Here's some of the stuff that slipped to our newsroom floor this past week. . .

Don't do it, Susana! That's the cry from thousands of New Mexicans who have a vested interest in the 1,000 projects contained in the $295 million capital outlay bill passed this week at the special session of the Legislature. Project advocates thought they were out of the woods but then Martinez said she is not ruling out vetoing some of the projects. Here's one of the many pleas for the Guv to swallow hard and put away her veto pen:

 It was the first glimpse of bipartisanship we've seen in Santa Fe this year.  Now, the governor threatens to undo it.  Government officials and residents throughout the state have been poring over the list of projects approved Monday and building expectations that those projects will be brought to fruition. The governor was asked this week if politics would play any role in her decisions. She bristled at the suggestion, but any cuts made would be viewed in that light. Victories have been few and far between these days in Santa Fe. We urge the governor to declare this one, sign the bill as passed, and move on.

The New Mexico Municipal League writes:

Here is a link to the Legislature’s web site dealing with the Capital Outlay bill passed June 8, 2015. On the page, click on By County for a list of projects that were requested in the bill. Remember, the Governor still has line-item veto powers over the projects. She has until June 20 to take action.

ABQ Dem State Senator Michael Padilla writes of his 3rd annual job fair:

76 employers have registered for this year's event, representing a wide range of industries, both public and private. All registered employers are hiring right now. The job fair will be held on Wednesday, June 17, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at Harrison Middle School, located at 3912 Isleta SW, located just behind the South Valley Library.

HAVE IT EARLY


Reader Cheryl Haaaker would like to see New Mexico have more of a say in the race for the '16 Dem presidential nomination?

I would like to see the NM Democratic Party run an early February 2016 presidential primary. Let New Mexicans actually have some choice, and possibly even exert a little influence for a change. Former Governor Bill Richardson did it, admittedly to help his own chances as a presidential candidate--although he had dropped out before the February 2008 presidential caucus here. The current schedule says, "Per the DNC's 2016 calendar, approved at the party's meeting in Atlanta, the Iowa caucuses will be held on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, followed by the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 9, the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 20, and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 27."

How about slotting NM into that currently-available Feb 16 date? Think of the media buys, the increased "tourism" by candidates and journalists, the (probably even positive!) media attention (for a change). Think of how this could fire up the Democratic base (for a change)! 

The New Mexico presidential primary is currently slated for June of '16, among the last in the nation.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2014. Not for reproduction without permission of the author