Down with Death (NMI photo)
We think we know why Big Bill decided to sign the bill repealing the death penalty. After Manny Aragon, Robert Vigil, Michael Montoya, the CDR affair and the housing authority scandal, the Governor feared that Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico would form a hanging party for the state's wayward politicos. Someone had to stop this prospective carnage.

Well, we don't mean to make light of the situation, but the Guv's action (complete statement here and video here) was largely symbolic. Only one person has been executed in the state since the US Supreme Court reinstated the measure in '76 and 14 other states have also abolished the penalty. Still, for the many impacted by serious crime it is an emotionally explosive issue, and the Guv stayed away from that minefield as he inked the repeal measure at the top of the 6 p.m nightly newscasts.

Regardless of my personal opinion about the death penalty, I do not have confidence in the criminal justice system as it currently operates to be the final arbiter when it comes to who lives and who dies for their crime. If the State is going to undertake this awesome responsibility, the system to impose this ultimate penalty must be perfect and can never be wrong.

ABQ Dem State Rep. Gail Chasey, longtime death penalty foe and repeal sponsor, was invited to the signing as was a representative of the Catholic Church, an historic foe of the penalty and a major voice on the social issues of the day, especially in the northern and central portions of the state.

REPEAL POLITICS

The repeal of the death penalty does not seem to signal any significant change in the centrist to conservative stripes our state sports when it comes to social issues. The Legislature just this session again defeated a domestic partners bill and socially conservative State Senator Tim Jennings was chosen as President Pro Tem in the upper chamber over a more liberal opponent. Also, the votes for the death penalty were there before Obama's 2008 election, but Richardson used his political acumen to keep the bill from reaching his desk because it could have complicated his own presidential campaign. The Guv could lose a few points in the popularity polls because of his decision, but as we have mentioned, he doesn't have to face the voters again and his popularity is already languishing at 41 percent in the SurveyUSA.

For Light Guv Diane Denish the signing of the repeal might be a positive for her 2010 Dem Guv run. Her support of the repeal was not popular among conservative Dems who she will be asking for votes in the primary, nor did it sit well with Republicans who often used the death penalty as an organizing issue. With the repeal on the books, it would seem the issue has lost its political punch and Denish can move on. Don't hold us to that if an especially heinous crime occurs. Calls for reinstating the death penalty could then become a rallying cry and place the issue front and center in campaign 2010.

AN ALLIGATOR STRIKE

Reaction to the news that Santa Fe Dem Senator Peter Wirth--formerly of the state House--was chosen to present the campaign contribution limit bill that passed the Senate. From a City Different Gator:

I noted your piece about (Dem Santa Fe State Senator) Peter Wirth and how he presented the campaign contribution limit bill that passed. I wasn't sure if you were tongue in cheek on that one. When Peter ran for Rep. Max Coll's House seat in 2004, he received $25,000 from one couple, Andrew and Sidney Davis. Andrew Davis is with the firm Davis Selected Advisors. Most legislative races usually didn't bring in that much in total. If you recall, Max's ex-wife, Sally Rodgers, tried to run for the seat, but Peter's deep pockets blew her out of the race...All is well that ends well. Sally is now the ombudsman at the state Energy, Minerals Department. And Andrew Davis has built himself a huge mansion on the east side of Santa Fe...

And that, dear reader, is what you call an Alligator strike.

As for the bill limiting individual campaign contributions to state candidates to $2,300, it is now in the House after being passed by the Senate.

GOT HIS ATTENTION

ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez has had a lock on the developer and home builders vote and he wants to keep it hat way. Witness the Mayor's proposal to the city council that would slash "impact fees" for construction projects. The mayor says the city would not lose money from the proposal because the city is mired in a recession that has essentially halted home building, Cutting the fees, he says, could stimulate the economy. It could also stimulate his campaign for re-election. Republican RJ Berry happens to own a construction company, something some of Chavez's supporters might find appealing come October.