Monday, February 14, 2022Ben Ray Speaks; Alleviates Concerns Over Stroke After Pressure For Transparency Ramped Up, Plus: Moderate Northern Dems Emerge in State House Primaries, Some Roundhouse Financial Doings And A Former NM US Rep Dies His report came after nearly two weeks of silence that prompted calls for more transparency as well as speculation about the seriousness of the stroke he suffered January 27. In a six minute video flanked by his two UNMH doctors, Lujan thanked the state for the outpouring of support and said he will soon be in a rehab facility to further his recovery and then return to DC in time to vote on President Biden's Supreme Court nominee. The Lujan video came after calls for more transparency, including from the NM Foundation for Open Government. In addition, a DC news report quoted two ethics experts saying Lujan's office owed the state and nation an update on his condition. With the Senate equally divided (50-50) the pressure for openness was only going to mount until Lujan, 49, made some kind of communication. That he finally did and without any apparent difficulty lifted the fears of the Dems and the White House that the Senate would be frozen. Already several committee votes had to be deferred because of his absence. While the increasing pressure was enough to surface the freshman Senator and have him assure the public that he was whole, questions linger. Why was the stroke not reported until five days after it occurred and why no health updates since February 1? While all are thankful for Lujan's recovery and his soon-to-be resumed Senate career that holds high promise for the state, the handling of his health crisis was a public relations wreck that will be studied for years to come and give the recovering Lujan cause for introspection. NORTHERN DEM CLASHES
In District 40 former state Rep. Joseph Sanchez, an engineer at Los Alamos Labs, is trying to return to the Roundhouse. He served one term there but did not seek re-election and launched an unsuccessful campaign for the 2020 northern Dem congressional nomination. The seat is currently held by freshman Rep. Roger Montoya, an openly gay Dem who surprised the district two years ago. Sanchez made a formal entry into the contest this week, believing Montoya is too liberal for the area, especially with polling trends showing more Hispanic Dems warming to conservative candidates. The district includes portions of San Miguel, Mora, Rio Arriba and Colfax counties. The other seats where moderate D's are prepping to challenge House progressives include District 42 in Taos County represented by first-term Rep. Kristina Ortez. Taos native and community activist Florence Miera has announced her candidacy. And in District 41 in Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties held by Rep. Susan Herrera who was first elected in 2018, a challenger is expected to soon make it official. The business friendly challengers can be expected to have enough cash to mount serious campaigns. Speaker Egolf's PAC is sure to join the fray to protect his members. ROUNDHOUSE DOINGS
The NM Housing Trust Fund passed the Senate (37-3). Sponsored by Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, the bill would provide a dedicated funding source for the Housing Trust Fund. SB 134 will annually allocate 2.5% of severance tax bond capacity for the Fund, administered by the Mortgage Finance Authority, to build, rehabilitate and/or weatherize affordable homes. . .To date, this program has resulted in 4,532 new affordable housing units. Sen. Rodriguez: “The problem has only gotten worse. This measure will ensure that we have sustainable housing funds so direly needed--for years to come.” The Trust Fund has received approximately $27 million in the last 17 years, averaging about $1.6 million per year. If SB134 is signed into law, the fund is projected to receive $27 million next year and an average of $20-$25 million/year in the years to come. Rep. Nathan Small is carrying the bill in the House. And this one (SB 135) from Sen. Correa Hemphill also is a bit on the complex side but it too makes a fundamental financial change. The bill would send a higher share of the state's huge surpluses flowing into the General Fund rather than a tax stabilization fund (aka Rainy Day Fund) whose mattress is now bursting with dollars that few expected to accumulate at this level--soon predicted to be $1.8 billion. The bill has passed the Senate. ED FOREMAN The Portales, New Mexico native served one term in the House of Representatives representing west Texas from 1963 to 1965, and later — after returning to New Mexico — won another term in Congress from 1969 to 1971. He was the only member of Congress in the 20th century to represent two different states in Washington, D.C.
Ed Foreman — an entrepreneur turned politician before his long career as a motivational speaker and trainer — died at age 88 on Feb. 2. Foreman, a Republican, defeated Dem Rep. E.S. Johnny Walker in the then new southern congressional district in 1968. In 1970, he was defeated for for reelection by Dem Harold "Mud" Runnels. Rodger Beimer, a veteran TV news reporter active during Foreman's time, called him "a colorful guy who wasn't afraid to express his thoughts." This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022 |
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