Monday, October 12, 2009Heather: She's Inching Closer; We Tell You How & Why, Plus: State Money Crisis; Can We Talk? Suggestions For Special Session From This Peanut Gallery
Wilson vs. Denish?
![]() ![]() I haven't decided. I won't be coy about it when I do decide, but actually it's a difficult decision...Obviously, there are things I am passionate about and care about for the future of the state...At the same time, I am enjoying having a life doing things in the private sector, so it's a very difficult decision... And here's the full throttle hit on Denish from the KUNM-FM radio interview: ...There is an attitude of complacency about ethics...a belief that if you create some kind of ethics commission that that is sufficient, and it's not. What is required is strong leadership and the thing I criticize Mrs.. Denish about is that she has been largely silent for eight years. When did she walk in and say to the Governor or anybody else...'I am drawing the line here and you either fix this or stop this or I am going public.' When did she ever do that? What we have is single party rule in Santa Fe and that needs to change. There needs to be a check and balance in this system... Heather has been weaving that "Mrs. Denish" reference into her talks of late. It reminds us of how she called Attorney General Patricia Madrid "Mrs. Madrid" in their heated 2006 US House duel. It's another sign of Heather defining her potential foe and comes across as a subtle put down, seemingly meant to diminish the stature of her opponent. BREAKING WILSON'S WAY? ![]() Also, recent events may be breaking Wilson's way. RJ Berry has become the first Republican to win the ABQ mayor's office since 1981. That has engaged the R's in Wilson's home area. They hold the key to the GOP nomination. More significantly, the projected state deficit is now approaching $700 million, a startling number that may start to resonate with average new Mexicans who up to this point have not been keenly away of what has been happening in Santa Fe. They could get on a hunt for new leadership. The economy and the accompanying budget disaster is a broad appeal issue. Combined with the multitude of state ethics scandals, it could give Wilson the ammo she needs to make a credible and appealing argument for change. Wilson could argue that Denish is beholden to interest groups that have paralyzed her ability to act on ethics or in dealing with the fiscal emergency. She could make the case it is time for a governor independent from Santa Fe, giving her entree to the larger electorate she will need to take the win. ROADBLOCKS FOR HEATHER? ![]() The biggest obstacle in Heather's way is one she has no control over. If Gov. Richardson is given a diplomatic post with the Obama administration, Denish becomes governor and the favorite to win the election. That threat will hang over the campaign well into the summer. A question. If it looks as though Wilson could have the wind at her back in a Guv contest, does pressure grow on the White House to get Bill out of here and get Di in his chair? One imagines Wilson doing extensive polling in the weeks ahead. She could get in the race anytime, but it would seem the later the better. Once she became a candidate she would be a target. Denish seems to have dodged a bullet when it comes to drawing primary opposition, but Heather Wilson has her finger on yet another trigger. When and if she pulls it could be the defining moment in the race to replace Bill Richardson. BUDGET DISASTER Jennings & "Dr. No" ![]() ![]() With the session nearing, Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings is now headed where we've been residing for months. "All I'm saying is 85 percent of everything we do is in salaries. How do you cut that kind of money and not get into salaries? It's impossible...We thought we were getting hiring freezes, salary freezes and those have been nonexistent...We've gained record amounts of new employees in the state and some really big salaries have gone to a lot of people. Even teaching salaries have gone up a great deal." Could not have said it better, Senator. We would add that trying to keep the state's cash reserves at the artificially high level of 10 percent would add unnecessary pain. The old level of 5 percent should be adopted in this extraordinary environment. Now, may we humbly weigh in with our ideas for our 112 elected lawmakers?
![]() During the fat years when Bill was politically blessed with huge surpluses, we sometimes wondered aloud what kind of governor he would be in lean times. We're finding out. The Legislature is moving to fill the void and seems to have the upper hand going into the special--if the governor cares. He, his inner circle and the capitol's permanent bureaucracy may be surprised that the public-at-large, if not the special interests, may be ready to side with the cost-cutters. Remember, it last was ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez who also refused to deal with economic reality. Now he will soon be former Mayor Marty. Experts say the New Mexican economy is in in a secular slowdown, which means it is going to last for years, not several months. Oil and gas royalty revenues have gone kaput with the energy bear market and the retail economy here is especially vulnerable as low income families have their credit cards canceled or cut them up. It is the lower income tier--the one that dominates this state--that is getting especially slammed by the credit cuts and job cuts. They are spending and working less--by the thousands. New credit cards and new jobs are not right around the corner. Leading economic thinkers say the turnaround will be a multi- year process which is why the Legislature and the Governor need to get going on a restructuring that will eliminate unneeded boards and commissions, slim down money for pork projects and gradually pare down the state work force. Sacrifice is going to be the new "in" word around the Roundhouse in coming years. The question is whether it will be sacrifice that spares the political class at the expense of the working class. E-mail your news and comments. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009 Not for reproduction without permission of the author |
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