Wednesday, January 20, 2021Opening Day Jolt: Progressives Rebuked As Muñoz Claims Senate Finance Chair, Stewart Names Him Right After Winning Pro Tem And Killing Conservative Senate Coalition, Also: Herrell's Cowboy Problem
She named conservative Dem businessman George Munoz, 53, of Gallup as the new chairman of the influential Senate Finance Committee, spoiling the progressive dream of an easy ride through the 60 day meet. That Stewart, known for many years as a leading liberal, would turn her back on the party's freshly emboldened progressive wing, signaled to the Alligators that she had cut a deal with the conservative D's in order to secure the Pro Tem post. She was elected Tuesday on a party line Senate vote of 27 Dems to 15 R's. Stewart, 72, did try to soften the blow. She changed up the Senate Corporations Committee. It is now the Tax, Business and Transportation Committee. That's significant because big tax measures will no longer go to conservative Senate Finance but to the new committee headed by Sen. Bennie Shendo and many members of a liberal slant. (Complete list of chairs and members of the Senate Standing Committees here. House Committees here. Speaker Egolf welcoming message here. Legislative website here. Governor's website here.) Still, it was the Muñoz appointment Tuesday that jolted the few souls occupying the pandemic-vacant Roundhouse. A senior Alligator had the analysis: The Muñoz deal raises issues with the proposed constitutional amendment that would devote one percent of the $21 billion Permanent Fund to early childhood education. Muñoz has voted for it and against it. Progressives were expecting this to easily pass after years of being blocked by former chair John Arthur Smith. Now it looks as if Stewart cut a deal with Muñoz that would have voters asked to give one half of one percent of the Fund to the public schools and the other half percent to early childhood. That waters down the early childhood portion, has progressives upset and would make voter approval more difficult. Some leading House liberals grumbled over the opening day events in the Senate and were already urging House Speaker Brian Egolf to play hardball with Muñoz, if he follows in John Arthur's footsteps and stifles progressive House legislation. AVOIDING A TEMPEST
On Monday--the day before the session started--the name of Muñoz as the new Senate Finance chair was briefly posted on the committee door. It knocked the wind out of the few insiders who saw it before it was quickly removed and the well-kept secret stayed kept. It's hard to fathom that no one spilled the beans about what was about to come down. If someone had, it could have caused a progressive uproar over Stewart and maybe dethroned her. We got tipped off soon after the vote for Pro Tem had been taken. Senior Alligators tried to take credit for the big scoop. Sorry Gators, but a day late and a dollar short is never a scoop. But it's always fun.
COWBOY GRIEF Readers ask about the authority of Attorney General Balderas. The AG said that if Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin doesn't resign as an Otero County Commissioner after his arrest by the FBI in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, Balderas will seek his removal. Removing a county commissioner, absent a felony conviction, can also be done by a citizens recall and also for other reasons listed in this statute sent by Matt Baca, the AG's chief counsel: Conviction of any felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; failure, neglect or refusal to discharge the duties of the office, or failure, neglect or refusal to discharge any duty devolving upon the officer by virtue of his office; knowingly demanding or receiving illegal fees as such officer; failure to account for money coming into his hands as such officer; gross incompetency or gross negligence in discharging the duties of the office. . . Adds Baca: Our office will take the most appropriate course to complement any criminal prosecution and to ensure the strongest case for removal.
Griffin faces federal charges and is being held without bond for his alleged role in the breach of the Capitol.
HERRELL'S COWBOYS GOP Rep. Yvette Herrell called the Cowboys for Trump endorsement of her southern congressional candidacy last year one of the endorsements "I am most proud of" but now comes a bit of back off: Herrell put distance between herself and one of her most flamboyant political supporters as her campaign's social media account deleted posts highlighting the endorsement of Cowboys for Trump and the group's founder, Couy Griffin. In September 2019, days before President Trump held a rally in Rio Rancho, Herrell had posted on her campaign Facebook page that "Cowboys For Trump is truly one of the endorsements I am most proud of! Keep up the great work, Couy!" But on Monday, the post had been removed.
Not quite. While the endorsement has been removed, the top paragraph about how Herrell is so proud of the endorsement is still on her Facebook as are reader comments praising the now hyper-controversial endorsement. We've said that Herrell is having one of the worst starts ever of a NM congressional rep. And if she can't start getting this stuff 100 percent right, well, it's going to keep getting worse. ABSENT LOBBYISTS KKOB radio talker TJ Trout asked us Tuesday about how the Legislature will work without lobbyists permitted in the building because of the pandemic. Our response: I don't see how you can have a legislative session without the people who run the place. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021 |
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