The one million-dollar impeachment

From Capitol Report New Mexico - Since Jerome Block Jr. says he won’t resign (click here for that story), the most likely — and quickest — way to remove him from the Public Regulation Commission is impeachment. But that may not be so quick. And according to some rough estimates by a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, it probably won’t come cheaply either. Rep. Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) says impeaching Block could take about 20 legislative days and cost about $1 million. Egolf, who has been one of a number of state legislators urging Block Jr. to resign, is meeting with Rep. Nate Gentry (R-Albuquerque) next week with members of the Legislative Council Service to go over some of the particulars of a possible impeachment proceeding against the 34-year-old Block, who is facing multiple allegations, including misuing a state-issued gas card and a complaint concerning a car that was reported stolen. Block had earlier paid fines totalling $21,000 for charging campaign funds in his 2008 election to the PRC for a rally that was never held. Whatever political support Block had in recent months has almost completely eroded. Gov. Susana Martinez has called for his resignation. That’s not too surprising, considering that Block is a Democrat and Martinez a Republican. But the chairman of the state Democratic party has also called for Block to step down, as have eight party chairmen in the counties he represents. So why would it take so long — and cost so much — for Block to get convicted on impeachment charges? Read more

The one million-dollar impeachment