Morning Word: Money in Politics

King in debt

A

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Morning Word

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MONEY IN POLITICS

The battle to control the New Mexico House of Representatives was an expensive one.

While they ultimately lost control of the lower chamber, Democratic House candidates outraised and outspent Republican candidates by roughly $700,000. Santa Fe Reporter Justin Horwath notes the numbers don't include totals from independent expenditure committees.

CASH IS NOT KING

Attorney General Gary King on the other hand had a difficult time raising money for his gubernatorial campaign.  Susana Martinez outraised and outspent King 7 to 1.  King's straddled with nearly $700,000 in personal campaign loan debt.

 

MOVING ON UP

Rep. Mimi Stewart will have to change her

. She's headed to the state senate. On a party-line vote, Bernalillo County Commissioners appointed her to fill the District 17 seat being vacated by state Auditor-elect Tim Keller. Next week commissioners, Dan McKay reports, are expected to appoint someone to fill Stewart's House seat.

DYSFUNCTION

Last year, Republican legislators complained about the number of proposed constitutional amendments, but that isn't stopping one Public Regulation Commissioner from suggesting an amendment to replace the regulatory body's elected commissioners with a three-person panel appointed by the governor.  The current system, Patrick Lyons, who won reelection in November, say is dysfunctional. A 2012 amendment, passed by voters, requires PRC candidates to have certain qualifications to qualify as a candidate. Lyons' idea appears to stem from a interoffice battle with fellow Commissioner Valerie Espinoza.  .

BETTER TOMORROWS?

The New Mexicans for a Better Tomorrow, a conservative political action committee in Las Cruces, that is trying to recall three city councilors, Olga Pedroza, Gill Sorg and Nathan Small, has already raised over $30,000 for their effort.  Diana Alba Soular reports the members of the business coalition  have said they want to counter the influence of local progressive groups in politics and "foster a healthy balance between businesses and local government."

RIP

US Rep. Steve Pearce's mother died in Hobbs yesterday.  Charlotte Allyne “Jane” Garnett Pearce was 89. His father, Melvin Pearce passed in 2008.

REBUKED

Before flying home to arrange funeral services, Pearce, joined other Republicans in Washington and voted to rebuke President Barack Obama for his November executive action to curb immigrant deportations. US Reps. Ben Ray Lujan and Michelle Lujan Grisham opposed the house majority's move to declared Obama's actions "null and void."  In his new national role as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign, Rep. Lujan called the vote a stunt. He wants Republican leaders to allow a floor vote on comprehensive immigration reform Read more at the Albuquerque Journal

TREATMENT

Associated Press Reporter Russell Contreras writes that lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow courts to order mentally ill patients into outtreatment services. Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen said the measure is a modified version of New York's Kendra's Law. 
Supporters of the bill say it would help reduce hospitalization and jail costs in the long term. Opponents say it compromises the civil liberties of patients.

Read More at the Santa Fe New Mexican

PREMIUMS

New Mexicans appear to be saving big when they purchase their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act's exchange.  A U.S. Health and Human Services Department study reveals 80 percent of individuals have found plans for less than $100 a month. Open enrollment in the marketplace runs through Feb. 15.


SECURITY

Provisions in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) secured by US Sen. Martin Heinrich are aimed at boosting the state's economy by allowing military bases and installations in here to keep payments the received from New Mexico film producctions. Heinrich also secured $20 million to keep the Operationally Responsive Space satellite research and development program at Kirtland from being terminated. Heinrich also worked with South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on a Air Force Modernization and Replacement provision.


Legislation to designate the 45,000-acre Columbine Hondo Wilderness Area north of Taos also was wrapped into the National Defense Authorization Act.


WIPPed

Sandia National Labs research and development manager has been named to lead recovery efforts at WIPP, the federal government's troubled nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico.


BLASTED

Hector Balderas is headed to the Attorney General's office in January. Before he finishes at the State Auditor's office he's blasting the Public Education Department for it's oversight of an Albuquerque charter school.
Balderas charged that the department failed to act on repeated reports of conflict of interest and financial mismanagement at the Albuquerque-based Southwest Learning Centers, which operates three technology-centered charter schools for different age groups.

Let's call it a morning and figure out what to do this weekend. The Santa Fe Reporter has a great event calendar here.  In Albuquerque check out ABQ ToDo for free events. 

Thanks for joining us every morning this week and if you have a news tip send them to Peter@SFReporter.com




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