Wednesday, April 06, 2022Irony Beat: MLG Gaffe Set Up Special Session That Delivered Big On Inflation Relief; One Day Meeting Sees R's Divided On Key Economic Plan
When MLG vetoed a $50 million appropriations bill filled with pet projects for legislators, there was nearly a collective heart attack. The bill had won unanimous approval and only hours after the veto lawmakers were talking about calling themselves into an "extraordinary session" to retaliate against the Guv and override her veto. But a funny thing happened. . . MLG, cornered and aware of the danger of defiance in an election year, walked back that veto and called a special session to rework the $50 million measure and added to the agenda the inflation relief payments that will make weary consumers smile. (The $50 million pork bill was reworked and also approved at the Tuesday special.) When they say politics is all about timing, they ain't kidding, kids. MLG vetoed the pork bill March 9, only two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine and set off a world inflation crisis. Her ill-advised veto suddenly presented opportunity and she seized it when she called the special session. Strange stuff indeed but the kind that keeps even the cynics interested in the game of La Politica. Of course, MLG has the legislative leadership to thank for helping to bail her out and making lemonade out of lemons, especially House Speaker Egolf. He's in his swan song days but kept his Dem caucus in line and they now get to show off the bacon they bring home plus those generous payments to one and all. Ditto for Senate Finance Committee Chairman George Munoz who could have extracted some revenge on the Guv but instead took the high road. So what began with a Governor sent reeling and falling on the ropes ended Tuesday with her (and the Dem legislature) dancing around the ring like Rocky. IN THE DUST
Only in this polarized environment could you find legislative Republicans divided on giving money back to the citizens. That kind of relief has been their bread and butter for decades but this is not Pete Domenici's party and the recent radicalization of a segment of the GOP does not allow it to support anything with a Democratic ring to it under any circumstances. But it is a segment--13 House Republicans voted with the Dems for the rebates and cash payments. In the Senate only one R voted against the deal. The GOP was flummoxed and out maneuvered and could not find a plan to offer to play catchup. So it was with the two leading R Guv candidates. Guv hopeful Rebecca Dow said: MLG has decided to put a Band-Aid on a broken bone by giving out checks that will only provide temporary relief. We need a Governor with the sense to support our energy sector and give hardworking New Mexicans a long-term solution at the pump! But "temporary relief" is being done across the nation because of the unprovoked attack on Ukraine by Russia and that has spiked prices from the gas pump to the grocery store. As for a "long term solution," the Permian Basin in New Mexico is already pumping oil at record levels and will likely set another record this year. The long-term solution is an end to the Ukrainian war that prompted the sky high prices in the first place. Here's Guv contender Mark Ronchetti: MLG called a special session to give New Mexicans a few dollars trying to buy her re-election. Her election-year give away is not enough and pales in comparison to the taxpayer-funded pay raises she gave political insiders. New Mexicans need tax relief, not election-year politics. So if the rebates are so meager to Ronchetti, how large should they be and what specific "tax relief" does he have in mind? We and others just might agree with him, but he doesn't say. Dow and Ronchetti are, of course, currying favor with conservative primary voters but they missed an opportunity to reach a larger audience without alienating that base by supporting the rebates and outlining how they would improve on them (and the economy) if elected. As for MLG, she's been given a good debating point: "Why did my opponent fail to support providing significant inflation relief to New Mexicans?" Heck, she may even pick up some R votes with that line. TWO DEVELOPMENTS The Las Cruces Sun-News reports reports via Twitter: In a crowded GOP primary field for New Mexico Lieutenant Governor, Isabella Solis, Patrick Lyons and Anastacia Morper were disqualified, leaving two candidates Ant Thornton and Peggy Muller-Aragon. . . Former state Rep. Rick Little has withdrawn from the Republican primary. It would have been the fourth time Little and his Democratic successor in the legislature, Willie Madrid, would have competed. This means Madrid (who has no primary challenger) will face Republican Elizabeth Winterrowd of Las Cruces for New Mexico House District 53. POT WATCH This didn't take long: At least 14 Algodones elementary students went to the hospital Monday after a classmate shared THC candies with them. . . they’re all ten or younger. . .They told an adult at the school they were feeling sick after all eating the same candy. "Not to be unexpected that this could happen but to happen so quickly after the law (legalizing recretatiomla marijuana) went into effect on Friday was a bit surprising for me,” said Bernalillo Public School Superintendent Matt Montaño. "I feel like I'm a little on my heels on it and I'm disappointed not to be able to be a little more proactive about this.". . . A representative says parents will not face criminal charges because it appears it was an accident, and no kids were seriously hurt. THE BOTTOM LINES  Congrats as well to Arthur Alpert, who has been around almost as long as KKOB as he marks his 90th birthday this month. Alpert has been a fixture on the state journalism scene for decades but is also known for his keen acting ability at local theaters. . .Yet one more congrats to longtime KOAT-TV reporter Nancy Laflin who is in her last week at the station. She has held forth there covering everything New Mexico for decades and doing it with style. . .Finally, GOP Guv candidate Jay Block is serving his second term as Sandoval County Commissioner. He was referenced here this week as a "former commissioner." 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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