Not unexpectedly there are rumblings on the left about the US Senate candidacy of Rep. Ben Ray Lujan. Reader Gene Hill writes:

I thoroughly enjoyed the Cash Monster imagery you posted on the Friday blog. But for me it serves as a stark reminder who the real Cash Monster in the Senate race is. Ben Ray Lujan has such a well-oiled money machine in DC at his service that I fear that no bona fide progressive candidate will even have a chance here. 

We've all seen how the Democratic Party establishment (statewide and national) goes overboard in pushing their preferred candidate into the nomination. Then we decry the disastrous results the following November. By way of examples, recall Diane Denish in 2010, Gary King in 2014, and Hillary in 2016. MLG in 2018 was also the machine's choice, but at least she was too strong a candidate to lose. 

Anyway, I fear this type of scenario if Ben Ray becomes the Frankenstein of the national cash monster machine. I implore the Democratic powers that be to make room for a progressive candidate in the primary and try to level the playing field for him or her. 

So far Lujan is the only declared candidate for the 2020 Dem Senate nomination. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who could conceivably run to Lujan's left, says she will make a decision this month on whether to run.

As for a Dem losing the Senate race straight up to an outnumbered Republican, that's hard to see. A more dangerous scenario for the D's in the 2020 general election might be a credible Green Party candidate running to the left, peeling off Dem votes and perhaps giving the R nominee a fighting chance.

NO PAY RAISES

We blogged during the legislative session that a proposal to raise the pay of the Governor and other statewide elected officials (SB 547) would easily pass the House and Senate. And it did. But then it ran into a gubernatorial veto. MLG's veto message made clear authors of that legislation made a big mistake by applying the 15 percent raises to those currently in office:

(This bill) makes these salary changes effective for each state officer who're begins on or after January 1, 2020. . . I agree that a pay raise may eventually be appropriate for these positions. However, I am not comfortable signing into law a pay raise that may apply to current office holders who could run for re-election in 2020 and beyond. If the Legislature wishes to provide a longer timeline for when the salary changes will take effect, then I am willing to re-examine this issue. 

The veto cost the Governor a $16,000 a year pay raise, from $110,000 to $126,000. The Attorney General's pay would have gone from $95,000 to $109,250; Land Commissioner from $90,000 to $103,500; the state Auditor, Treasurer and SOS would have gone from $85,000 to $97,750 and Public Regulation Commissioners from $90,000 to $103,500.

Despite this year's denial of a pay boost the salaries of New Mexico's top officials are not that much below those in neighboring Colorado.

Governor - $123,193
Attorney General - $107,672
Secretary of State - $93,360
State Treasurer - $93,360

THE POCKET SIGN 

Governor Lujan Grisham's veto of that 15% salary increase for certain state elected officials reminded a Senior Alligator of provisions related to the Governor's bill approval or veto authority in Article 4, Section 22 of the New Mexico Constitution. They write:

It is generally known that the Governor has 20 days after legislative adjournment to sign, veto, line item veto or pocket veto legislation which passes both Houses during the last 3 days of the Session. However, if a bill passes both Houses before the last 3 days of the Session, the Governor has the option not to act on a bill which then becomes law through what is commonly known as a "pocket sign."

Governor Richardson used this provision during his first regular legislative session in 2003. That bill proposed to improve the retirement benefits of former members of the Legislature. So, in addition to Governor Lujan Grisham's suggestion to the Legislature in her Veto Message for SB 547 to "provide a longer timetable for when the salary changes will take effect," the Legislature may want to give the Governor an additional option by sending a future bill to the 4th Floor before the last 3 days of the end of the Legislative Session.

Quite the clever play, Senior Gator. You may get a Christmas card from Maggie, Hector and Company for your due diligence.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019