The Balanced Budget Task Force will once again attempt to webcast its meeting today between 1 p.m and 5 p.m.
The webcast of last week's meeting in Farmington worked fine.
Except the video.
And at least one person reported the audio was pretty hard to hear.
I did a story about the task force HERE
This is the final meeting of the 40-plus member group, which is discussing possible tax increases.. It's being held at Santa Fe Community College. If the webcast works this time, it'll be HERE.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Roundhouse Roundup: Protect a Politician, Jail a Journalist
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
December 17, 2009
Here’s my nightmare of the week.
It’s the year 2011, and I’ve just gotten a hot tip that the new state Ethics Commission is investigating a state legislator on allegations that he’s running an illegal cockfighting pit with laundered campaign contributions from child porn publishers. I find a source who quietly slips me reams of documents the commission is looking at, documents that basically prove the case. I get a “no comment” from the accused’s lawyer and go to press with the story.
Then I end up in the same jail pod as the sleazy politician I wrote about.
That might sound far-fetched, but a bill to establish a state Ethics Commission, which recently received unanimous approval by a legislative interim committee, includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential.
Quoting from Section 16 of the proposed bill: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.”
Yikes!
As Jim Scarantino pointed out recently in his New Mexico Watchdog blog, this prohibition of disclosure is even more broad than the laws governing grand jury secrecy.
Steve Allen, executive director of New Mexico Common Cause — who was part of the subcommittee that drafted the bill — said part of his work was to check other states that have ethics commissions.
Allen said the secrecy in this proposal goes well beyond confidentiality provisions in other states. “Confidentiality and protecting the rights of the accused is a valid concern,” Allen said Wednesday. But this bill, he said, goes much further in protecting politicians than ethics commission laws in other states.
“I am concerned this would bar reporters from publishing or broadcasting information that might be leaked from the commission,” said Sarah Welsh, executive director for New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.
Welsh told me Wednesday that if the commission wanted to keep its investigations confidential, there are other ways of doing that. They could limit the penalties to the commission staff and/or commissioners. They could make the documents confidential and not subject to public records requests.
But, Welsh added, “I don’t like to see the shadow of secrecy extended to a whole class of documents. Those provisions are rarely repealed.”
State Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, who co-chairs the interim committee on Courts, Corrections & Justice, which endorsed this bill, said in an e-mail this week, “The commission is set up to operate in a confidential manner until it finds that an ethics violation was committed. At that time, the report goes public. … The idea is to protect respondents from unfounded allegations that could harm their livelihoods, reputations or careers and to prevent the commission from becoming a vehicle for personal vendettas.”
Wirth continued, “Although the bill does everything it can to maintain confidentiality, there is certainly an argument that a complainant, and even more so a reporter, would be protected by the First Amendment when disclosing documents or information. At the very least, there is a tension with First Amendment rights.”
But does that mean a reporter would have to go to court to argue his First Amendment rights — praying that the judge will agree?
Hopefully our wise Legislature will see clear not to pass a bill that has foreseeable constitutional violations.
More hazy history: Political blogger Joe Monahan pointed out to me that an item last week in this column about the few New Mexico lieutenant governors who have gone on become governor had one glaring omission.
The state’s very first “lite guv,” Ezequiel C. de Baca, was elected governor in 1916 while sitting as lieutenant governor. But shortly after he was elected and took office, C de Baca died and — as I wrote last week — his lieutenant governor Washington Lindsey became governor.
Monahan’s right. I checked it out in the state Blue Book.
As previously reported, the other two lieutenant governors who became governor were Andrew Hockenhull, who became governor in 1933 when Gov. Arthur Seligman died, and Tom Bollack, who replaced Gov. Ed Mechem after Mechem resigned so Bollack could appoint him to the U.S. Senate.
Here's a copy of the proposed ethics bill:
ETHICSCOMMBILL 2009
December 17, 2009
Here’s my nightmare of the week.
It’s the year 2011, and I’ve just gotten a hot tip that the new state Ethics Commission is investigating a state legislator on allegations that he’s running an illegal cockfighting pit with laundered campaign contributions from child porn publishers. I find a source who quietly slips me reams of documents the commission is looking at, documents that basically prove the case. I get a “no comment” from the accused’s lawyer and go to press with the story.
Then I end up in the same jail pod as the sleazy politician I wrote about.
That might sound far-fetched, but a bill to establish a state Ethics Commission, which recently received unanimous approval by a legislative interim committee, includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential.
Quoting from Section 16 of the proposed bill: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.”
Yikes!
As Jim Scarantino pointed out recently in his New Mexico Watchdog blog, this prohibition of disclosure is even more broad than the laws governing grand jury secrecy.
Steve Allen, executive director of New Mexico Common Cause — who was part of the subcommittee that drafted the bill — said part of his work was to check other states that have ethics commissions.
Allen said the secrecy in this proposal goes well beyond confidentiality provisions in other states. “Confidentiality and protecting the rights of the accused is a valid concern,” Allen said Wednesday. But this bill, he said, goes much further in protecting politicians than ethics commission laws in other states.
“I am concerned this would bar reporters from publishing or broadcasting information that might be leaked from the commission,” said Sarah Welsh, executive director for New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.
Welsh told me Wednesday that if the commission wanted to keep its investigations confidential, there are other ways of doing that. They could limit the penalties to the commission staff and/or commissioners. They could make the documents confidential and not subject to public records requests.
But, Welsh added, “I don’t like to see the shadow of secrecy extended to a whole class of documents. Those provisions are rarely repealed.”
State Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, who co-chairs the interim committee on Courts, Corrections & Justice, which endorsed this bill, said in an e-mail this week, “The commission is set up to operate in a confidential manner until it finds that an ethics violation was committed. At that time, the report goes public. … The idea is to protect respondents from unfounded allegations that could harm their livelihoods, reputations or careers and to prevent the commission from becoming a vehicle for personal vendettas.”
Wirth continued, “Although the bill does everything it can to maintain confidentiality, there is certainly an argument that a complainant, and even more so a reporter, would be protected by the First Amendment when disclosing documents or information. At the very least, there is a tension with First Amendment rights.”
But does that mean a reporter would have to go to court to argue his First Amendment rights — praying that the judge will agree?
That sounds like a tension most of us could live without.
Hopefully our wise Legislature will see clear not to pass a bill that has foreseeable constitutional violations.
More hazy history: Political blogger Joe Monahan pointed out to me that an item last week in this column about the few New Mexico lieutenant governors who have gone on become governor had one glaring omission.
The state’s very first “lite guv,” Ezequiel C. de Baca, was elected governor in 1916 while sitting as lieutenant governor. But shortly after he was elected and took office, C de Baca died and — as I wrote last week — his lieutenant governor Washington Lindsey became governor.
Monahan’s right. I checked it out in the state Blue Book.
As previously reported, the other two lieutenant governors who became governor were Andrew Hockenhull, who became governor in 1933 when Gov. Arthur Seligman died, and Tom Bollack, who replaced Gov. Ed Mechem after Mechem resigned so Bollack could appoint him to the U.S. Senate.
Here's a copy of the proposed ethics bill:
ETHICSCOMMBILL 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Frito Pies for the Furlough Fund
I just received this e-mail from an offical with the Communications Workers of America Local 7076, which represents about 3,000 state workers. The union has started a fund to help state employees who earn $10 an hours or less cope with the pending work furloughs.Donations to the furlough fund may be sent to the First Community Bank in the name of CWA 7076 Furlough Relief Fund, or directly to the CWA Union Hall at 460 St. Michael’s Drive, Bldg. 1000, Ste. 1001, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Politico on Denish
Here's some stray news that's crossed my path earlier today.
However, in past legislative sessions Richardson himself has proposed or at least endorsed several pieces of ethics legislation. Does that mean Richardson has given indirect criticism of the Richardson administration?
First off, The Politico did a feature on Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and how she's taken steps to distance herself from Gov. Bill Richardson.
This paragraph caught my eye:
And she’s played a lead role in proposing ethics reforms — in what New Mexico observers see as indirect criticism of the Richardson administration, which has taken heat over allegations that leading political donors received preferential treatment during the governor’s tenure.
However, in past legislative sessions Richardson himself has proposed or at least endorsed several pieces of ethics legislation. Does that mean Richardson has given indirect criticism of the Richardson administration?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Webcasting the Tax Committee?
I was off Thursday so I didn't watch the webcast of the Balanced Budget Task Force meeting in Farmington.
Apparently nobody else did either.
One lobbyist I know told me, " ... you could sort of hear the meeting by phone but I don't think that they ever got the video up and going."
Tax and Revenue Department spokesman confirmed that the video never worked during the meeting. "But people could hear the meeting and see the presentations." He was referring to various reports on the task force's Web site.
Mahesh said the task force will attempt to webcast the final meeting, which starts 1 p.m. Thursday at Santa Fe Community College.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Gary Johnson's New 527 Web Site
A few weeks ago when I talked to former Gov. Gary Johnson he told me this was coming.
Note the disclaimer: "Gary Johnson is not a current candidate for any federal political office."
That word "current" seems rather pregnant, doesn't it.
At this point the site mainly consists of several videos about various issues. Here's one of them:
It's a Web site for his new political committee called "Our America: The Gary Johnson Initiative."
You'll find it HERE.
That word "current" seems rather pregnant, doesn't it.
At this point the site mainly consists of several videos about various issues. Here's one of them:
Roundhouse Roundup: Yes Virginia, There IS an Ethics Committee
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
December 10, 2009
As lawmakers continue the debate on whether to establish an independent ethics commission to investigate possible bad behavior, one can only hope that the state doesn't use an existing state ethics panel as a model.
I'm talking about the Interim Legislative Ethics Committee, which has been around since 1993.
In a story in Wednesday's paper about the alleged altercation between Reps. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, and Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, I mistakenly said the committee hadn't met in more than 10 years. That's inaccurate. But not by much.
It is accurate to say that the committee has never taken action against any legislator. In fact, the last time the Legislature itself took action against one of its own was in 1992 in the case of Rep. Ron Olguin, D-Albuquerque. The Legislature voted to censure him. A jury later found him guilty of accepting a bribe.
According to the state Legislature's Web site, the committee has opined — or declined to opine — on a few ethical questions brought to it by legislators. Listed on the Web site are a total of 11 advisory opinions and letters. That's 11 since 1994.
In fairness, these don't include cases of possible misconduct considered by the committee. And it's not public information how many cases there have been — if indeed there have been any at all. If ILEC decides to dismiss a case, it is kept secret. Obviously if the committee has looked at alleged misconduct through the years, all of them have been dismissed.
I would wager that there have been very few such cases before that committee at least since I've been covering the Capitol. There are 16 lawmakers on this committee. That's a lot of people to keep a secret.
So what do they do? According to ILEC documents posted on the Web site, many of the questions raised deal with when it's appropriate and not appropriate to use Legislature letterheads, etc. One, answering a question by former Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, dealt with when it's appropriate to use the state seal.
No, there's no mention in the committee's response of the decorative piece hanging in former Sen. Manny Aragon's bedroom.
Bipartisan love: The roads froze over in Santa Fe this week. Now I'm worried about Hell.
First there was an item on the Rio Grande Foundation's blog, Errors of Enchantment, that praised — yes praised — Gov. Bill Richardson. The conservative think tank likes the governor's recent idea for a committee to look at ways to cut waste in government. "We at the Rio Grande Foundation applaud Gov. Richardson for his willingness to look beyond tax hikes in closing New Mexico's massive budget deficits," foundation director Paul Gessing wrote. "The naming of this commission is a good first step."
Then Internet reporter Heath Haussamen got a surprise on his Facebook page this week. In response to a post about State Auditor Hector Balderas, conservative Republican blogger Mario Burgos wrote, "I've got to admit I was a pretty vocal critic when Hector was being considered for the position since he lacked an accounting background, but I've been impressed with his commitment and performance to date," Burgos wrote. "I may be partisan, but I'm more than willing to put politics aside when someone is doing a great job. Keep it up Mr. Auditor."
Haussamen also quotes House Minority Whip Keith Gardner, R-Roswell, also praising Balderas' job as auditor.
Hazy history: A little mea culpa here. Recently in a story about Lt. Gov. Diane Denish's candidacy for governor, I left out the name of one of the state's lieutenant governors who went on to become governor. That would be Andrew Hockenhull, who became governor in 1933 when Gov. Arthur Seligman died.
So that makes three, the others being Washington Lindsey, who became governor in 1917 when the state's second governor, Ezequiel C. de Baca, died a month after taking office, and Tom Bollack, who became governor in November 1962 and served less than two months after Gov. Edwin Mechem resigned and was appointed by Bollack to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat.
None of the three ever won election as governor, so the point stands that the lieutenant governor's post is not a traditional stepping stone to the New Mexico governor's office.
December 10, 2009
As lawmakers continue the debate on whether to establish an independent ethics commission to investigate possible bad behavior, one can only hope that the state doesn't use an existing state ethics panel as a model.
I'm talking about the Interim Legislative Ethics Committee, which has been around since 1993.
In a story in Wednesday's paper about the alleged altercation between Reps. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, and Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, I mistakenly said the committee hadn't met in more than 10 years. That's inaccurate. But not by much.
It is accurate to say that the committee has never taken action against any legislator. In fact, the last time the Legislature itself took action against one of its own was in 1992 in the case of Rep. Ron Olguin, D-Albuquerque. The Legislature voted to censure him. A jury later found him guilty of accepting a bribe.
According to the state Legislature's Web site, the committee has opined — or declined to opine — on a few ethical questions brought to it by legislators. Listed on the Web site are a total of 11 advisory opinions and letters. That's 11 since 1994.
In fairness, these don't include cases of possible misconduct considered by the committee. And it's not public information how many cases there have been — if indeed there have been any at all. If ILEC decides to dismiss a case, it is kept secret. Obviously if the committee has looked at alleged misconduct through the years, all of them have been dismissed.
I would wager that there have been very few such cases before that committee at least since I've been covering the Capitol. There are 16 lawmakers on this committee. That's a lot of people to keep a secret.
So what do they do? According to ILEC documents posted on the Web site, many of the questions raised deal with when it's appropriate and not appropriate to use Legislature letterheads, etc. One, answering a question by former Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, dealt with when it's appropriate to use the state seal.
No, there's no mention in the committee's response of the decorative piece hanging in former Sen. Manny Aragon's bedroom.
Bipartisan love: The roads froze over in Santa Fe this week. Now I'm worried about Hell.
First there was an item on the Rio Grande Foundation's blog, Errors of Enchantment, that praised — yes praised — Gov. Bill Richardson. The conservative think tank likes the governor's recent idea for a committee to look at ways to cut waste in government. "We at the Rio Grande Foundation applaud Gov. Richardson for his willingness to look beyond tax hikes in closing New Mexico's massive budget deficits," foundation director Paul Gessing wrote. "The naming of this commission is a good first step."
Then Internet reporter Heath Haussamen got a surprise on his Facebook page this week. In response to a post about State Auditor Hector Balderas, conservative Republican blogger Mario Burgos wrote, "I've got to admit I was a pretty vocal critic when Hector was being considered for the position since he lacked an accounting background, but I've been impressed with his commitment and performance to date," Burgos wrote. "I may be partisan, but I'm more than willing to put politics aside when someone is doing a great job. Keep it up Mr. Auditor."
Haussamen also quotes House Minority Whip Keith Gardner, R-Roswell, also praising Balderas' job as auditor.
Hazy history: A little mea culpa here. Recently in a story about Lt. Gov. Diane Denish's candidacy for governor, I left out the name of one of the state's lieutenant governors who went on to become governor. That would be Andrew Hockenhull, who became governor in 1933 when Gov. Arthur Seligman died.
So that makes three, the others being Washington Lindsey, who became governor in 1917 when the state's second governor, Ezequiel C. de Baca, died a month after taking office, and Tom Bollack, who became governor in November 1962 and served less than two months after Gov. Edwin Mechem resigned and was appointed by Bollack to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat.
None of the three ever won election as governor, so the point stands that the lieutenant governor's post is not a traditional stepping stone to the New Mexico governor's office.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Prukop Out, Goldstein In at Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources
One of Gov. Bill Richardson's longest serving cabinet secretaries is leaving. The Governor's Office just announced that Joanna Prukop will retire from the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department on Dec. 31. She's been hired for an executive position with a new national conservation organization called Freedom to Roam.
“Joanna Prukop helped lead New Mexico’s efforts in strengthening environmental protection, conserving natural lands and protecting critical wildlife habitats while supporting energy development,” Richardson said in a news release. “She will be missed, but I wish her well in her new position where she will continue these same efforts on a larger scale.”
“Joanna Prukop helped lead New Mexico’s efforts in strengthening environmental protection, conserving natural lands and protecting critical wildlife habitats while supporting energy development,” Richardson said in a news release. “She will be missed, but I wish her well in her new position where she will continue these same efforts on a larger scale.”
Prukop has been secretary of the department since Richardson’s first term began in 2003.
Richardson is appointing Jon Goldstein to replace Prukop. He's been working as deputy secretary at the state Environment Department for two years.
Richardson is appointing Jon Goldstein to replace Prukop. He's been working as deputy secretary at the state Environment Department for two years.
We reporters know Goldstein as a former public information officer for Richardson. His prior experience includes two years covering business, politics and breaking news for the Baltimore Sun’s Web site and two years as a technology reporter with Time magazine in New York.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this post mistakenly said Goldstein has been working at the ENRD for the past two years.
Jeff Responds to Roundhouse Fight Allegation
Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, just said that she did not assault Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup at the Capitol last week as Lundstrom has said.
“These allegations by Rep. Lundstrom are untrue and I look forward to giving my side of the story in the appropriate venue,” Jeff said in a brief telephone interview.
Jeff declined to elaborate or to say what the appropriate venue would be.
“These allegations by Rep. Lundstrom are untrue and I look forward to giving my side of the story in the appropriate venue,” Jeff said in a brief telephone interview.
Jeff declined to elaborate or to say what the appropriate venue would be.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
State Police Investigate Lawmaker Altercation
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
December 9, 2009
State police are investigating an altercation that allegedly took between two legislators at the state Capitol last week.
State Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, on Friday reported to police that state Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, confronted her by a third-floor elevator as she was leaving a meeting of the Indian Affairs Committee, yelled at her and called her “some pretty rough names,” then punched her in the arm to make her point.
Both lawmakers serve on the committee, which meets during the interim when the Legislature is not in session.
Jeff couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
State police spokesman Lt. Eric Garcia said Tuesday that police have taken a “partial statement” from Lundstrom and have not yet interviewed Jeff.
“Regardless of their place positions, we are going to conduct a thorough investigation,” Garcia said.
Lundstrom said Tuesday that she hopes not to have to resolve the matter in criminal court. “If there’s a way we can solve it internally, I’d prefer that,” she said. She said she’s going to talk with the Legislative Council today to see if she can file a complaint to the Legislature’s Ethics Committee — which hasn’t met in more than 10 years — to investigate the incident.
Garcia said even if Lundstrom doesn’t press charges, police still intend to complete the investigation.
Investigators spent part of Monday at the Capitol looking at security tape. But Garcia said there is no view of the small room area directly in front of the private elevator used by legislators, where the incident allegedly occurred.
Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, a committee member who was at that meeting, said Tuesday she had spoken with Lundstrom moments before the incident allegedly occurred.
Rodriguez also said she spoke on the phone with Lundstrom several minutes later as Lundstrom was driving back to Gallup. It was then Lundstrom told her that Jeff had punched her on the arm three times right before the elevator doors opened. Rodriguez said she encouraged Lundstrom to call police when she got home, which Lundstrom did.
“I was in shock,” Lundstrom said. A member of the Legislature since 2001, Lundstrom said, “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”
The committee on Friday discussed a capital outlay bill carried by Jeff, a first term legislator. Rodriguez said Lundstrom and other committee members had expressed some concerns about the bill — mainly because there’s no money for new capital outlay projects because of the state’s revenue shortage.
Both Lundstrom and Rodriguez said the discussion of Jeff’s bill never became heated. “It was a cordial, kind of boring meeting,” Lundstrom said.
Rodriguez said she hopes for some kind of disciplinary action. “It’s not acceptable for a legislator to initiate an altercation just because you disagree with someone,” she said.”
December 9, 2009
State police are investigating an altercation that allegedly took between two legislators at the state Capitol last week.
State Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, on Friday reported to police that state Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, confronted her by a third-floor elevator as she was leaving a meeting of the Indian Affairs Committee, yelled at her and called her “some pretty rough names,” then punched her in the arm to make her point.
Both lawmakers serve on the committee, which meets during the interim when the Legislature is not in session.
Jeff couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
State police spokesman Lt. Eric Garcia said Tuesday that police have taken a “partial statement” from Lundstrom and have not yet interviewed Jeff.
“Regardless of their place positions, we are going to conduct a thorough investigation,” Garcia said.
Lundstrom said Tuesday that she hopes not to have to resolve the matter in criminal court. “If there’s a way we can solve it internally, I’d prefer that,” she said. She said she’s going to talk with the Legislative Council today to see if she can file a complaint to the Legislature’s Ethics Committee — which hasn’t met in more than 10 years — to investigate the incident.
Garcia said even if Lundstrom doesn’t press charges, police still intend to complete the investigation.
Investigators spent part of Monday at the Capitol looking at security tape. But Garcia said there is no view of the small room area directly in front of the private elevator used by legislators, where the incident allegedly occurred.
Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, a committee member who was at that meeting, said Tuesday she had spoken with Lundstrom moments before the incident allegedly occurred.
Rodriguez also said she spoke on the phone with Lundstrom several minutes later as Lundstrom was driving back to Gallup. It was then Lundstrom told her that Jeff had punched her on the arm three times right before the elevator doors opened. Rodriguez said she encouraged Lundstrom to call police when she got home, which Lundstrom did.
“I was in shock,” Lundstrom said. A member of the Legislature since 2001, Lundstrom said, “Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”
The committee on Friday discussed a capital outlay bill carried by Jeff, a first term legislator. Rodriguez said Lundstrom and other committee members had expressed some concerns about the bill — mainly because there’s no money for new capital outlay projects because of the state’s revenue shortage.
Both Lundstrom and Rodriguez said the discussion of Jeff’s bill never became heated. “It was a cordial, kind of boring meeting,” Lundstrom said.
Rodriguez said she hopes for some kind of disciplinary action. “It’s not acceptable for a legislator to initiate an altercation just because you disagree with someone,” she said.”
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