Pork reform is going to the slaughterhouse in the Legislature. Hundreds of millions of dollars in capital outlay for projects around NM are divvied up each year by the Legislature and the Guv, but the Guv wans to control more of it because he says it's not being spent 'efficiently.' Fat chance of that, say my sources at the Roundhouse. Here's how our high insider puts it:
"It seems the Gov. has thrown in the towel on his capital outlay reform. There's been no talk of reform the past couple of weeks, and we are proceeding in the same manner we always have. The capital outlay subcommittee is hearing member's requests and have put in a lot of hours. Citizens have been traveling up here and appearing to support the capital outlay requests. All indicators are that we are doing this as we always have. The Gov. is not sending any signals that he will sustain the fight."
So rejoice pork-barrel politicos. It appears you will get your fill. This being an election year, it was a stretch to think the lawmakers would give up one dime's worth of their pork to Big Bill. So Guv, get out of the barnyard, there are some hungry hogs that need to be fed.
DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR GOP HIGH COURT WANNABE'S
Late last night State GOP Executive Director Tom Carroll reported he is "optimistic' that the GOP's late-entering State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals candidates will have enough petition signatures to meet today's deadline and win spots on the June 1 primary ballot. Both have received the 1900 GOP signatures that each must be file in Santa Fe today by 5 p.m. Carroll says former State Rep. Paul Barber, running for Court of Appeals and Ned Fuller going for State Supreme Court, 'should make it' because most of the signatures will be genuine Republican and not subject to disqualification. See my Feb. 6 report for just what is happening in these races. The State Supreme Court battle could turn into a big-spending one for the first time in history.
DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE, TOM
Also filing mandatory petition signatures today are the candidates for the state's three Congressional seats. And the GOP has managed to come up with two contenders who hope to take on Dem. incumbent Tom Udall who is unopposed for the Dem nomination June 1. Greg Tucker, the 30 year old DA from San Juan County and Native American Ed Tsiyatee of Las Vegas, NM, are both in the battle. Udall has a half-million in cash in the bank and is in a solidly Dem district. But at least the GOP found someone, probably Tucker, to oppose him so we will have a campaign up North.
MANNY & STEVE--YES, IT CAN HAPPEN
No sooner had I blogged here that outgoing Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos just might be the guy to replace senate powerhouse Manny Aragon, if Aragon resigned his seat to take the presidency at NM Highlands University, than the nay sayers were on the e-mail telling me 'no way.' Steve doesn't live in the district, they said, so no deal is possible. No deal is possible in New Mexico?!! Please guys and gals. All it takes is an apartment to establish residency. And it has been done so many times over the years, I have lost count.
People love to write and point out this residency requirement. Again, give me a big break! All of you veterans of the NM political scene have your residency switching stories. These alligators can and do switch addresses on a dime. So don't pour cold water on a possible Gallegos succession to Aragon just yet. And don't rely on where a candidate lives as a guide to what can happen in the political future because it isn't always reliable.
FINAL TAKE
Our last take today comes from the Trib's Shea Andersen who has an update on the GOP friction in NM.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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