The Karma of Quack: Gary King and Pay-to-Sue

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King was singled out for a special scolding by the mighty Wall Street Journal yesterday over the so-called “pay-to-sue” practices allegedly common among some state Attorneys General. Yesterday’s editorial was triggered after King called the paper to complain about being mentioned in a previous WSJ editorial called The Pay-to-Sue Business. [...]

Week’s End Flashback: Open ConCom Bill signed, Health Care Reform, polluter bailouts, more Monahan mashing, King v. Balderas and a Pot Poll

As we plunge into a new week, here’s a flashback on some of the stories/posts we found interesting from last week’s fare: Governor Richardson signed Open Conference Committees bill Marjorie at M-Pyre speculated on the Gov’s game of cat and mouse. Steve Terrell told us so and paid tribute to the late Bob Johnson. Peter [...]

The Case for Campaign Contribution Limits: How Bob Perry bought a state Supreme Court

As we’ve said before, the passage by the legislature of a campaign contribution limits bill – which now awaits Governor Richardson’s signature — was long past overdue.  New Mexico was one of only five states in the nation with no caps whatsoever. Texas is another. Perhaps that’s why Bob Perry, the multi-millionaire Houston homebuilder, and [...]

Session Wrap: Big Wins for Ethics Reform, Green Jobs and the Environment

The gavel has sounded, the 60-day session is over, and we’re pleased to report a number of significant victories for ethics reform, green jobs and the environment. ETHICS REFORM On the ethics reform front, three high priority measures passed and await the Governor’s signature. Campaign Contribution Limits: New Mexico was one of only five states [...]

Ethics reform bill prevails over Sanchez’s umbrage

With the clock running out on the legislative session, ethics reformers scored a major triumph last night with the passage by the state Senate of HB393, the bill to open conference committees to the public. And just minutes before the debate commenced, Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez issued a long and acerbic press release, contrasting [...]

The Sayings of Senator Lopez

Feb. 25, 2009: She (Sen. Linda Lopez) also promised to begin discussion on the proposal to create a state ethics commission “first thing” Friday, but said working out disagreements and drafting a committee substitute bill that combines several existing bills related to that controversial proposal will “take a little more time.” NM Independent Feb. 28, [...]

Senate webcasting opens to bad reviews

I generally don’t encounter much free-flowing consensus when I’m wandering around the Roundhouse. But as I haunted the curving halls of the Capitol yesterday, I found one thing on which everyone agrees: The new Senate webcasting sucks. It seems no one – legislators, constituents, journalists – is happy with the single, fixed camera positioned in [...]

1/2 an Ethics Commission

Why go for the whole enchilada when you can just have half? Seems we might find out the answer to that question. Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed an ethics commission bill that would treat the executive branch differently than the legislative branch. The bill has lingered for a month in the House [...]

Free Speech means the right to criticize politicians – and NM politicians don’t like it

Let’s face it.  Elected officials don’t like to be criticized – and especially not in public. There’s nothing wrong with that.  They have feelings too.  But criticism goes with the territory.  And there’s a big problem when those same officials attempt to use their powers to stifle the public’s exercise of free speech. Under the [...]

Senator Michael Sanchez: Manipulations, Maneuvers and Manny

While nothing surprises me much at the Roundhouse these days, Senator Michael Sanchez pulled a major shocker out of his hat yesterday afternoon on the Senate Floor. With Lt. Governor Diane Denish out of the chair and Senator Tim Jennings presiding, Senator Sanchez moved Senate Bill 652 for discussion, literally leap-frogging it ahead of hundreds [...]