How does the Pete V. Domenici Federal Courthouse sound? Well, you better get used to it because sources in Washington sent us the language authorizing the naming of the building for Pete contained in a recent massive appropriations bill signed into law by the Prez. Here is the one line that will take Pete into posterity. "SEC. 160. (a) DESIGNATION- The United States courthouse located at 333 Lomas Blvd. N.W. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, shall be known and designated as the `Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse"

Now this has not been without controversy. A few months ago, when word circulated that Domenici was angling to get the building named after himself, friends of former NM Governor and federal judge Ed Mechem said Ed should get the honor first. After all, they argued, he's already gone, and naming a building after a living person is not the norm. Domenici, who is serving his last term, has not said whether he actually authored the language naming the building for himself, but even his friends like to say Pete is not a guy to underestimate his own abilities. However, since his efforts to pass an energy bill flopped, wags in New Mexico have been calling him "Senator Diminishi." Maybe his name on that nice courthouse will soften such blows coming from the political briar patch Pete has inhabited these many years.

HEIDI'S BRIEF HIATUS

Speaking of Pete & Co., Heidi Fuller, one of his longtime fundraisers, is still apparently on the job. She just sent an e mail under Pete's name soliciting volunteers for the Prez's campaign. Heidi got in the Republican intraparty feud when it was disclosed on this site that she had lost a fundraising contract for the R's when Ramsay Gorham took over as party chair from John Dendahl. Pete was unhappy about that and it's been one of the problems in uniting the party. Maybe Heidi is an example of how the party will eventually unite: everyone gets at least a little piece of the huge election pie being baked by the Bush campaign. I know, you thought it was all about the issues.

INDIAN GAMBLING: A GOOD BET?

Those are pretty slick black and white TV spots you've been seeing touting the benefits of Indian gambling in NM, but where are the facts and figures to show that the state-sanctioned monopoly gambling has made improvements in the living standards of our state's pueblo residents? Despite Indian gambling generating over $14 billion a year in revenue nationally (half a billion here), The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the rate of poverty among Native American's in 2002 was 25%, compared to a national rate of 13%. The unemployment rate for Indians in 2002 was 12.3%, compared to 5.8% overall. Suicide, alcoholism and infant mortality rates for Indians remains way above the general population. Maybe Indian gambling, as we were promised in the 1990's, has made a dent in these stats in our state. But if it has the tribes are not bragging about it in their feel-good TV ads.

IT'S BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND

And more from the TV front. Have you seen those NM Health Care Association TV ads that praise Big Bill and the Legislature for working out a compromise on the Medicaid issue? Just a week ago, the association was running ads attacking the Guv and his 'bed tax' and it prompted the Big Guy to throw healthcare lobbyists out of his office and threaten an audit to see if any Medicaid funds were used for the ads. Under a compromise, he demanded these new ads that praise him. do you think the Guv will ask for an audit to see if Medicaid funds were used for them? Don't hold your breath.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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