Republican Moore Discloses Contributions

Republican lieutenant governor contender Brian Moore has joined the list of state candidates who are disclosing their campaign contributions months ahead of the legal deadline.

You can find that on Moore's Web site HERE . According to those figures, Moore has raised more than $118,000. Of that, $100,000 is a contribution from himself.

His contributors include several Republican legislators including Sens. Clint Harden and Carroll Leavell and Reps. Don Bratton, Don Tripp and Dennis Roche. Former state Land Commissioner Bill Humphries is among Moore's contributors as is Lou Gallegos, former chief of staff for Gov. Gary Johnson.

I was so busy in the lead-up to the special session last week I forgot to mention that GOP gubernatorial hopeful Pete Domenici Jr. also released a list of contributors. He's raised more than $264,000, according to his Web site.

Domenici donated $50,000 of his own money to the campaign. He also got about $40,000 connected to Robert Fiser, an Albuquerque lawyer who has been convicted of tax evasion.

King says Letter is a Public Document

Attorney General Gary King told me and other reporters Friday that his office believes a letter of resignation from the former state Elections Bureau director is public information — contrary to what the Secretary of State's Office claims.

I'm referring, of course to the "Take this job and shove it" letter from A.J. Salazar, in which Salazar reportedly accuses Secretary of State Mary Herrera of violating New Mexico's Governmental Conduct Act and election laws. The Secretary of State's Office so far has refused to hand it over to reporters (thought The Albuquerque Journal apparently got a copy from God knows hwere.)

My story about King's remarks is HERE.

My story that was published Friday is HERE.

SINE DIE!

The Senate just called it quits.

Now they're waking up the House.

UPDATE: (from my Twitter account) Sine double die. House calls it quits.

Senate Passes Cigarette Tax

The Senate just voted 25-15 to pass a 75-cent tax increase on each pack of cigarettes.

Because the Finance Committee added an amendment -- to earmark part of revenue to early childhood programs -- it must go back to the House for concurrence.

It was almost a party-line vote with most Democrats voting yes and most Republicans voting no.

Democrats Phil Griego and Tim Eichenberg voted with Republicans against the bill, while Republican Sue Wilson Beffort voted with the Democrats for the bill.

A Memorable Memorial

I know that not long ago I complained about the Legislature wasting too much time on useless memorials.

Still, I'm disappointed that the Senate probably won't get around to discussing Senate Memorial 2, sponsored by Senate President Pro-tem Tim Jennings.

Apparently Jennings has joined the "Draft Richardson" movement in terms of his reported interest in becoming CEO of the Motion Pictures Association of America.

Here's that memorial:

Senate Memorial 2

Roundhouse Roundup: More on Richardson & the MPAA

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
March 4, 2010

David Cargo, one of the first New Mexico governors to try to lure movies to the state, actually got bit parts in some films that were made here in the late 1960s.

But according to a report in a blog of the Washington, D.C.-based National Journal, the movies might have more than a bit part for the current governor of New Mexico.

Quoting unidentified “K Street sources,” the lobbyist-news blog called “Under the Influence” reported last month that our Hollywood-friendly governor is under consideration for chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America. According to the report, Richardson is one of three possible replacements for current MPAA CEO Dan Glickman, a former congressman from Kansas. Glickman is retiring next month.

A spokesman for Richardson on Wednesday strongly denied that Richardson was seeking the film-industry job. “The governor is not interested in this job and he is not interested in becoming a lobbyist,” Gallegos said in an e-mail. “He plans to live in Santa Fe and drive around the country visiting Major League ballparks after (his) term ends.”

However, one local source deeply involved in the film industry — who asked not to be named — said Wednesday, “My phone’s been ringing off the hook all day” with calls from those in the film industry all over the country. “People love the idea. There’s a ‘draft Richardson’ movement out there.”

A spokesman for the MPAA in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday that he knew nothing about who is in line to replace Glickman.

“Richardson makes sense because he has that global international experience, he knows state and federal staff and it keeps the job at an elevated level,” said one K Street source quoted in the story.
The MPAA is the film industry’s lobbying group in Washington, D.C.

Besides being former congressmen, Glickman and Richardson have another thing in common. Both were members of President Bill Clinton’s Cabinet, Glickman as secretary of agriculture, Richardson as energy secretary and United Nations ambassador.

Indeed, it’s a job well-suited for political types. Before Glickman, the head of MPAA was Jack Valente, who had been an aide and confident of President Johnson.

It would be a well-paid job. Glickman’s salary and benefits amount to $1.3 million a year, the blog said.

And the film industry clearly has become one of Richardson’s passions since he became governor.

He’s pushed millions in tax incentives for movie productions and allowed the state to directly invest in film projects. He’s encouraged colleges and universities to establish training programs for building the state’s film industry. In recent months, with his pal Robert Redford, Richardson has promoted a new center for training Hispanic and Native American filmmakers, which will open next month at Los Luceros, north of Española.

And he created a film museum — though there’s no exhibits or programs — just space for the desk of its $88,000 director.

On second thought, if Richardson did submit his résumé to the MPAA, he probably didn’t include the film museum.

Richardson frequently has said that being governor of New Mexico is the best job in the world.

But with the current state budget crisis — not to mention sinking poll numbers — sacrificing “the best job in the world” for a $1.3 million job where you don’t have senators and pundits complaining about your every move might be a tempting proposition.

Ken Gonzales is New U.S. Attorney

A Pojoaque High School graduate has been nominated to become New Mexico's next U.S. attorney, Senators Bingaman and Udall have announced.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kenneth J. Gonzales , who has worked in the U.S. Attorney's Las Cruces office in recent years, will replace U.S. Attorney Gregory Fouratt.

Fouratt has been interim U.S. Attorney since David Iglesias was forced out during the controversial 2006 U.S. Attorney firings by the Bush Administration.

Gonzales has worked for the U.S. Attorney's Office since 1999.

He received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of New Mexico.

Gonzales also served as a judicial law clerk to a chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, and was a legislative assistant to Sen. Bingaman on criminal justice, Indian affairs and other issues. He has also been a judge advocate in the U.S. Army.

“President Obama could not have selected a more qualified, capable candidate for this important position. Ken has the experience required of a U.S. attorney, having served for the past 11 years as a career prosecutor working on cases involving organized crime, narcotics, anti-terrorism, and other violent crimes,” Bingaman said in a news release.

“Ken worked as an aide to me more than a decade ago, so I have witnessed first-hand his keen legal judgment, fair-mindedness and strong work ethic," Bingaman said. "I applaud the president for choosing someone of Ken’s caliber and experience.”

“I applaud the President’s decision to nominate Kenneth Gonzales as the next U.S. Attorney for New Mexico,” Sen. Tom Udall said. “Ken Gonzales’ legal expertise and long record of statewide public service – including more than a decade as Assistant U.S. Attorney – make him extremely qualified for the job. He will make an excellent U.S. Attorney, and I look forward to working with President Obama and Senator Bingaman to ensure his swift confirmation by the Senate.”

The two New Mexico senators interviewed all candidates who expressed interest in the U.S. Attorney position and sent a short list to the White House for consideration.

Gonzales’s nomination will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee before the full Senate votes on his confirmation.

Remembering a Previous Call of the House

What the heck ... Here's a reprint of a story I wrote in 2004 about then Rep. Benjie Regensberg, who was missing during a call of the House.

No criminal charges ever came out of the case. But Regnensberg was defeated in the 2004 Democratic primary.

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
February 17, 2004

Santa Fe police investigators can't substantiate a state legislator's claim that state police committed assault or battery on him in a violent confrontation late last week.

But it will be up to the district attorney's office to determine whether Rep. Benjie Regensberg, D-Cleveland, committed battery on the officers who were sent to fetch him for a vote Friday night, Santa Fe deputy police chief Eric Johnson said Monday.

As is normal police procedure, because accusations had been made against their own officers, state police asked another police agency -- in this case city police -- to investigate.

Johnson said his detectives finished their investigation Monday after interviewing Regensberg, the officers involved and other witnesses.

Regensberg apologized on the floor of the House on Monday for the incident. "I've never been so humiliated as much as I was humiliated ... that night when I was brought to the state Capitol half naked and handcuffed, " Regensberg said of the Friday night incident.

The second-term Mora County lawmaker also called upon the House to clarify a rule that calls for state police to use any means necessary to return representatives to the Capitol when there is a "call of the House."

"Some of these rules are ridiculous, " he said.

And, in an interview after his statement on the House floor, Regensberg stood by his charge that he acted only in self-defense after police began roughing him up.

Regensberg said he received two fractures in his right arm during the incident. He wasn't wearing the sling Monday that he wore Saturday, though his arm and thumb were bandaged.

State police went to Regensberg's room at Camel Rock Suites at the request of House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé. When they arrived, police said Regensberg "became combative" and "started a scuffle." Eventually the officers subdued the representative and took him in handcuffs to the Capitol, where Luján excused him from the vote on a nursing-home-bed surcharge.

"State police have always assisted in returning representatives to the floor of the House, " Public Safety Department spokesman Peter Olson said in a written statement. "Never has any representative refused or acted with violence until Feb. 13, 2004."

Regensberg -- wearing a necktie depicting a lone black sheep in the midst of a flock of white sheep -- also claimed Monday that his opposition to some of Gov. Bill Richardson's legislative proposals might have been behind his alleged mistreatment. "My beliefs are different from a lot of people here, " said the conservative Democrat.

A Richardson spokesman said that charge was "laughable and absolutely false."

Santa Fe-area District Attorney Henry Valdez said Monday that his staff will review the police report and decide whether to press charges. Johnson said the paperwork should be completed and in the DA's hands by the end of the week.

Under the state Constitution, legislators are immune from arrest during a session except in cases of "treason, felony and breach of the peace." Though handcuffed, Regensberg was not arrested or charged with any crime.

While state police said Regensberg appeared to be intoxicated, the lawmaker denied he'd been drinking and told The Associated Press he'd taken a breathalyzer test at St. Vincent Hospital.

Johnson verified Monday that Regensberg did take such a test. "He requested it himself, " Johnson said. The state representative apparently passed that test.

Several of Regensberg's House colleagues -- from both sides of the aisle -- signed a large card for him that read "Welcome Back Benjie."

But Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Cedar Crest, said: "I refused to sign it. I don't think bad behavior should be rewarded. I think elected officials should be held up to higher standards."

Andrew Barreras Where Are You?

The House of Representatives is going through a procedural votes before debating the Senate tax bill.

But Rep. Barreras is missing and there's a call of the House, which means everyone is supposed to be there before the vote can take place.

Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell just raised the possibility of sending state police looking for him.

Let's have a moment of silence for former Rep. Benjie Regensberg ....

UPDATE: They found Barreras. (And I can't find any online link to explain my Benjie Regensberg joke.)

You Oughtta Be in Movies?

UPDATE: Governor's spokesman denies the National Journal report. (See below)


Put this in the state Film Museum. Here's the most eye-popping report about Gov. Bill Richardson's possible future we've heard lately.

Quoting unidentified "K Street sources," Under the Influence, a blog by The National Journal, reported last month that our Hollywood friendly governor is under consideration for CEO the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Richardson makes sense because he has that global international experience, he knows state and federal staff and it keeps the job at an elevated level," said one K Street source.

According to the report, Richardson is one of three possible replacements for current MPAA CEO Dan Glickman, a former congressman from Kansas.

It would be a well-paid job. Glickman was paid $1.3 million a year.

Spokesman Gilbert Gallegos responds: "The governor is not interested in this job and he is not interested in becoming a lobbyist. He plans to live in Santa Fe and drive around the country visiting Major League ballparks after term ends."

Corrected: The original version of this post had an incorrect time the National Journal item was published.