Tuesday, February 16, 2021Congress Watch: Bill To Restore Primaries For Vacancies Eeks Out Win But Passage Questionable, McGinn Falters At Ward Meet As Mailers Drop, Plus: Race Bait: GOP Senate Leader Apologizes To Cabinet Chief For Dubious Comments The measure passed 6 to 5 with most Dems voting against, including committee Chairman Daniel Ivey-Soto. The bill would require approval of two thirds of the House and Senate to take effect in time for the vacancy which is expected in March after Rep. Deb Haaland is confirmed as Secretary of Interior by the US Senate. The close committee vote signals that two-thirds approval is not going to happen. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Daymon Ely who says the current system is "undemocratic." The Senate sponsor is ABQ GOP Sen. Mark Moores. It may be too late to change the rule for the Haaland vacancy but what about a bill to restore the primaries (and democracy) for future congressional vacancies? Ely and Moores ought to be able to handle that assignment.
ALLIGATOR ALLEY The Alligators are out of the pond on the Ely bill. They see it as a play for Dem congressional hopeful Randi McGinn, a trial attorney with considerable personal wealth. She would be the obvious beneficiary of a primary election because her opponents lack her resources. McGinn ran into trouble at her Saturday ward meeting where she was unable to get elected to the Bernallio County Central Committee which in turn selects members to the state Central Committee who will choose the congressional nominee. She also ran for precinct chair and lost.
We asked McGinn about her ward defeat: I was told in advance that running for county central committee or precinct chair would likely be futile because, despite my 40 years of work in the party. . . supporting candidates, I would be seen as a party outsider because I have had to sit on the sidelines as a political eunuch for the 12 years my husband was on the Supreme Court. I ran anyway out of respect for the local process. We re-elected the current precinct chair and I have volunteered to help him walk the neighborhood to engage more voters. Even though the Dem nominee will be chosen by around 200 commitee members or fewer, McGinn is already spending major money, anticipating the general election with the GOP nominee (and independent contender Aubrey Dunn Jr.). A Corrales reader informs: We just got our 3rd full-color mailer from her. Messaging on one was targeted at female voters: "A fighter for the women of New Mexico.” The message on another was more generic, “We need a fighter who will put people before politics.” That one bore the almost-endorsement from Nancy Pelosi. All of them were glossy. How about that description of the House Speaker's recent flirtation with McGinn as an "almost endorsement?" That's exactly what it was and looms large as the other Dem hopefuls--Reps Stansbury and Lewis, Sen. Sedillo Lopez, politico Victor Reyes and activists Selinda Guerrero and Francisco Fernandez--work feverishly to secure committee delegates. The special election is expected sometime in June. RACE BAIT
At Smith's confirmation hearing before Senate Rules, Baca pointed out that Blacks make up less than 3 percent of the state's population and that Hispanics comprise 48 percent, saying to Smith: Do you expect that in your time here, in seven years, that you’ve been immersed in this culture enough in this state that you feel comfortable entering a position? Do you feel like you are comfortable adequately representing both cultures — white, Native, Hispanics? Baca did not apologize in the aftermath of the Friday hearing but on Monday he came with the overdue mea culpa: I spoke to her and did apologize to her for that insensitive line of questioning that I did lead her through. We had a great conversation and talked about New Mexico and our families and really just a great lady that I plan on supporting on the (Senate) floor.
Despite the apology, a Dem consultant took this swipe: Baca's comments reveal that he is undeserving of the leadership role given to him by his fellow GOP Senators. He does not have the experience nor the intelligence to lead. The misstep reminded veteran observers of a more sensational wayward moment in 2011 when House Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton, a Black ABQ lawmaker, spoke of GOP Gov. Susana Martinez during a House debate. She accused a Republican lawmaker of "carrying the Mexican's water on the Fourth Floor." She later apologized, saying she had "lost it." Secretary-designate Smith, who served as a medical technician in Operation Desert Storm, played it well and graciously answered Baca's questions. After the meeting she refused to comment on his racial inferences. Thankfully so.
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