That stemwinder Governor Bill laid on the Roundhouse Tuesday had the politicos reaching for the Rolaids. Digesting the paper whopper will take more than the thirty days the lawmakers are scheduled to meet. It reminded me of the old saying about Sinatra: "It's Frank's world, we just live in it." Well, substitute "Bill" for Frank and you get the idea.

But the Big Fella didn't do himself much harm in his 'State of the State.' He threw everything at them but the kitchen sink, ensuring he will get a couple of big goodies and leaving the rest for next time around. The idea is apparently to show the Guv continuously on the move, a "doer." Well, he can slow down now, I think we get it.

No one seriously expects the complete agenda to be adopted, maybe not even half. Bill picked the low lying fruit early in the speech--DWI reform--which should easily pass. (Is the liquor lobby that powerful that we have to do piecemeal DWI reform every single year?) Coming noticeably late in the speech was the most pressing problem facing the state: exploding Medicaid costs. Bill threw in the towel on any major reform of the entitlement when he declared he would NOT raise eligibility requirements. It was a clear gift to the liberal wing (the nominating wing) of his Democratic Party.

My sense of this legislature hasn't changed. Outside of Max Coll and a few others, the Guv has a pretty clear playing field. This being an election year he doesn't want to fight too much with them, and they fear his retribution on the campaign trail if they push him too hard. Expect a pretty smooth session, barring any unexpected moves from the Fourth Floor. True fireworks will be postponed until next year.

LOOKING FOR A 'HIGH-WAGE' JOB? COME ON IN

Yet another contender has joined the race for the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) seat being vacated by Jerome Block. And this one has some interesting political shadings. Johnny Montoya, husband of State Rep. Rhonda King, has thrown his hat into the ring. He joins Ben Ray Lujan, son of state House Speaker Ben Lujan, and other possible Dem candidates Art Rodarte of Espanola and ABQ City Councilor Miguel Gomez. Also vying for the 90k a year job, regulating the state's utilities, is former State Rep. Bob Perls and political unknown Keith Dodson. Montoya is VP for marketing at the Del Norte Credit Union in Los Alamos. He also worked 12 years with the Rick Johnson ad agency in ABQ.

Ben Ray Lujan told me that he would work to clear the field of other Hispanic candidates because they would divide the vote and hand the nomination to Perls. But Montoya says he's not going anywhere and says Ben Ray is being a bit presumptuous. He says his experience far outranks that of Ben Ray. Of note is Rep. King's break with the Speaker Lujan in the recent special session over the road tax bill pushed by Big Bill. She was one of the few Dems to vote no. Also, Montoya is a second cousin of Attorney General Patricia Madrid who has been flexing her muscles in opposition to the Guv. To top it off, Montoya says he has asked legendary former Guv Bruce King for some campaign advice. Oh, the tangled web of La Politica!

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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