Roundhouse
TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Santa Fe passes red light camera program
The Santa Fe City Council approved an ordinance that would allow for red light cameras, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
The Santa Fe Reporter has a story on an ongoing argument between the city and those who are homeless and those who feed them. The writer of the story notes that there is an "emerging argument that has the City of Santa Fe at odds with both the homeless and those who feed them. Officials point to a long-term plan the city set up to end homelessness within five years, while those who host weekend lunches say help is needed immediately."
Victims of the hazing incident at Robertson High School were told to "take it like a man" or get 10 times worse, the Albuquerque Journal reports.
Gov. Bill Richardson tells KOB-TV that you shouldn't discount a gubernatorial run by actor Val Kilmer. "I like the idea. Val Kilmer is a New Mexican, he was Batman. You know there have been successful actors going into politics. I haven't talked to him about it, I don't know how serious he is, but you know if he jumps in a race he's got name ID, so it can't be discounted," Richardson told KOB's Stuart Dyson.
TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Lawmakers go on a junket to the Big Easy
About 20 New Mexico lawmakers and 18 staff members attended the legislative summit July 22-26 in the Big Easy at a cost to New Mexico taxpayers estimated around $65,000, including airfare, lodging and registration, reports the Albuquerque Journal.
Bernalillo County's revived ethics board already has an issue and it hasn't even met, the Albuquerque Journal reports.
Three more buildings at Santa Fe Indian School are scheduled for demolition after 15 buildings already have been torn down, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. The demolition of the buildings generated controversy when it began in late July.
The city of Farmington will begin curbside recycling in January after the city's mayor cast a tie-breaking vote early Wednesday, the Farmington Daily Times reports. According to the paper:
Officials vow crackdown on predatory lending
This calendar year, more than 9.000 homes will have been lost to foreclosure in New Mexico neighborhoods. More than 151,000 homes will decline in value in New Mexico because of foreclosures in the neighborhood. With that as a backdrop, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish announced her own "comprehensive and strategic" legislative plan to correct flaws and gaps in state laws she said have contributed to the housing crisis and loss of home ownership at the state level.
Guv signs roads and health care bills
Without ceremony, Gov. Bill Richardson signed today a $200 million highway-construction bill approved during the recent special session of the Legislature.
Richardson also signed the health-care funding bill the Legislature sent him, with a partial veto.
The highway bill will help fund 13 projects across the state that are part of Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership (GRIP).
“With this money we can address critical highway projects in rural New Mexico,” Richardson said in a news release. “These rural highways are the lifeline for thousands of our residents who use them everyday to commute, visit families and conduct their daily business.”
The fox is guarding the henhouse
Don't you just wonder at times what and who is thinking in our State Capitol- Santa Fe? Secretary of State Mary Herrera's decision to hire the son-in-law of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall and husband of Udall's campaign manager to be in charge of New Mexico's election has to be one of the biggest blunders in our State's history.
State agency says it is cooperating with federal investigators
The New Mexico Finance Authority says it’s “cooperating fully” with federal investigators who are looking into the dealings between the state and a California firm that was paid almost $1 million under a state contract related to a $1.6 billion transportation program named for Gov. Bill Richardson.
Where's the line between issue advocacy and political campaigning?
New Mexico Youth Organized (NMYO) has been a bad, bad nonprofit. At least, that’s the message from the attorney general and secretary of state. Attorney General Gary King is telling the group: You’ve walked like a duck. You’ve quacked like a duck. So you are a duck. And Secretary of State Mary Herrera is saying: Because of that, you have to formally register as a duck (political action committee or PAC).
Tax rebate outrage: Money goes to those who paid no taxes
Having just returned from what will probably be my last legislative session, I have to tell you I was amazed at how well the Democrats can stay on message nationally and locally. We finished a “special session” that was to deal with emergency issues. I was shocked to see that a proposal to give some people a small check had been labeled an “emergency.” This proposal was given the name “tax rebate.” Many people who will receive the so-called rebate actually paid no taxes at all. And many thousands of others paid very little.
TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Democrats rally behind a Green and it's not the presidential race
Democrats disgruntled with their own party's candidate in the Public Regulation Commission race are forming a political action committee to help Green Party candidate Rick Lass, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. Apparently a few Democrats aren't smitten with Jerome Block Jr., who is the Democratic nominee.
Journal investigative reporter Thom Cole takes on a Los Lunas Municipal Court Judge who denied him access to a public court file last week in a doozy of an open letter that's one part chastisement and one part defense of the state's Public Records Act.. Click here to read Cole's open letter. Give 'em what for, Thom!
New Mexico State University police issued a warning to returning students to not travel to Juarez due to the spike in drug-related violence in the Mexican city, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports.
Guv leaves with half a legislative loaf
The House and Senate broke up without giving the governor everything he wanted. But state lawmakers gave him more than $300 million for children's health, tax rebates and roads -- despite the repeated predictions of financial collapse from a chorus of legislative Cassandras who said the state couldn't afford some of what it ultimately passed.
Senate and House adjourn after passing tax rebates and road funding
The Senate and House adjourned around 4:30 p.m. today after completing a flurry of activity Tuesday afternoon.
Among those bills that were agreed upon Tuesday afternoon and are now headed to Gov. Bill Richardson's desk for his signature are those that fund $55 million in income tax rebates, and $200 million for road construction around the state.
Four days, three bills and $140,000 in taxpayers' money
OK, taxpayers. Four days and $140,000 into this special session, here's what you've gotten in return for your investment during this special session, which is entering its fifth day.
The House and Senate have agreed to three bills, which are now headed to the governor's desk for his signature: a general election bill; money for a child care program; and the bill that pays the Legislature to be here.
The hard work is still ahead on Gov. Bill Richardson's major priorities, which includes tax rebate legislation and a bill that would expand health care coverage to low-income children across the state.
The House passes money for general election
The House by a vote of 52 to 14 just passed legislation to appropriate $1.6 million for the Secretary of State to use toward the Nov. 4 general election. Click here to read an explanation of the legislation.
The money in the legislation fills a gap that Secretary of State Mary Herrera, has said her office faces in running the general election.
The legislation now goes to Gov. Bill Richardson for his signature.
House passes health care bill
The House just passed by a vote of 47 to 19 a bill that would appropriate $32.5 million to help put more than 17,000 more children under the age of 18 on the rolls of Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income people.
The legislation now goes back to the Senate for approval. If that happens, it will go to the governor for his signature.
The money in the bill is significantly scaled down from the original version of the legislation, which Gov. Bill Richardson has touted as one of the major priorities of the special session. The original bill had appropriated $58 million. But many lawmakers around the Roundhouse worry that the state doesn't have enough money. And the governor's office trimmed the amount of money in the proposal to appease them. The money for the expansion will come from what economists say will be a surplus in the state's operating expenses at the end of this fiscal year, or June 30.
Secretary of State to nonprofit: register as a political committee or face penalty
Secretary of State Mary Herrera has told New Mexico Youth Organized (NMYO) to register as a political committee and comply with the state’s campaign reporting laws, but the group says it will contest that demand with legal action.
“After consultation with our legal counsel at the Office of the Attorney General, it appears that New Mexico Youth Organized is operating as a political committee,” Herrera’s letter, sent late today, states.
Eli Il Yong Lee, executive director of the Center for Civic Policy (CCP), the parent organization for NMYO, said both organizations “strongly disagree” with Herrera’s decision.
House almost adjourns
The House just averted a motion to adjourn by a vote of 27 to 39 .
But not before a few fireworks -- and a political parry and thrust. Rep. Candy Spence Ezell, R-Roswell, moved to adjourn, causing the House to go momentarily silent. "We have not accomplished one thing today except waste the taxpayers' money," she said on the House floor.
House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, said he wouldn't accept the motion.
Senate passes smaller tax rebates
The Senate just passed by a vote of 36 to 2 a bill that would give tax rebates to many New Mexicans. The legislation, which is significantly smaller than Gov. Bill Richardson's proposal, would direct the state to send out rebates on the state income tax this fall, said Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, D-Albuquerque. The rebates would go to 780,000 taxpayers.
The rebates, as explained on the Senate floor, would be larger for lower income taxpayers and smaller for taxpayers earning more. Taxpayers who earn more than $70,000 in gross income, however, would not receive a rebate. Gross income is usually defined as a person's income before all deductions.
Senate debates smaller tax rebate bill
The Senate is debating a bill that would give tax rebates to many New Mexicans. The legislation, which is significantly smaller than Gov. Bill Richardson's proposal, would direct the state to send out rebates on the state income tax this fall, said Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, D-Albuquerque. The rebates would go to 780,000 taxpayers.
The rebates, as explained on the Senate floor, would be larger for lower income taxpayers and smaller for taxpayers earning more. Taxpayers who earn more than $70,000 in gross income, however, would not receive a rebate. Gross income is usually defined as a person's income before all deductions.
Senate overwhlemingly passes health care bill
The Senate passed by a vote of 38 to 1 the health care bill that appropriates $32.5 million to help put more than 17,000 children on the state's Medicaid rolls.
That piece of legislation now goes to the House.
Senate debates health care bill
The Senate is debating legislation that would appropriate $32.5 million to help put more than 17,000 more children under the age of 18 on the rolls of Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income people.
The money in the bill is significantly scaled down from the original version of the legislation, which Gov. Bill Richardson has touted as one of the major priorities of the special session. The original bill had appropriated $58 million. But many lawmakers around the Roundhouse are worried that the state doesn't have enough money. And the governor's office trimmed the amount of money in the proposal to appease them. The money for the expansion will come from what economists say will be a surplus in the state's operating expenses at the end of this fiscal year, or June 30.