Former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici announced that he had a child from an affair more than three decades ago on Wednesday. It was the main talk of the Roundhouse today -- and even was the subject of a lot of discussion in the national political landscape.

New Mexico Capitol Report looked at Domenici's words during the Clinton impeachment. Domenici said int his official statement that he was more worried about the perjury than the affair.

But here is the money quote that is being passed around:

Truthfulness is the first pillar of good character in the Character Counts program which I have been part of establishing in New Mexico. Many of you in this chamber have joined me in declaring the annual "Character Counts Weeks." This program teaches grade school youngsters throughout America about six pillars of good character. Public and private schools in every corner of my state teach children that character counts; character makes a difference; indeed, character makes all the difference.

Something else that is being passed around? A transcript of Michelle Laxalt, the woman who Domenici had an affair with, defending Domenici in the David Iglesias scandal.

The money quote there?

I don't think so. I think when you're -- when you're attacking the integrity of someone who has been in public service for his entire lifetime, at great sacrifice, supporting no fewer than eight children and with the many sacrifices and the many contributions Senator Domenici has made, not only to the country, but to New...

No fewer than...

On to the Word:

• Here is the February 21 edition of the legislative roundup from the Santa Fe new Mexican.
• KRQE's Alex Goldsmith previews some big House battles:

  Tomorrow the House is set for two big debates, one in committee, one on the floor. In House Voters and Elections, the marriage equality constitutional amendment sponsored by Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, gets heard. All eyes will be on committee chair Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces, who jumped ship Tuesday to strike down a minimum wage constitutional amendment. The House floor debate will focus on the budget. All eyes there will be on the three freshman Dems who voted against the bipartisan-packed budget in committee.

• The Albuquerque city council heard from residents about the new minimum wage increase.
  
  City Attorney David Tourek was at the meeting.

  "I don't think it's the proper path for the city to start representing private individuals in any type of action, let alone minimum wage or something else. We've never done that," Tourek said.

• A bill that would increase the qualifications for serving on the Public Regulation Commission passed the Senate. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the House and senate now need to hammer out their differences on two very different pieces of legislation.
• KUNM reports the House Judiciary Committee passed legislation that would allow the New Mexico tribes to opt out of the state's Medicaid program.

  In a unanimous vote, the House Judiciary Committee approved HB 376, which would stop the state from obtaining a waiver to circumvent federal protections, which proponents say, prohibit the involuntary enrollment of Native Americans into managed care.

• Here is the Associated Press report the passage of larger TV subsidies being approved by the House.
• A bold, but likely futile, effort to revive straight-party voting is working its way through the legislature.
• Capitol Report New Mexico looks at the large number of bills related to animals in the legislature this year.
• A judge ruled the shooting of an Iraq war veteran by the Albuquerque Police Department was unjustified.

  Ellis was standing outside his vehicle, intermittently talking on the phone for nine minutes while police shouted commands at him to drop the gun he was holding to his own head. Ellis never pointed the gun at officers, and he never threatened them, according to depositions taken in a civil lawsuit.

  We spoke to Jeff Proctor, who reported on this story and many other APD shootings, two months ago for the Weekly Word podcast.
• The Media Economy Review reports on the passage of a bill that would increase rebates to TV shows that film in New Mexico.
• Gov. Susana Martinez says she will sign the Spaceport liability legislation once it reaches her desk.
• New Mexico Compass looks at the San Juan Power Plant compromise.
• The Santa Fe Reporter reports on pension solvency legislation.
• A Las Cruces attorney can no longer practice in New Mexico after being disbarred by the state Supreme Court.

  Last week, the New Mexico Supreme Court opted to disbar Bradley R. Sims for numerous alleged professional conduct violations, including making false statements, charging exorbitant fees and not returning unearned fees, according to a court-appointed spokesman.

• The city of Rio Rancho gave information on an alleged violation of the Open Meetings Act to the attorney general.

  At the time of the alleged violation, Wilkins, Scott, Crum and Clayton were proposing animal ordinance changes that loosened requirements, and Cantu publicly opposed the amendments. If the councilors were found to have had a rolling quorum, that could negate approval of the changes.
  
  In her letter, Cantu wrote that Clayton and Crum were listed as co-sponsors for changes to the pet store section of the animal ordinance, which she believed indicated they’d discussed the issue. She said she and another person later saw Clayton meeting with Wilkins and Scott, and Wilkins told her they were discussing the animal ordinance.

  According to the state's Open Meetings Act, all discussion on proposed legislation must take place in public.
• KOB has the reaction to the Domenici news.
• The Clovis Chrisian Schools Superintendent says that public school funds should go to private schools.

  “Any child who wants to choose a Christian education should have the opportunity to do that without their parents spending money beyond the tax dollars they already spend to support schooling,” Clayton said. “Everyone pays to provide an education to children. Just as parents are given the right to choose public education, they should have the right to choose private education.”

• The Taos News reports on HB 460 which would bar private schools from getting any public funds.
• Someone put various ammunition and drug paraphernalia in the Goodwill donations last week.

  According to a Rio Rancho Police report, an officer went to Goodwill at Southern and Unser about 10:45 a.m. Feb. 12 after employees sorting through anonymous donations found a glass pipe in a black Adidas bag and various calibers of ammunition in other property. There were 50 .22-caliber rounds, three 12-gauge shotgun rounds, a .410-shotgun round and what appeared to be one .22-caliber rifle round.

• A man has been given probation for "an act of terrorism" against pronghorn antelope.

  The Raton Range reported that the man, 20-year-old Clark Reik, owned the Ford diesel crew cab pickup that several people used to intentionally run over and kill four antelope on May 28, 2011, in a pasture about 15 miles south of Raton. The newspaper reported that the New Mexico Game and Fish Department determined that two other antelope were shot to death, and officers found a shotgun, rifle and beer cans hidden in the area following a rollover accident involving the truck.

• A New Mexico cottonwood has been named a national champion. Yeah, the tree.