A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

That old saying is never truer than in this picture taken from the blog on Patricia Madrid's website:


A couple of things are really striking. First, the Madrid camp is so threatened by Congresswoman Heather Wilson's commitment to seniors, that they found it necessary to cut out the part of the picture that shows Heather with constituents.

Meanwhile, they left the picture of Patricia Madrid with the sign behind her proudly proclaiming that Patricia Madrid is "Protecting New Mexico." Well, we know that's not true, and judging by the body language and expressions of those in the picture with Madrid, her supporters know it to be false as well.

Take a Trip Down South

If you haven't clicked over yet to read Heath Haussaman's new blog, you should do it now.

Moving to the Brink

Joe Monahan has a few thoughts today on the Governor's polling numbers including this gem:

"They have fully absorbed his personality. The good and the bad is well-known. On the down side, they are critical of him for being pompous and sometimes a bully, but they approve of him because they seem him as getting things done and moving the state forward," explained an insider who has seen the numbers.

Well, if Governor Richardson is about as high as he is going to get in the polls, and only saving grace is he is perceived as moving the state forward, the man on the fourth floor may well be in trouble.

Trains, planes and spaceports may make great headlines for Governor Richardson, but they do nothing to actually move New Mexico forward in the areas that most directly affect every New Mexican, everyday.

In education, we continue to fail miserably, and now even the infrastructure is crumbling around our students because of the hundreds of millions Governor Richardson has siphoned away from the capital outlay process.

The crime rate in our state's largest metro still ranks us as one of the worst in the nation, and the illegal activities of elected officials at the highest levels of state government continues unabated.

On the healthcare front, New Mexico remains firmly placed as 49th in the nation. After nearly four years of Bill Richardson press conferences and promises, the situation shows no signs of improvement.

Yes, Governor Richardson may be moving New Mexico forward. However, the question is forward to what?

He's Baaack!

Who is back you ask? Well, that Governor who has no problem taking ownership of both sides of an issue. Last summer, Richardson was "tough" on illegal immigration, and it has taken less than twelve months for him to once again flip flop on the issue:

CBS: Governor Richardson, what happens to all of these businesses and there are many businesses, big and small, across the country, whose lifeblood is cheap labor. What happens to these businesses when they don't have anybody to work there anymore?

RICHARDSON: Well, a lot of them are going to fall apart whether it's agriculture, whether it's service industry and a lot of these undocumented workers are paying taxes. They have families that pay taxes. What Miss Buchanan is suggesting is unrealistic. You're going make 11 million undocumented workers felons, along with their families. Iunrealisticestic to deport them. What you going to go into their homes, knock on their doors, find 11 million? The cost is going to be prohibitive. So what you have to do is be realistic.

One can only wonder what tomorrow will bring. Also, can't help but wonder how a "pro-business" Governor who makes overtures about increasing minimum wage can at the same time admit that kicking out illegal immigrants will cause a lot of businesses to fall apart. Notice Governor Richardson highlights the agriculture and service industries. You know, the same industires that make up the economic backbone of New Mexico.

Deafening Silence

I just don't understand what's going on in the Patricia Madrid political camp. Doesn't she have anyone on the payroll who understands that all politics are local? Madrid continues to try and make her Congressional race against Heather Wilson a referendum on the presidency all the while continuing to turn a blind eye to rampant corruption, illegal cronyism and extortion occuring in her own backyard.

Patricia Madrid is still collecting a taxpayer funded paycheck to act as Attorney General, right?

Bad Policies - Tragic Results

I am not in the habit of reproducing press releases word for word; however, as we all keep the family and friends of recently murdered Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy, James McGrane Jr., in our prayers, this release from the State Republican Party deserves some serious thought:

“All options have to be looked at, but (early parole) certainly compromises public safety. It just takes one person,” presciently warned Rob Perry, former Corrections Secretary, in 2003 when Governor Bill Richardson was helping to restore an early-release prisoner program.

“I am very adamant: I am not going to build any new prisons,” said Bill Richardson at the time.

And now, in 2006, sheriff’s deputy James McGrane Jr. and his family are paying the price for Bill Richardson’s unrealistic decision.

On Wednesday, Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy James McGrane Jr., 38, was gunned down during a traffic stop. The suspect, Michael Paul Astorga, was on parole after serving only six years of an eleven year sentence. He was convicted for drug trafficking, possession of a firearm and theft. Previous to those crimes, Astorga was arrested in 1993 for aggravated battery, assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at or from a motor vehicle. In 1997, he was acquitted of murdering a 27-year-old. (It turned out Astorga’s younger brother did the shooting).

Incredibly, the parole board thought it was appropriate to let Astorga out of prison three different times.

Republican State Chairman Allen Weh commented: “The parole board is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor. It is Governor Richardson that put into place a board and a policy directed at releasing prisoners, rather than building new prisons, as the solution for New Mexico’s increasing inmate population. A governor has no bigger responsibility than insuring the public safety of our citizens. I respectfully suggest that the state’s money that Richardson wants to spend on such things as spaceports and the movie industry needs to be redirected to public safety. Regrettably it took a New Mexico law enforcement officer’s death to bring this chicken home to roost.”

Richardson's Next Move for Schwartz

On a daily basis, Governor Bill Richardson faces a dilemma. Should he do what's best for New Mexicans, or should he do what is best for him politically? Generally speaking, he chooses the latter. Nothing will illustrate this tendency more than the next move made by former crime czar, Bob Schwartz.

When Mr. Schwartz addressed the Bernalillo County Pre-Primary Convention delegates, he indicated that he went to work for Governor Richardson because he could not pass up the opportunity to fight crime - regardless of the administration.

Now Mr. Schwartz has the chance to demonstrate he wasn't simply blowing smoke. He could drop out of the Attorney General primary race and go back to being the Governor's crime czar, proving that fighting crime is his number one goal. Or, he could stay in a race that he can not win and confirm that he is nothing but a pawn that Governor Richardson is using to insert himself into the Republican primary.

Richardson's Appeal Waning

I ended up getting stuck on the East Coast on business, so I had to send my proxy to the convention, but thanks to all of the delegates for sending a strong message that more of the same is just not going to cut it.

This past weekend's Republican and Democratic State Conventions also sent a clear message that being tied to Governor Richardson is not a positive on either side of the aisle. Granted, Geno Zamora, former chief legal counsel to Governor Richardson won the top Democratic Attorney General spot on the ballot by the slimmest of margins. However, the devestatingly wide-margin losses sustained by those others with close ties to the Governor, Bob Schwartz (R) and Jim Baca (D), point to the growing frustration New Mexicans have with the Governor's antics, and his preference to pursue presidential ambitions instead of focusing his energy on making progress on the most challenging issues facing New Mexicans.

An Open Letter to State Convention Delegates

Dear Fellow Delegate,

As you decide who will get your vote this Saturday at the State Convention, I want to relay some very disturbing news about Attorney General Candidate, Bob Schwartz. As a former Republican candidate, I can tell you that it is vitally important to have the support of Republicans. Bob Schwartz has a history of withholding support from our Republican candidates and even actively campaigning for Democrat candidates.

Among these were his efforts to defeat Congresswoman Heather Wilson. In 1998, Schwartz recorded a radio ad for Phil Maloof in his race against Heather Wilson.

In 2002, Schwartz headed up "Republicans for Richardson" in the race against John Sanchez. In his endorsement of Bill Richardson, Schwartz said "the fact is that this will be the best governor for the public safety of New Mexico ". Bill Richardson characterized Bob Schwartz's support as his "most significant Republican endorsement". Later, Bob Schwartz went on to work for the Governor as his "Crime Advisor". Given the mutual support between Bill Richardson and Bob Schwartz, we as delegates should be asking Mr. Schwartz which candidate for Governor he will vote for this fall?

In 2004, Bob Schwartz supported Richardson's decision to commute the life sentence a woman convicted of killing her husband. When Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White raised objections to her release, Bob Schwartz used the opportunity to attack him saying, "he never bothered" to help the Governor's office fight for harsher sentences.

I cannot in good conscience give my delegate vote to someone who has worked so hard to defeat Heather Wilson and other Republican candidates. Please consider this as you make your decision. Let's send a message to Bob Schwartz that it is unacceptable for him to work to elect Democrats and then come to us and ask for our support to get him on the Republican ballot for Attorney General. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday in Albuquerque.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday in Albuquerque.

Sincerely,


Mario Burgos

Little Bill

Apparently, Mayor Martin Chavez has learned nothing (subscription) from the failures of Governor Richardson's administration to improve education:

Mayor Martin Chavez, moving forward on his plan to gain control of the school district, said Tuesday he will ask lawmakers next year for authority to appoint board members.

Albuquerque Public Schools' seven board members are elected.

Chavez made his comments Tuesday morning at a breakfast meeting with local business executives.

"What I want is accountability," Chavez said later in an interview. "The problem isn't with teachers. I think the system is broken."

Governor Richardson spent a lot of money and political capital to change the governance structure of the State Education department all under the banner of accountability, and the results have been an abysmal failure.

Let's not go through this pointless exercise again. Our children deserve better.

Richardson's Mixed Messages

Governor Richardson has made a big deal about childhood obesity in the past. He has proposed solutions, that I believe have nothing to do with tackling the problem and are strictly intended to garner more votes. These vetoes taken from today's Journal (subscription) seem to support the Governor's lack of concern of our children's physical fitness:

[Capitan Superintendent C. Larry] Miller said he has no idea why the governor rejected projects that would have meant new athletic equipment, upgrades to the baseball field and the middle school's science lab.

Vetoed projects included computer purchases for numerous Roswell schools, and equipment for school libraries and a high school wrestling team.

For example, while the governor vetoed $250,000 to upgrade Roswell schools' athletic complex...

Richardson vetoed $175,000 for improvements at the Capitan High School baseball fields...

But hey, at least he was able to preserve close to half a billion dollars on spaceports and trains.

Prologue - Year of the Child

When I first heard that Governor Bill Richardson was calling this recently concluded session, the "Year of the Child," I expressed some concern. However, I never could have imagined this (subscription):

"Some of the projects that were vetoed were good projects," Varela said.

The governor's line-item vetoes included canceling funding for hundreds of local projects, from buying school library books to providing child and healthcare services for homeless children in Bernalillo County.

Geez, talk about heartless.

Arizona Does It

Some comments have been left to previous posts that try to equate what Richardson has done to the actions of other administrations. The big difference is that Governor Richardson was not satisfied with just filling the allotted appointed positions with unqualified political cronies. He found it convenient to create brand new positions, and he did it in an illegal manner. Patricia Madrid's culpability in this is that not a peep has come out of her office since legislators have gone on record about the troublesome illegal activities.

Now all of this makes one thing abundantly clear. Now more than ever, we need open and transparent government. Unfortunately, Governor Richardson has for two consecutive sessions vetoed legislation that would enable webcasting of the legislature - even though he choose to webcast his most recent State of the State.

This needs to change.

EVERYTHING that happens up in the Roundhouse should be visible via streaming video. The Arizona State Legislature is able to do it, and so is the Albuquerque City Council, why not the New Mexico State Legislature?

Administration Caught in More Lies

State Senator Cicsco McSorley (D) has a word for Governor Richardson's practice of creating and then handing out high-paying jobs to political cronies - ILLEGAL. Now the Republican Party of NM has brought it to light that other Democratic leaders and state department officials have been very vocal in committee meetings regarding the negative effect the Governor's practices have had on the delivery of services. For example:

The Department of Cultural Affairs received scathing criticism from LFC members about the agency's significant number of newly created and expensive staff positions. In the listing of staff expansion requests, the Department of Cultural Affairs told the LFC that "approximately $462.7 thousand in un-budgeted Gov-Ex salaries and benefits has severely impacted our ability to deliver programs in FY 06."

And...

Rep. Kiki Saavedra (D-Bernalillo), the chairman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, the Legislature's most powerful standing committee, quickly assessed that the highly paid occupants of the unauthorized positions take resources away from the department's lowest paid employees. Stuart Ashman, the DCA secretary, said the enormous staff turnover at the Department of Cultural Affairs cost this one mid-sized agency $1 million dollars.

Depsite this new evidence, Attorney General Patricia Madrid has continued to turn a blind eye to the administration's lawlessness.

The Wheels are in Motion

Mississippi is expected to follow suit. Take advantage of the comments section at the end of this SF New Mexican article to let your thoughts be heard.

The Richardson Way - Part Deux

In case you missed Larry Barker's complete KRQE news report, you can catch it here. [Hat tip: New Mexico Matters].

Cronyism - The Richardson Way

For the second time in less than a year, the state is being rocked by illegal payback scandals, and this time it has landed squarely on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse. KRQE's Larry Barker ran a hard hitting segment last night that exposed the millions of dollars Governor Richardson is costing taxpayers in high paying jobs illegally created and then handed out as rewards to political cronies.

Consider the statement made about the Richardson practice by State Senator Cisco McSorley (D):

The way it works: State Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque , said on camera the practice is illegal. McSorley estimated as many as 65 jobs were created by the administration in this manner. "This is not the way government should work, but unfortunately , this is the way it has worked,"McSorley said.

Yet again, New Mexicans are hearing that illegal activities by high-ranking elected officials are being described as "the way we do business in New Mexico:"

Montoya served as treasurer from 1995 to 2002. Investment adviser Peter Simons, who cooperated with the FBI in exchange for immunity, claimed Montoya told him the kickback is "the way we do business" in New Mexico.

Now that all of this has been brought to light, it remains to be seen if Attorney General Patricia Madrid, currently focused on running for Congress, will launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the Administration's illegal practices. Madrid has been on the hot seat for allowing the corruption at the Treasurer's office to continue unfettered for years.

So far, the Madrid camp is quiet. Maybe not surprising since current practices are similar to those that flourished and went uninvestigated by the Attorney General's office under Patricia Madrid's watch. Consider this:

Ed Stapleton, husband of House Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton, D-Albuquerque , makes $40,000 annually as a racing clerk at the state Racing Commission. The racing clerk position actually was occupied by another employee. That person got to keep her job, but she only makes $26,000 a year.

And then notice the similarities to the way the Treasurer's office previously conducted its business:

According to a Sept. 13 search-warrant affidavit, [Michael] Montoya thought [Robert] Vigil owed him money. First Vigil offered Montoya a deputy treasurer's job, which Montoya refused. Then in a recorded conversation on March 23, 2004, Vigil told a witness that Montoya was trying to get Vigil to hire [his wife, Samantha] Sais-Montoya . Vigil offered her a yearly salary of $47,000, but Montoya wanted $60,000, so Samantha Sais-Montoya wasn't hired.

This was a practice that an FBI affidavit described as "engaged in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization." The funny thing is that even indicted Treasurer Robert Vigil, seemed to have a limit as to how much he would inflate a wage as payback. So far, Governor Richardson has given no indication that there is a problem. Quite to the contrary, "Richardson's chief of staff defended the practice."

Political Grandstanding

Last Friday, Senator Jeff Bingaman and Albuquerque's Mayor Martin Chavez held a press conference (subscription):

If Albuquerque police want to keep extra DWI patrols on the streets, test DNA and buy new equipment, the department may have to find some other way to pay for it than relying on federal money.

While standing next to 15 city police officers, K-9s, SWAT tanks and a bomb detecting robot, Mayor Martin Chavez and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., held a news conference Friday attacking President Bush's proposed budget cuts.

Now, I can't help but wonder how they held that press conference knowing this information (subscription):

Since the city started issuing red-light camera citations to motorists last May, it has raised $438,000.

Now, city officials are scratching their heads over what to do with the money. Initially, they thought both programs would only pay for themselves.

How can someone with a half million dollar windfall cry about federal budget cuts with a straight face? Of course, the bigger question is should the federal government be paying for local policing in the first place? What we're talking about is someone from New Jersey paying for Albuquerque's policing needs. How is that right? Think about that question the next time you read about city spending on projects like the Tricentennial Towers.