gave it a Do Pass. Committee members voted 5-3 to approve the measure, with committee Chair Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, among those voting against it. “I am overjoyed that we have taken this enormous step,” Garcia, D-Doña Ana, said after the vote. “I have carried this ban for 18 years, and I feel that now we are closer than ever to making it a reality.” Senate Bill 10 now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee and must be approved there before it can be voted on by the entire Senate. Continue Reading

Richardson amends Year of Water agenda to include agriculture and Doña Ana County

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Gov. Bill Richardson today announced changes to his Year of Water agenda to improve its focus on agriculture and add projects in Doña Ana County, which had been previously left out. At a news conference in Las Cruces, Richardson announced a new capital outlay request of $2 million to help fund a high-tech metering system to track agricultural ground water use in the Elephant Butte Irrigation District, in addition to a $500,000 executive grant he has already approved to fund the pilot project of a system designed to clean up and reuse dairy wastewater. Richardson said the $2 million request came from someone he called an expert on water issues – State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, who was one of a bipartisan group of lawmakers complaining that the governor’s proposals didn’t do enough for water conservation because they focused on residential use when 75 percent of the state’s water use is agricultural. “(Cervantes) deserves credit. It’s his initiative,” Richardson told me after the news conference, adding that he does consider it an amendment to his Year of Water agenda. Continue Reading

Evans honored by national Republican group

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Still recovering from a battle with cancer, Doña Ana County Commissioner Kent Evans has been invited to a March 15 dinner with President Bush in Washington, D.C. to be honored with a Congressional Medal of Distinction from the National Republican Congressional Committee. The group has also designated Evans as a 2006 Republican of the Year from New Mexico. Evans, who underwent surgery last month to have a cancerous tumor removed from his colon, was also singled out by NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds as the group’s 2006 Businessman of the Year for his work as 2006 honorary chairman of its business advisory council. In a news release, Reynolds, a Republican representative from Oklahoma, said the awards are given each year “to a select group of Republican business and community leaders from each state who have championed the free-enterprise system and supported the ideals of smaller government, lower taxes and less regulation.” “I’m real proud and honored and pleased to receive the recognition,” Evans said. “I work real hard, and if they recognize it, that’s nice.” Evans said he will be able to attend the dinner despite his recent surgery. Continue Reading

LCPS District 5 board member defends tenure; challengers say new leadership is needed

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Though her two challengers say the board hasn’t effectively led the district, Las Cruces Public Schools District 5 Board Member Sharon Wooden says she and her colleagues have worked hard to involve the community and navigate through a tough time in the district. Legal issues, a divided community and other problems have made that difficult, she said. Members of the public who are critical of the board don’t understand what its like to be making important decisions, Wooden said. “If I don’t get re-elected, I wish these people my best, but they are going to be in for a big surprise,” she said. The candidates seeking to replace Wooden are political newcomers David Morgan and Connie Phillips. Continue Reading

Democrats again fighting over minimum wage

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It appears that Democrats may again fight with Democrats on the issue of raising the minimum wage. The issue isn’t whether to do it: It’s how it should be done. The Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting this morning that the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee on Wednesday endorsed Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano’s bill. But earlier in the day, the newspaper reported, Speaker of the House Ben Lujan introduced his own, different bill, setting the stage for the same collision course that derailed a wage increase a year ago. Both bills raise the state minimum wage to $6.50 per hour in 2008 and $7.50 in 2009, but Altamirano’s bill does not include indexing that would increase the minimum wage in the future to keep up with inflation, exempts agricultural workers and keeps cities and counties from passing their own wage increases. Continue Reading

Mayor Mattiace wants one more term; Miyagishima undecided on whether to challenge him

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Las Cruces Mayor Bill Mattiace said he wants one more term as the city’s leader, while Councilor Ken Miyagishima, who ran unsuccessfully against Mattiace in 2003, said he hasn’t decided whether to challenge the mayor again this year. In addition to mayor, several elected city positions are up for grabs in November: • The District 1 council seat currently held by Jose Frietze. • The District 2 council seat held by Dolores Connor. • The District 4 council seat held by Steve Trowbridge, who has announced he won’t seek re-election. • The municipal judgeship held by Melissa Miller-Byrnes. Continue Reading

Ethics reform bills to be introduced Thursday

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A package of ethics reform bills crafted by House Democrats will be introduced Thursday. Kathleen MacRae, spokeswoman for the House majority leader’s office, confirmed that this afternoon. The bills come from the recommendations of the governor’s task force, the governor’s own recommendations and negotiations with other legislators, Majority Leader Ken Martinez has said. Martinez, who served on the governor’s task force, spent much of today working to finalize the bills before they are introduced. As I reported Tuesday, Rep. Mary Helen Garcia will be the House sponsor of the bill that would create a state ethics commission. Continue Reading

Richardson returns to Las Cruces on Thursday

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Gov. Bill Richardson will be in Las Cruces on Thursday to talk about his support for three multi-million dollar infrastructure projects in Southern Doña Ana County. It will be his second trip to the city this week. Richardson will discuss the projects during a news conference at 2:45 p.m. at his Las Cruces office, located at 505 South Main Street. Few details were released, but Richardson spokesman Jon Goldstein said the governor would discuss three capital outlay proposals – two for Sunland Park and a third that deals with colonias – that total several million dollars. The governor was in Las Cruces on Monday to promote passage of a proposed gross receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America. Continue Reading