Seriously?

It looks like the New Mexico's "golden ticket" is struggling on more than one front.  But, at least someone is still writing fantasies for media distribution:

"Governor Richardson has led the way for ethics reform in New Mexico," said Richardson spokeswoman Alarie Ray-Garcia.

Are you kidding me? A list of corruption this long, and the Governor is being positioned as the champion of ethics?

Taxes Before Responsibility

There's a war brewing for the 2010 Legislative Session. The battle lines have been drawn, and on one side are those that believe government excess should be pared down, and on the other side are those that want to see the tax and spend party to continue by raising even more taxes. The spend, spend, spend people have formed the organization, Better Choices New Mexico, to make their case, which basically boils down to:

This alliance of small businesses, faith-based groups, working families, and nonprofit organizations believes cutting critical services and programs would be a terrible mistake. Instead, the Legislature needs to open the books on tax expenditures, close the loopholes for out-of-state corporations, and rollback the tax breaks for the wealthy.

What's amazing to me is that essentially what they are defending is the spending gone wild policies that have left us in an economic crisis that should not have occurred. Any organization that wants to be taken seriously about seeing better choices in New Mexico had better address the severe mismanagement of taxpayer funds by the state before asking for more money. Their one-pager makes the case over and over again for increasing revenue, but not once does it talk about cutting expenses. The closest it comes is to suggest shifting dollars from one area of waste to another.

And, mind you there is a lot of waste in government spending in this state. There are the obvious signs of waste that are uncovered everyday:

Nemazee and others connected to Carret Asset Management gave campaign contributions to Gov. Bill Richardson before and after receiving the contract, according to the magazine. “The contract with the State Investment Council, which oversees $12 billion in trust funds from oil and gas leasing fees, has so far yielded $1.7 million in fees for Carret,” the author of the article, Nathan Vardi, reports.

Of course, no one wants to take responsibility for this kind of waste:

Richardson’s spokesman says the governor, who is chairman of the New Mexico State Investment Council, played no role whatsoever in the hiring of Carret.

Only in New Mexico could the Chairman get away with full denial of accountability. Then again, this is the same Governor who can hand out multi-million dollar favors like candy on Halloween
without the least bit of economic restraint, no matter how bad out budget situation may be:

I'm positively shocked that Governor Richardson has been a long time friend of the Hool brothers who are behind the Santa Fe Studios. The project, which I wrote about a few months ago, is being subsidized to the tune of $10 million by state taxpayers with taxpayers in Santa Fe County chipping in another $6 million. The whole thing stinks.

Of course, at the same time as he is pushing for additional subsidies for an already-subsidized industry, Richardson is pushing for tax hikes on the rest of us.

Then, there is the wasteful spending that is not so obvious unless you're a government insider:

I am a state employee who is faced with trying to determine where to cut groceries, utilities, Christmas spending...I can accept the furlough...However, I looked at the salaries at executive agencies and must ask how did the agency on aging become a full Department? Military affairs? Where did some of these commissions come from? Do we need them or should we place higher expectations on persons employed in these areas? For example, why isn't the Department of Homeland Security part of the Department of Public Safety?

Why not consolidate programs and eliminate some high salaried executives? Why are we paying outlandish rents for private buildings when there are vacant government buildings? I am not placing the blame on any branch of government, just venting.

Well, someone better start blaming a branch of government. It's called accountability. But, then again, its easier to push for tax increases than to actually try to make a better choices in New Mexico. After all, it's all about our children, right?

Three sport utility vehicles purchased for school administrators from an out-of-state dealer. A $91,000 tow truck. Thousands of dollars for iPods for students. Paying athletes and cheerleaders to pull weeds. Lunches, including a $110 tab at the Rio Chama Steakhouse paid for by federal funds intended for low-income students.

These are just some of the questionable expenditures uncovered by audits of five medium-sized school districts that were discussed Thursday at a meeting of the Legislative Finance Committee. One LFC staffer said these audits "barely scratch the surface" of waste and abuse in some school districts.

Yeah, it's all about the children. Now, you tell me something. Do better choices start with putting more money in state coffers, or does it start by saying enough is enough? Until the people taking and spending our money are held accountable for their fiscal mismanagement, corruption and fraud, I say they don't get to increase taxes by even one tenth of one percent.

Balancing State Budget Without Taxes or Cuts

A special session of the New Mexico legislature will be called to address an expected budget shortfall. Governor Richardson had this to say:

Richardson blamed the shortfalls on the national recession, and he urged lawmakers to avoid layoffs, repealing tax cuts or "drastically cutting services."

Ok, we're going to balance the budget without increasing revenue, and without cutting spending. Hmmm... I guess that leaves... um... magic?

And, for Governor Richardson's next trick, he will attempt to hypnotize the entire state (or at least the voting population and media) into forgetting that a spending spree on steroids is what caused our financial budget crisis in New Mexico.

"Because our budget deficit is directly related to the national recession, I want to make sure that we don't take any action that might cost jobs or adversely affect the state economy," Richardson said in the release.

Wow. What an act!

Denish Proposes Secession from the Union

Okay, maybe that title is a little misleading. Lt Governor Denish didn't actually advocate for New Mexico to secede from the Union at a recent NAIOP meeting, but she did say:

"I want a New Mexico where a business succeeds or fails based on the quality of its products ... not just because they have connections to certain lobbyists," Denish told about 300 people attending a lunch sponsored by NAIOP, a commercial real estate group.

Heck, I want a nation where that is the case. Of course, that doesn't seem to be happening. Insurance companies, banks and automobile manufacturers top the list of those whose business continue because they have connections to certain lobbyists.

Actually, in all fairness to the lobbyists, the problem is the politicians who will trade votes for favors or contributions, not the lobbyists who advocate for or against a given company or issue. There are lobbyists on both sides of every issue. They are part of the process, not the problem. Let's be real here.

As to the relevance to New Mexico pay-to-play scandals, it's a little too little, a little too late as far as I'm concerned. The Lt. Governor spoke up when the Governor pinched her leg, but until recently, never said a word about the rampant pinching of contributors in return for lucrative state contracts.

Lines are Becoming Blurred

State government in the Land of Enchantment is mired in corruption with one investigation being launched after another. The lack of indictments and swift action is beginning to take a toll. Now, every incident is being viewed as a pay to play scenario:

"Hi Commish! I know you're getting pressure from our friend to resolve Mr. Atencio's issue. I know it is taking a while but it by no means (is) being ignored. It is being redesigned completely to address his concerns."

That e-mail from a top New Mexico Department of Transportation official has helped reignite an inquiry into whether an Española businessman whose property is needed for a $68 million road project received special treatment from the state.

DOT officials redesigned a portion of the planned reconstruction of U.S. 84-285 last fall after receiving complaints from restaurant owner Luis Atencio. Atencio is one of more than 40 property owners whose northern New Mexico land is needed for project right of way. So far, he has refused to sell.

State Transportation Secretary Gary Girón asked for the internal investigation on May 26 after e-mails surfaced showing that DOT second-in-command Rebecca Montoya and Jim Franken, vice chairman of the state Transportation Commission, got involved in Atencio's right-of-way fight earlier this year. The "Hi Commish" e-mail was sent from Montoya to Franken on Jan. 5.

This is the second time in six months the DOT's office of inspector general has looked into the allegation of special treatment.

It is noted in the article that Mr. Atencio made significant contributions to both the Governor's presidential campaign and Congressman Ben Ray Lujan's campaign. But, here is the thing. Pay to play, works this way. An individual makes a contribution, and then receives a special favor in return. That would be criminal.

However, if the same individual seeks and receives constituent service, and then turns around and makes a political contribution, that would not be an illegal activity. The problem we have is that since so much pay to play corruption in New Mexico is occurring without prosecution that the lines are now becoming blurred.

One of the unintended consequences of not prosectuing criminals in government is that before long, elected officials and government employees are going to have an excuse to insulate themseleves from everyday citizens for fear of appearing to act in improperly.

Celebrating a Culture of Corruption

I didn't think it was possible, but I think we've hit a new low in New Mexico politics. Maybe it's just the fact that there have been so many corruption scandals in recent years that people have started thinking, "What's the big deal? Forget feeling shame, let's start celebrating our corruption."

Consider the startling fact that a former State Supreme Court Chief Justice and numerous other current and past elected officials think nothing of showing up for a going to jail party for one of their own. Let me repeat that: "A GOING TO JAIL PARTY!"

This is like something out of a Scorsese film. Can you imagine any other state in the nation where elected officials running for office would think nothing of showing up for a going to jail party?

Also attending the Manny farewell, according to our Senior Gators, was former Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos, current Bernalillo County Commissioner and ABQ City Council candidate Alan Armijo; former state Senator Shannon Robinson; former Grants State Rep. Toby Michael; veteran political player Guy Riordan and another big name--former Ambassador to Spain and longtime NM politico Ed Romero.

This is beyond troubling. This is downright scary. Tomorrow, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will be in Albuquerque to unveil President Obama's 2009 National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy. That's all fine and dandy, but the biggest threat to our state and homeland security right now is from within.

When the lives of corrupt politicians are being celebrated by the political establishment, our society is seriously threatened. When subpoenas after subpoenas are being issued and no one is being indicted, law and order is endangered. And, this is not simply a local problem. When political appointees think nothing of shutting down the efforts of career prosecutors fighting to protect our freedoms, we are headed down a dangerous path.

Justice Department political appointees overruled career lawyers and ended a civil complaint accusing three members of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense of wielding a nightstick and intimidating voters at a Philadelphia polling place last Election Day, according to documents and interviews.

Where does this leave us? The answer is that it leaves us in a very scary place. Someone needs to stand up and start questioning those in charge. If the political appointees were willing to shut down the prosecution of such an obvious case of intimidation, what will they do in New Mexico when the sitting Governor and those in his inner circle are facing indictments?

Will U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder overrule the career prosecutors who have been trying to stem the growing tide of corruption in New Mexico, or will he push to protect our homeland security by encouraging the aggressive prosecution of the elected and appointed thieves in our state government? If I was a reporter at tomorrow's press conference, I'd be asking this question. President Obama promised Change. The administration can start by rooting out corruption. That's a non-partisan issue.

Investigation Upon Investigation

I have to admit at being a bit perplexed. It seems like the general level of public outrage during the NM Treasurer Scandals was significantly higher than it is today in the face of what appears to be a much larger bilking of the taxpayers here and throughout the nation:

Marc Correra has been at the center of the investment controversy in New Mexico.

He is the son of Anthony Correra, a retired stockbroker from New York who agreed to surrender his license in connection with insider trading allegations. The two share a Santa Fe business address.

Anthony Correra was on Richardson's transition team and a member of the search committee that led to the hiring of Gary Bland as State Investment Officer.

Geez, talk about a smoking gun. Governor Richardson puts a gut on the search committee to hire the the State Investment Officer who had to surrender his license to due to insider trading allegations. Then, his son is paid millions of dollars in fees for deals involving the State Investment Council:

Records show that [Marc Correra] was involved as a placement agent and shared in more than $11 million on nearly two dozen investment deals with the State Investment Council, which is appointed and chaired by Richardson and run by Bland.

Marc Correra shared in more than $4 million in fees for investments made by the ERB.

He has not been charged with any wrongdoing. His Albuquerque attorney, Sam Bregman, said Wednesday he had no comment.

And, when was the last time anyone remembering Sam Bregman having no comment? Heck, you even have a U.S. Senator's step-daughter and campaign manager of his Senate run being granted immunity. Bottom line, this isn't a pretty picture. Yet, the general public outrage just doesn't seem to be at the level it should be. If it was, it would be hard to see how anyone even remotely connected with this administration could be considering a run for anything in 2010.

Now, does that mean I think every elected and appointed official in the Richardson administration is corrupt. No. But, at the very least they were quiet enablers. At some point, heads should start rolling, right? How much longer can all of this go on? Think about the last few years. We've had...

• the treasurer scandal and its far reaching associations followed by...
• the state insurance scandal followed by...
• the housing authority scandal followed by...
• the court house scandal followed by...
• the Secretary of State scandal followed by...
• the New Mexico Finance Authority scandal followed...
• the State Investment Council scandal...
• the Attorney General scandal...

Isn't it about time to clean house? That's a heck of a list in just four years. I can't even keep track of which came first. New Mexico has been a one party state for so long that it proves the adage that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's one of the reasons that I think, no make that I hope, that 2010 brings change to New Mexico. We need to restore a balance. It's also why Ed Rollins recent commentary makes perfect sense:

As bleak as things might seem today for Republicans, I have to put things into context.

I became a Republican in the summer of 1972. I was involved in running President Nixon's re -election campaign in California and became part of his administration at the start of his second term.

In very short order after my arrival in Washington in January 1973, the Nixon administration came apart at the seams with a daily soap opera of criminal charges, congressional hearings, federal indictments and the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew for bribe taking, followed 10 months later by the resignation of Richard Nixon who was about to be impeached by the Congress.

I was demoralized and ashamed of the leaders of my new party. But I wasn't going to quit because I still believed in the principles of strong national defense and smaller government, and in the idea that working people should do better than those who don't.

In the aftermath of all this, Republicans got slaughtered in the midterm elections of 1974, losing 48 House seats and five Senate seats. Republicans had only 144 House members in the 94th Congress.

Two years later, Jimmy Carter was elected president and I was convinced Republicans would be in the wilderness the rest of my political life. After the first 100 days, President Carter's approval rating was 69 percent -- higher than President Obama's.

And four years after that I was working in the White House as an assistant to President Ronald Reagan -- who defeated Carter by a landslide and won a Senate majority and a philosophical majority in the House. For 20 of the next 28 years, a Republican was in the White House.

What's been going on in New Mexico makes Watergate look like childs play. It's is time for a change. Anyone that is part of the current insanely corrupt government political structure in New Mexico needs to go in these next rounds of elections.

Indictments are a Distraction

By now you know that PRC Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr. has been indicted. How Jerome Block, Jr. ever got elected is still a mystery to me. Everything in this guy's recent past seemed to indicate this outcome. But, I have to admit that I find this to be a sad statement on New Mexico's tolerance of illegal behavior among elected officials:

PRC chairman Sandy Jones said it was too early to say whether Block should consider resigning or recusing himself from votes on the commission. Jones said Block had "hit the ground running" and shown commitment to the job since taking office Jan. 1.

"I'm confident right now he's doing what he needs to do," said Jones, even as he acknowledged that the indictments were a distraction.

Only in New Mexico politics could an indictment be considered nothing more than a "distraction."

A New Worst of List for New Mexico Counties

Transparency was one topic that dominated debate during this recent legislative session. It took many forms. There was the question of whether or not to webcast. The was the question of whether or not to audiocast. There was the defeat of a bill that would have provided a searchable budget online for anyone to search. Now, there is the question of whether or not Governor Richardson will back away from his promise to sign into law a bill that opens conference committees.

Let's face it, the majority of New Mexico's elected officials prefer that we don't see them "making the sausage." Apparently, this desire to operate under a veil of secrecy is not limited to state government. The Sunshine Review just completed a review of every county website in the country, and guess what they found:

This table shows both the percentage of counties in each state with websites, and the average transparency rating each state received. Averages are calculated by adding up the total number of "yeses" received, divided by the number of counties with websites.

So far, Arizona's county websites have received the highest average rating of 6.533. Not only that, but 100% of it's counties actually have websites. New Mexico fared the worst with an average rating of only 1.222.

Another worst of of list ranking for the Land of Enchantment. Is there really any excuse for this? How many corruption cases do we need before we say enough is enough?

Department of Hispanic Affairs... Give Me a Break

Just when you think you know a guy, he goes ahead and surprises you:

I am probably going to regret saying this, but I think the idea of a Department of Hispanic Affairs in state government is totally counterproductive. What is next? Where does this stop? Why on earth do we need it?

Look at our political landscape in New Mexico. A high percentage of power brokers are Hispanic. Our Governor, Congressman Lujan numerous leaders in the Legislature, the Supreme Court and Appeals Court, Mayors, District and Metro Court Judges, City Councillors, County Commissioners, School Board members and other office holders are Hispanic. It is not like we have no political power.

Believe me, this is about one thing. It's purpose is to create a new State wide Cabinet level department that will hand out some jobs to the supporters or friends and family of the supporters of this ill advised legislation.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree 100% with former Mayor Jim Baca. This piece of legislation is right up there at the top as one of the most ridiculous pieces of legislation to be introduced this session.

And, what adds insult to injury here is that there is actually a significant RECURRING fiscal impact of $700,000 per year. Remember, that's just for starters. Once this newly created cabinet position is filled, and the offices are staffed, you can bet your bottom dollar the appointee will be up at the legislature asking for more money to run this "important" department.

Geez, and you wonder why the state is having budget problems.

Putting Government Run Health Care in Perspective

There are two bills waiting to be heard in committees establishing universal (or single payer) health care in New Mexico. HB 339 the Health Security Act has been introduced by Representative Bobby Gonzalez, and a companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Carlos Cisneros.

Ok, let's start with the obvious here. It is ridiculous to be introducing economically burdensome universal health care bills in New Mexico when the federal government is considering their own "solutions" to the health care issue. The New Mexico legislature should just wait and see what the federal government is going to do next.

Now, let's say you disagree with me here, and you believe that this is a problem that needs to be immediately addressed. Well, I can tell you without a doubt THIS IS NOT the bill to do it. Take a moment to read the Fiscal Impact report for HB 339, and you'll discover something VERY SCARY:

The bill will effectively subject all existing health care facilities and health care providers in New Mexico to state control. It will require mandatory participation in the health care plan by most state residents other than persons covered by federal health plans, military personnel, and members of Indian tribes covered by federal health plans. It will prohibit the sale of health insurance in New Mexico for health care that is covered by the health security plan except for retiree health insurance plans that do not enter into contracts with the health security plan. The private sector would continue to provide the actual delivery of health care but will be required to comply with the rules of the commission and provisions of the health care plan.

In other words, this doesn't just provide health insurance for the uninsured, this takes away our right to choose our health insurance policy providers and condemns us all to a government run system. Want a preview of what that looks like? Well, you don't have to look any further than the level of care our neighbors to the North are currently "enjoying":

Canadians often wait months or even years for necessary care. For some, the status quo has become so dire that they have turned to the courts for recourse. Several cases currently before provincial courts provide studies in what Americans could expect from government-run health insurance.

In Ontario, Lindsay McCreith was suffering from headaches and seizures yet faced a four and a half month wait for an MRI scan in January of 2006. Deciding that the wait was untenable, Mr. McCreith did what a lot of Canadians do: He went south, and paid for an MRI scan across the border in Buffalo. The MRI revealed a malignant brain tumor.

Providing health care for some should not mean reducing the level of care others are currently receiving.

NM Senate Proving Camera Shy

Yesterday afternoon I thought enough of the Senate Democrats call for full transparency in the confirmation process of gubernatorial appointees to do a rare midday post. I went so far as to title the post, What's the Governor Trying to Hide? Unfortunately, it looks like this is a case of what's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander:

I just saw a Capitol maintainance worker taking down the cameras in the Senate gallery that had been purchased and installed for the purpose of webcasting state Senate floor sessions.

Last month I reported that the state Senate leadership had decided not to start webcasting this year despite the fact that the full Senate last year voted overwhelmingly to Webcast and had already spent $30,000 to buy and install cameras for that purpose.

With new instances of scandal breaking daily, you'd think everyone in government right now would be working overtime to make the process as transparent as possible - not the either way around.

The Backhanded Compliments Just Keep Coming

So, Barb from Democracy for New Mexico left a comment to yesterday's post about Governor Richardson failing to do the right thing with regard to vacating his position, so that Lt. Governor Denish can do the job she is inevitably going to inherit:

Plus no-one in their right mind would leave their elected post before being confirmed by the Senate for a Cabinet post.

Yeah. People who care about the company/organization/state they are leading step aside all the time to make way for new leadership before their next job is in the bag. People who believe in the leadership skills of their successor are more than willing to turn over the reins. But, therein lies the problem.

Although I am more than willing to give our soon to be Governor the benefit of the doubt that she has what it takes make the tough decisions to turn around the financial pickle in which we now find ourselves, it doesn't seem our outgoing Governor feels the same (subscription):

Both Richardson and Denish assured reporters the transition will be smooth, but said Richardson won't cede authority until he leaves.

"On some of the major budget items, obviously I'll make the decisions but she's going to have a role in them," said Richardson, who was nominated by Obama on Wednesday.

Are we witnessing an incredible display of machismo here or what? Where's the outrage Barb? This is worth repeating:

Obviously I'll make the decisions but she's going to have a role in them.

Governor Richardson is talking about our soon to be top executive the way that some people talk about incapacitated family members before putting them into a retirement home.

Denish, who was joined Thursday by her husband, Herb Denish, said she intends to make decisions on whether to retain members of Richardson's Cabinet on a case-by-case basis.

More urgent, she said, is addressing a budget shortfall that's ballooned to more than $500 million in the past three months.

"The people of New Mexico expect us to get down to business," Denish said.

Obviously, Lt Governor Denish understands the problem at hand - a half a billion dollar deficit. And, she's dead right, the people of New Mexico expect her and the legislature to get down to business. I mean who are we kidding here? The Governor hasn't been around to focus on the state for the last two years. Now, we're supposed to believe that while he's away "at least half the time" - his words - in Washington going through the confirmation process he's going to be able to "get down to business."

Although Richardson intends to call the shots while awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate, he said he'll mix some of Denish's proposals — such as implementing safeguards on payday lending — into the legislative agenda he'll present to state lawmakers on Jan. 20.

"We're going to have to incorporate some of her ideas on the issues she cares about in the budget," Richardson said.

He also voiced confidence in Denish's ability to lead the state.

WOW. Talk about your backhanded compliments. For goodness sake, "We're going to have to incorporate some of her ideas on the issues she cares about in the budget." Gotta love it. He has to incorporate some of her ideas. Could he be any less enthusiastic?

Let's get real here. Denish, not Richardson, is going to have to govern when this budget comes into being in June 2009. If he had "confidence in Denish's ability to lead the state," she'd be taking his ideas under advisement while making budget decisions - not the other way around.

This is a all a recipe for disaster and brings us full circle back to the heart of Barb's original comment. Whether it's okay to just let people stay in their current job while waiting for their next gig's contract to be signed.

Well, Barb let me tell you how this works in the real world. When you find out your current key employee is moving on, you wish them well and send them on their way. You don't wait until their new employer has finished crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's because it in THE EMPLOYEE'S best interest.

Make no mistake, Governor Bill Richardson works for us, the people of New Mexico, not the other way around. We hired him. We pay him. And as his employer, it's time for the people of New Mexico to wish Governor Richardson well, and show him the door. If we don't, we only have ourselves to blame when our problems are compounded because we find ourselves dealing with a key employee transition right in the middle of the most important legislative session in recent history.

Richardson as Commerce Secretary

My thoughts on Governor Richardson as Commerce Secretary... it's not a bad choice.

It goes without saying that I'm no fan of Governor Richardson; however, to the extent that the primary goal of the Commerce Secretary is to "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce" of the United States, there could be worse choices than Bill Richardson. The Governor's actions, which have put us down the road of financial disaster here in NM, have more to do with his spend, spend, spend approach to government, and less to do with his ability to promote New Mexico to outside businesses - both foreign and domestic.

Quite to the contrary, he has done a pretty good job of promoting New Mexico - albeit because it was in his own self-interests to do so. With Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary, New Mexico will land on the radar of many global companies. On the other hand, if Bill Richardson were up for Treasury Secretary, I'd be scared.

Although, to be honest, I don't believe it matters greatly who President-elect Obama appoints to his cabinet with regard to economic policy. My personal feeling is that we are in for an extremely rocky ride for the next three or four years, and there is no quick fix. It has very little to do with which party is in office, and everything to do with us paying for an economic boom fueled by debt that has now collapsed.

Ironically enough, the answer coming from Washington is to bailout financial institution after financial institution - CitiGroup is the latest to receive $306 Billion. The rationale being to put money back into the system for the banks to lend. However, that makes no sense when you consider the fact that the banks need the bailouts because they made bad lending choices, but hey, what do I know? It's not like I'm a banker or economist.

In my humble opinion, anything that gets Governor Richardson out of New Mexico as soon as possible is a good thing. With Richardson out, we've got a chance at trying to cut the waste out of government to get the budget back to where it can be supported. Of course, if the budget is not cut, there is only one option left - raiding the permanent fund once again. Something Bill Richardson proved very adept at doing in the past.

The Important Work of State Government

Very often the important work performed by state government and its various commissions gets a bad rap. It's really not right. The different branches of government and the various commissions formed and funded by taxpayers tackle some of the most important issues facing our society.

For example, consider that in these times of economic crisis, with people wondering how they're going to keep a roof over their families' heads and food on the table, a brave group has spent time, energy and money (reimbursement for mileage and meeting expenses ???) to solve one of the biggest concerns facing most New Mexicans (subscription):

Well, whoopi ti yi yo — New Mexico finally has a state cowboy song.

Well, almost. It still has to be voted on by the Legislature during its 2009 session.

Called "Under New Mexico Skies," the song was written and sung by Syd Masters of Edgewood.

The song was chosen by a small group of intrepid members of the New Mexico Music Commission who gathered at the Bataan Memorial Building in Santa Fe Wednesday morning, armed with chocolate and cookies. They listened to recordings from 26 entrants in the contest.

Yeah, thank goodness for state government. It's good to know that the state legislature will be setting aside time during the 2009 session to deal with this important issue.

Reports of Giving up on New Mexico Premature

Just a few days ago, it was being "reported" by those with their own agenda that John McCain was giving up on winning New Mexico. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth and two campaign visits this Saturday prove that without a doubt:

New Mexico Road to Victory Rallies in New Mexico this Saturday
Join John and Cindy McCain and your New Mexico Ticket for either of our Road to Victory Rallies in New Mexico this Saturday, October 25th.

• Albuqerque, NM - Click here for more information and to find out how you can get tickets to this event.
• Mesilla, NM - Click here for more information and to find out how you can get tickets to this event.

If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, make sure to call today.

Tax Day - New Mexico's Place in History

The Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1913 brought us the federal income tax:

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

You can read about the history of the U.S. tax system here. Like all government run programs, it has grown and grown and grown in scope from the point of introduction. What you might not know is that New Mexico is widely considered to have a special place in history as 36th state to ratify the amendment. That was the magic number at the time.

Happy Tax Day!

A Very Slippery Legal Slope

Looks like New Mexico legal cases are getting national blog coverage again:

In New Mexico, religious rights can disappear in a flash, and no one has learned that painful lesson better than Elane Photography. The company, a Christian husband-and-wife team named Huguenin, has become the latest victims of religious intolerance at the hands of the state of New Mexico for refusing to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony.

Follow the link above and read the whole thing if you're not familiar with the case, or better yet do a search for "Elane photography."

Now, I'm not sure I see this as an example of religious intolerance. However, I am very concerned about the legal precedent being set here. If you boil this down to simplest terms, this is a case about whether or not any business owner has a choice with regard to whom they take as a client/customer.

I, for one, am not comfortable with that choice being taken away. Some may say that the problem is that the business owners were forthright in their reason for the refusal. Would it have been better for them to have lied? Should they just have said they were already booked and that be the end of that? Does hiding the truth make for a better world? I don't think so.

I'm an American, whose father is from Ecuador, and whose mother is a first generation American born to Hungarian Jews. Before anyone accuses me of not understanding discrimination, I want you to know that growing up I found myself alternately being labeled a kike, a spic and a gringo depending upon the environment. I watched time and time again as assumptions were made about one or both of my parents for very wrong reasons.

So, I don't doubt that the lesbian couple was offended that Christian photographers did not want to photograph their wedding. Nor, do I doubt that Christian photographers are offended by the action of the courts. I can empathize with both parties.

But, what I don't understand is the government's involvement here. Tolerance is to live and let live. Tolerance is not to force one party to embrace, adopt or participate in the actions of the other party. Tolerance cannot be forced. In fact, the opposite is true. When the government attempts to force tolerance, the result is to breed intolerance and contempt. It is actions like this case that divide rather than unite.

I own an advertising agency. If a neo-Nazi group approached me to put together a radio campaign for them, I should be able to decline to do so because I find their beliefs offensive. If a close all borders to all immigrants group asked me to do a television spot for them, I should be able to turn them away. I could go on, but you get the idea.

We're heading down a VERY slippery legal slope.

Open Border Alert

Uh oh, it looks like New Mexico's border is about to be reopened for rampant crossing:

The original plan was to have the National Guard watch the border until 6,000 new agents could be properly trained.

Border patrol officials said that won’t happen until December, but state officials said that’s not stopping the feds from pulling the plug early.

State officials said the feds are not saying what’s behind the early withdrawal of guard troops from across the country.

The state said the withdrawal leaves the New Mexico border vulnerable.

"We'll create a window where the smugglers and the cartels and the border criminals may try and take advantage of," said Tim Manning of New Mexico Homeland Security.

Homeland security said heavy patrols and new fencing in Arizona and Texas means there will be a funneling effect of immigrants and smugglers into New Mexico.

Not good, not good at all.

More Interesting Media Spin

Governor Richardson is pushing a single payer healthcare system for this legislative session (read: Government Run and Mandated Healthcare). So, we can expect to see more and more articles popping up in the press regarding health insurance.

However, beware of the spin. For example, an article in today's Albuquerque Journal has the misleading headline, Small Businesses and HR Offices Explain What's Wrong With the Way We Pay (subscription) and begins:

University of New Mexico public health researchers asked human resource workers and small business owners what is wrong with the way health care is financed.

Among their answers: The present system encourages injustice and inequity.

Business people who took part in a UNM Institute for Public Health series of focus groups earlier this year said they don't feel qualified to choose the right health insurance plan for all employees and say they have very little leverage when negotiating with insurance companies.

Now, I read the article all the way through because I'm a small business owner, and I found it hard to believe the picture that was being painted here. Namely, that small business was supporting the Governor's efforts.

You see, most small business owners don't like anything mandated by the government. Actually, we don't like "mandates" in general, government or corporate - it's just part of the entrepreneurial spirit.

Ok, back to my point...

It's not until the last paragraph of the article that the real sentiment of small business comes through:

Wiese detected no groundswell of support for a government takeover of health care.

That's the journalistic equivalent of burying the facts in the fine print. The paper is showing their bias. That important fact should have been headline (i.e. Small Business Does NOT Support Government Health Care Takeover), instead of being buried at the end of the article.

Watch out for more shenanigans on this issue in the weeks to come.

Disturbing Trend

According to an Albuquerque Journal article, 50.8% of all children born in 2005 were born to an unwed mother. Now before folks give me a hard time and restart the Murphy Brown debate, what concerned me the most was this statement:

Gabryelle Henry, 18, a senior at New Futures, said many of her classmates believe a baby will provide them with a child's love and encourage their boyfriends to commit to marriage.

"I think it's all about expectations," Henry said recently as she fed her 8-month-old daughter, Emeerah Johnson.

Too often, she said, the boyfriends flee the commitment of fatherhood.

This is not good.

Illegal is Still Illegal

There is no doubt that Mayté García sounds like an impressive young woman, and it is not her fault that she was brought into the the country illegally at the age of six. However, this still isn't right:

The first person to question Democratic candidates at the Heartland Presidential Forum on Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa, is scheduled to be a 22-year-old undocumented [read:illegal] immigrant from Santa Fe.

Mayté García, a volunteer and board member of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, an immigrants-rights organization, said she will ask the candidates what they plan to do about immigration reform in their first hundred days in office. She said she has a speech prepared but hasn't decided how to word the question.

"I want (the candidates) to know there is a broken immigration system for families such as mine," García said.

Ms. García's problem is simple. Her mother broke the law and entered the country illegally. Lax enforcement of the law allowed her family to stay and grow roots, and now she says our immigration system is broken.

What's broken is a system that allowed Ms. García to stay in the country for 16 years illegally. What's worse is that they are going to put her on a national stage in an attempt to manipulate the conversation. Just because she is a good person, does not mean that the laws of the land should be discarded because they are inconvenient for an individual. If we were to do this in every case, anarchy would ensue.

Ms. García has had a unique opportunity. She has taken full advantage of the opportunity. If she really wants to make a difference, her efforts should be focused on solving the problem at its source in Mexico. Take what she has learned back to Mexico and become an activist there to improve living conditions, so that people don't have to leave their homes in order to get a chance at a better life.

Ask the big political donors on both sides of the aisle who support amnesty to focus their financial resources in the countries that are bleeding people in search of a better life in the U.S. It is ridiculous to think that people can only live good fulfilling lives if they are lived in the U.S.

Rapidly Moving in the Wrong Direction

A couple of weeks ago I read an article in the New Mexico Business Weekly about the funding challenges faced by the art scene. In particuliar this really resonated with me [emphasis added]:

Chief among the challenges is funding.

This is due, in part, to the metro area's lack of a large corporate base and a small philanthropic community. But BBER also lays some blame on the "excessive focus" of the public sector on the area's largest institutions, such as the Albuquerque BioPark. The BioPark and the science museums get the largest individual slice of city expenditures for culture entities (about $11.3 million in 2004).

When I was in the not for profit sector, I was painfully aware of the lack of a large corporate base, and its no different running a service based business. We just don't have enough corporations headquartered in New Mexico. Sure, we're doing a good job of attracting startups, but what we really need are a few blue chip companies to move into the state.

This is going to be especially true after the 2008 election cycle. Let's face it, in the House and the Senate seniority is king, and we're about to have an 80% freshman delegation. Ouch! My prediction is that we are going to start bleeding federal dollars to the tune of $1 billion dollars.

Does this mean that all is lost? No. However, it does mean that we need to get serious about attracting big business to New Mexico. The problem is that according to a recent study by the New Mexico Tax Research Institute (Hat tip: Capital Report) it looks like our tax policy is evolving in such a way to repel rather than attract big business to New Mexico:

The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department just released its gross receipts tax (“GRT”) rate tables applicable for the six months beginning January 1, 2008. For the first time in history, New Mexico has not just one, but five jurisdictions that will see rates in excess of 8%.

Taos Ski Valley leads the pack at 8.4375%, with Red River, Logan, San Jon, and Tucumcari also coming in at 8% or higher. Nineteen other locations will have rates between 7.5 and 8.0%, including Taos, Santa Fe, Espanola, Ruidoso, Raton, Portales, Las Vegas, Bloomfield and Aztec. While rates have historically been higher in tourist destinations, the higher rates seem to be more contagious to other locales lately. Albuquerque rates remain unchanged at seemingly modest 6.875%, however that’s still 18% higher than in 2003 when purchasers in the state’s largest city enjoyed rates below 6%. The new rate schedules are posted on the Taxation and Revenue Department’s website’s homepage.

I've said before that in the last few years the Governor has been playing a shell game with our tax system. Governor Richardson loves to portray himself as the tax cutting Governor, but the reality is that under his guidance taxes in the state have been increasing at an alarming rate, and due to the policy in place, we could see municipal taxes in excess of 10%!

This trend needs to be reversed, and it needs to be reversed quickly. High taxes combined with a loss of hundreds of millions in federal dollars is the perfect recipe for an economic disaster in New Mexico.

One simple solution. Get rid of corporate income tax in New Mexico. We could become one of only four states in the nation to have this key competitive advantage. The cost for getting rid of corporate income tax is only about $300 million in revenue. Considering what Governor Richardson has spent chasing trains, spacecrafts and movies, that's nothing. Right now the other states that have no corporate income tax are South Dakota, Nevada and Wyoming. Now compare our quality of place to those other three, and it becomes obvious that we would jump to the head of the line.

We need to stop playing with special incentives for one industry or another, and instead have a tax policy that induces all large successful businesses to call New Mexico home.

State's Misguided Tourism Advertising

I've taken shots at New Mexico's latest advertising efforts to promote the state tourism recently, and now it looks like I'm not alone. Some of the largest convention and visitor bureau folks are also unhappy with the approach we've taken:

"New Mexico has a lot to offer — we don't need to bring our standards down," said Ken Mompellier, head of the convention and visitors bureau in Las Cruces, the state's fast-growing, second-largest city, which has refused to use the alien ads to bolster its own local tourism pitches, as it normally would.

"My first question would be: What does this campaign show of the things that we are known for?" Mompellier asked. "I look at this campaign and I don't see the fit. And the things I'm hearing from people, some of it is very negative."

Dale Lockett, president of the state's largest convention and visitors bureau in Albuquerque, addressed the issue at a statewide conference last month.

At a keynote luncheon, Lockett told the creators of the ads, Santa Monica, Calif.-based M&C Saatchi, that their handiwork, while innovative, appeals to the wrong audience. Why, Lockett wondered, was the state targeting its centerpiece ad campaign to a younger crowd at the precise moment when the bulk of baby boomers nationwide are reaching the age when they have time and money to travel?

I couldn't agree more with these two guys. Moreover, aside from the problems with the creative, the even bigger problem seems to me to be the media planning strategy.

Defending the oddity of the campaign, McCall noted that New Mexico has unique challenges in competing in the hyper-competitive tourism market. New Mexico's main rivals — Arizona, in addition to Utah and Colorado — all have their own charms and significantly more funding from their state legislatures; the ad budgets of each of those states ranks in the top 10 nationally while New Mexico's budget ($2.9 million this fiscal year) lingers in the lower third.

Well, if your budget lingers in the lower third, then you better plan on spending those dollars in places where you are going to get more bang for your buck. Places where the competition, in this case other states, are not dominating. Places like pay per click and online content match advertising.

Go ahead and Google "Southwest Vacation" or "Mountain Vacation." You would think that a sponsored ad touting the state would show up, wouldn't you? Well, it doesn't, and that's just ridiculous. Especially, when you consider that the state's whole TV campaign is trying to drive people to visit the tourism department's website.

Now, I know a thing or two about what I'm talking about (it has to do with how I actually spend my days). In fact, I'd be willing to bet that if the state gave me only 10% of their current tourism budget, I could drive 10 times the amount of traffic to their website that the current campaign is bringing. I'd even be willing to offer a 100% moneyback guarantee if I was not able to deliver.

Ask M&C Saatchi if they're willing to offer a moneyback guarantee on their campaign.

A Glimpse into Udall's Priorities

Yesterday the Journal reported on significant layoffs at Los Alamos that are going to have significant economic repercussions for Northern New Mexico (subscription):

The lab already has cut hundreds of jobs from its subcontractor work force. Monday's meeting signals the start of cuts within the lab's core scientific work force.

"It directly impacts people's lives, not only those of our employees, but also their families, and the northern New Mexico community. People are the soul of any institution," Anastasio said in a memo to employees. "You have my personal commitment to make this process as fair as possible."

Charles Mansfield, president of the Laboratory Retiree Group Inc., said the layoffs could have an impact throughout northern New Mexico.

"It's not just Los Alamos," said Mansfield, who worked at the lab for 17 years before retiring in 1993. "I think it will hit the whole Española Valley, everywhere from Española up through Taos and El Rito. The lab is a major economic engine for northern New Mexico."

Los Alamos is in the Congressman Tom Udall's district. Although the Congressman was not quoted in yesterday's article, Udall is featured in an article today (subscription):

Gov. Bill Richardson to his key New Mexico backers: Support anyone you want for the 2008 U.S. Senate race, because I'm not getting in.

That was Richardson's message during a face-to-face meeting with those supporters earlier this month, according to Rep. Tom Udall, a fellow Democrat who next week will announce his U.S. Senate bid.

"He basically released them to do what they wanted to do in the Senate race," the 3rd Congressional District representative told the Journal on Tuesday.

WOW! Talk about a slap in the face to the people of the 3rd Congressional District. On the day that it is announced that hundreds of people are going to lose their jobs, and that the economy of surrounding communities might be devastated, Congressman Udall's only comment to his constituents is regarding a comment made Governor Richardson earlier this month about his U.S. Senate race intentions.

Talk about a guy out of touch with what's important to New Mexicans.

Going from Bad to Worse

The State Tourism Department is really on a roll when it comes to figuring out how to best market New Mexico. First, they paid good money for this ad:



Then, they forked up some serious dough to enter this into the Rose Bowl Parade:


I can't wait to see what they come up with next. Of course, a quick glance at the Journal's online poll shows that I'm not alone in thinking this must be someone's idea of a bad joke:



Isn't it about time to send someone in a decision making position in the State Tourism Department into deep space (i.e. fire them!).

Republicans Have a Shot at Udall's Seat

Well, normally we wouldn't. Hey, I'm nothing if not pragmatic. The reality is that the numbers in that Northern Congressional seat make it just short of impossible.

However, Steve Terrell is painting a picture that should make more than a few northern elephants stand up and take notice:

House Bill 1156, which won unanimous approval of both legislative chambers and was signed into law by Gov. Bill Richardson, makes it tougher for candidates to get on the primary ballot.

Before the new law, candidates won a place on the ballot if they received at least 20 percent of the delegate votes at their party’s preprimary convention. Those who got less than that magic figure still could get on the ballot by submitting additional petitions with signatures of registered voters to the secretary of state.

The new law got rid of the petition option. Those who get less than 20 percent are out of luck.

Only trouble is, the large number of Democratic candidates in District 3 could increase the chances no candidate reaches the 20 percent mark at the preprimary convention. And, under the law that passed, there is no provision to get anyone on the ballot with less than 20 percent.

Here’s a little nightmare for Democrats: No candidate gets enough delegates to secure a place on the ballot. The GOP runs one candidate who automatically wins a Congressional seat in a heavily Democratic district.

Gotta love technicalities.

Remove Charter Schools Limits

Sorry, I've been pretty sporadic about posting lately. There is so much going on in the political arena with all of the open (and opening) seats for Congress, and yet, there really isn't anything happening. Names are still be floated. People are still trying to figure out what to do. And, the reality is that if folks don't make a decision soon, no one is going to care until after the holiday season.

So, instead of writing about politics I thought I'd throw my two cents in about this little charter school article (subscription) that appeared in the Journal on Sunday:

[New Mexico Coalition of Charter Schools Lisa] Grover wants to challenge the 1999 law limiting the number of charters to 75 start-ups in a five-year period. The state now has 65, averaging almost 10 a year since 2000.

"It's one of the most insidious caps," she said.

Also, charters are not allowed to expand beyond a maximum enrollment set at their initial application.

"If a school is proving itself," Grover said, "why should that school have to wait until renewal time to open up its classrooms to more kids?"

There are 3,500 students on waiting lists for these schools, she said, indicating "we need to grow."

If people want to send their kids to charter schools, they should be able to do so. The maximum enrollment cap is ridiculous and should be eliminated by the legislature.

Charter School Limits Should Be Removed

Sorry, I've been pretty sporadic about posting lately. There is so much going on in the political arena with all of the open (and opening) seats for Congress, and yet, there really isn't anything happening. Names are still be floated. People are still trying to figure out what to do. And, the reality is that if folks don't make a decision soon, no one is going to care until after the holiday season.

So, instead of writing about politics I thought I'd throw my two cents in about this little charter school article (subscription) that appeared in the Journal on Sunday:

[New Mexico Coalition of Charter Schools Lisa] Grover wants to challenge the 1999 law limiting the number of charters to 75 start-ups in a five-year period. The state now has 65, averaging almost 10 a year since 2000.

"It's one of the most insidious caps," she said.

Also, charters are not allowed to expand beyond a maximum enrollment set at their initial application.

"If a school is proving itself," Grover said, "why should that school have to wait until renewal time to open up its classrooms to more kids?"

There are 3,500 students on waiting lists for these schools, she said, indicating "we need to grow."

If people want to send their kids to charter schools, they should be able to do so. The maximum enrollment cap is ridiculous and should be eliminated by the legislature.

Mayor Martin Chavez's Finance Committee Fiasco

The fact that two of three Democratic heavy hitters (the third is apparently just staying away from the phone) are contradicting Mayor Martin Chavez's assertion that they are serving on his finance committee is nothing short of extraordinary:

Since the names were published on Thursday, accusations have surfaced on the Internet and within Democratic circles that Chávez may have exaggerated or lied about their involvement in his campaign.

Not so, Chávez said today.

“They’re all on,” he said of Blanchard, Cope and Gonzales. “I talked to them yesterday. They’re all on.”

But Blanchard, when I reached him today by telephone, refused to talk about whether he’s a member of Chávez’s finance committee – a clear indicator that something unusual is afoot.

“At this point, I don’t want to comment on anything,” he said.

And Gonzales said today that he is not a member of Chávez’s committee.

What makes this so bizarre is that Mayor Martin Chavez is a seasoned politician. We're talking about a man who should know better than to assert publicly that someone is on his finance committee when they aren't.

My guess is that this is the first of many mistakes we are going to see from the Mayor in the coming months.

Government to Dictate Doctor's Fees

Sometimes you've got to wonder if Governor Richardson's administration is actually aware that the "great" communist experiment of the Soviet Union FAILED (subscription):

The newest incarnation of the governor's proposals for [healthcare in] New Mexico could limit doctor fees, require everyone to have health coverage and impose new regulations and fee limits on insurance companies.

The cornerstone would be a powerful new authority with a mandate to transform the health care industry.

What's next, a limit on the price of milk? We're headed down a slippery slope.

Back to School Shopping

So, that back to school tax holiday starts today. And, you can download the list of items to be purchased tax free here. But, I think it's worth taking a moment to call out some of a couple of "school essentials" that are showing up:

• Corsets and corset laces
• Diapers (adult and baby, cloth or disposable)
• Fur clothing, coats and stoles
• Garters/garter belts
• Lingerie
• Nightgowns and night shirts
• Pajamas
• Religious clothing
• Tuxedos, purchased
• Bridal gowns and veils, sold

Now, I know what your thinking. That is a bizarre list of items for going back to school. Just what are they teaching in those schools these days? Well, you're thinking that unless you happen to work for the New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue:

The state Department of Taxation and Revenue takes a broader view.

"We don't know if someone is not going to use a wedding dress in a school production or a tuxedo during a school activity," Libby Gonzales, director of revenue processing division, said. "We can't judge that."

Gonzales said the list was drafted by a large group in her department

"Women's lingerie is clothing that people need to go to school," she said.

Gonzales also said you never know what people will need. For example, diapers for babies and adults are tax-free.

"The list goes on and on and on, but you have to draw the line somewhere," she said.

To be clear, taxation and revenue said the lingerie could be worn under school clothes.

And, I guess you need the "fur clothing, coats and stoles" for over school clothes. Now don't get me wrong. I'm all for tax holidays, but like I said yesterday, a pet peeve of mine is tax incentives for specific industries. What is good for goose is for the gander. If we're going to provide tax holiday, let's not let certain industries lobby their way in to take advantage and then pretend they have something to do with going back to school.

Subjective Law Enforcement

I'm all for very stiff penalties for people who drink and drive. However, I'm troubled by the police state subjective tactics that are gaining popularity:

While some citations are backed by evidence gleaned from DWI arrests or accident-scene investigations, most rely on the observations of SID agents and little or nothing else, according to a Tribune review of case files.

As the state puts increasing pressure on liquor sellers as part of a larger DWI crackdown, critics say that leaves the system open for abuse and places an impossible burden on bartenders.

"The concern that we have is that this is all very arbitrary," said Carol Wight, president of the New Mexico Restaurant Association. "We have concerns about the standards of evidence. We have concerns that certain establishments are being targeted. We have a lot of concerns."

Schwartz, a former Bernalillo County district attorney, said he's comfortable prosecuting the cases filed by SID, including the Sauce-Liquid Lounge-Raw case. He points out that many criminal cases are based solely on the word of police officers or victims.

This is a very slippery slope away from personal responsibility. I can't help but wonder if it's really just about generating money through punitive fines.

Time is Tight

Sorry folks, I'm running late here. I've been traveling and haven't had much free time. There is a lot I haven't had a chance to talk about. So, let me suggest you go visit another New Mexico blogger who has a few interesting thoughts on Governor Bill Richardson among other things.

New Political Blogger Down South

Always glad to welcome a new political blogger to the scene. The latest New Mexican to start poliblogging is Aaron Henry Diaz, a nineteen year old from a political family in Las Cruces. I'm not crazy about his top two choices for President (either McCain or Richardson), but he does ask an interesting question:

I would also like to learn why the Republicans of New Mexico are so inefficient and disunited that in turn allows a one party system in this state. I think Mario Burgos offers a clear commentary on the subject.

Ok, you got me, I liked the fact he says I offer a clear commentary on the subject (see Ben, flattery will get you links). Anyway, check out Aaron's blog. I'm not sure if he is to the right or the left, but it doesn't really matter. We need more nineteen year olds in New Mexico who feel blogging "is a tremendous opportunity for me to be a 'citizen soldier' and initiate a dialogue on issues that affect our society."

Quick Note to Our Wise State Senators

Dear New Mexico State Senators:

Please don't believe the spin coming out of the Governor's office that is intended to remove your backbone and get you to vote up or down on the bills being pushed in this ridiculous special session. I say ridiculous because if these were issues of real importance to New Mexicans, they would have been addressed during the regular 60 day sessions along with the VERY important issues of the day - like cockfighting.

Plus, let's face it, Governor Bill Richardson can't really be all that committed to the bills he has before you. If he was, Governor Richardson would actually be in New Mexico lobbying for your support instead of taping a comedy show in New York. No, the Governor is sending a clear message that this session is not a priority for him.

Worse, I'm afraid that if you do not hold your ground, you will be the laughingstock of state legislatures throughout the nation. Think about it. Governor Richardson will tell confidants, "I've got the legislature on such a tight leash that when I whisper 'jump' from New York, they ask "how high?"

Governor Bill Richardson is termed out of office and has already begun looking for greener pastures. On the other hand, you, my dear Senators, could be setting a precedent here that will minimize your effectiveness and transform you to nothing more than a rubber stamping body for years to come.

I hope you will continue doing the right thing and adjourned as soon as you are convened.

Sincerely,

Mario Burgos

A Hispanic Who Should Know Better

This guy, Ruben Navarrette, Jr., has got to be kidding, right? (hat tip: Monahan) I mean how can anyone in their right mind, let alone a Harvard graduate, come to the conclusion that the outcry against "voter fraud" is all about keeping a lid on "surging Hispanic political power." Have you ever heard of the Viva Bush campaign efforts? We're not exactly talking about Republicans running away from Hispanics.

But what truly amazes me, is how can anyone who reads a newspaper, let alone a columnist who is syndicated in the Albuquerque Journal, can think that any elected official in New Mexico, especially ones who get elected term after term, could possibly do anything other than embrace the Hispanic vote?

Give me a break.

Mr. Navarrette, allow me to take a moment to introduce you to the state of New Mexico. We have a Hispanic Governor. We have a Hispanic Speaker of the House. We have a Hispanic President Pro-tempore of the Senate. We have a Hispanic Mayor of the State's largest city. We have a Hispanic Secretary of State. Do I really need to go on? Heck, even the recent Bernalillo County Republican Chairman race was between two Hispanic candidates. Are you starting to get a picture here?

If you want to argue the merits of Mr. Iglesias' firing, by all means, please do. However, to try and turn this into a race issue is offensive. It is offensive to New Mexicans, and it is offensive and demeaning to all Hispanics.

And as long, I'm talking about the absurd and offensive statements, let's look at one of the quotes you attribute to Mr. Iglesias:

“I'm a little bit suspicious of the theory that there are a persuasive and large number of illegal immigrants who are voting,” [disgruntled former U.S. Attorney, David Iglesias] acknowledged. “Have some voted in the past? I'm sure some have. But is it large enough to skew an election? I don't think so.”

Mr. Iglesias how is it that you are "sure some have" voted? Could it be because proof of voter fraud has come before you, but you decided not to prosecute? And since when is it okay for a prosecutor to believe that the law should only be enforced if it is going to skew an election?

Oh, and do I really need to mention the margin in this last election for the 1st Congressional District? We're not talking about the need for large numbers of unregistered voters - garden variety will do, no need to be here illegally. Just three or so more per precinct would have swung the election the other way.

So, at the end of the day, we have a columnist who shamelessly plays the race card in order to come up with a unique angle on what is becoming a very tired story. And, a former U.S. Attorney who looks more foolish each and every time he opens his mouth to the press. No one needs to attempt to suppress "surging Hispanic political power" when we have spokesmen like these making us look foolish.

Just What Exactly Have I Been Doing?

In October of 2000, Roxanne, the kids and I moved to New Mexico. As is mentioned in the "About Me" section on the right hand side of this blog, we moved here to be near family. We were married in New Mexico in 1995, but continued living in California until a job opportunity opened here.

That job opportunity was to serve as the President of Junior Achievement of New Mexico (JANM), and what an opportunity it was! It was truly amazing to get paid to work with business and community leaders, as well as parents, volunteers and educators to teach students to value and understand business, economics and the free enterprise system, which is a cornerstone of our Democracy.

During my tenure, between November 1, 2000 and July 31, 2004, I worked with extraordinary people throughout the state to build the organization from reaching approximately 7,000 students a year to reaching over 14,000 students every year. The efforts of our ever-growing number of volunteers and sponsors garnered national attention. But more importantly, it achieved local goals.

It was my six years with JA (two in CA and four in NM) that taught me a lot about building and running a volunteer driven, privately funded, mission focused organization - much like the Bernalillo County GOP.

My time as a paid staff person with JA came to an end in July of 2004. At that point, I had come to the conclusion that I would rather be in a position to donate my time and money to various organizations and causes than to work as a paid employee. So, I launched a business venture three years ago, but to this day, I still continue to volunteer in New Mexico classrooms for JA, as well as donate money and time to this and other very worthwhile causes.

Below is a partial list of my political activities since arriving in New Mexico:

• Heather Wilson for Congress, Finance Committee 2005 - 2006
• Member of the NM Delegation to 2004 Republican National Convention
• Bernalillo County Small Business Coalition Chairman, Bush/Cheney 2004
• Appointed by the U.S. Treasury Secretary and the IRS Commissioner to be New Mexico's representative on the National Taxpayer Advocacy Panel 2002 - 2005
• Chairman of Small Business E-filing Committee
• Vice-chairman of the Region 6 Committee (representing the West)
• Member of the Executive Committee
• 2004 Candidate for State Representative, House District 22
• Political Blogger 2004 - present
  

And some other community commitments:

• AYSO Soccer Coach 2004 - Present
• Albuquerque Del Norte Rotary Club 2001 - Present
• United Way Young Leaders Society
• Association of Commerce and Industry
• Vice-chair of the Education Committee 2002-2004
• Member of the Taxation, Economic Development and Education Committees 2006-07
• Middle Rio Grande Business Education Collaborative 2002-2004
• New Mexico Business Roundtable for Educational Excellence
• 2004 NM Business Weekly 40 Under 40
• March of Dimes, Walk-a-thon Fundraising Committee 2005
• Popejoy Hall's Primavera Ball, Marketing Committee 2006 - Present

This is by no means a complete list of all the activities I've been involved in over the last six and a half years in New Mexico. However, I think it provides a good indication of the level of my commitment to our community, our state and our future.

Where to Spend All the Money?

The legislative session is more than half over, and it is always amusing to see where our legislators think our tax dollars should be spent:

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ATTEND SEMIPROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL GAMES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 to purchase and distribute tickets to school students for semiprofessional basketball games. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

I like a good basketball game as much as the next guy, but isn't this a little silly? Exactly who asked for this legislation, Tingley Colosseum, Albuquerque ThunderbirdIs, or the schools. And Mayor Martin Chavez wants to build an arena where and for how much? I wonder how much we'll have to appropriate to send school children to that arena.

Remove the Veil of Secrecy

Heath Haussamen has a post on opening the legislative conference committee meetings to the public that is worth reading.

Eminent Domain Redux

You probably remember how eminent domain legislation sailed through committees last year and was unanimously presented to Governor Richardson to sign into law - only to be vetoed. You remember that, right?

Then chances are that you will also recall that Bill Richardson was one of only two Governor's to veto this type of legislation. And, of course, no one can forget that he tried to divert attention to his support for continuing eminent domain by convening - yes, you guessed it - another task force.

Well, the rubber is going to meet the road this year for Governor Bill Richardson. Continuing his Kelo loving ways is just not going to play well on the national campaign trail. And there is just no way he is going to be able to turn his back on one of the few hot issues actually alive and well in the Legislature this year.

According to one press release from the Institute for Justice, the House Judiciary Committee was supposed to consider several eminent domain bills when it met today including one standout:

Among the most important legislation the Legislature will consider is House Bill 393, which would remove the power of eminent domain from New Mexico’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Code.

“HB 393 would in no way affect cities’ ability to use eminent domain for traditional public uses, such as the construction of roads, or to protect the public’s health and safety,” explained Jennifer Perkins, a staff attorney at the Institute for Justice who testified several times before the Task Force. The Institute for Justice litigated the Kelo case before the U.S. Supreme Court and the organization has been leading the nationwide effort to reform eminent domain laws. “Cities could no longer, however, seize entire neighborhoods only to hand the property over to a private developer for the purpose of private economic development. The bill would no longer allow them to justify a massive taking on the fact that one small street needs widening.”

Let's hope this legislation moves as swiftly as last year's. If so, I don't see any way for the Governor not to sign it this go around.

UPDATE/CORRECTION: Received this update and correction from Jennifer Perkins at the Institute for Justice and forgot to post it:

By way of update, apparently the committee discussed legislation last night and Chairman Al Park has now decided they should somehow work to combine the various bills. So there's been no vote yet, and the committee will take the issue up again next Wednesday (apparently).

I'll keep you posted if I hear any updates, but I'm not sure this is a good sign.

Oh, one other thing. Technically, three Governors vetoed eminent domain legislation last year: Arizona, Iowa and New Mexico. In Iowa, the legislature came back in for a special session and overrode the veto; in Arizona, the citizens passed a fairly sweeping ballot initiative last November to solve the problem. So New Mexico's the only one remaining where the Governor stood in the way of reform and nothing has yet changed that...

The Right and Wrong Reasons

I support the death penalty. Yesterday, the New Mexico House of Representatives voted to repeal the death penalty. I don't hold it against those who voted for the repeal because I believe that this is one issue on which the individual must vote based on personal values.

With that said, I find the excerpt below to be an interesting illustration of the difference between Democratic and Republican values when it comes making an important decision:

Chasey said she hopes to persuade Richardson that opposing the death penalty would enhance his international stature. She also said signing a repeal bill could “distinguish” him in the Democratic primary. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia Center for Politics made a similar statement in a recent interview.

During the hourlong House floor debate, Republican Whip Dan Foley of Roswell pointed out that since 1960, New Mexico has executed only one person — child rapist and killer Terry Clark of Artesia. Clark was lethally injected in November 2001 for the murder of 9-year-old Dena Lynn Gore of Artesia.

“The system in New Mexico is working,” Foley said. “We have been very cautious, very careful.”

Republican Representative Foley is clearly and thoughtfully evaluating the merits of continuing the death penalty on the performance of the system to date. By contrast, Democratic Representative Chasey is making the argument that Governor Bill Richardson should abandon his stated values, he is on record as supporting the death penalty, for political gain.

There are many good reasons to support or oppose the death penalty; however, neither "enhancing international status" nor "distinguishing oneself in the Democratic primary" qualify as good reasons. The fact that Representative Chasey would put these forth as motivating factors for the Governor says one of two things:

1) Representative Chasey believes political gain trumps personal values when it comes to making a decision.

AND/OR

2) Representative Chasey thinks that the easiest way to persuade Governor Richardson to abandon his values is to demonstrate political gain.

Either way, it's pretty sad.