Capitol Report NM Exclusive: GOP will appeal state Supreme Court redistricting to federal court on Monday

From Capitol Report New Mexico - Capitol Report New Mexico has learned that Republicans allied with the administration of Gov. Susana Martinez will formally file an appeal in federal court on Monday (Feb. 13) over the New Mexico Supreme Court’s reversal of a House of Representatives redistricting map OK’d back on Jan. 3 by a retired judge the high court itself assigned to tackle the hydra-headed problem of re-apportioning districts for the next 10 years across the state. Democrats embraced the 4-1 ruling by the state Supreme Court to kick the House redistricting decision back to Judge Jim Hall, who adopted a map that was sponsored by attorneys for the Republican governor after hearing from attorneys from the Democratically-controlled legislature as well as a number of other lawyers representing various other political interests in New Mexico. In the 33-page decision handed down Friday, four of the justices declared that Hall’s decision on House districts ”was not politically neutral” because, the court said, Hall’s map increased Republican swing seats from five to eight and Republican-leaning districts from 31 to 34. The four justices also insisted that a specific district in Clovis needed to be made up of a Hispanic majority voting area. Even before the remand, supporters of the Martinez-sponsored map pointed out that the map Hall adopted created more Hispanic-voting age population districts than any other map before him. And one Republican said 10 years ago – in the last redistricting fight that also went to the trial – a redistricting judge adopted a House map that increased Democrat-leaning districts from 36 to 39. Republicans in New Mexico have long grumbled about the state Supreme Court, which is packed with declared Democrats and on Friday, a spokesman for the governor called the ruling “a partisan decision.” Read more

Capitol Report NM Exclusive: GOP will appeal state Supreme Court redistricting to federal court on Monday

After 20 years, the Carpenters are ready for their close-up

From the Farmington Daily Times - FARMINGTON — Kim and Krickitt Carpenter didn't want their story in the hands of just anybody.  To keep it accurate, the Farmington couple wrote the book about their saga themselves.  The Carpenters sold the movie rights to their story in 1996 but objected to movie scripts that strayed too far from the truth. One such script is still used as an inch-tall riser to balance a family portrait. But after 19 years, a book deal, magazine articles, dozens of nationally televised interviews and two children, the Kim and Krickitt story is ready for Hollywood.  "The Vow" a movie based on the Carpenters, will be released just in time for Valentine's Day. In November 1993, the Carpenters were in an automobile accident on I-40 west of Gallup. Both were badly injured and Krickitt, who doctors said had less than a 1-percent chance of surviving, was comatose for months after the accident.  Krickitt woke with no recollection of the year prior to the accident, which included all memories of her husband, Kim, and their marriage 10 weeks before the crash. "The Vow" is based on the story of Kim and Krickitt's recovery and romance, plus the usual Hollywood sensationalism and glamour, the couple said. Read more

After 20 years, the Carpenters are ready for their close-up

Wild Hogs threaten NM farmers

From the Alamogordo Daily News - CLOVIS, N.M.—State and federal officials say feral pigs are ravaging eastern New Mexico's range and farmland.  An astonishing reproductive rate has seen hogs spread to 17 of New Mexico's 33 counties in just seven years.  The wild swine have rooted up Quay County farmer and rancher Ted Rush's feed roads and destroyed milo and sorghum crops. He said he has killed more than 300 feral swine on his land.  "My wheat fields looked like they'd been bombed by the military, there were huge craters everywhere," Rush said.  The pigs could have a devastating effect on New Mexico's economy.  U.S. Agriculture Department wildlife specialist Ron Jones is tracking the invasion of feral pigs into New Mexico. He tells the Clovis News Journal (http://bit.ly/wd1yfA) that he uses abandoned windmill sites with running water to track the pig's progress across the state.  "There are only two kinds of land owners in New Mexico—those who have feral pigs, and those who will," Jones said. Read more

Wild Hogs threaten NM farmers

The Anatomy of a "Hatchet Job"

You can see this one coming from a mile away. Hanna Skandera is going to be unfairly singled out by Senate Democrats and her professional credentials are going to be distorted and smeared. What’s behind this scheme is the influence of unions (not school teachers) to establish a political blockade that prevents all forms of educational reform and change.

Hanna Skandera

Though the Senate has hardly moved quickly, and there has been more than an occasional instance of rude Senatorial behavior when questioning nominees (Linda Lopez), slowly but surely the Senate is finally getting around to confirming the Governor’s selections made eons ago.

The confirmation of Hanna Skandera is noticeably missing from the process and reasonable people have concluded that Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez has already made it known to union interests that all they have to do is wait until other confirmations go through before he engineers the trashing and trampling of the Governor’s Public Education nominee.

Which Senators will be handed the hatchets when it is finally time to shift gears and butcher Skandera's solid credentials and kill her confirmation? Nobody is sure. But the smart betting says that those assigned by Sanchez to do the hacking, will also be the recipients of considerable support from reform blocking unions who are helping guide the process from behind the scenes.

Everyone can see this hatchet job coming…..from a mile away. It is the sort of terrible behavior that has plagued New Mexico educational achievement for decades.

The Anatomy of a "Hatchet Job"

New Mexico Supreme Court Outdoes Itself

NM Supreme Court Justices

After appointing fellow Democrat Judge James Hall to hear countless hours of testimony in the House redistricting case, the state Supreme Court shifted into micro-management and Monday morning quarterbacking mode today. Astonishingly, it overturned a plan for the new district lines Judge Hall drew up for the state House of Representatives.
Demonstrating that when it comes to New Mexico's highest court, there are no limits on pomposity, the panel ordered Judge Hall to draw a "new" map.

Judge James Hall

Despite the fact that Judge Hall was the diligent finder of facts in the case, and was already in possession of all the relevant details after all sides were heard, the high court has chosen to waste more taxpayer dollars on, you guessed it, LAWYERS, and cast logic aside so the state can experience additional turmoil. What Judge Hall does next, since he has already done his best, is anybodys guess. A reasonable man would diplomatically tell the meddling pack of partisan Democrats sitting on the high court to appoint a more appropriate stooge so they get the outcome they had in mind to begin with. The court is not merely manipulative and meddling it is inefficient in the way it manipulates and meddles.

New Mexico Supreme Court Outdoes Itself

Martinez and King Support Sex Offender Bill

Susana Martinez

Today Governor Susana Martinez and Attorney General Gary King urged members of the New Mexico Legislature to quickly hear and pass legislation that would bring New Mexico into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Act by tightening sex offender registration and notification laws. Martinez and King are throwing bipartisan support behind HB 179, which has yet to be heard in any House committee. Currently, it is scheduled to have a hearing in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee tomorrow morning.

The language in HB 179 is based on recommendations that were sought from the Department of Justice by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, regarding the changes that needed to be made in New Mexico law to move toward federal compliance.

Gary King

“Protecting New Mexico’s children and making our communities safer should be a shared priority for all lawmakers,” said Governor Martinez. “This legislation will not only require registration for a broader set of sex crimes, but it will help provide law enforcement greater tools for cracking down on sex offenders through federal grant funds. I strongly urge the legislature to take quick action on this bipartisan legislation so we can take critical steps that will help keep our kids safe.”

Martinez and King Support Sex Offender Bill

N.M. Share of Foreclosure Settlement: $91.7M

From krqe.com -A nationwide settlement over alleged fraud and abuses in mortgage foreclosures will net New Mexicans a share of the proposed $25 billion payout. New Mexico Attorney Gary King estimated the state will receive $91.7 million for mortgage relief, refinancing and direct payments related to mortgages issued by five banks: Ally, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase. The deal requires the banks to reduce loans for about a million homeowners in danger of foreclosure and make payments of $2,000 to about 750,000 people whose foreclosures were handled improperly. The settlement resolution is spread over three years.

N.M. Share of Foreclosure Settlement: $91.7M

Joint Task Force Teams Up With Border Patrol

From svherald.com - Joint Task Force North will be deploying military personnel and equipment starting in mid-February to support the U.S. Border Patrol in southern Arizona and New Mexico, according to a Tucson Sector press release issued Thursday. The ongoing collaboration between Customs and Border Protection and JTF-North supports the mission of the Border Patrol while providing training for the military, the release states.  The units and equipment will be under the control of the federal law agency.  JTF-North spokesman Armando Carrasco said because the mission will be under Customs and Border Protection, he cannot talk about specifics. However, he said there will be multiple active duty and reserve component resources from different military services involved. The importance is JTF-North continues to provide support to federal law enforcement agencies while at the same is an excellent avenue for the military to receive additional training, Carrasco said. The press Border Patrol release noted communities in southern Arizona and southern New Mexico should expect to see additional military personnel, vehicles and equipment traveling throughout the border region in the near future.  More News New Mexico

Joint Task Force Teams Up With Border Patrol

Mexican Drug Cartel Activity Increasing in N.M.

From therepublic.com -Officials say smaller, rural New Mexico counties are becoming staging areas for Mexican drug cartels because of their major interstate highways and back roads. KRQE-TV reports that New Mexico sheriffs recently heard about the increased cartel activities at a conference near the U.S.-Mexico border. Torrance County Sheriff Heath White said authorities may never know the true extent of the cartel operations in New Mexico because their purpose here is not violence.  Torrance County Sheriff Heath White said authorities may never know the true extent of the cartel operations in New Mexico because their purpose here is not violence. Instead, he said Mexican drug cartels simply want to move their drugs and remain undetected.  Investigators fear that's why the cartels here will likely remain quiet.  White said federal agencies like the federal agents are taking the lead in identifying and arresting suspects linked to the cartels, but local authorities also need to know how to identify them. 

Mexican Drug Cartel Activity Increasing in N.M.

Rail Runner Reform Blocked in the Senate

Capitol Report New Mexico - A provocative bill questioning how to handle the steep expenses heading down the track for the Rail Runner was unable to get through committee but it is sparking debate about the future of the train that serves the greater Albuquerque-Santa Fe corridor.
Senate Bill 247, which was introduced by Sen. George Muñoz (D-Gallup) addresses a question that number of voters who aren’t serviced by the Rail Runner have been asking ever since the train was unveiled six years ago: “Why are we paying for it when we don’t get to use it?” Muñoz said in an interview with Capitol Report New Mexico.
SB247 answers that question with a suggestion that intrigues some and horrifies others – creating an excise tax that would be paid only by taxpayers who live in the counties that the train serves and exempting those taxpayers who don’t.
“How are we going to fix this problem, $781 million in bonds we’re going to have to pay,” Muñoz said.
The bill was a longshot at best. First, because supporters of the Rail Runner hated the idea, as did a number of legislators whose constituents live in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Rail Runner Reform Blocked in the Senate