{"id":3378,"date":"2008-06-12T14:38:00","date_gmt":"2008-06-12T20:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/06\/foleys-loss-changes-the-dynamics-in-state-house\/"},"modified":"2008-06-12T14:38:00","modified_gmt":"2008-06-12T20:38:00","slug":"foleys-loss-changes-the-dynamics-in-state-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/06\/foleys-loss-changes-the-dynamics-in-state-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Foley’s loss changes the dynamics in state House"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dan Foley<\/a> is a fighter. Whether it\u2019s using his debating skills to single-handedly filibuster legislation on the House floor or rushing a Roswell<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> basketball court in June after a fight broke out among teens, Foley has often found his way into battles.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

That has led to some of the controversies that ultimately cost Foley his elected position, including his arrest last June during the basketball-court fight on charges that were later dismissed<\/a>. The House minority whip was defeated in last week\u2019s primary by his well-funded opponent<\/a>, Republican Dennis Kintigh<\/a>, who went negative early and hammered Foley throughout the campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

But Foley\u2019s willingness to fight and his skill in a debate, coupled with his unique friendships with a handful of colleagues on the other side of the aisle, have also made him an effective legislator whose absence will change the dynamic in the House, many of his colleagues said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Foley offered to resign following his defeat so Kintigh could be appointed and get a jumpstart on his work. Kintigh said he is hesitant to do that because voters elected Foley to serve the current term. With Gov. Bill Richardson<\/a> promising a special session this year for health-care reform, it\u2019s likely Foley will have one more opportunity to battle on the House floor if he serves out his current term.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Rep. Justine Fox-Young<\/a>, R-Albuquerque, said there\u2019s no one better to engage in that fight.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cDan Foley is the guy — not the kind of guy, but the guy — you want fighting in the trenches with you, no matter what the issue,\u201d she said. \u201cHe is persevering, quick-witted and unwavering in his commitment to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Rep. Joseph Cervantes<\/a>, D-Las Cruces, also praised Foley\u2019s talents.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cFoley is a simply gifted debater, and had mastered the complex rules and procedures of the legislative process,\u201d Cervantes said. \u201cIt would be hard to argue that Foley had not led all of the minority-party activity on the floor of the House for the last four years and was a principle strategist of the agenda of the Republican Party of the House.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones<\/a>, R-Albuquerque, said Foley is \u201cone of the most able debaters to grace the floor of the House of Representatives. His passion and style will be regarded fondly in the history of the New Mexico Legislature.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Crossing party lines<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Foley is a conservative who, during his 10-year career, has sponsored legislation to allow school-vouchers<\/a> and toughen registration requirements for convicted sex offenders<\/a> and a memorial requesting that Congress repeal the so-called death tax<\/a>. He has frustrated Democratic leadership with his ability to lead filibusters of proposals his caucus opposed.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

But Foley has been by no means a party-line politician, and it has not been uncommon during a spirited floor debate to see him approach House Majority Leader Ken Martinez<\/a>. The two would confer briefly as their fellow lawmakers battled sometimes arcane points. A few minutes later the debate stopped. A deal had been forged between the two men.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The two also spent a great deal of time in each others\u2019 offices discussing compromise on complex issues.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Legislative leaders often work this way, but Foley had close relationships with Martinez<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> and other Democrats including Cervantes and Rep. Al Park<\/a> of Albuquerque, as was evident in the anecdotes and sometimes humorous yarns that circulated at the Capitol.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

An oft-told story recalled a particularly spirited debate in which Foley and Martinez<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> were vigorous participants. The debate ended and the two men rushed for the doors of the House chambers. Some thought the two were headed outside to settle a score but, in fact, they were rushing to dinner. Their families were eating together.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Such friendships helped lead to a loose, bipartisan coalition that could, when enough Democrats agreed, override the will of powerful House Speaker Ben Lujan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have always been political polar opposites, and while at times I disagreed with Dan on issues, I understood he sought what he thought was best for New Mexico<\/st1:state>,\u201d said Martinez<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>, who is the godfather of Foley\u2019s daughter. \u201cIn spite of our differences, we have been and will always be friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Foley said there was \u201cno one who fought more with liberal Democrats\u201d than he did, and Martinez<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> is one of the more liberal Democrats in the House. But Foley said the bipartisan group of members who worked together learned to respect each other on a personal level and argue policy based on its merits — something he said is rare in a legislative body today.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

That group was perhaps most influential during the 2007 legislative session, Foley\u2019s first as minority whip. That year, the Republican caucus and a handful of Democrats banded together to force the speaker to compromise on a proposal to restructure and investigate the state\u2019s affordable housing system<\/a>, which had been crippled by scandal tied to a lobbyist and ally of the speaker. A similar bipartisan push forced Lujan to distribute capital outlay among House members equally for the first time in recent memory, instead of giving more to Democrats than Republicans.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

That was a precedent-setting action, and capital outlay was distributed evenly again this year.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Forming a new strategy<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s obviously what\u2019s lost when you have a change like this,\u201d House Minority Leader Tom Taylor<\/a> of Farmington<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said of Foley\u2019s strong personal relationships with some Democrats. \u201cI feel like we can still have a good working relationship there, but it won\u2019t be the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Taylor<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said the Republican caucus has other strengths. It won\u2019t use the same strategies that led to success in the last two years, in part because it would take three members to match Foley\u2019s debating skills.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThe charge of the caucus will be to redesign the way we do business,\u201d Taylor<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said, while adding that he is confident it can remain effective. \u201cIt\u2019s not a one-man show. We\u2019ve got a great group of people.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Foley agreed.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Legislature was there before I got elected and it\u2019ll be there after I\u2019m gone,\u201d he said. \u201cAll you can hope is that you leave it better than when you got there.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

House Republicans will have to select a new minority whip when Foley leaves office, but none interviewed for this article would talk about who that will be. Senate Minority Whip Leonard Lee Rawson<\/a>, R-Las Cruces, said he is confident the House Republicans will select a strong whip.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThe style of that leadership might change, but that doesn\u2019t mean that the leadership won\u2019t be there, the leadership won\u2019t be as effective,\u201d he said. \u201cI know a number of people in the House who can\u2026 do as good a job as Dan, so I don\u2019t see where the caucus loses anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for Foley?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Foley said one thing he won\u2019t do after he leaves office is become a lobbyist. He said he spent his legislative career being \u201cgenuine\u201d and only making deals in which he believed, and that\u2019s not going to change.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going to go back and try to use my friendships to make some money. I\u2019m not going to be that guy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Foley said he will \u201cdo all I can to help where I\u2019m needed and where I\u2019m asked.\u201d He\u2019s also considering doing political analysis as a columnist for the New Mexico Independent<\/a> and possibly on radio and television.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love to still talk about politics because I think I still have some stuff to offer,\u201d Foley said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Asked whether he might return to elected office someday, Foley said he isn\u2019t ruling it out, but he\u2019s planning to spend the next few months with his family and \u201cliving life.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Trip Jennings<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> of the New Mexico Independent<\/a> contributed to this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dan Foley is a fighter. Whether it\u2019s using his debating skills to single-handedly filibuster legislation on the House floor or rushing a Roswell basketball court in June after a fight broke out among teens, Foley has often found his way into battles. That has led to some of the controversies that ultimately cost Foley his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3378\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}