We might not have to wait for a cowed legislature to fight off Big Bill's plan to place hundreds of millions of dollars of "pork" under his purview. New Mexicans who depend on their legislators to bring home the bacon for such items as improvements at Little League and soccer fields may come to the fore to kill the proposal to give the guv control over 50 per cent of the capital outlay funds that are divided up each year. These groups and others tell me they like being able to put the heat on their individual lawmakers to get their share of the pie. Currently, the pork is evenly divided three ways among the House, Senate and Guv. They worry that if the governor gets additional power he would not be as responsive to their pressure and their pet projects could get ditched in favor of ones that bring this governor, or a future one, more votes

Capitol insiders say plenty of legislators are up in arms about the Guv's plan, but most are intimidated by him and fear going public. Said one: "He has cajoled and downright bullied them, and they just can't get up the gumption to challenge him. Now, he is striking at the very heart of their power. If Bill wins, it would be a major change in the balance of power now and into the future."

He's right. And a lot of rural New Mexicans are going to be heard from before it's all over. They fear governor's will dish out their share of the the pork to the big population areas at their expense because that's where the votes are. The current system is lambasted by business groups and editorialists, but the fact is small town New Mexico and neighborhood groups have benefited mightily from the pork barrel and they don't want it tipped over. Sources close to the action say keep your eyes peeled on House Speaker Lujan, for years a master of pork barrel politics. "If Ben moves toward Bill on this I would be shocked," said a veteran insider. "But the Democrats caved on his tax cuts, so it can't be ruled out. Maybe they will work it by getting voters upset, and that could move the Guv away from the idea."

It's clear if Big Bill wants this one he will have to pull out all the stops, but that's never stopped him. Only another branch of government that acts like his equal can do that.

CLARK CAMPAIGN LOWERS THE BAR

The old trick is to say you hope to come in second or third, and when you do better you get a big pop for beating "expectations." Is that what the Clark campaign here is up to? It sure sounded that way on a conference call I sat in on with Arizona Clark leader Paul Johnson, a former mayor of Phoenix and former NM Governor Jerry Apodaca, a booster of Clark here. Mayor Johnson told me he expected Clark to take third in Arizona which, like NM's Dems, votes February 3. Jerry was a bit more upbeat saying he would be "shocked" if the General did not finish in the top three here. Well, that's a long way from the top where both agreed Dean is perched.

It's fine to play the expectation game, but second or third ain't going to get you to the dance in the long run. Someone's going to have to start knocking Dean around, or the current "expectation" that Dean will be the Democratic presidential nominee will be easily met.

TODAY'S WINNING NUMBERS ARE: 3...6...1..

361. That's how many brave souls of the NM Democratic Party have so far asked for absentee ballots to vote in the February 3 Democratic Prez caucuses. Most of the vote will be done by absentee ballots and they started going out Tuesday. Those requesting them thru the state party in ABQ (505-830-3650 Toll Free: 800-624-2457) cannot start casting them until after the first of the year. The Dems have a long way to go to get even 10 per cent of their registered votes out to the caucuses. There are half a million registered Dems, meaning 50,000 would have to vote to meet the 10 per cent mark.

By the way, there will be eight candidates on the ballot. Carol Mosley Braun and Al Sharpton will not be among them. But Fern Penna of New York, a gadfly type contender, has paid the $2500 entry fee and been certified by the party and will round out the field of eight. The Dems will have a public love-in today to decide the exact ballot positions for each candidate.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and and send a link to interested friends.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2003
Not for reproduction without permission of the author