Lawsuit claims Pit contract was awarded unfairly

From KOB-TV.com - by Magdalena Sharpe - UNM’s president David Schmidly is facing allegations that his administration unfairly awarded the $60 million Pit renovation contract to an Oklahoma based company he had ties with. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the lawsuit, unsealed Wednesday, claims that the Albuquerque based Jaynes Corp. was the top bidder for the contract but UNM instead hired the Tulsa based Flintco to manage the construction project. The lawsuit goes on to claim Schmidly’ son was subsequently hired by Flintco “as quid pro pro.” According to the Journal Schmidly developed ties with the company during his tenure at Oklahoma State University. The complaint was filed by several trade union groups under the New Mexico Fraud against Taxpayers Act. Read more

Lawsuit claims Pit contract was awarded unfairly

Schmitt picked to head energy and natural resources

NewsNM thinks that the protest from the Democrat Party shows intense stupidity. We join Schmitt in saying that Global Warming is a scam.

From NM Politics.net - by Heath Haussamen - Gov. Susana Martinez today nominated former U.S. Sen. and astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt to head the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Schmitt, a former NASA geologist, has a doctorate from Harvard University. He landed on the moon on Dec. 11, 1972. The Republican was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976 and served one term. “Senator Schmitt’s diverse background gives him a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be helpful in guiding the responsible development and protection of New Mexico’s diverse natural resources,” Martinez said in a news release. “Harnessing and developing energy sources right here in New Mexico is critical to reviving our economy and creating jobs.” Schmitt said he is “proud to continue my career of public service as secretary of the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department under Governor Martinez.” “I look forward to working with the governor to enhance New Mexico’s potential to be a leader in energy and natural resource development,” he said.

Updated: This from the Democratic Party of New Mexico: “In a clear sign that polluters in New Mexico will have free reign under her administration, Gov. Susana Martinez today nominated global warming denier and former astronaut Harrison ‘Jack’ Schmitt to head the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. “On many occasions, Schmitt has scoffed at decades of sound scientific evidence and a mountain of research that validated the human causes of global climate change. “In one instance he told Fox News that the ‘CO2 scare is a red herring,’ that the ‘global warming scare is being used as a political tool to increase government control over American lives, incomes and decision-making.’ “‘Martinez promised bold change and she’s bringing it in the form of an appointee at odds with the basic tenets of science and reason,’ said DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester. ‘This appointment is a clear signal to Martinez’s big-oil backers that the days of basic protections for New Mexicans’ air and drinking water are over.’”

Schmitt picked to head energy and natural resources

Head of NPR Forced to Resign



Ellen Weiss

 From hillbuzz.com -The Cocktail Party GOP establishment needs to grow a pair and cut off the funding to both NPR and PBS. The reason the Cocktail Party GOP establishment has never done this is simple:  Big Bird. Republicans live in mortal terror of being accused of “taking Big Bird off the air”. This, of course, is patently ridiculous…because Sesame Street merchandising ranks just behind Disney products in global revenue streams.  Big Bird isn’t going off the air because Big Bird lays giant golden eggs.  If there was no PBS, Big Bird would nest elsewhere, and would remain on the air for your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren to watch on their holo-TVs.  More here

Head of NPR Forced to Resign

Four Myths about the Filibuster

From heritage.org -There are four myths about the filibuster that you will hear over and over again. These myths are needed to justify any attempt to change the Senate’s rules with a simple majority vote. This is a power grab, pure and simple. The fact of the matter is that the explicit words of the Constitution, the Senate’s written rules, and the history of the Senate show that the filibuster was created for good reason. Extended debate and unlimited amendment is part of the fabric of the institution. Myth #1: The filibuster is unconstitutional.  Myth #2: The filibuster was created by accident.  Myth #3: The Senate is not a continuing body.  Myth #4: The Senate can change rules only on the first day of the new session by a simple majority vote More here

Four Myths about the Filibuster

Chavez Wants Marxist Supporters Sean Penn, Oliver Stone or Noam Chomsky to Be Named US Envoy

Sean Penn and Hugo Chavez

From gatewaypundit.com -Marxist tyrant Chavez wants supporters Oliver Stone, Sean Penn or Noam Chomsky to be named as US Envoy to Venezuela. Chavez also said Bill Clinton would be acceptable for the position. Reuters reported: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sought to end a diplomatic stand-off with the United States on Tuesday by suggesting it name Bill Clinton, actor Sean Penn or director Oliver Stone as its envoy to Caracas. In the latest flare-up between the ideological foes, Washington withdrew the visa of Venezuela’s ambassador last week in retaliation for Chavez’s rejection of President Barack Obama’s nominated ambassador to Caracas. U.S. diplomat Larry Palmer had criticized Venezuela’s government, saying morale in its military was low and there were clear ties between members of the Chavez administration and leftist rebels in neighboring Colombia. In a televised speech late on Tuesday, Venezuela’s firebrand president said he had come up with a solution. “I hope they name Oliver Stone. I’ll suggest a candidate … Sean Penn, or (linguist and philosopher Noam) Chomsky. We have a lot of friends there. Bill Clinton!” Chavez said.

Chavez Wants Marxist Supporters Sean Penn, Oliver Stone or Noam Chomsky to Be Named US Envoy

Republicans Introduce Bill to Elimate Obama Czars

From the hill.com -A group of House Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday to rein in the various "czars" in the Obama administration. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and 28 other House Republicans introduced legislation to do away with the informal, paid advisers President Obama has employed over the past two years. The legislation, which was introduced in the last Congress but was not allowed to advance under Democratic control, would do away with the 39 czars Obama has employed during his administration. The bill defines a czar as "a head of any task force, council, policy office within the Executive Office of the President, or similar office established by or at the direction of the President" who is appointed to a position that would otherwise require Senate confirmation.  More here

Republicans Introduce Bill to Elimate Obama Czars

DCCC Chair: Our 2012 Agenda Will be Making Pelosi Speaker Again



 DCCC Chair Steve Israel

 From hotair.com -The reknowned political satirist Tom Lehrer once declared that Henry Kissinger’s Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 made political satire redundant.  After reading about the DCCC’s new strategy to win back the House in 2012, I must admit that for the first time in my life I feel a bit of sympathy with the general sentiment.  Guess who Rep. Steve Israel, the DCCC chair, wants to make as his poster girl for 2012?House Democrats’ goal is to make Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) the Speaker of the House again, their campaign chairman said Wednesday evening. Rep. Steve Israel (N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), set his goal as nothing short of winning back control of the House in the 2012 elections. “We’re all trying to win it back,” Israel said on MSNBC when asked if it was Democrats’ goal of winning back enough seats to make Pelosi, the former Speaker and new minority leader, the next Speaker.  More here

DCCC Chair: Our 2012 Agenda Will be Making Pelosi Speaker Again

Forensics Expert Dr. Michael J. Spence Supports Governor Martinez DNA Initiative

Dr. Michael J. Spence

In an interview with News New Mexico, Dr. Michael J. Spence (Spence Forensic Resources) offered his commentary on Governor Susana Martinez's initiative to expand the parameters of DNA collection in New Mexico. According to Spence, his organization, Spence Forensic Resources (SFR) is in complete agreement with Governor Martinez. He said, the proposed initiative represents a productive means of enhancing public safety and improving the criminal justice system. SFR is in favor of technological advancements in the effectiveness of criminal investigations. Some individuals have voiced their fears that forensic DNA data will somehow be misused. The basis for these fears is understandable, but misguided. The sophisticated technology utilized for DNA testing appears intimidating to most people-especially when it rests in the hands of faceless government employees.

Dr. Spence was able to break down this daunting technology during our interview into terms that can be digested by most average individuals-even those who desperately avoided their biology homework assignments. What follows are his observations and comments: "The scientific rational for SFR’s support of our Governor on the issue of expanded DNA testing is based on a basic understanding of a DNA profile. This is determined for a person during the forensic testing process. DNA data emerge from a series sophisticated forensic steps as nothing more than a collection of numerical pairs, such as 11,13 .... 8,9 .... 22,24, .... 12,12, etc. NONE of these numbers are genes or portions of genes. No, ....they are merely small fragments of DNA from areas within a person's genetic material. These areas are referred to as "junk DNA" or "non-coding DNA" regions. These parts of the human genome have nothing to do with determining physical characteristics such as height, hair color, eye color, racial characteristics, disease susceptibility, etc. Read full story here:

Forensics Expert Dr. Michael J. Spence Supports Governor Martinez DNA Initiative

Martinez Leading by Example

SANTA FE – Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced her plans to begin the process of cutting waste in state government by cutting wasteful spending in the Governor’s residence. Martinez will permanently eliminate the positions of two chefs, currently budgeted at annual salaries of $91,821 and $62,400, respectively. In addition, the residence manager’s annual salary will be reduced by nearly $25,000, to $55,000. A short-order cook and housekeeper will be retained. Total savings in Governor’s residence salaries will amount to at least $178,862, a total spending cut of 55 percent. “Tax dollars should not be wasted on a stable of chefs at the Governor’s residence,” said Governor Martinez. “This is a prime example of wasteful spending that exists in state government. At a time when New Mexicans are struggling and are being forced to make their own household budget cuts, there is no justifiable reason to budget two chefs for the governor.”

Martinez also announced significant cuts to cabinet members’ salaries.
• Each cabinet secretary will earn a lower salary than his or her predecessor

• Cumulative salaries for New Mexico cabinet secretaries will be cut by at least ten percent over the previous administration

• No cabinet secretary will earn higher than $125,000 per year. During the previous administration, cabinet secretaries earned as high as $188,158 per year.

The announcement is part of the Governor’s ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility through cutting government spending and closing the state’s budget deficit.

“Families and small businesses across New Mexico are being forced to balance their budgets and cut back on their spending,” said Martinez. “It’s time for government to do the same and my cabinet will be leading by example.”

Martinez Leading by Example