Senate Rules May Ask To Subpoena Fair Manager

The Senate Rules Committee will consider asking the full Senate to issue a subpoena to State Fair Manager Dan Mourning, who earlier this week didn't show up to a hearing about the fair and the controversial 25-lease awarded to the Downs at Albuquerque.

If approved by the full Senate, it would be the first time a subpoena for a standing legislative committee has been issued since the impeachment investigation of Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr. in 2011. (Block resigned before he could be impeached.)

Rules Chairwoman Linda Lopez has drafted a resolution asking for a subpoena forcing Mourning to appear on Feb.7.

"... despite repeated requests, Expo New Mexico general manager Dan Mourning has refused to appear before the Senate Rules Committee to provide it with information necessary for the committee to make a considered recommendation on the nomination of the executive's appointments to the State Fair Commission."

Earlier today the committee gave positive recommendations to Charles Brown and Bill Lee, two of Gov. Susana  Martinez's fair commission nominees. The full Senate later unanimously confirmed both commissioners.

However, the committee didn't act on Martinez's request to re-confirm Commission Chairman Larry Kennedy. Instead they grilled him about the operation of the fair and whether the commission or Mourning was actually running the fair.

At Monday's hearing one current and two past members of the commission testified about the Downs lease and said the administration had tried to keep fair commissioners out of the loop.

A spokesman for the governor said Monday that the hearing that day was "nothing more than a taxpayer-funded political circus orchestrated by a desperate candidate for governor where not a single new piece of information was revealed. What you saw were people with incredible axes to grind, all of whom have had their wild-eyed accusations repeatedly discredited.”

Marijuana Amendment Stalls in Committee

Sorry, uncle

The proposed constitutional amendment to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana stalled in the Senate Rules Committee this morning.

Five senators, all Democrats, vote to pass Senate Joint (heh he heh heh) Resolution 10, sponsored by state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, on to the Senate Judiciary Committee with no recommendation.

However, Sen. Clemente Sanchez, D-Grants, joined all four committee Republicans to vote against that. The measure therefore is stuck in Senate Rules, meaning unless someone has a change of mind, it's dead for this session.

Some opponents, like Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, said they are not in favor of arresting people for a few joints. However, Rue and others said they don't think it should be done by constitutional amendment.

Had SJR 10 passed the Legislature, state voters would have decided on the issue in November.

More in tomorrow's New Mexican.

Downs Deal Hearing

Tom Tinnin

Although Gov. Susana Martinez, her consultant Jay McCleskey and State Fair Manager Dan Mourning did not appear at Senate Rules Committee to testify about the Downs racino contract this morning (nor did state Auditor Hector Balderas), three Republican critics of the Downs deal did.

These were former Fair Commission chairman and Board of Finance member Tom Tinnin, who resigned from the latter because of the deal; former Commissioner Charlotte Rode and current Commissioner Twister Smith.

All spoke about pressure from the governor's office to approve the 25-year, multi-million contract.

Also, they talk about how the Fair Commission has been "neutered"by the administration.

“If you do take a stand in the face of  corruption, you are going to be retaliated against," Rode told the committee.

"Look at the agenda and the minutes. We  never every talked about business at meetings, ever," Smith said.

"You  need to have  professional management," Tinnin said. "Keep politics out. (Politics) kills it."

Read more about this in tomorrow's New Mexican.

ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDUP: More Freebies from Lobbyists

New Mexico is the last state with a Legislature whose members don’t get a salary. The modest per diem paid to senators and representatives often doesn’t cover their expenses, especially those who have to travel long distances and stay in Santa Fe’s expensive hotels and eat at our expensive restaurants.

But to cushion that blow, there are lobbyists, who provide food, beverage, entertainment and gifts for those doing the people’s business at the Roundhouse.

According to lobbyist expense reports, the most expensive gift filed in the past week or so are passes given by the New Mexico Golf Tourism Alliance on Thursday. The total value of the passes, which allows legislators to play on five courses around the state, was listed as $28,500. This is an annual gift the golf industry group bestows upon lawmakers.

As is the case with the ski industry, which gives ski passes to legislators every year, there is no legislation this year that directly affects golf courses, except, arguably, the Tourism Department’s budget.

On the Senate floor Thursday, Senate Republican Leader Stuart Ingle of Portales thanked the alliance for the gift and praised golf as important to tourism in the state.

Read the rest of this column HERE


My previous story on lobbyist reports ran Jan. 31. You can find that HERE

My story about the top 10 political contributors among lobbyists is HERE

Governor to Skip Racetrack Hearing

As I reported earlier this week, The Senate Rules Committee has sent invitations to Gov. Susana Martinez, her political consultant Jay McCleskey and others to speak the panel's meeting Monday morning about the State Fair, including a controversial contract with The Downs Racetrack & Casino in Albuquerque.

But Martinez will be a no-show, her spokesman Enrique Knell told me.

Asked if the governor planned to be there, Knell in an email said, "Of course not."

He then followed that with basically the same statement he gave me a couple of weeks ago for a story on the Downs deal, where he pointed out that Rules chairwoman Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, is running for governor and calling the hearing a "petty political sideshow."

I wouldn't bet money on McCleskey showing up either.

Also are invited to the hearing (8:30 Monday, Feb. 10) are Expo New Mexico General Manager Dan Mourning and State Auditor Hector Balderas.

Opponents of Martinez have said the administration gave unfair advantage to the Downs -- which includes large campaign contributors to the governor -- when awarding the multi-million dollar contract in 2011. Martinez has denied that. Proponents of the deal have said a competitive bid wasn't even required for the contract, which the Downs has held since the 1980s. No charges against anyone involved have been filed.

Susana is on Mitt's List

Although Gov. Susana Martinez repeatedly has disavowed any interest in being on the national Republican ticket, the GOP's last presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney just mentioned her as a possible contender.

Not for vice president. He's talking leader of the free world, commander-in-chief, the top job.

According to The Hill, Romney, in an interview with CNN, Romney first mentioned the usual suspects when asked about REpublican presidential candidates:

“Right now, we've got a very full group of people — Marco Rubio; Jeb Bush; Chris Christie; Rand Paul; Paul Ryan, of course, my running mate, an extraordinary man; John Kasich, governor of Ohio, doing a great job there; Scott Walker in Wisconsin,” Romney said.

Then he added, “We've got a lot of very good people. Susana Martinez in ... New Mexico. ... I didn't mention Mike Huckabee. Of course, Mike Huckabee ran before, did a fine job. He may be coming back and giving it another shot.”

The Hill noted:

Last year, Martinez said the time for a female president is “long past due.” But when asked if she would consider running on the national ticket, she said she was "focused on New Mexico."
In 2012, Martinez said serving as the guardian of her developmentally disabled sister would prevent her from living away from New Mexico.

And this basically is what Team Susana has told me and the rest of the New Mexico political media.

But as I've written before, such speculation is not likely to stop, especially if she wins reelection this year.

Battling Resolutions

I wrote a story yesterday about the state Human Services Department's response to Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez's resolution to give a vote of "no confidence" to Human Services Secretary Sidonie Squier.(This web only story is HERE)

I don't think Senate Resolution 2 will be heard by the Senate today -- Sen. Sanchez just said he expects today's floor session to be short. But when it does get heard, Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington plans to introduce a substitute.

Basically the 7-page substitute, instead of expressing "no confidence" would express "the Senate's confidence in the ability of the secretary of Human Services to fairly and faithfully execute the duties of that office" and commend the secretary "for her efforts to stop fraud. waste and abuse in the state's Medicaid program."

I'm pretty sure that Sanchez won't agree with this substitute.

Some Action in the Senate Today?

Squier

There are a couple of interesting items on the Senate Calendar today.

One is the bill that would outlaw texting and driving. It's actual the first item under "Third Readings." As I've pointed out, the same basic bill, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, languished for weeks last year on the Senate calendar because Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, who decides what gets heard and what doesn't, just doesn't like the bill.

He still doesn't like it, but he said Monday he expects the bill to be heard in the Senate (and to pass the full Legislature.)

The other interesting piece of legislation is Senate Resolution 2, which would give Human Services Secretary Sidonie Squier a vote of no confidence. I suspect if that one is heard, it may spark some debate. 

Squirer herself wouldn't be there to defend herself, but her department provided a lengthy rebuttal in the form of a fiscal impact statement.

UPDATE; 3:08 pm : As it turned out, the Senate didn't discuss either of these items today. Oh well. One of these days ...

Garcia Richard Has an Opponent

Geoff Rodgers

State Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard now has a Republican opponent in this year's general election.

Geoff Rodgers, the chairman of the Los Alamos County Council announced today that he is running for the District 43 seat. His press release doesn't say so, but he's a Republican.

District 43 is one seat state Republicans, who once again will try to wrest control of the House from the Democrats, are especially interested in. Richard in 2012 won a close race against Jim Hall, who had been appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez.

Last year, after Richard voted against a procedural move to blast the controversial immigrant driver's license bill out of a committee, Republicans ran robo-calls in her district blasting her for her vote.

Rodgers served on the County Council from 2001-2004 and was elected again in 2010.  In 2013 he was elected as Council chairman.

He also served as the Director of Transportation for Los Alamos Public Schools for twelve years and was on the board of directors for the North Central Regional Transit District for two years.

Rodgers served for five years in the U.S Army and eight years in the U.S Army Reserves as a helicopter pilot.

House District 43 includes the entire county of Los Alamos and parts of Santa Fe, Rio Ariba, and Sandoval Counties.

ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDUP: House Leaders Still Wary of Webcasting

The state Legislature has been webcasting floor sessions and some committee meetings for years. You’d think that everyone would be used to it by now and all the awful fears about showing the public what goes on in this House of Round proved to be as insignificant as the open-government, pro-transparency crowd said.

But apparently not. Something happened in the House last week that showed resistance to webcasting still is alive and well.

It happened when Rep. Jeff Steinborn’s House Resolution 2 was introduced formally. This measure would require the Legislative Council Service to save all webcasts of House committee meetings and House floor sessions, so anyone with a computer could watch any of those meetings at their convenience. (So far there has not been a similar move in the Senate.)

Tp read the rest of this go to Santa  Fe New Mexican website HERE

The Lobbyist Reports

The Santa Fe New Mexican this morning published my first report of the session on lobbyist expense reports.You can find that HERE.

By law lobbyists have to report any expenditure more than $500 within 48 hours. I try to note them all, updating about once a week.

The biggest report this time was the $27,750 for ski passes from Ski New Mexico, an industry organization made up of most the ski areas in the state. The group gives these to lawmakers every year.


One representative however wrote me this morning to say he didn't accept this gift.

"Like last year Steve, I did not take the ski passes," wrote Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Las Cruces "Nor do I take anything form lobbyists. I have attended a reception or two (like the NEA one you mentioned) but took nothing."

I couldn't find the clip, but I do recall McCamley telling me last year that he didn't take the ski pass or other goodies from lobbyists.

I've been reporting on the "48-hour" reports for years, and sometimes I've been criticized for doing it. A couple of years ago a senator even  implied that The New Mexican doesn't like the idea of restaurants, bars and hotels making money from parties, lunches and dinners for legislators because we always run stories about these reports.

Not true. It's just that we believe the public has the right to know who is picking up the tab for our decision makers. So don't expect me to stop doing this.

So Much Action in the Roundhouse .... zzzzzzzz

OK, in the last few days we've heard some music, a short comedy performance and lots and lots of memorials being discussed here at the Roundhouse.

Libraries, they're really cool ... Albuquerque's west side is a good place to be ... Whereas, whereas, whereas ...

Actually the most excitement today happened just a couple of minutes ago when House Speaker Kenny Martinez got booed (good-naturedly) after suggesting (jokingly) that the House meet this Sunday afternoon. (That's Super Bowl Sunday in case anyone doesn't know.)

I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but I heard some speculation from a Roundhouse regular that made me wonder. Could it be that things are moving slow on purpose, to stall until Rep. Ernest Chavez, D-Albuquerque and/or Rep. Phillip Archuleta get well enough to make it to the session?

Probably far-fetched. After all, last year during the 60-day session, a lot of us were complaining that nothing happened in the whole session until an hour or so before the end.

So until then, here's to libraries and here's to the West Side ...

(Things might perk up next week if the Rules Committee holds that racetrack hearing. My story on that is HERE)

On the Julia Show at 9

I'll be on Julia Goldberg's Morning Show at 9 am.

I'll be talking about (you guessed it) the Legislature.

According to her site, Julia is "brash, informed, honest, funny and opinionated."

Uh oh ...

That's KVSF, 101.5 FM on your radio dial,

Steinborn Wants To Archive Webcasts

Rep. Steinborn

Ever want to watch the Legislature in action, but something like, say, work, interferes with your schedule and you can't do it?

State Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, plans to introduce a rule change that would require the Legislative Council Service to save all the webcasts so folks out in Cyberland can watch at their convenience.

Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, will co-sponsor the move.

“It’s vitally important that the citizens of the state be provided the opportunity to watch our legislative process in action and learn about critical policy issues being discussed” Steinborn said in a news release.  “Technology easily allows us the ability to broadcast and archive these meetings, so folks can watch them at times that fit their schedule.”

The decision not to archive came in the early days of webcasting when the old lions of the Legislature decided that saving the videos could result in political "mischief," such as making campaign ads showing lawmakers sleeping, goofing off or casting controversial votes.

Steinborn also said he will introduce another measure that would require the Legislative Council Service to webcast all interim committee hearings. "During this last summer, there was increased public interest in following interim committee legislative hearings related to Governor Martinez’ shake up of the state’s mental health system," the news release said.

Co-sponsoring this will be Senate President Pro-tem Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces.

UPDATE 1-28-14 10:23 am: Some Republican friends on Twitter gently reminded me that Gov. Martinez archives floor sessions and some committee hearings HERE. She doesn't have to though. The Steinborn-Harper measure would require it.

ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDUP: Will Fireworks Bill Set the Woods on Fire in This Year's Legislature?

One type of bill that’s almost guaranteed to be a dud (caution, bad pun setup) in the New Mexico Legislature is legislation restricting fireworks.

For instance, remember back in the hot dry summer of 2011, when the Las Conchas Fire was raging near Los Alamos, and Gov. Susana Martinez called for a bill that would give the governor the legal authority to impose a ban on all fireworks in the state? She got a bipartisan team of legislators to push such a bill, but it went down in flames (sorry, I can’t help myself).

With what some believe could be another hot, dry summer ripe for forest fires in store, Martinez again is calling for a fireworks bill. She sent a message to the Senate last week that allows the Legislature to consider it in the current 30-day “budget session.” The message applies to Senate Bill 94, sponsored by Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, who helped derail the 2012 fireworks bill.

To read the rest, see The New Mexican's website, HERE

Martinez Ally Running For AG

Susan Riedel, who worked under Gov. Susana Martinez when she was the district attorney in Las Cruces, announced this morning that she's seeking the Republican nomination for attorney general.

 “New Mexico deserves a strong prosecutor as attorney general,” Riedel said in a news release.  “I will stand up and fight against those who would prey on the weak and try to take advantage of the public.  I will enforce the laws of New Mexico to ensure that dangerous criminals are put behind bars."

Much of that time, Riedel worked in Martinez's DA office, she was chief deputy district attorney. After Martinez became governor, she appointed Riedel to a vacant judge's post in Doña Ana County. However, Riedel was defeated in 2012 when she ran for the judgeship.

Her cases include the “Baby Brianna” child-abuse/murder case and the conviction of Jesse Avalos for the murder of New Mexico State University freshman Carly Martinez.

Last year the governor appointed her old deputy to the state Public Defender Commission, a fact that  Riedel doesn't include in the biography that accompanied her announcement.

At the time of her appointment the state Criminal Defense Lawyers Association called the choice of Riedel   "slap in the face" to defendants who can't afford private lawyers, as well as to people who voted for an independent public defender's office. Her appointment also was opposed by some Democratic lawmakers including House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Gail Chasey and  House Majority Whip Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, both D-Albuquerque.

Riedel briefly was chairwoman of the Dona Ana County Republican Party last year, which she served after the previous chairman David Clements resigned to run for U.S. Senate.

Riedel faces political newcomer Jim Baiamonte, an Albuquerque Republican, in the GOP primary. State Auditor Hector Balderas is the only Democrat who has announced for the job.

Many though that Clovis District Attorney Matt Chandler, who was the GOP nominee for AG in 2010, would run again. However, this week Chandler announced he would resign from his job on March 1 to go into private practice.

Riedel's campaign website is HERE

Archuleta Will Be "Fully Engaged" But Won't Be at Session

The House Democrats just issued a statement saying that Rep. Phillip Archuleta, D-Las Cruces, won't be able to travel to Santa Fe for the Legislature, but he'll be able to follow the session on his laptop.

However, I don't think Archuleta, who is recovering from hip surgery, be able to vote by laptop.

As I reported today, Archuleta is one of two House Democrats who might be sidelined because of health issues. The other is Rep. Ernest Chavez, D-Albuquerque.

If both Archuleta and Chavez are absent, the political makeup in the House would be  35 Democrats, 33 Republicans. And, as I said in the paper, "That is uncomfortable for Democrats considering that Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, and Rep. Donna Irwin, D-Deming, have been known to break with their party on several issues ..."

Here's the statement from House Dems:

SANTA FE, NM – Representative Phillip Archuleta (D-36, Doña Ana) will be fully engaged in the 2014 Legislative Session and plans to address the issues important to the citizens of Doña Ana County even as he recovers from major surgery.  Rep. Archuleta says he has already been involved in the introduction of legislation and requests of capital outlay on behalf of his constituents.  He has a laptop computer and will monitor the session online.  Rep. Archuleta will receive daily reports from the House staff and his legislative secretary.  He looks forward to hearing from his constituents by email at phillip.archuleta@nmlegis.gov . 

“Rep. Archuleta is determined to be a part of the process and to make sure his constituents have a voice,” says Speaker of the House, W. Ken Martinez.  “We wish him a speedy recovery and will keep him and his family in our good thoughts and prayers.” 

Rep. Archuleta is recovering after major hip surgery due to a fall he took while attending an interim committee meeting.  While he will not be able to travel to Santa Fe, his family will be representing him on Opening Day.  Rep. Archuleta looks forward to a complete recovery so he can continue working on behalf of the good people of Doña Ana County.

30 Fun-Filled Days in Santa Fe About to Start

In case anyone hasn't heard, the New Mexico state Legislature will convene this Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the old Roundhouse.

You can follow it at The New Mexican's Legislature Page.

There are a bunch of stories about the session in today's New Mexican.

I did one on nine lawmakers who almost certainly will be in the news during the session. You can find that HERE.

There also is my annual piece with tips for civilians on how to follow the Legislature. That's HERE.

Milan Simonich did a story on a couple of major legislative battles. You can read that HERE.

Speaking of pending battles, Robert Nott wrote a profile of Public Education Secretray-designate Hanna Skandera, which is HERE

Yesterday I covered a workshop for potential citizen lobbyists at Santa Fe Public Schools conducted by school lobbyists. That's HERE.

Finally, my Roundhouse Roundup column this week is a look at former state Sen. Dede Feldman's new book, Inside the New Mexico Senate: Boots, Suits and Citizens, which should be required reading for anyone trying to follow New Mexico politics. You can find my column HERE.

Corruption No Problem at All in NM, 5 Percent Say

In reporting on corruption in New Mexico, so many of us look on the bad side. Same with polls. People get so negative.

So with this new Common Cause New Mexico poll, conducted by Research & Polling of Albuquerque, I'm not going to concentrate on all the negative perceptions. I'm going to see the glass as half full. Or, in this case, five percent full.

Five percent believe corruption is not a problem here. (Only 79 percent think it's a serious, or somewhat serious problem.)

Four percent say the influence of big money on politicians is not a problem. (Only 80 percent say it's a serious, or somewhat serious problem.)

Four percent think the impact of money on elections is no problem at all. (Only 77 percent believe it's a serious, or somewhat serious problem.)

One question the poll doesn't answer: Who are these people who say all this isn't a serious problem?

The poll is below:

Common Cause NM Corruption Survey 2014 Survey by Steve Terrell

Update 1:20 pm I just fixed a dropped word in one of the paragraphs above. It was an important one: "not." Thanks reader Mona for alerting me.

Richardson on KNME Sunday

Richardson

Former Gov. Bill Richardson will appear on KNME’s Report from Santa Fe on Sunday to talk about his new book and his political career with host Lorene Mills

Richardson’s book, released late last year, is called How to Sweet Talk a Shark: Strategies and Stories from a Master Negotiator. It deals with his experiences as a high-profile hostage negotiator as well as his dealings with President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, who hired Richardson for two cabinet positions.

Richardson was governor of New Mexico from 2003 through 2010.

The show airs 8 am Sunday, January 19 on KNME-TV, Ch. 5.1.

New Legislative Team at New Mexican

Terrell, Simonich, Malone
Photo by Clyde Mueller, The New Mexican

I'm about to witness my 14th regular session of the New Mexico Legislature as a Capitol reporter for The New Mexican. But this year the paper is beefing up its legislative coverage.

I'll be joined this by two veteran reporters who will be working out of the Roundhouse media room.

Milan Simonich and I have been office-mates at the Capitol for about two years. He was the Roundhouse reporter for the Texas-New Mexico Newspapers chain during that time, but now he's working for us. He's started a new blog called Ringside Seat, which I recommend you follow.

Also joining us here is Patrick Malone, who has covered the Colorado state Legislature for several years before coming to The New Mexican.

We'll also have other New Mexican reporters at the Capitol, including Robert Nott, covering educational issues (rumor has it this will be a major area of concern during the session) and Staci Matlock covering environmental issues.

Speaking of blogs, The New Mexican has a whole lot of those now. You can find those HERE)

ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDUP: The Treasurer Candidates Spat

It must be frustrating for candidates in down-ballot races to draw attention to their races.

Take the office of state treasurer for instance. Though handling the state’s money is an extremely important job, usually the treasurer campaign is pretty sedate. However, a couple of treasurer candidates, Democrats John Wertheim and Tim Eichenberg, actually caught my eye last week with a bitter email spat.

The third Democratic treasurer contender, former Bernalillo County Treasurer Patrick Padilla, didn’t get drawn into this scuffle.

In a fundraising email, Wertheim, a former state Democratic Party chairman, started with a question:

“Ever heard of Harold Morgan?”

For the rest, see the full version in The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Weh Makes It Official

As his campaign promised, former state Republican Party Chairman Allen Weh made it official just moments ago and announced he's running for U.S. Senate for the seat now held by Democrat Se. Tom Udall.

He made his announcement in a short -- about 5 minute -- speech videocast live on the Internet. (It's still HERE last I looked.)

Weh didn't directly attack Udal (or even mention his name) but said there seems to be a lack of common sense in the Senate. Speaking of the polarization in Washington, Weh promised, if elected, to be willing to be willing to negotiate and "treat everyone with respect."

He said he will work for "economic improvement" for New Mexico, to "fix the Obamacare train wreck," balance the budget, eliminate the deficit and work for a strong defense.

He didn't directly address the blistering attack he received yesterday from primary opponent David Clements. I wrote about that in today's New Mexican.

GOP Has Attorney General Candidate

A political newcomer from Albuquerque announced today he is running for the Republican nomination for state attorney general.

Baiamonte

He's lawyer  Jim Baiamonte, who says he's a lifetime New Mexico resident.

In a news release, Baiamonte said:

“With decades of legal experience—criminal, civil matters, and family law—I have an in depth working knowledge of our legal system, and I possess a strong moral code and commitment to doing the job correctly. Our state has suffered greatly under too many attorney generals who have developed a ‘do-nothing’ approach, and we are in great need of genuine leadership and a commitment to doing the job correctly.”

Baiamonte holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and a law degree from the University of Wyoming. He served in the U.S. Army for eight years. He practices criminal law, family law, and civil matters.

On the Democratic side, State Auditor Hector Balderas is running for attorney general.

Weh to Challenge Udall

Former state Republican Party Chairman Allen Weh has hired a campaign manager and will announce Thursday he will seek the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Tom Udall for his U.S. Senate seat.

Weh will make his announcement via live video stream tomorrow morning, campaign spokeswoman Chelsea Stallings told me.

Las Cruces lawyer David Clements, a libertarian Republican and political newcomer, also is running in the GOP Senate primary.

Weh, a retired military colonel who served two tours in Vietnam and with the British Royal Marines in Malaysia, ran for governor in 2010.

In that five person race, Weh came in second behind Susana Martinez in what turned into a heated race with both candidates running negative ads against each other. Weh's campaign that year largely was self funded.

Weh is founder of  CSI Aviation, an Albuquerque aircraft company.

More in tomorrow's New Mexican.

CORRECTION 11:35 a.m.: The otiginal version of this post identified Stallings as campaign manager. Actually she is the campaign's communications manager. Weh's campaign manager is Diego Espinoza.

Greta's Eyes Are on NM

About a year ago, Fox News host Greta Van Susteren did an interview with Gov. Susana Martinez that wasn't exactly hard-hitting.

This week's issue of Politico Magazine shows Van Sustern still is fond of the governor. Van Sustern and several other pundits were asked which elections will be the most interesting this year. Greta chose the New Mexico governor's race.

My eyes are on New Mexico—whether Republican Gov. Susana Martinez wins or not … and if so, by how much. The margin is important. It is expected that the Republican governor will win her re-election in the blue state of New Mexico, which President Obama won in 2012 with about 53 percent. Why is the margin of a win so important? Because it will indicate whether she is a powerful “player” in the veepstakes in 2016 (or maybe president).

You can read the rest HERE:

Gov Won't Push for Gay Marriage Amendment

In case she wasn't clear about her position before, Gov. Susana Martinez, at a news conference this afternoon said she won't push for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in New Mexico in the upcoming legislative session.

"I think what I said before was that yes, the people should have decided on it, but the Supreme Court has decided. And it's now the law of the land."

Asked if that meant she wouldn't push for the Legislature to pass a measure like Sen. Bill Sharer's Senate Joint Resolution 6, Martinez said, "It's the law of the land. The Supreme Court has spoken."

On the day of the high court's Dec. 19 decision, Martinez released a statement saying:

"While there will surely be intense debate about this decision moving forward, I encourage New Mexicans to continue to respect one another in their discourse, as this is an important issue for many New Mexicans on both sides. As we move forward, I am hopeful that we will not be divided, as we must come together to tackle very pressing issues, like reforming education and growing our economy, in the weeks and months ahead.”

Is "Decriminalization" the "Domestic Partnerships" of Marijuana

Rep. Kane

I spoke with state Rep. Emily Kane, D-Albuquerque this weekend after I'd filed my story about Colorado's embarking on legal retail sale of marijuana for recreational adult users.

Kane last year sponsored a bill, which passed the House, that would have reduced penalties for possession of up to 4 ounces of marijuana to a civil penalty with increasing fines, and would have eliminated the potential for jail time for anyone caught with up to 8 ounces of pot. I asked her if she intended to introduce that bill in the upcoming session.

No, she said. House Democrats are discussing whether to get behind Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino's proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, like Colorado did. If that passes state voters would decide the issue in November.

Personally, I'm doubtful that the Legislature will pass Ortiz y Pino's legislation this year. (But don't put too much stock in my power of prediction. I didn't think Kane's bill would pass the House last year.)

But I do think marijuana eventually will be legal here, especially if Colorado's experiment goes well and the dire predictions of the Reefer Madness crowd don't come to pass in the next few years.

Something tells me that because of Colorado, the efforts of drug-law reformers, in this state and elsewhere, will be focusing on legalization, not decriminalization -- as as gay-rights activists here at some set aside their effort to establish a "domestic partnership" law here and focus on actual marriage equality. Domestic partnerships" was an attempt at compromise that became less and less relevant as events unfolded.

With the new marijuana laws in Colorado and Washington state, the "decriminalization" compromise is starting to look the same way.

ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDUP: Did SOS Letters Confuse Green Voters Before ABQ Abortion Vote?

SOS Dianna Duran

In early November, members of the New Mexico Green Party received a letter from Secretary of State Dianna Duran’s office that caused some confusion — right before a high-profile election in the state’s largest city.

“Dear Green Party registered voter,” the message began. “In the 2012 General Election, the Green Party’s candidate for president of the United States did not receive the required percentage required by law for the Green Party to remain an active political party in New Mexico.”

The state election code says a party shall “cease to be qualified” if its candidate for president or governor fail to receive at least one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast for president or governor, or if the party doesn’t have any candidates on the ballot in two consecutive general elections. Green Party candidate Jill Stein received just above one-third of 1 percent of the vote.

“The Secretary of State’s Office is required by law to notify all registered Green Party voters that the party is no longer a qualified political party,” the letter, signed by Elections Bureau Director Bobbie Shearer said.

To read the rest, check out the version on The New Mexican website

LFC Proposes $6.15 Billion Budget

The Legislative Finance Committee is proposing a $6.15 Billion budget with $50 million earmarked for state employee raises.

The raises include a 1.5 percent across the board raise for all state workers and another $40 million for schools and state agencies to use for hard-to-fill positions, to reward "deserving employees" and to fix other pay issues.

State police would get another $3 million to implement a new pay plan and CYFD would get $1 million to recruit and retain child protective services and juvenile justice employees.

Meanwhile, the budget would set aside $35 million for early childhood education initiatives, including $12 million for literacy programs.

About 58 percent of the budget ($3.55 billion) would go to education. Public schools would get $2.7 billion, an increase of nearly $143 million.

Gov. Susana Martinez is expected to unveil her budget proposal in the near future.

Read more in tomorrow's New Mexican.

UPDATE: 3:25 pm Here's the LFC handout of budget highlights (shamelessly stolen from NM Telegram)

LFC Budget Highlights by Matthew Reichbach