Monday, December 12, 2022Sen. Padilla Coming Out Winner In Committee Shake-Up And Leadership Choices But Past Still Haunts As Sen. Ivey-Soto Case Plays Out, Plus: Big Bill: Still Sweet Talking The Sharks
At last week's Committees' Committee meeting (video here), Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart affirmed Padilla's continued membership on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, even though the Democratic caucus has already named him their Majority Whip. It's unusual for a senator to keep a seat on that top committee while also in leadership, the thinking being that a dual role leaves less power for other senators to divide. But a more important reason for the Padilla backlash among Ivey-Soto sympathizers is what they perceive as uneven treatment of the two lawmakers. Ivey Soto was forced to resign the chairmanship of the Senate Rules Committee after a progressive lobbyist accused him of sexual harassment (later joined by other female lobbyists). A legislative investigation followed but ended without resolution. The Ivey-Soto backers say that Stewart and the progressives against him continue to ignore sex harassment charges against Padilla for which the city of ABQ paid settlements when he headed up the 911 call center in 2006:  Padilla was elected to the Senate in 2012 and elected by fellow Democratic senators as majority whip in 2014. In 2017, Senate Dems voted to leave the position vacant and Padilla was out (as a result of the allegations). The harassment charges came up in 2012 and in 2016 during Padilla’s campaigns for Senate. He won both races. However when he ran in 2008 against Sen. Linda Lopez the charges were more of a factor and he lost. An Ivey-Soto sympathizer made the anti-Padilla case: First, letting Padilla continue on Senate Finance and keeping the whip post as well is too much power for one senator. Second, it shows the hypocrisy of the progressive left. They ignore and excuse the sex harassment charges of Padilla. It reveals that much of the rage over Ivey-Soto is because he is a moderate and that the progressive furor is not only based on the charges against him but because of his stalling of the Left's agenda in Senate Rules. Meanwhile, Padilla kisses the ring and gets excused for his wrongdoing. That's hypocrisy all the way. PRAISING PADILLA Being a senator is a part-time job but Padilla, who represents the ABQ South Valley area, has made it a full-time enterprise, appearing at a variety of public events and playing a prominent role at senate interim committee meetings. His allies point out that he has already paid a stiff price for the harassment charges, noting that he was forced out of the 2018 lieutenant governor Democratic primary because of them and with the urging of then candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham. They also point to the aforementioned '17 Senate Dem decision to leave the Whip post vacant, effectively forcing Padilla out. A friend of Padilla weighs in: Michael has proven to be an earnest and committed Senator. He has kept his nose clean since his run-in with the city, is well-liked by his constituents and fellow Democratic Senators as evidenced by them naming him their new majority whip. For Ivey-Soto, it's sour grapes. His record is clear and people are fed up. Padilla has paid his dues. He is creating an enviable track record and it's resonating. Ivey-Soto has not commented on Padilla's rise to leadership. The Committees' Committee, whose choices must be ratified by the full Senate, demoted him to a position on Senate Indian Affairs. An attorney, he still holds a seat on Judiciary. He has not said if he will seek reelection in 2024, although he is expected to run and draw a progressive primary challenge in his ABQ NE Heights district. The dual roles of Padilla could theoretically be overturned by the full senate next month when the legislative session starts but insiders report the odds are slim. One of them says that past traditions are falling by the wayside and there is no formal rule against holding both posts. Pro Tem Stewart needs support in the Hispanic community and her alliance with Padilla could help her overcome resentment. Padilla is the sole Hispanic in the top Senate leadership. The progressive left, the mainstream media and the senate at large has ignored Padilla's past, unlike earlier years. That signals there is a statute of limitations on being erased over sex harassment charges. But just when that artificial statute takes effect is arbitrary. For Ivey-Soto it appears to be far off. For Padilla redemption is now. LOPEZ BYPASSED
Lopez also had to be grimacing over Sen. Padilla's newfound success. As we mentioned Padilla unsuccessfully challenged her for her senate seat in 2008. AGENDA SETTING The 27 members of the Senate Dem Caucus are slated to meet with Gov. Lujan Grisham at the capitol late Tuesday afternoon to hammer out an agenda for the 60 day legislative that begins January 17. There are 15 Republicans in the Senate. Maybe one of them can sneak into the room to find out what they face next month. BIG BILL SWEET TALK  It was a belated birthday present for the former Guv who turned 75 last month but has not lost his ability to sweet talk a shark. Speaking of which, Bill's popular 2016 book "How To Sweet Talk A Shark" might make a good Christmas read for that political junkie on your list. The lessons in the book on how to deal with the world's nastiest political characters and still get results apparently still hold true given Bill's Russian success. While the ex-Guv's sweet talking in Moscow has most everyone pleased, his support of the controversial PNM-Avangrid merger continues to draw sour remarks from the peanut gallery. Richardson is now urging MLG to name a Navajo as one of the three new Public Regulation Commissioners she will soon choose. The commissioners are expected to revisit the old PRC's rejection of the PNM-Avangrid deal. Wonder who's easier for Big Bill to sweet talk, the Putin gang or MLG? Can he reveal that in his next book? It would be a bestseller around here. 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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