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Friday, June 05, 2009Friday Clippings From My Newsroom Floor: Latest TV News Ratings; Checking Heinrich's House, Some Gator Talk And A Visit To Memory Lane It's starting to remind us of the 80's and 90's when KOAT-TV dominated the 10 p.m. news race. Now it's CBS affiliate KRQE-TV that may soon be dubbed the "perennial" late news leader. The station scored another clear victory in the closely watched May sweeps, garnering a household rating of 8.5 and a 15 percent market share. KOB-TV was second, with a 6.9 rating an a 13 share; KOAT came in with a 6.6 rating and a 12 share, according to our media insiders.KRQE has been in the lead for several years now, helped along by strong CBS prime time programming and a stable of veteran news personalities. KOB has been slowed by the dismal performance of the NBC prime time line-up. KOAT lost the late news lead at the start of the decade. But not everyone wants to stay up for the 10 p.m. news. That 9 p.m. news hour on KASA-TV, produced in association with KRQE, came with a respectable 5.4 rating and a 9 share. A rating represents the number of households in the NM market with television sets. The share represents the percentage of the sets that are in use and tuned to a particular program. HOW'S HEINRICH DOING?
 Let's check in on ABQ Dem Congressman Martin Heinrich and see video of him in action on the House floor, giving one of those one minute speeches, this one on renewable energy. Any initial nervousness seems gone after nearly six months on the job, and Heinrich seems all business.There was some understandable tentativeness when the new congressman recently faced Secretary of Defense Gates at a committee hearing where he questioned Gates over the future of the Air Force "Tacos" stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base. Facing off with a cabinet heavy like Gates is where your freshman status stands out like a sore thumb, but the former ABQ city councilor seems to be finding his footing. History says Republicans will have their best chance to pick him off next year when he faces his first re-election bid, but with no major flubs (so far) and appearing to be on a steady growth curve, he doesn't appear to be easy pickings. ALLIGATOR TALK  Some reaction from an ABQ South Valley Alligator on the outcome of the Mid Rio Grande Conservancy Board election Tuesday in which three incumbents lost their seats:Hispanics built and maintained the ditches, acequias, and other infrastructure that became the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. Yet for the first time in history there will be no Hispanic on the Conservancy Board and the lack of representation for the South Valley continues. From the State Capitol, another Alligator has this for us: "Joe, greetings from way far away in Santa Fe's south side; new home office of NM Public Employees' Retirement Association. It is a nice building, but who in their right mind would want to do state business so far away from the the seat of state government? I find it ironic our neighbor out here is the State Investment Council. Well, the Investment Council may be out of sight, but not out of mind and certainly not out of the news. STREAMING JANET Former Arizona Governor and now Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is in ABQ today (Friday) to talk border security and other matters. Her office provided this link for a live stream of Napolitano's NM activity starting at 10 a.m. THE BOTTOM LINES  Dear Joe:I've been reading your blog for some years now, and really appreciate the time and effort you spend on keeping the rest of us informed about New Mexico politics...I remember the days of Mark Acuff and his valliant effort in reporting...I didn't always agree with Mark's opinions, nor do I necessarily agree with all of yours, but I certainly appreciate your approach, and your no-holds-barred attitude at getting to the truth... Please keep us informed, and state your opinions, as you see fit. It's nice to see a somewhat clearer vision amidst all the muck and smog...Mike Kitts, Avid Reader Oh, gosh. The late Mark Acuff, editor and publisher of the New Mexico Independent newspaper of the 70's and 80's, was one of the best. Don't think we hold a candle to him (just ask V.B. Price who worked with Mark) but we appreciate the mention along side of him. Mark was a great critic. When I was all of 21 and did some analysis of Rio Arriba County politics for then KRKE-AM radio in ABQ, Mark labeled me "sophomoric" and said our ranting had disturbed his Sunday morning northern NM camping trip! But we were honored that we were even worthy of the criticism in his well-read weekly. Thanks for the letter, Mike, and the memories. And thanks to you for making us New Mexico's #1 political web site. From Albuquerque, NM, this is Joe Monahan reporting. E-mail your news, comments and deep thoughts. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Thursday, June 04, 2009Exclusive Photos Of Manny Farewell Party; Old Guard Turns Out To Say Goodbye As He Faces Prison, Plus: Bland Bombshell; Scandal Headlines Won't Stop
Aragon & Judge Franchini
 The Old Guard of New Mexican politics gathered by the dozens Wednesday night to say goodbye to political legend Manny Aragon as he prepares to serve a five and a half year prison term for federal corruption convictions at a Colorado prison beginning June 10th. The former Democratic state Senator was regaled and back slapped by pals and politicos who helped Aragon write more than one chapter of state political history. Also represented in the crowd jammed in the back of ABQ Ben Michael's North Valley restaurant were our Senior Alligators who sent us the exclusive photos.Pictured here is Manny with former NM Supreme Court Chief Justice Gene Franchini, a one time power player and descendant of the original Italian families that settled in ABQ at the turn of the 20th century and who melded with the Hispanic population socially and politically. Our Gators said Manny's lawyer, Ray Twohig, told the crowd the former state Senator is now 62 (we blogged Wed that he was 61) and that Aragon could be released from prison after three and a half years if all goes well. He also said Manny originally faced 19 years behind bars before the five and a half year agreement was reached. MORE PARTY FAVORS Manny and Les  Here's Manny enjoying the humor of attorney and former ABQ GOP State Senator Les Houston. Years ago Manny and Les tried to share the Senate president pro tem position, but the deal was struck down by the state Supreme Court. Back in the day, the political odd couple themselves reigned supreme.Also attending the Manny farewell, according to our Senior Gators, was former Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos, current Bernalillo County Commissioner and ABQ City Council candidate Alan Armijo; former state Senator Shannon Robinson; former Grants State Rep. Toby Michael; veteran political player Guy Riordan and another big name--former Ambassador to Spain and longtime NM politico Ed Romero. For young politicos there's a lesson here. We all know what Aragon did wrong, but aspiring power players should remember what he did right. In politics, fierce loyalty is the currency of the realm. The event, news of which broke on your blog Tuesday, was covered by ABQ's TV stations, but no press was allowed in the event. We were told that there was a large card set up for party goers to write a message to Aragon as he prepares to enter the most humbling phase of his storied life and career. It is a life that will be recalled and analyzed by future generations for the great political peaks it reached as well as the great depths it plumbed. And it's all part of the never ending Book of La Politica. WHAT A MESS Bland & Big Bill   What a mess, and you can't help but think the planets could align for someone to come in from completely on the outside and start threatening to clean things up. Someone like Gary Johnson in 1994? Combine the continued state of sorry affairs with a lousy economy and you just might have a campaign platform. The latest scandal disclosure is another hammer blow to the powers that be in the state Democratic Party as they digest the indigestible news that the State Investment Officer has serious personal financial problems, even as the state pay to play scandal investigations continue to swirl like a tornado, changing wind speed and direction on a whim, but never dispersing back up into the clouds. No, the cloud of muck surrounding state politics grows ever thicker. State Investment Officer Gary Bland faces a $577,000 IRS tax lien and a $42,000 judgment against him from a California bank, thickening the mud and further blackening the political skies.Bland is in charge of investing what is currently $11 billion in our state's two permanent funds. How those funds were invested is already the subject of investigation. Now this. How long can Richardson ignore the elephant in the room? How much more can Lt. Governor Diane Denish stomach? Will she be the Al Gore of New Mexico politics, ensnared by what happens above her, or she will start "Operation Separate" sooner rather than later? And get this. The Bland Bombshell was disclosed to members of the Legislature in 2008 before they voted to reconfirm him to the important post he has held since Big Bill named him in 2003. How's that for oversight? Lovely. Where was Senator John Arthur "Dr. No" Smith when we needed him? And Big Bill? The heat on him to start cleaning house should be hot enough to peel house paint, but maybe he just doesn't feel it at the high altitude up there on Paseo de Peralta. More front-pagers like this and you might see Val Kilmer shedding 30 pounds, getting a hair cut and calling former Governor Gary for coffee talk. SUMMER FISHING TRIP  Readers continue to comment on the federal grand jury investigation into pay to pay allegations. It's been going since last August and when we blogged this week of even minor vendors for Governor Richardson's political action committees getting their records subpoenaed, some opined that the grand jury and US attorney were on a massive fishing expedition. That's a charge that has been heard on and off for months now. Today the other side from reader Patricia Larragoite of Tierra Amarilla:I disagree with comments about “a massive fishing expedition.” The public deserves to know who contributed and where the money was spent for Bill Richardson’s (governor and presidential) campaigns. It is my opinion that (one entity)) was formed to circumvent the reporting process of a federal election... Brian Colon, NM Democratic Party Chair and Treasurer for a Richardson foundation, in his blind ambition to become someone important, let himself be used by Richardson. He trusted Richardson completely, never suspecting the donations being filtered through the organization he is chair of ...Of course, he would not even know what operations were going on as he was used solely as the titular head. At least that is what I would tell the judge.... Colon has argued the entire federal investigation is politically motivated. He served as Treasurer of Richardson's Moving America Forward Foundation, which was formed as a public charity, about the same time Richardson started a political action committee, Moving America Forward. Donors to the foundation have not been disclosed. Colon is also taking behind the scenes heat from potential rivals for the Dem nomination for lieutenant governor which the chairman has expressed an interest in. His foes say since he is associated with the Richardson money machine, he would leave the party vulnerable to pay to play charges if he were on the 2010 Dem ticket. E-mail your news, comments and iced tea recipes. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Wednesday, June 03, 2009Goodbye Manny: Farewell Party Set For Senate Giant Who Fell From Grace, Plus: Feds Probe Draws More Reaction, And: Layoffs Hit Sandia The power is gone, but many of the friends remain and tonight they will gather for a farewell for Manny Aragon, one of the state's most dominant political figures ever who fell from grace and will begin a five and half year prison term for corruption convictions June 10th. But tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Ben Michael's restaurant in ABQ's North Valley, it will be the good times and fond memories that friends will recall as they give a send-off to Aragon, the former state Senate leader whose bifurcated legacy will include a brilliant and productive legislative career as well as the felony convictions from the Metro Courthouse corruption scandal. One of the organizers of the Manny farewell, a former Aragon Senate aide, told us:"We are asking that those who come by bring a card with a "Manny Memory" in it. We'll put them in a basket and give them to him." The former aide said that friends of Aragon, an attorney who commanded loyalty--and sometimes fear--when he held sway over the storied Roundhouse, are hoping that Aragon's health is actually improved during his prison stay. Aragon suffers from diabetes, is overweight and a cigarette has always been his constant companion. Under federal rules, the Legal Beagles say Aragon will have to serve at least 80 percent of the sentence. Aragon, 61, who mastered the rules of the Senate and the budget like few others in state history, will serve his time at the federal prison complex at Florence, Colorado. That's about a six hour drive from ABQ'S South Valley where the rise of Aragon was authored and where he hopes to eventually return. FISHING OR NOT?  We told you Tuesday how many of the politicos who did even minor work for Governor Richardson's political committees have had their records subpoenaed and been quizzed by FBI agents. It sure is keeping everyone guessing on the status of the investigation which is now starting to shadow the 2010 election. A Richardson sympathizer sees the quest for records from even minor players differently than the US Attorney who is leading the investigation:Kind of makes you curious as to how much taxpayer money is being spent on this massive fishing expedition. Reinforces that panic has set in. We have to find something, anything, no matter how trivial. Interestingly, the Santa Fe New Mexican has gone negative on the possibility of Santa Fe attorney John Pound being appointed by Obama as the next US Attorney for NM, replacing Republican Greg Fouratt. In an editorial, the paper says Pound, Obama's NM campaign co-chair, has too much baggage from his dealings with state political figures. The newspaper, a longtime ally of Richardson's, also says "it's getting time to put up or shut up" when it comes to issuing indictments. Obama has started the process of naming new US attorneys, but legal observers do not see a new US Attorney for NM as long as the pay to play probe drags on. THERE'S MORE Meanwhile, Attorney General Eric Holder will be in ABQ Friday for a discussion of narcotics issues. It will be his first stop in the state since becoming attorney general. Our Legal Beagles reported here recently that Holder will have a direct say in the issuance of any federal indictments in the federal probe into state pay to play allegations. You can safely bet he will defer any inquiries he gets on that matter during his visit here. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will also be here. She will lead the discussion on strategy for dealing with narcotics and border security. It can' t be soon enough. The drug wars have meant stacking bodies like cord wood on our border with Mexico. It's a high-profile issue the public wants the Obama administration to deliver results on. ELECTION RESULTS It was not a good night Tuesday for the incumbents on the Mid Rio Grande Conservancy District Board. Bill Turner, who has made his share of headlines during his tenure, lost his seat as did Jim Roberts. Turnout was much heavier than past elections--doubling in Bernalillo County to near 3,000. Results here. SANDIA LAY-OFFS  Our Senior Alligators have been splashing hard over the Sandia Labs budget, warning of trouble ahead. They are right. Tuesday the Labs said 100 workers will be laid off in the next six months to a year as Sandia shutters its machine shop, costing skilled unionized machinists and others their livelihoods. These type of "blue-collar" jobs are the good ones. The median pay for a Machinist I in the USA is near $36,000. More experience pays better. Sandia will try to find other jobs for the laid off workers, but doing what?The Sandia news continues to emphasize how the ABQ area needs to diversify its economy, but it would have been a lot easier during the good years. If the machinists hang around here, they may have few options. Retail jobs pay half of what they make, if that. ABQ's economic and political leadership is again on notice--diversify or accept a poorer community in look, feel and in reality. SPLIT FEELINGS ON ABQ BUDGET There may be a day of reckoning, but the city budget ABQ Mayor Chavez signed into law Tuesday for the budget year stating July 1st delays it. Many of us are torn on this. We are concerned that shifting property taxes meant for bond projects over to the general budget to avoid layoffs of city workers is not a wise long-range practice. But how do you justify not trying to avoid layoffs during this nasty recession? Where would these people get jobs? We think Chavez is going to get the benefit of the doubt. The fact that the city's bond rating is stable helps. If this were the second or third budget year in a row that Chavez was shifting the money, the political risk would be greater. But he is looking at getting past the October election. This budget--approved by a majority of the nine member city council who also face voters in October--probably buys them the time through the election. It will be up to their opponents to make a strong case that that is not good enough. THE POLITICAL BEAT Sean Olsen  Sean Olson will replace Jeff Jones as the new political writer for the ABQ Journal, a subject we had some fun speculating about on Tuesday's blog. For you politicos who just have to know, here's the scoop on Sean in his own words:I've been at the Journal a little more than three years. I started as the Rio Rancho city hall reporter...but also did quite a bit with Sandoval County government..I did the paper's SunCal, deep well and water authority coverage for the last two years as well. I'm 27. Came from northern Idaho, where I worked...for papers for about six years...I'm from southeastern Idaho originally. I have also lived in Montana and England in the past decade. Politicos report that Journal state editor John Robertson has been introducing various political players to Olsen who will have plenty to keep him busy as the 2010 contests draw ever closer. E-mail your news and comments. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Tuesday, June 02, 2009Feds Dig Deep In Pay To Play Probe, Also: Michael Sanchez: Protection From A Dem Doomsday? And: Politico Judy Basham Remembered
Denish with Bill
 The wide-ranging federal investigation into state pay to play allegations continues in New Mexico, with the FBI and US Attorney's office digging deep--apparently very deep. Political insiders are abuzz about how they or their friends have been contacted by the feds who are asking about services they provided for Governor Richardson's political action committees. Records of even minor expenditures have been subpoenaed and then questioned by FBI agents, according to our reliable Alligators.Against this backdrop, the positioning for 2010 continues and maybe, just maybe, some Dems argue, it isn't a bad idea for the party to have two or three candidates on the gubernatorial field. The reasoning is that front runner and Light Guv Diane Denish is well-positioned to take the nomination next June, but what if this federal grand jury comes with indictments? Would any of the mud splash against her? And if it did, could it endanger her electability? It's an unlikely scenario, but one that is out there and perhaps provides additional legitimacy for a candidacy by State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez who has started an exploratory committee for the 2010 Dem Guv nod. Those concerned with the Democrats retaining power and not a particular Democrat can be heard expressing relief that there is a back-up if a doomsday scenario were to unfold. (We talked about Sanchez soon forming a Guv committee on our April 28th blog. Here's a New Mexican piece on the latest). Our e-mail delivered some initial reaction to Sanchez's more serious approach to a Guv run from a Hispanic Dem connected to the party and a supporter of Denish's: This puts a lot of us Hispanic Dems in a weird, awkward position. Many of us are supporting Lt. Gov. Denish and have pledged our support, money, time...She has essentially tied up much of the Dem support and money...It would be a pretty heavy lift for Michael to run for Guv. I think that he knows this too, and is doing this because he likes the attention. If Di stumbles he may have a chance, but it would be weird. Well said, but "weird" is not a word on the endangered list when it comes to describing New Mexico politics. Of course, the timing of these matters is unknown. But if indictments came over the next three or four months, any trials would probably take place about a year later--right smack in the middle of the Guv campaign. If there were to be a doomsday scenario for the Dem front runner, say the handicappers, it would be best if it happened before the June primary, so the party could put in a pinch hitter. It may be far-fetched, but it may be enough to get Sanchez in the race and keep him there. Di may have the envelope licked, but the deal is not yet sealed. IT'S NICE TO BE SENIOR  From Jeff Bingaman's office:Senator Bingaman will take part in a meeting Tuesday with President Obama at the White House to talk about health care reform legislation being written in the Senate. Bingaman is the only Democrat who is a member of both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Senate Finance Committee --the two Senate panels tasked with writing comprehensive health reform. Bingaman is also chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and doesn't seem to have many strong critics about the job he's doing there. Roll Call ran a piece on how he is performing and the harshest words that came up were actually pretty mild: “Bingaman seems to be more focused on the deal than what needs to be done--he’ll say one thing but then [later] it will seem like he never said them,” an energy lobbyist said. “Domenici would make a concession and then try to work around the concession. Bingaman will make a concession and then walk away from it.” Don't look for Jeff to be the the savior of Sandia or Los Alamos Labs. He will do his best to hold off the dogs, but those were Pete's babies. Also, with none of our congressional members holding seats on either the Senate or House appropriations committees, NM remains vulnerable in Washington. But you already knew that. THE CHASE The newspaper did its first round up of names that are circulating for top offices in the state for 2010. Looks like they had most of them, but they may want to check with Kevin Daniels who has indicated a GOP run for the Heinrich ABQ Congress seat. As far as we know, the paper does not have a political writer on board yet. Jeff Jones left the post a couple of months ago. Some names that might make a good fit include Sean Olson who wrote the round up piece today; Rene Romo, the Journal's southern NM reporter; Trip Jennings, a former Journal scribe who now works for the online NM Independent; the Journal's Thom Cole, but he is already on the investigative beat; Julie Ann Grimm is doing strong Santa Fe City Hall coverage for the New Mexican and Ashley Meeks and Diana Alba of the Las Cruces newspaper might be ready for a larger stage. Of course, now that we have mentioned these names, the "kiss of death" has been administered to them. That's similar to what usually happens to political candidates the Journal endorses. (UPDATE: It will be reporter Sean Olson taking over the political beat. He tells us: "I just started this week. Before this I was covering water and land use for the city desk. JUDY BASHAM  Judy (Encinias) Basham was a stalwart of state politics, an "insider's insider" might be an apt description for the energetic and well-liked Las Vegas, NM native. She had a lengthy government career during which she rose to become state personnel director under Governors Anaya and King. From Santa Fe, Butch Maki recalled that Judy started out in Governor King's first term in the early 70's when she befriended Bruce's wife, Alice. Judy was employed by Maki's consulting and lobbying firm when she died Thursday from injuries she suffered in a car accident that took place when Basham was driving to ABQ from Santa Fe. (Obit here.) Basham, 70, also worked the last several legislative sessions for House Speaker Lujan.Basham came in under Bruce King, but also served in the early 90's as an aide to then- Congressman Bill Richardson. She loved the campaign trail and traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire for Richardson's '08 presidential campaign and she served on the Democratic Party's State Central Committee. Party chairman Brian Colon mourned her loss: I fondly referred to her as my "abuelita." Her caring way and smile reminded me of my grandma. Judy led a life of service and was a positive force in New Mexico's political landscape. She was always encouraging and supportive--especially when it came to getting young folks involved in the Party. Maki said Judy had all the contacts. "When we needed a contact in a particular area in New Mexico, we went to Judy. What a Rolodex she had," remembered Maki. And what a run she had in her beloved La Politica. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Monday, June 01, 2009Heather's Nat'l TV Shot: No Real News on "Real Time," Plus: More Fallout On Union Backing Of Mayor Marty, And: Readers Like Debating A Dental School
Wilson on "Real Time"
 Heather Wilson's national TV appearance on the popular HBO comedy and commentary program, "Real Time with Bill Maher," may not have been real boring, but neither did it reveal much about the political plans, if any, the former ABQ GOP Congresswoman will pursue. Heather ably and affably fielded questions ranging from North Korea to gay marriage Friday evening, but when given a chance by Maher to come down on the side of moderate Republican Colin Powell in his verbal fisticuffs with hard-right wing Republican Rush Limbaugh, Wilson largely demurred, saying the party is "big enough for a lot of different views." It was a safe answer but not a very daring one, and daring may be the necessary gamble in the wake of the near-extinction event suffered by the NM GOP on Election Night 2008. (Real Time Video here.)And that was really the "real time" news. Because it is going to be a move to the middle by prominent Republicans like Powell that will rebuild the GOP in moderate states like New Mexico. But Heather was not ready to join that fracas, perhaps content to build her national security credentials on the broadcast as she embarks on a career in consulting. (Also, Maher had former GOP UN Ambassador John Bolton paired with Heather and he gobbled up most of the airtime.) Wilson, who served 10 years in Congress, still has plenty of name ID and a good shot at the 2010 GOP Guv nod by sporting the "moderate" mantle among a group of conservative competitors like Greg Zanetti and Allen Weh. But Wilson and the NM GOP are on hold. The internal dialogue over moving the party to the middle has barely begun. Wilson seemed to signal that she is in no "Rush" to see that discussion or her own potential candidacy accelerated. HISTORY NEEDS REPEATING?  In 1972, it was Republican Pete Domenici who embraced the middle and gave the GOP its first elected US Senate seat in NM in over 35 years. In 1966, moderate Dave Cargo restored the R's to the Governor's Mansion. The GOP faces a similar situation today--completely shut out of the action and in need of leadership that can craft a new, middle way and not just sit and hope for the Dems to self-destruct. Who will step forward to build that big tent in our time? Who is brave enough to risk failure? Anyone?A SIDEBAR TV host Maher gave Heather a wicked smile and a sharp retort when she sounded most like a politician and downright schmaltzy. When she said she believed marriage is between "a man and a woman and witnessed by God," Maher cracked that it sounded like Heather was a candidate. "No," she replied. "I just have a wonderful husband..." Okay, we'll give you time to wipe that tear from your eye..and then it's back to the action... NOT UNANIMOUS  We all know there's no love affair between ABQ Mayor Chavez and local labor unions, but the first-ever endorsement of Chavez for mayor by AFSCME, the union that represents 3,500 city workers, was a pragmatic decision (See Friday blog). Chavez is likely to win and--so far--has spared the union job and pay cuts. Still, we were reminded by one union local president that the decision to back Marty was not unanimous. From the e-mail:Just so you know, the decision by AFSCME to endorse Marty was NOT a unanimous decision and a number of Officers are very disappointed. As a local President I feel the endorsement was very premature, especially since Marty is still not an official candidate. And Chavez rival Richard Romero and even Republican RJ Berry will work to pick off those AFSCME members still disgruntled with Chavez. As for Chavez's candidacy not being official, the point is taken, but if you believe Chavez isn't running, we have some stock in General Motors we'd like to sell you. BUDGET BATTLE  There was deep disappointment among Romero's supporters that the candidate carrying the liberal Dem banner did not get the union's backing. But they shook off speculation that the race is over before it has begun, arguing that holding Chavez below 40 per cent and forcing a run-off following the October 6 election is still viable.Richard's news conference earlier Thursday on the city's financial condition was swept away by the AFSCME endorsement news, but the former state Senator did take a better shot at Chavez than his previous one in which he complained, along with Republican Berry, about Marty using city money for TV public service announcements. This time Romero raised concerns about how we may be robbing our bond funds--used for road repairs and such--to shore up the deficit in the general operating budget. We probably can safely shrink the bonds we float (from $160 million to $120 million) for an election cycle and use the leftover money to balance the operating budget. Some of the bonds are for political goodies, not real needs. But if Chavez is caught flat-footed by an economy that stays down longer than expected, he and the city council--which is going along with the mayor--could have trouble continuing to rob Peter to pay Paul. It could also hamper fulfilling any promises Marty made to AFSCME for that unexpected endorsement. Republican RJ Berry may want to argue he is the one to be at the helm during tough economic times because he's not beholden to the union. If layoffs or furloughs are what's needed, he can say he will do what has to be done. Meanwhile, whether it is prudent to shift money away from bonds into the general operating fund to keep the paychecks coming--some of them for political appointees--is an argument worth having. MORE DRILLING ON DENTAL SCHOOL Sen. Cravens  Our sound off on the latest push from Big Bill and Senator Bingaman to use $95,000 in federal money to study opening a NM dental school--we backed them---drew quite a number of reactions. We weren't surprised that one came from ABQ GOP State Senator Kent Cravens, former executive director of the NM Dental Association, who we reported was rather down on the dental school deal. Kent took time to reply:If we are to build a Dental School it should be the best.. I would...like to know why the $200,000 that was spent on a similar study a few years ago was not sufficient? My guess is that it did not produce the desired result...We need to be intellectually honest when we evaluate cost vs. benefit. Do you know how much a dentist should cost to produce? Should taxpayers be asked to spend 4-5 times more putting a dentist to work than might be necessary? Should the public be allowed to ask “How much will it cost”? Is it wrong for a legislator to ask how it will be funded? Or should we just accept another $75 million dollar obligation, plus operational deficits, just because Richardson says he wants it? That study Cravens cited was done three years ago and put the cost of a dental school at $46 million and annual operating costs at $11 million, not the $75 million Senator Cravens is using. But like him, we also wonder why that study wasn't good enough to get this thing going. The Senator's other questions obviously deserve serious answers, but we continue to argue that a dental school is a solid way to expand the professional class in this state as major parts of our economy crater. Frankly, we haven't heard many other ideas lately. And, of course, it is appropriate for fiscal conservatives like Cravens to question the cost, but as we argued last week, we think we should hold those opposed to the idea accountable by asking them what are their proposals to provide good jobs here---besides the exhausted mantra of tax cuts. We also worry that some in the dental community may be fretting that the addition of more dentists will drive down the salaries of those currently practicing. That's a fear, but not an argument for being against the school. Those jobs are still going to be plums, even if the average pay slides. WHERE DO WE PUT IT?  Reader Joe Barela of Rio Rancho says the time for a dental school has come, and guess where he wants the campus?This is actually a pretty easy one. Go for it, and put it on the new UNM Rio Rancho Campus. Rio Rancho is the ideal location for the school. It’s proximity to Albuquerque (the economic center of the state) makes it a draw for the real talent you need to build a high caliber faculty...Add to that, UNM already has a “health care “ infrastructure in place with the medical school, so they know how to do these things. While we understand reader Barela's "hometowning" for Rio Rancho, the natural location for a dental school is on the main ABQ UNM campus near the medical and law schools. Other readers noted we haven't seen much enthusiasm for the dental proposal from the current leadership of UNM. Maybe because it doesn't put fans in the stands? As for the money, we could find $11 million in fat in the UNM budget (a lot of it in athletics) before the noon lunch break. Come on Doc Schmidly, so far your legacy here is...well...what is that legacy? We're for studying the idea again because we see a future where this state's economy stagnates (after getting bumped up with billions in stimulus money) and have been perplexed about how professional, well-paying jobs that are gradually being lost at Sandia and Los Alamos Labs, Intel and others are going to be replaced. Wouldn't turning out New Mexico educated dentists help us fill what is a developing economic cavity? News, comments and criticisms are all welcome. E-mail them in. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009 Not for reproduction without permission of the author |
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