Griego Calls for $220 Million in Capital Outlay

Eric Griego

Santa Fe, NM- Sen. Eric Griego (D-Bernalillo-14) released the following statement today calling on the legislature to quickly pass and the Governor to sign two important bills that would help the state economy and create jobs. Senator Griego called on the legislature to pass the $220 million capital outlay bill and SB19, which would allow local businesses to obtain a five percent preference when bidding on state contracts. The local preference legislation would spur local jobs by preventing out-of-state companies from posing as local businesses and taking advantage of the incentives we have for local businesses bidding on state contracts. SB19 would tighten residency requirements for businesses bidding on state contracts and better enforce the existing rules. This bill has broad bipartisan support and should be passed immediately to start putting our people to work.

The capital outlay legislation is long overdue and our economy needs it now more than ever to create jobs. There are communities throughout New Mexico that can't wait any longer to benefit from the millions of dollars put toward rebuilding our infrastructure and creating local jobs. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put politics aside and pass this bill to put people back to work."

Griego Calls for $220 Million in Capital Outlay

Singleton Rules Against License Verification Program

Sarah Singleton

KOAT TV is reporting that District Judge Sarah Singleton ruled on Tuesday that the state of New Mexico can only conduct an investigation if it gets a returned letter from the driver's license verification program. According to observers close to the New Mexico judiciary, the outcome of the ruling by Singleton was never in doubt. Less than two weeks ago, Judge Singleton halted the verification program and as a result, foreign nationals and illegal immigrants haven’t had to prove they live in New Mexico since the beginning of this month. Based on the size and volume of her campaign contributions, Judge Sarah Singleton is easily the most partisan Democrat judge in the entire judiciary system. According to David Collins of New Mexico Watchdog, Singleton tops the list of campaign contributors amongst all judges. Here is an excerpt from a piece Collins wrote recently regarding the extent of the Singleton contributions:

With $47,517 in contributions, Singleton’s tally of campaign giving nearly doubles that of the runner-up, 2nd Judicial District Judge Alan Malott, who was a prolific contributor before he was appointed to the bench. Selected in 2009, Singleton was enrobed in early 2010 upon the retirement of Judge Jim Hall. The month before her selection was announced, Singleton donated $500 each to the election campaigns of appeals court justices Tim Garcia, Linda Vanzi and Robert Robles. Each of those justices might be someday be called to hear appeals in cases Singleton decides in the district court. (Robles retired June 1 after he pleaded guilty in March to a charge of drunken driving, a charge which had led to his suspension from the court.)

Singleton donated a total of $5,520 to Democrat candidates in the year she was under consideration for a judicial appointment. The prior year – an election year – she contributed even more heavily, giving a total of $18,500 to national Democrat candidates and party funds. In 2007, she gave $750 to Richardson’s presidential campaign. Since taking the bench, Singleton has continued to make campaign donations – $250 to then Lt. Gov. Dianne Denish’s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2010, $250 to Attorney General Gary King’s congressional campaign, $400 to the state Democratic Party and $250 to 2nd Judicial District Judge Shannon Bacon’s campaign. Last year, while serving as a district judge, Singleton donated $250 to Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia’s election funds.

Singleton has so far heard civil and family cases which more often than not don’t tend to involve testimony from sheriff’s deputies. Her 2009 appointment was not Singleton’s first time at bat in the judicial selection process. Richardson earlier that year appointed Judge Sheri Raphaelson when he could’ve chosen Singleton. The District Nominating Commission first forwarded only Raphaelson’s name to the governor’s office, but Richardson wanted more choices. The commission came back with three names, including Singleton’s. Singleton won her appointment later that year.

In a profession where impartiality and objectivity are the pillars of the process should judges make contributions to such a wide array of candidates that would seem to be woven into the very fabrics of many legal disputes in our state? In New Mexico they do and Singleton does more than any other judge.

Singleton Rules Against License Verification Program

Pearce to Attend Otero County Tree Cutting Event

Steve Pearce

Congressman Steve Pearce will participate in Otero County’s emergency tree cutting plan on September 17, 2011. Cutting will take place on one acre of the Lincoln National Forest near Cloudcroft in efforts to clean up the forest and decrease the spread of fires. “This is an important day for New Mexico,” said Pearce. “I look forward to joining in this effort to restore common-sense forest management to New Mexico. It has been an uphill battle to begin logging again in New Mexico, but September 17th will mark the beginning of increased public safety and local environmental resource management.

Fires have devastated overgrown forests, and it is time to take back our forests and protect our families. I commend the Otero County Commissioners for their efforts to bring the power back to local government.” The Otero County Commission voted in June to create an emergency plan, allowing the county to forego U.S. Forest Service policy and cut trees in the event of an emergency. They created an 80,000-acre plan that calls for responsible management to protect local watershed and prevent fires that have threatened Cloudcroft for many years. The media and public are invited to attend the event, which begins at 12:00 noon on September 17th. Congressman Steve Pearce will address a crowd attending “Lumberjack Day” at the Cloudcroft Ice Rink, across from Cloudcroft High School, to kickoff the event.

Pearce to Attend Otero County Tree Cutting Event

Ruidoso Residents Upset Over Local Gun Ban

From kvia.com - Some Ruidoso residents are upset over a mayor's recent executive order banning guns on village property. KRQE-TV reported that residents plan to voice their outrage at a city council meeting today over an order issued by Mayor Ray Alborn banning firearms from village buildings except for law enforcement. They called the order illegal. Village officials said this ordinance was the result of a July case, when a resident at Village Hall had his gun removed by the police chief. Alborn said he took action as a protective measure.  Alborn said the village attorney assures him he has the right to make the executive order.  In 1986, New Mexico residents voted to amend the state constitution forbidding local regulation of firearms.  More News New Mexico

Ruidoso Residents Upset Over Local Gun Ban

NM Sheriff Rejects Complaints From Fire Chief

Sheriff Todd Garrison

From policeone.com -A fire chief and a paramedic have accused Dona Ana Sheriff's Office supervisors of withholding critical support during times of need, an allegation the sheriff rejects.  The fire chief and paramedic, who have more than 35 years combined experience, spoke to the Sun-News under the condition of anonymity as both fear retaliation. Both said the problem is a recurring theme, happening almost daily.  More News New Mexico

NM Sheriff Rejects Complaints From Fire Chief

Earthquake Hits NM

From the washingtonpost.com -A magnitude 4.0 earthquake has struck near the New Mexico-Colorado border, rattling residents in both states. The U.S. Geological Survey says the light temblor hit at 11:24 p.m. Monday. It was centered 17 miles west of Raton, N.M., with a depth of 3.1 miles.  It came several hours after a magnitude 3.4 quake hit the area. The USGS says the smaller quake struck at 7:37 p.m. and it was centered 22 miles southwest of Trinidad, Colo.  More New New Mexico

Earthquake Hits NM

$50,000 of Taxpayers Money for Three Hour Workdays

Tom Taylor

NewsNM note - Spence - There's an old joke that goes like this. Do you know many people work for the government? The answer: About HALF of them. During the first five days of the Special Session, House Democratic majority limits work to an average of less than 3 hours per day. Today, Republican Floor Leader Tom Taylor and Representative Nate Gentry introduced a resolution calling upon the majority Democrats to schedule legislation for committee hearings and encourage active debate and action by the House of Representatives.

Andy Nunez

The resolution was signed by House Republicans and the one independent, Andy Nunez. After a full five days of session, the majority Democratic Party has limited the House to work a total of 13 hours, an average of less than 3 hours per day. "This is unacceptable to New Mexicans who expect us to work on a few pressing issues facing this state, including repealing the dangerous law that permits illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, creating jobs in New Mexico, and improving our educational system," said Taylor. “It is important to note that while yes, redistricting is the primary focus of this session; we only have 28 bills in the pipeline. In previous sessions, we have had up to 150 by the time Monday rolls around.”

Ben Lujan

"The majority Democrats have the sole power to schedule committee hearings so that we can consider the very important issues facing this state. There has been a great deal of complaining by the Democrats that there is too much to do, but I have yet to see the majority convene committees for any significant period of time to get it done. It’s time we get to work," Gentry said. Historically, standing committees begin meeting on the second or third day. The Special Session is costing the tax payers of New Mexico approximately $50 thousand a day and is budgeted for 21 days.

$50,000 of Taxpayers Money for Three Hour Workdays

Senate Democrats Accuse Martinez of Risky Business

NewsNM note - We received this press release from the Senate Democrat's Leadership - Santa Fe, NM- The Governor's proposal to transfer $130 million out of state reserves to prop up the Unemployment Insurance Fund (Fund) could jeopardize the business community, teachers, the state's most vulnerable citizens, public employees, and the state's bond rating. The Governor used her line-item veto to kill a bi-partisan business supported bill that would have provided additional money to the Fund to prevent its insolvency. "Rather than admit her veto was misguided and will actually hurt businesses, the Governor is now trying to take money from the state's cash reserves.

Dipping into our savings has to be the last resort. It makes no sense to take money from the reserves when the compromise reached during the regular session is still a viable option," said Senator John Sapien (D-Sandoval-9).

"Paying a slight increase in the employer's share as part of the cost of doing business to guarantee solvency is more acceptable than paying almost twice as much if the Fund becomes insolvent," said Senator George Munoz (D-Cibola, McKinley-4). "It is unfortunate that the Governor refused to accept the compromise reached by those most directly affected. The veto was detrimental to business," he added.

"There are many unpaid bills that we have to take care of, including the Medicaid shortfall of $100 million, and the loss of nearly $40 million in Tobacco Settlement funding. Also, the revenue projections for the current fiscal year could be off by as much as $55 million. By adding the Governor's proposal to shore up the Fund, the State's reserves may be down to nearly 3.9%. Anything below 5% could negatively impact the State's bond rating," explained Senator John Arthur Smith (D-Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra, 35).

John Arthur Smith

"If our reserves go below 5%, teachers and public employees will have to wait at least another year to have their wages reinstated to levels from 3 years ago. Using money from the reserves will also mean less money will be available to help many New Mexicans dependent on state programs for their most basic needs," said Senator Howie Morales (D-Catron, Grant, Socorro-28). "I cannot support a proposal that will negatively impact those least able to afford it."

Senate Democrats Accuse Martinez of Risky Business

Making the Case for Obamacare: Win - Win for NM

NMPolitics - by Kelly O'Donnell - Federal health-care reform (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, or PPACA) will provide health insurance to tens of thousands of previously uninsured New Mexicans and, in doing so, will bring billions of new federal dollars into our state’s economy, creating jobs, prosperity, and almost a billion dollars in new state and local tax revenue by 2020. However, if New Mexico is to receive this vital economic boost, we must do our part by aggressively implementing the new law.
Some of this new tax revenue will be used to offset New Mexico’s pennies-on-the-dollar contribution to the cost of the new coverage (the state must pay only about 4 percent of the cost, while the feds pick up the rest), but most of the new tax revenue generated by federal health-care reform will be money that New Mexico’s Legislature and local governments can spend to meet the specific needs of their constituents by creating new programs, funding existing programs like education and public safety, forestalling future tax increases, or even reducing taxes.

PPACA will bring new federal funds into New Mexico in a number of ways. Beginning in 2014, Medicaid will expand to cover all low-income New Mexicans under age 65. The New Mexico Human Services Department projects that by 2020 New Mexico will have added between 133,000 and 183,000 new Medicaid enrollees, primarily adults previously unable to afford health insurance.
Also during that period, between $6 billion and $8 billion in new federal Medicaid funds will flow into the health-care sector, creating thousands of new high-wage jobs and reverberating throughout the state economy in the form of increased economic activity and employment. Read full column here: News New Mexico

Making the Case for Obamacare: Win - Win for NM

Weiner's Seat Up for Grabs

Politico - Republicans are poised for a dramatic upset in next week’s special election for a New York City congressional seat, according to a new poll out Friday. The survey, conducted by the Siena Research Institute, found Republican Bob Turner holding a 50 percent to 44 percent lead over Democrat David Weprin. The poll comes as national Democrats grow increasingly nervous about Weprin’s prospects in the race for a Brooklyn and Queens-area seat that has long favored the party.

Courtesy of conservativedailynews.com

Weiner's Seat Up for Grabs