News New Mexico: 12/01/10

Aggie Women's Hoops Falls 58-49 To UNM

bleedCrimson.net Report
The New Mexico State women's basketball fell to in-state rival New Mexico 58-49. The Aggies trailed by just three points at 47-44 with 8:32 left to play but would only score five points the rest of the game. Danisha Corbett scored a career-high 22 points hitting five three point shots.

New Mexico would take a one point lead at 29-28 after a layup by Jasmine Patterson but Danisha Corbett would answer with 39 seconds left to give the Aggies a 30-29 lead at the half.

The Lobos would push the lead out to seven points at 51-44 with 7:13 left to play and neither team would score for the next three minutes until Jessica Kielpinski would hit one of two free throws to put the Lobos up 52-44. The Aggies would close to within five at 54-49 after a pair of free throws from Tabytha Wampler but the Lobos would score the game's final four points to take the contest 58-49.

Lauren Taylor paced the Lobos with 14 points while Porche Torrance added 12. The Lobos got nine points from Amanda Best and Caroline Durbin.

Tabytha Wampler scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds but struggled from the floor hitting just 3-of-11 shots. The Aggie trio of guards Jasmine Lowe, Kaitlyn Soto and Andrea Chenier scored just five points combined going 1-for-15 from the field. Erica Sanchez scored a career-high nine points but all nine came in the first half.

The Aggies fall to 5-3 on the season and return to action on Sunday as they host Cal State-Northridge.

NM budget problems could eliminate prep athletics

From the Santa Fe NewMexican.com - With Santa Fe Public Schools facing a large budget shortfall, the issue of how it will affect athletics is beginning to percolate. Cuts to next year's school budget are projected to be around $13 million, and SFPS athletic director Skip Hemperley said the district could severely reduce his budget — or possibly eliminate the department. Hemperley emphasized that all options are being considered. "As it was explained at a meeting in the fall, everything is on the table," Hemperley said. "So it's a true aspect that they will take look at it (eliminating athletics). So, it's possible." The athletic department budget for the 2010-11 school year is $999,999, which is less than the $1.3 million allocated for 2009-10 and $1.8 million in 2008-09. The budget encompasses funding for all sanctioned high school and middle school sports programs, as well as coaching stipends, transportation and equipment. SFPS already eliminated funding for bus transportation for middle school athletic events in May, and middle school athletics have faced elimination for the past two years. One option the school district explored the past two years — developing an intramural middle school program with the City of Santa Fe — is no longer possible, Hemperley said, because the city is in a budget crunch as well. Read more

Work at spaceport halts for plan changes

From the Las Cruces Sun-News - By Diana M. Alba DALBA@LCSUN-NEWS.COM - LAS CRUCES - Spaceport America officials have halted construction of a building at the site, as they rework its architectural plans. A spaceport official said earlier this year that the 16,000 square-foot, dome-shaped aircraft rescue and firefighting building was slated for completion in December. But Rick Homans, executive director for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, recently halted construction in order to redesign its interior. Homans contended the problem is a minor one in the larger scheme of the $212 million spaceport construction. "We face challenges on the construction site every day, and this is just one of the many challenges," he said. "Quite frankly I'm surprised at the level of attention it's receiving because it's regarded as a minor issue internally that has no impact on our budget or timetable." Construction on the overall spaceport is slated to be finished in 2011. Homans said some additional expense could be incurred during the redesign, but it's expected to be small and will be drawn from contingency dollars. Read more

State worker assaults TV reporter on video: “This is not public property; this is state property.”

From Capitol Report New Mexico - Back on Tuesday, Nov. 23, a state worker grabbed at the camera of KOB-TV reporter Gadi Schwartz (left) while the reporter shot videotape outside the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Building in downtown Santa Fe. During the fracas, the state employee fell down and one of his associates told Schwartz to leave the premises, saying, “This is not public property; this is state property.” A security guard later tried to evict Schwartz from the vicinity uttering the same phrase. Schwartz was covering a story concerning the discovery of bones by a construction crew outside the PERA Building and had earlier spoken to a member of the Santa Fe Police Department on camera about the discovery. Schwartz tried to explain that he had permission from the police officer to shoot video of the scene but the state employee insisted that Schwartz leave, as did a security officer who arrived after the state employee fell to the ground while attempting to grab Schwartz’ camera. News of the tussle came out last week but today, the Santa Fe New Mexican posted the actual video of the incident. Read more

Watchdog group raises alarm over "payday loans" and mainstream banks

From the New Mexico Independent - Increasingly, mainstream banks are offering products similar to payday loans — short-term, high-interest loans secured by a pending paycheck — according to a consumer group that called on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to stop the practice. Banks including Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank are giving customers advances on their paychecks, typically for a fee of $10 per $100 borrowed, which translates to an annual percentage rate of 120 percent or higher, if repaid in under one month, according to a report by the Center for Responsible Lending. “These products ensure that many borrowers will end up trapped in cycles of debt,” the report stated. “Unless the OCC and other bank regulators take action with regard to bank payday loans, these products will likely proliferate throughout the banking industry as financial institutions look for new sources of fee income.” Read more

NM Democrat party chairman plans listening tour of state

From KRQE-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Democratic Party of New Mexico chairman Javier Gonzales is planning a statewide listening tour. Gonzales will be on the road this month and into January. The tour began Wednesday with stops in Milan, Gallup and Silver City. The chairman plans to meet with Democratic Party leaders across New Mexico, along with members of the state central committee, elected officials and party activists to solicit suggestions after the November general election. Gonzales says the tour also will provide him with the opportunity to thank supporters and volunteers. Read more

Hays Commentary: Palin by comparison

From NM Politics.net - Commentary by Michael Hays - Reagan grew up during the Depression, worked hard, mixed easily with people of all sorts. He majored in economics and sociology, got a job in broadcasting, then became a prominent Hollywood actor in B-grade movies, including “Bedtime for Bozo” and “Knute Rockne, All American.” Raised a New Deal Democrat, he led the Screen Actors Guild; working as a GE spokesman, he became a Republican. He entered politics, became a successful, two-term governor of the state with the largest and most diverse population and economy, and then became a successful, two-term president. By comparison, Palin knew no economic hardships, never worked hard, and knew or mixed easily with few people different from her. Her college education in communications was haphazard, but she got a job in broadcasting. She entered small-town politics as mayor of a small city and later became governor of state with a small, mainly white, population and with a small economy funded largely by federal money and corporate royalties. She quit after two years with relatively little to show for her tenure. The big difference: Reagan knew, respected and liked people (his friendship with Tip O’Neill, the Democratic Speaker of the House who opposed much of his legislation, was legendary); had a working knowledge of domestic and foreign issues; and demonstrated geniality, good sense, and self-confidence. Palin is his opposite in these respects. She describes

herself as a “pit bull with lipstick;” she remains indifferent to knowledge or nuance about national issues; and her sense of grievance and her resentments motivate her attitude toward, and attacks on, those who question or criticize her or her views. Reagan is Reagan, and Palin is no Reagan. Reagan was a charismatic political leader who worked with political friends and foes alike. Palin is a charismatic demagogue who uses political power to reward friends and punish enemies. In real life, Reagan was an extrovert, a nice guy. Palin is a narcissist, and nasty. Read more

Consequences of Lame Duck Sessions

The Senate has proven to America that lame duck sessions should be banned. One controversial moratorium that was up for vote Tuesday was the earmark ban. This ban would stop elected officials from appropriating funds for special projects without approval from the executive branch. More importantly, it would stop some of the political games played between our elected officials. For instance, H.R. 847 the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act which guarantees healthcare to 9/11 responders was tossed around in congress for years lacking bi-partisan support mostly because of the large amount of earmarks. Instead of the Democrats passing the bill through a simple majority they demanded a two-thirds majority vote. Democrats decided to pull a “procedural gimmick “ and forced Republicans either to eat humble pie or to oppose the bill and be open to charges that they were abandoning the heroes of 9/11. The Senate had a chance to end this madness but instead they decided t

o vote against the two year ban on earmarks. Only 42 Republicans have Senate seats in the lame duck session and most of the anti-earmark Republicans will not take their seats until January so this vote may not come as a surprise to some. The moratorium on earmarks was included in SB 510 the Food Safety Modernization Act and the Senate voted in favor of this giant FDA power grab today. This atrocity could make sharing food from your own private garden a “national security threat”. This bill would also lead to a much larger, powerful and overgrown FDA. The roll call session is available here. Clearly lame duck sessions are for the self indulgent politicians to stuff their pork filled bellies. We as voters should never allow politicians who have been defeated at the polls to continue to raise taxes, set policy or spend money that the electorate has decided someone else should be doing.

Littlest Victims of Obamacare

Michelle Malkin

From michellemalkin.com - It’s time for America’s youth to buckle up and take a rough ride on Reality Highway. For the past two years, President Obama has promised our children the moon, stars, rainbows, unicorns and universal health care for all. But the White House Santa’s cradle-to-grave entitlement mandates are a spectacularly predictable bust. Don’t take it from me. Take it from Obamacare’s own biggest cheerleaders. Late last month, the Service Employees International Union informed dues-paying members of its behemoth 1199 affiliate in New York that it was dropping its health care coverage for children. That’s right. A radical leftist union, not an evil Republican corporation, is abandoning the young ‘uns to cut costs.
More here

Costs of Undocumented Immigrants in NM

The following information was provided by a study performed by the University of Arizona in 2006. The full report of all border counties in the US can be seen here. New Mexico has 3 ports of entry and 180 miles of border length. In 2005 New Mexico apprehended 22,314 undocumented immigrants trying to cross the border illegally. It is also important to note that while strategies are implemented to hinder illegal crossings in Arizona and Texas, New Mexico counties pick up the slack, especially in the “boot heel” part of Hidalgo County. Agents at the Deming station, which includes both Luna and Hidalgo counties, guard the busiest corridor for undocumented immigration in the El Paso Sector. In 2006 the estimated total cost to Dona Ana County for providing services to undocumented immigrants was $6,205,128, the total cost to Luna County was $679,639 and the total cost to Hidalgo County’s general fund for providing services to undocumented immigrants was $450,132bringing the total cost to $7,334,899 in New Mexico. Between 1999 and 2006, it is estimated that citizens in these three border counties have spent a total of $239 million in eight years for providing services to undocumented immigrants. Costs absorbed by the Sheriff’s DepartmentHidalgo County spent $263,360 which is 25% of their $823,000 budget.

Luna County spent $548,329 which is also 25% of their $1,713,526 budget.

Dona Ana County spent $3,463,572 which is 30% of their $9,236,192 budget.

Costs absorbed by the detention centersHidalgo spent $186,772 which is 30% of their $486,386 budget

Luna County spent $120,730 of their $6,356,750 budget
Dona Ana spent $3,463,572 which is 30% of their $9,236,192 budget
Costs absorbed by the judicial systemLuna county spent $10,580 which is 20% of their $41,328 budget

Dona Ana spent $50,860 which is 10% of their $406,877 budget
Some other costs to consider are healthcare and education for undocumented immigrants. According to FAIRUS , New Mexico spent $5,127,456 in 2004 providing emergency services. Another study performed by FAIRUS in 2004 called “Breaking the Piggy Bank: How Illegal Immigration is Sending Schools into the Red” includes data that educational expenditures for illegal immigration were costing the New Mexico taxpayer $153.2 million dollars annually. This cost was partially for educating students who were themselves illegally in the country ($ 63.8 million) and in part for the education of their siblings born in the United States to illegal residents ($89.3 million).

Interpol Issues Arrest Warrant for WikiLeaks Assange

Julian Assange

From the Sydney Morning Herald - Interpol, the international police organisation, has issued an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, as his activist website continued to leak US diplomatic cables today. The Australian was added to the organisation's "wanted" list for alleged sex crimes committed in Sweden this year. He is suspected of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion, after an investigation by Swedish prosecutors into his encounters with two women in Sweden in August. The arrest warrant, called a "Red Notice", is "not an international arrest warrant" but means Mr Assange could be arrested and extradited to Sweden from any country if local authorities act on it. More here

Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman to Lead GOP?

Monty Newman

From NMPolitics.net - Gov.-elect Susana Martinez and other top elected Republican officials sent a letter today to members of their party’s state central committee urging them to make former Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman the next party chairman. The endorsement letter is designed to leave no doubt about who will lead the Republican Party of New Mexico for the next two years. It’s also signed by Congressman-elect Steve Pearce, Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, Secretary of State-elect Dianna Duran, House Minority Leader Tom Taylor, and Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle. “Our next chairman must organize and finance a statewide grassroots effort to counter the millions of dollars that will be spent by Barack Obama and far-left special interests in the 2012 election,” the letter states. Read full story here:

A Wikileaks Wakeup Call

Jonah Goldberg

From Townhall.com - Washington is reeling from the latest WikiLeaks document dump. The foreign policy wonks insist that there are few, if any, major surprises. "Much of what we've seen thus far," opined Richard N. Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, "confirms more than it informs." And, in the end, what these documents confirm is that President Obama's foreign policy is a mess. Even if you're supportive of Obama's foreign policy efforts, the WikiLeaks dump is a bigger deal than the know-it-alls are suggesting. It's one thing to believe something as a generality; it's another to dispel plausible deniability for all concerned. Read full column here:

Minimum Wage - Maximum Folly

Walter Williams

From Townhall.com - How about this: The law of gravity is applicable to the behavior of falling objects on the U.S. mainland but not applicable on our Pacific Ocean territories Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands. You say, "Williams, that's lunacy! Laws are applicable everywhere; that's why they call it a law." You're right, but does the same reasoning apply to the law of demand that holds: The higher the price of something, the less people will take of it; and the lower its price, the more people will take of it? The law of demand applies to wages, interest and rent because, after all, they are the prices of something. Read full column here:

Sowell: Can Republicans Talk

Thomas Sowell

From Townhall.com - The biggest battle in the lame duck session of Congress may well be over whether or not to extend the Bush administration's tax cuts, which are scheduled to expire in January. The fact that this decision has been left until late in the eleventh hour, even though the expiration date has been known for years, tells us a lot about the utter irresponsibility of Congress. Neither businesses nor individuals nor the Internal Revenue Service will know what to do until this issue is resolved. In a stalled economy, we do not need this prolonged uncertainty that can paralyze both consumer spending and investment spending. Read full column here:

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