Tomorrow's Supreme Court Hearing Will Be Streamed on the Web

Tomorrow's hearing on marriage equality at the New Mexico Supreme Court will be streamed on the Internet, I just verified.

This will be the first time the court has streamed a hearing

I first learned about this in an email this morning from the liberal group Progress Now New Mexico.

Seats in the actual courtroom will be full but there are rooms on site where you can watch live via a televised feed.
If you are unable to make it up to Santa Fe or just can't get away from your desk, we worked with KOAT to get a special live stream webpage set up so you can watch online.

The streaming will be on the KOAT site. 

Progress Now and several gay-rights groups are offering free coffee and donuts in front of the Supreme Court beginning at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. The hearing is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

NM Supremes to Hear Marriage Equality This Week, But Don't Expect Immediate Decision

Wednesday is the day the state Supreme Court hears oral arguments on same-sex marriage.

But lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union said in a teleconference this afternoon that the high court has informed them that there will be no decision coming from the bench. Laura Schauer Ives, legal director for the state ACLU said hopefully the court will decide by the end of the year.

The lawsuits filed in at least two state courts by Republican lawmakers opposed to county clerks issuing marriage license to same-sex couples will not be part of Wednesday's hearing. However,  Elizabeth Gill, a national ACLU lawyer, said those legislators filed an amicus brief and will get time to present their arguments against marriage equality before the court on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, five state district judges ordered clerks to county clerks in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Los Alamos, Taos, and Grant counties to issue licenses to same sex couples. A total of eight counties out of New Mexico's 33 counties are issuing licenses to gay couples.

More than 900 same-sex couples have been issued marriages this year.

The teleconference took place on the same day as New Jersey became the 14th state to allow same-sex marriage. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who opposed the decision by his state Supreme Court, announced this morning he won't appeal the case.

ROUNDHOUSE ROUNDUP: Noncompetitive Races = Fewer Attack Ads

Is it possible that 2014 could come and go in New Mexico without wall-to-wall negative ads that make local television virtually impossible to watch during the final weeks of election season?

That’s probably doubtful, but it’s not out of the question if the top races here don’t become more competitive.

(I’ve said it before. If there’s anything worse than attack ads, it’s positive ads — with few exceptions.)

For more -- including Gov. Martinez's Big Hollywood connections -- see my column at The Santa Fe New Mexican website.

Traveling Lady

Gov. Susana Martinez will be racking up some frequent-flyer miles going to political events this month.

Tonight, the governor is traveling to San Antonio where on Thursday she's scheduled to give the keynote address for the 2013 Biennial Convention of the Texas Federation of Republican Women.

She'll be returning to New Mexico Thursday evening, her political consultant Jay McCleskey said. The Texas GOP group is covering the costs of her travel, McCleskey said.

On Monday, Oct. 21. Martinez is headed for my home state of Oklahoma for a fund-raising event for her re-election campaign. She'll return to New Mexico that same day, McCleskey said.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Martinez will be in Denver to attend a statewide event for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. "She will be discussing job creation and New Mexico's improved business climate with Colorado business leaders," McCleskey said. The expenses for that trip will be covered by the chamber, he said.

The next day, the governor is flying to Wisconsin for fund-raising events in Madison and Milwaukee for Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who also is up for re-election next year. Walker is frequently mentioned as a possible 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

Martinez will return to New Mexico that evening. McCleskey said. Costs for the Wisconsin trip will be paid by the Walker campaign.

Campaign Finance Blowout

Blowout. That's probably the best one-word description for the campaign finance reports filed yesterday by candidates for governor in New Mexico.

Incumbent Gov. Susana Martinez at this point might be tempted to play like Scrooge McDuck and joyfully swim in a pool of currency. She's got more than $3.2 million cash on hand, according to her report. That's more than 20 times the figure for the strongest Democrat Gary King, who reported $142,000 in the bank.

My story in today's New Mexican is HERE

The other Democrat in the race, Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque didn't file her report until right before midnight (way past my deadline but within the state's deadline). She had only $16,000 in her coffers.

(It looks like Sen. Howie Morales is about to enter the Democratic primary also. He's got a long way to catch up, but the anemic showing by King and Lopez could help him with Dems looking for an alternative candidate.)

But it wasn't completely bad news for Democrats yesterday. Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who is challenging incumbent Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran, who apparently hasn't yet launched a serious fund-raising effort, ended up with a cash balance of $45,000. Duran had just over $7,500 cash on hand.

No, the money race isn't the most important factor in a campaign. But, at least in the governor's race, the more-than-daunting financial advantage for Martinez could further cement the feeling of inevitability for her re-election. I wouldn't be surprised to see the national pundits like Larry Sabato and Charlie Cook change their ratings of the New Mexico governor's race from "Leans Republican" to "Safe Republican" in the near future unless something drastic happens.

Udall Gets Republican Challenger

A political newcomer from Las Cruces announced Tuesday that he will challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Tom Udall next year.

David K. Clements, an assistant district attorney in Dona Ana County and chairman of the Dona Ana Republican Party describes himself as a "constitutional conservative and economics enthusiast" who said in a statement, "Career politicians" like Udall have disregarded their oaths to support and defend the Constitution "and have created a culture of dependency in New Mexico."

"Advancing free market policies that allow small businesses to create jobs, balancing the federal budget, and fighting to preserve the privacy rights of New Mexicans will be the focus of Clements’ candidacy," Clements' statement said.

Clements is married and has a son. Though he lives in Las Cruces, he said he spends time on his family ranch at Nara Visa in Quay County.

So far Clements is the only candidate to mount a challenge against Udall. National pundits have described Udall's seat as safe.

Vacation's Over

Well, that two weeks went by way too quickly!

I came back to work today only to find a dark and empty Roundhouse. Some state government shutdown? Nope, it's just Columbus Day.

It's not a heavy news day at all, though I'm working on a couple of stories for tomorrow's paper, so stay tuned.