Haussamen: Upheaval at the Roundhouse

From NM Politics.net - by Heath Haussamen, There’s been a lot going on at the Roundhouse in the week after voters dictated a massive shift in power. Budget numbers are getting dramatically worse, leadership positions are up for grabs, political appointees are moving to classified jobs and the incoming governor is threatening to fire them all. How things are going to shake out isn’t clear. But here’s where things stand:
• The Richardson administration said Thursday that the state’s budget shortfall will be at least $452 million next year. That’s almost $200 million more than the Legislative Finance Committee has estimated, because the Richardson administration isn’t assuming that the new Legislature and governor will renew cost-saving measures that expire at the end of the year. In addition, federal stimulus money is drying up.
• After the Albuquerque Journal reported that additional Richardson political appointees had moved into classified jobs in recent months – which would seem to make their jobs more secure – the Martinez transition team sent a letter to Richardson demanding that it halt such moves and stating anyone who makes such a move after Nov. 3 will be fired when Susana Martinez takes office.
• There may or may not be a new speaker of the House in January. Rep. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces is considering running, even exploring the possibility of a bipartisan coalition. That could lead to Cervantes becoming speaker. Or House Democrats might pick someone else to be speaker. Or Ben Luján could retain the position.
• House Republicans might also change leadership. Rep. Larry Larrañaga of Albuquerque is challenging Tom Taylor of Farmington for the position of minority leader at this weekend’s caucus meeting.
• There’s even another potential pay-to-play scandal brewing that might affect the administrations of outgoing Gov. Bill Richardson and outgoing Land Commissioner Pat Lyons. Read more

Haussamen: Upheaval at the Roundhouse