What Would Jackie Robinson Say?

Jackie Robinson

Last night every major league baseballl player wore # 42 paying fitting tribute to one of America's greatest citizens, Jackie Roosevelt Robinson. In watching the games we were reminded of an expereince shared with us by a New Mexico-based money management firm attending an "emerging manager" conference in Chicago last year. Upon arrival in the Windy City they soon learned they were legally barred from doing business with the State of Illinois. Believe it or not, Illinois actually has a law regarding emerging money managers that requires emerging money managers hired by the state to NOT be white men. Below is a portion of the applicable legal language: Goals for Utilization of Minority-Owned Businesses, Female-Owned Businesses, and Businesses Owned by Persons with a Disability - ........1 Effective April 3, 2009, Public Act 96-0006 revised the definition of “emerging investment manager.” As a result, the current definition applicable to ISBI is found in 40 ILCS 5/1-109(4) and is defined as “a qualified investment adviser that manages an investment portfolio of at least $10,000,000 but less than $10,000,000,000 and is a “minority owned business,” female owned business or business owned by a person with a disability as those terms are defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act.”

Stunned, a firm representative tracked down a local expert and asked for an interpretation. The local consultant shrugged when questioned about the meaning of the language in the statute and said, it simply means so long as a firm is NOT majority owned by "white males" it can compete for state business in the emerging manager space.

The good news for the New Mexico firm was its white male owners were not denied rooms, water, or food service at the hotel where the conference was being held. The bad news was it found itself paying a tidy sum to co-sponsor an event in a state where it was statutorily BARRED from winning contracts to manage public money due to the color of the skin and gender of the majority of owners. One of the principals mused after the return to New Mexico that the overt discrimination built into the Illinois statute had managed to make the subtle non-merit-based culture of corruption that has been part of  New Mexico's pay-to-play system seem almost fair. But the big question remains, "What would Jackie Robinson say?"

What Would Jackie Robinson Say?

Lujan and Heinrich Vote NO on Spending Cuts Still Have No Plans of Their Own, Just Criticism

Martin Henrich

Newsnm note - (Spence) With the federal government borrowing more than $2,000 each and every month for every taxpaying couple in the country, it is easy for every elected official sent to Washington to "SAY" they are for fixing the borrowing insanity. Talk is cheap and there are no elected officials who are more generous with cheap talk than U.S. House members Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico. These men consistently offer nothing but NO votes on spending cuts and hypocritical criticism of all efforts to reign in the insanity. We know of no proposal from either one of these Congressmen that would actually stop the federal government from continuing to borrow insanely on our behalf. Yet both of these men hold themselves up as the "defenders" of working families and seniors.

The Nation - The House on Friday approved a fiscal year 2012 budget resolution from Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that seeks to drastically limit government spending next year and in years to follow. But the vote on the measure — which imposes $5.8 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade — came after a clear sign that at least half of the Republican Caucus supports even tougher spending cuts. The final tally was 235-193, with four Republicans opposing it.

Ben Ray Lujan

They were Reps. Ron Paul (Texas), Denny Rehberg (Mont.), Walter Jones (N.C.) and David McKinley (W.Va.). Rehberg, the appropriator in charge of health spending, is running for Montana's Senate seat. Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said listening sessions with Republican members made it the strongest vote of the year. "This is the process we should follow on all votes," he said. Every Democrat voted "no." Read full story here: News New Mexico

Lujan and Heinrich Vote NO on Spending Cuts Still Have No Plans of Their Own, Just Criticism

Getting Ready to Rumble for Dem Chair Spot

Steve Terrell

Roundhouse Roundup - When I asked Sam Bregman yesterday about Sen. Jeff Bingaman's endorsement of Javier Gonzales in the state chairman's race, Bregman said Gonzales was publicizing the endorsement to counteract a recent poll Gonzales commissioned of state Democratic Central Committee members showing Bregman winning the contest. "They're losing," Bregman said. "The train has left the station." But today, Gonzales' spokesman shot me an e-mail saying that there indeed was a poll, but it showed Gonzales doing better than 54 percent. Bregman was pulling just over 37 percent, while Letitia Montoya had about 8.5 percent. According to spokesman Matt Ross the call, which went out to all 400-plus Central Committee members, went as follows: Read full story here: News New Mexico

Getting Ready to Rumble for Dem Chair Spot

Skandera Warns Districts About "Gaming the System"

Hanna Skandera

KRQE - Governor Susana Martinez was serious about her threat to look into the audit records of school districts. The New Mexico public education department sent letters to 34 of the 89 school districts, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, and Las Cruces to let them know they are being audited. The department said its initial audit found nearly $18 million in funding claims that are considered suspect. Education Secretary Hanna Skandera said she wants to make sure no one's “gaming” the system to get extra funding. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Skandera Warns Districts About "Gaming the System"

Martinez Talks Taxes on TAX DAY

Susana Martinez

LAS CRUCES – Governor Susana Martinez today made the following statement on Tax Day, the day that typically marks the deadline that American taxpayers must have their tax returns submitted to the federal government. “Today is a reminder of the burden that New Mexico taxpayers face each and every year,” said Governor Martinez. “Unfortunately, while Tax Day is filled with symbolism, New Mexico’s families and small businesses feel the financial drain and uncertainty caused year-round when the federal government attempts to take more and more money out of their pockets to fund out-of-control spending. Both our state and federal tax system should encourage small businesses to grow and hire, allow families to prosper, and permit New Mexicans to keep more of their hard-earned money. “That’s why I’m fighting hard against big government and excessive taxes. The budget that I just signed is a symbol of our priorities – it cuts spending, preserves classroom funding and healthcare for the most vulnerable, and it does not raise taxes on a single New Mexican. And, as promised, I vetoed every tax increase sent to my desk. New Mexico’s economy simply cannot turn the corner when families and employers face the uncertainty and financial hardship caused by high taxes and runaway spending. I will continue to fight against government excess as we work to cut spending, put our state back on sound fiscal footing, and create a business-friendly environment that allows for economic growth and job creation.”

Martinez Talks Taxes on TAX DAY

65 NM National Guard Members Head to Afghanistan

KOB - TV - SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A yellow ribbon ceremony is planned Wednesday for about 65 members of the New Mexico National Guard who are being deployed to Afghanistan. The ceremony for the members of Company C, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment will be held at 10 a.m. at the regional training institute at National Guard headquarters in Santa Fe. Read full story here: News New Mexico

65 NM National Guard Members Head to Afghanistan

Entire State Under Fire Restrictions

KOB - TV SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - State officials are imposing fire restrictions across much of New Mexico because dry conditions and high winds have resulted in extreme fire danger. The restrictions in all but four northern New Mexico counties will go into effect Saturday at 8 a.m. The restrictions apply to fireworks, smoking, campfires and open fires in 29 out of the 33 counties. The secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, John Bemis, says some areas of the state have not seen appreciable moisture in as many as 150 days. Bemis is urging people to follow the restrictions to protect lives and property in their communities. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Entire State Under Fire Restrictions

From DC to NM, tough decisions don’t get made — just delayed

John Grubesic

Capitol Report New Mexico - We still have a federal government. No furlough of nonessential employees. I doubt that we would have missed them, but thank goodness the brain trust in Washington avoided adding an additional layer to our fiscal fiasco. These things can get expensive, ask Newt Gingrich. Of course all the drama could have been easily avoided had Congress decided to deal with this back before the expiration of the federal fiscal year in October of 2010. You know, back when the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress? Unfortunately, they were frozen with fear. With the election looming in November there was no chance that a budget would pass. Congress was scared to death of taking any action that might have cost them a vote. This is a common affliction in public service, rarely diagnosed, not often fatal, but a slow growing, insidious disease that has infected politics and is slowly killing real leadership in this country. The disease has infected state legislatures. Look at Wisconsin, Texas — I am sure there are more. I saw guys get up and walk out of committees in New Mexico along party lines several times. You can’t win if you don’t have the votes and you can’t have a vote if nobody’s there. Once you lose a quorum in a committee the only thing left to do is eat all the free food the lobbyists bought for dinner. A two-party system doesn’t work when one side decides to walk out. Running and hiding is not an acceptable response. This country was forged by people who stood and fought — not by those who cut and run. Read full column here: News New Mexico

From DC to NM, tough decisions don’t get made — just delayed

Stewart: State's Pension Plans Need Fixing NOW

Mimi Stewart

NMPolitics - For New Mexico’s more than 45,000 public and educational employees, ensuring the sustainability and solvency of their retirement programs is of monumental concern. Our workers deserve a fair shake. They work hard, serve the public and our communities, and play by the rules. They make significant contributions to fund these retirement programs, one of which, the PERA plan, ranks as one of the best in the nation. The solvency of these retirement funds is a concern to taxpayers as well. To find answers, the Legislature established the Retirement Systems Solvency Task Force in 2009. With 24 members representing organized labor, state agencies, private sector and lawmakers, the task force spent two years studying the difficulties facing our pension funds. PERA and ERB, with combined assets of more than $20 billion, are today more than $7 billion short to meet promised benefits. That shortfall is projected to more than double in five years and hit $20 billion by 2019. Read full column here: News New Mexico

Stewart: State's Pension Plans Need Fixing NOW

Chavez: Spare Us the Hypocrisy Mr. President

Linda Chavez

Townhall - President Obama offered few concrete suggestions for spending cuts this week in his much-anticipated speech on reducing the federal debt, but he had lots to say about raising taxes. "As a country that values fairness, wealthier individuals have traditionally borne a greater share of this burden than the middle class or those less fortunate. Everybody pays, but the wealthier have borne a little more," the president said. So he wants to raise the top marginal tax rate to 39.6 percent and eliminate itemized deductions for the top 2 percent of earners. What the president didn't say is that he has taken full advantage of each and every tax deduction available to him in order to lower his taxes on his more than $5 million per year income.

No one forces Obama to take these deductions, which he objects to so strenuously for everyone else in his income bracket. So let's take a look at the deductions he took last year (the president's 2009 return and that of Vice President Joe Biden are available online): In 2009, Obama took itemized deductions of $514,819, a foreign tax credit of $59,372, and a deduction for interest on his home of $52,195. He was also able to take a deduction for $49,000 he contributed to his self-employed retirement fund. If he had not taken these deductions, he would have paid taxes on an additional $675,386, which in his income bracket would have meant he owed somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 more in taxes at the top marginal tax rate of 35 percent. Read full column here: News New Mexico

Chavez: Spare Us the Hypocrisy Mr. President