Democracy for New Mexico

NM-3 Dems Urged to Participate in Platform and Resolutions Hearing

From Joe Casados, Regional Field Director, Democratic Party of NM: The Democratic Party of New Mexico would like to invite you to the Third Congressional District Platform and Resolutions Committee Hearing.

• Where: NEA New Mexico Building, 2007 Botulph Rd, Santa Fe, NM (click for map)
• When: March 24, 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

This hearing, which will be led by Platform and Resolutions Committee of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, is an opportunity for the public and members of the community to contribute thoughts and views for the creation of the Democratic Party’s platform in 2008. The DPNM Rules and Bylaws require that we hold hearings such as these in each congressional district every year.

If you would like to address an important issue, please join us and encourage others to participate.  We value your views. If you have any questions, please contact the Democratic Party of New Mexico at (505)-830-3650 or info@nmdemocrats.org. Click for a map of New Mexico's Third Congressional District.

NM Program that Trains Women to Run for Office Now Taking Applications

EmergeNewMexico's Deadline is March 15th
EmergeNewMexico, a statewide organization co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and former Attorney General Patricia Madrid, is currently accepting applications for its specialized training program for Democratic women who want to run for public office.

Democratic women in all parts of the state who are interested in seeking public office are encouraged to apply for this one-Saturday-a-month, seven month, rigorous and comprehensive training program that will teach participants the skills necessary for a successful campaign. The curriculum includes information about organizing a campaign, creating a message and fundraising.

Applications are available now at www.emergenm.org and must be postmarked by March 15, 2007. For more information about applying, contact Julie Koob at (505) 920-6002 or emergenm@yahoo.com. 

“When women run for office, women win office,” said EmergeNew Mexico Board Co-Chair Giovanna Rossi. “EmergeNew Mexico was created to give Democratic women the tools they’ll need to get started and to succeed. From the school board to the U.S. Senate, New Mexico women must have a voice.”

Nationally, Emerge training programs have demonstrated enormous success, with 60 percent of graduates going on to win their first race after completing the program.For more than a decade, more than half of all college graduates have been women, yet women hold only 14 percent of the seats in the U.S. Senate and 15.3 percent in the U.S. House of Representatives.

EmergeNew Mexico believes the solution to the problem is teaching women to think of themselves as political leaders.  Specifically, the organization’s mission is to identify, educate, and inspire Democratic women who want to pursue a career in politics at the local and state level in New Mexico.  Emerge is dedicated to making a long-term investment in these future leaders by developing their political and media skills; expanding their knowledge of local issues; and connecting them with mentors.

Domenici Hires Duke Cunningham's Attorney for Ethics Scandal

So reports a Washington Post article:

Lee Blalack, who recently represented former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), who is now serving time in prison for bribery and other offenses, said today that he has signed on as Domenici's attorney in the wake of allegations from fired U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias. Iglesias alleged that Domenici phoned him at his home and asked about a pending public corruption investigation.

The Senate Ethics Committee announced Monday that it has opened a preliminary inquiry into the matter, which will examine Iglesias's and Domenici's differing accounts of the phone call.

... Blalack, a partner in O'Melveny & Myers LLP's Washington office, is an experienced defense lawyer. As attorney for Cunningham, who is serving a sentence of more than eight years, Blalack dealt with one of the federal prosecutors who was later ousted, Carol S. Lam of San Diego.

Is it just me or does defending Domenici seem like a potential conflict of interest for Blalack, considering that it was another fired U.S. Attorney, Carol Lam, who was the prosecutor in the Duke Cunningham case? At the time she was fired, Lam had just finished putting together indictments against Cunningham co-conspirators Brent Wilkes (left in photo), a San Diego defense contractor, and Kyle "Dusty" Foggo (right in photo), executive director of the CIA until this May, on fraud and conspiracy charges. Some speculate that her firing was meant to cripple her expanding investigation of corruption in this vein, as she followed the evidence chain from San Diego to Congress, the Pentagon and the CIA. Wilkes and Foggo were indicted on February 13, 2007, two days before Lam's termination date.

Maybe it's just that Domenici will feel at home with Blalack because the attorney is obviously well versed in the layers of dirt that lurk behind the surface of certain elements of the Republican Congressional caucus. Whatever the reason, the cast of characters in this scandal is getting curiouser and curiouser. (Tip 'o the hat to TPMmuckraker, once again.)

Gallup Gets a Raise!

From ACORN NM:
Gallup, New Mexico voters approved one of the most aggressive municipal wage hikes in the country yesterday. The measure will give Gallup workers a raise to $6.50 on July 1, $7.00 on January 1, and $7.50 on July 1, 2008.

Election results are still unofficial; final results may not be available until Friday; but, for now, it is clear that both minimum wage measures passed with comfortable majorities. Measure 1, which would have provided an annual cost of living increase in addition to the immediate wage increase, had a higher percentage of yes votes than Measure 2, but Measure 2 will become law because it received a larger total of yes votes.

Whatever the result, Gallup workers are benefitting from the volunteer efforts of the tireless Gallup Campaign for a Living Wage, backed by ACORN, AFSCME, the Central New Mexico Central Labor Council, and the United Food & Commercial Workers.

Their success did not come easily. The City Council reacted in fear to their petitioned proposal and tried to under cut it, but wage supporters changed the power dynamic in Gallup. Even the Chamber of Commerce, which had fiercely opposed an increase, came out in support of Measure 2. By winning a raise for thousands of Gallup workers, the Gallup Campaign for a Living Wage has helped the struggle for all hard-working New Mexicans and laid the groundwork for other reforms in Gallup.

For more information, contact Matthew Henderson at nmacorn@acorn.org.

Changing Tunes Again, Domenici Now Says He Can't Recall Violating Senate Ethics Rules

New Mexico Senator Faces Ethics Review, Possible Obstruction of Justice Investigation: GOP Senator Pete Domenici just can’t get his story straight. When news first broke that he called U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to pressure him about ongoing investigations, Domenici said he had no idea what Iglesias was talking about. Then when it became clear that Iglesias would testify before Congressional committees, Domenici reversed course and admitted to the conversation. And now that Iglesias has testified that he felt “sick” and “leaned on” after Domenici’s call to ask whether indictments would be brought before last November’s election, Domenici says he simply cannot “recall my mentioning the November election to him.”

“It’s getting harder and harder to keep track of Pete Domenici’s denials, since he comes up with a different version every day,” said DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller. “By tomorrow Pete Domenici won’t remember having ever met David Iglesias or even knowing what the U.S. Attorney does.  But Domenici’s denials have now been contradicted in sworn testimony by a respected former U.S. Attorney who was fired just weeks after he refused to bow to Domenici’s inappropriate and possibly illegal pressure. Pete Domenici is facing a Senate ethics investigation and a possible obstruction of justice review – he needs to start coming clean about his exact role in this growing scandal.”

Iglesias Said He Felt Pressured When Domenici Specifically Asked About Timing of A Potential Indictment: According to Iglesias’ sworn testimony yesterday, Domenici called him at home in October and asked of potential indictments in an Albuquerque corruption case, “Are those going to be filed before November?” Iglesias told the Committee recalling Domenici’s inquiry. “I said I didn't think so. He said, ‘I'm very sorry to hear that.’ And then the line went dead.” “I felt sick afterwards,” Iglesias said of Domenici’s call. “I felt leaned on to get this moving.”

First Denying the Call Altogether, Domenici Later Said He Didn’t Pressure Iglesias About the Specific Timing of a Pre-Election Indictment: After first denying talking to Iglesias at all, Sen. Domenici finally acknowledged on Sunday that he had, in fact, called Iglesias. He denied pressuring Iglesias and made no mention of asking Iglesias specifically about indictments "before November."

Ethics Expert Sees Potential For Criminal Obstruction of Justice Investigation: Stanley Brand, a former Capital Hill general counsel and ethics lawyer, said Domenici could be the focus of an obstruction of justice investigation by an independent counsel that could result in criminal penalties.

Sources: Albuquerque Tribune, 3/6/07, 3/7/07, 3/7/07; Domenici Statement, 3/4/07; AP, 3/5/07; NPR, 3/7/07. From the DSCC.

Editor's Note: You can read all our previous posts on this topic by visiting our U.S. Attorney Iglesias post archive.

Gov. Richardson Signs Renewable Energy Bills

Audio: Listen to Albuquerque public radio KUNM's Jim Williams reporting on some of the many environmental and greenhouse gas reduction bills being considered at this year's legislature, as well as on Gov. Bill Richardson's signing of two innovative renewable energy bills this past Monday. And here's how a press release for the Governor's office describes the clean energy legislation:

SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson today signed two major cornerstones of his clean energy agenda. Senate Bill 418 will dramatically increase New Mexico’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and our use of clean electricity. House Bill 188 creates a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to promote clean energy jobs and help New Mexico both develop our clean energy resources and market them to other states.

“I am proud today to sign a bill that will quadruple New Mexico’s use of clean electricity by 2020,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “Promoting renewable electricity keeps our air clean and it will help New Mexico meet my aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals. It will also help continue to create new jobs, like those at Advent Solar in Albuquerque, and aid ranchers who want to diversify into the lucrative wind energy market.”

In 2004 Governor Richardson signed New Mexico’s first Renewable Portfolio Standard into law. This mandated that 5% of New Mexico’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2006, increasing to 10% by 2011. Senator Michael Sanchez’s Senate Bill 418 requires that at least 15 percent of an electric utility's power supply come from renewable sources by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020.

House Bill 188 – sponsored by Representative Jose Campos -- establishes a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority that will help New Mexico export solar, wind and other renewable energy and further build our high-wage, and high-tech economy.

“The Transmission Authority and the Renewable Portfolio Standard work in combination to dramatically position New Mexico to develop our vast renewable energy resources,” said Joanna Prukop, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources. “We've just positioned our state to become extremely competitive in all aspects of clean energy development and the benefits that come with it.”

Under Governor Richardson’s leadership, New Mexico has become the nation’s Clean Energy State. In the past few weeks alone Governor Richardson has signed a major, five state climate change agreement, announced a new Tesla electric car plant for Albuquerque and a biodiesel plant in Clovis, NM.

“I am proud that both these bills passed with bipartisan support,” said Governor Richardson. “That is because New Mexico is hungry for clean energy and the good jobs that come with this new industry.”

Editor's Note: Desert Rock Power Plant
Now what we need is for the Governor to speak out strongly against the construction of the massive new coal-fired Desert Rock Power Plant by Sithe Global near Farmington, on Navajo Nation land. If allowed, the plant will pump out 10.5 million tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide each year, effectively wiping out most of the gains to be made by other anti-greenhouse gas efforts in New Mexico, as well as contribute to an existing mercury hotspot.

I know the Navajo Nation has significant sovereign power over the use of their land, but it might help if the Governor made an issue out of the damaging effects the pollution from the plant would have not only on New Mexico, but on communities all across the nation. With a required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) still pending on the plant, there's a chance the plant can still be stopped or at least required to significantly upgrade its pollution technologies. Public hearings on the plant's draft EIS will be held this Spring.

For more information, visit the website of the San Juan Citizens Alliance, the desert-rock-blog, the New Mexico Coaltion for Clean Affordable Energy and the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Kirtland AFB Nukes Target of Memorial Set for Hearing Today

From Stop the War Machine:
State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino has introduced Senate Memorial 29, which calls for the dismantlement of the 2000 nuclear weapons at Kirtland, the largest concentration of nuclear weapons anywhere. If Albuquerque were to secede from the union, it would be the world's third largest nuclear power: Russia, USA, Albuquerque.

Concerned citizens have discussed the flaws of Albuquerque safety plan with city council. A number of city councilors have expressed concern over the Albuquerque Emergency Operations Plan, which does not mention the existence of nuclear weapons and relies upon I-25 and I-40 for evacuation routes (remember the snow crisis and the roads out of town)!

There are many other reasons in addition to this to call for dismantlement:

1. All our nuclear weapons did not keep us safe on 911 and do nothing but drain resources that could be better used for education, health care, etc.
2. What are we going to do with them? Use them?
3. 2000 nuclear weapons do not belong in a city, or anywhere.

On January 4, George Schultz, William Perry, Henry Kissinger and Sam Nunn called for disarmament with regard to nuclear weaponry in the Wall Street Journal. On February 8, Governor Richardson declared that the US should lead the way with regard to nuclear disarmament. As the home to the largest concentration of nuclear weapons, New Mexico has an important role in history with regard to disarmament.

We have been told three times in the past four days by the Senate Rules Committee office that SM 29, which calls for the dismantlement of the 2000 nuclear weapons at Kirtland in Albuquerque, will be discussed on Wednesday, March 7, in the Senate Rules Committee that meets at 8:30 AM. Check with the Senate Rules office about SM 29 schedule: (505) 986-4746. Many people are expected to attend the meeting.

Members of the Sen. Rules Committee hearing SM 29:

Linda Lopez (D), chair, 986-4737
John Grubesic (D), vice chair, 986-4260, john.grubesic@nmlegis.gov
Rod Adair (R), ranking member, 986-4385, radair@dfn.com
Kent Cravens (R), 986-4391, jlcravens@nmlegis.gov
Dianna Duran (R), 986-4701, dianna.duran@nmlegis.gov
Dede Feldman (D), 986-4482, dede.feldman@nmlegis.gov
Steve Komadina (R), 986-4377, komadina@stevekomadina.com
Cisco McSorley (D), 986-4485, cisco.mcsorley@nmlegis.gov
Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D), 986-4380, jortizyp@aol.com
Ben Altimirano (D), 986-4733

Rep. Wirth’s Efficient Energy Buildings Legislation Unanimously Passes House

From the Democratic Leadership of the NM House:
Santa Fe, NM – The House passed legislation introduced by Rep. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) that would provide tax credits to residential and commercial construction businesses that build energy efficient and sustainable buildings. The tax credits in this bill would complement, extend, and expand the federal tax credits that encourage energy efficient building. It is a comprehensive effort to move New Mexico toward energy independence and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. HB 534a, Sustainable Building Tax Credit, passed the House with a vote of 62-0. The bill goes next to the Senate Finance Committee.

Rep. Wirth said, “With almost half of greenhouse gases coming from buildings, it makes sense to work hand in hand with contractors and homeowners to encourage ‘green’ buildings as a critical step to reduce global warming.” 

HB 534a allows a new credit under both the Income Tax Act and the Corporate Income and Franchise Act for the construction or renovation of a building. The new income tax credit must follow guidelines established by the US Green Building Council, Homebuilders of NM, or the Environmental Protection Agency for manufactured housing. The guidelines would have different levels of compliance with the tax credit scaled accordingly.

Under the bill, an owner of a ‘green’ building being constructed or renovated would apply to the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to validate the tax credit. EMNRD would issue a certificate that could be transferred through sale, exchange or other means to another taxpayer. The taxpayer holding the certificate could claim the credit against tax liability over four years in 25 percent increments if the credit amount exceeded $25,000. If the credit value is less than $25,000, the taxpayer could claim all of it in the taxable year the certificate was issued. If the credit exceeds liability in either case, the taxpayer could carry the credit forward for up to seven years.

The credit could be used for the construction or renovation of either commercial or residential buildings. EMNRD could only issue an aggregate of $10 million in credits per year, $5 million for commercial buildings and $5 million for residential buildings.

Video: Iglesias Testifies in Senate on Wilson, Domenici Calls

Former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, David Iglesias, testifies at this morning's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in response to questions by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). He contradicts the statements made by both Rep. Heather Wilson and Sen. Pete Domenici about the calls.

KUNM Audio: Albuquerque's public radio station, KUNM, has audio of Iglesias' 11+ minute exchange with Sen. Arlen Specter at the hearing, as well as audio of a news story on the matter that includes comments made by Iglesias at a news conference last week.

Meanwhile, Sen. Domenici released a statement after Iglesias' testimony saying he still doesn't know what Iglesias is talking about. I wonder if he issued it in his pajamas, er, hunting trousers....

Democratic Party of New Mexico Weighs In
John Wertheim, Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, had this to say today about the conduct of Rep. Wilson and Sen. Domenici:

“It’s a real shame when people who present themselves as honest disgrace their political careers and their constituents by placing partisan gain above ethical governance,” said John V. Wertheim, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.  “Wilson and Domenici brought pressure to bear on the U.S. Attorney and then sought political retribution when Iglesias would not co-operate.  This politically-motivated intervention into the judicial process is a very grave matter.  I hope Wilson and Domenici will start confronting their misconduct responsibly, stop denying its impact and stop blaming constituents for their behavior.”

Here's the entire statement released today by the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

IGLESIAS CONTRADICTS WILSON, DOMENICI

The depths of vulnerable Republican Congresswoman Heather Wilson’s hypocrisy was exposed today.  In front of House and Senate Committees, recently ousted U.S. Attorney David Iglesias testified that Wilson and U.S. Senator Pete Domenici pressured him to speed up ongoing investigations.  If handed down prior to the election, the alleged indictments would have provided partisan benefit to the embattled Wilson.

Iglesias’ testimony and news reports show that both Wilson and Domenici intervened in an ongoing investigation by contacting the U.S. Attorney’s office in October of 2006.  Wilson, whose knowledge of sealed indictments is itself suspicious, was lagging in public opinion polls at the time of the inappropriate calls.  Despite her cozy relationship with scandal-plagued congressional Republicans, Wilson made ethics and public corruption a central campaign issue.

“It’s a real shame when people who present themselves as honest disgrace their political careers and their constituents by placing partisan gain above ethical governance,” said John V. Wertheim, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.  “Wilson and Domenici brought pressure to bear on the U.S. Attorney and then sought political retribution when Iglesias would not co-operate.  This politically-motivated intervention into the judicial process is a very grave matter.  I hope Wilson and Domenici will start confronting their misconduct responsibly, stop denying its impact and stop blaming constituents for their behavior.”

Wilson’s and Domenici’s initial attempts to stonewall the media only highlighted their guilty conduct.  Domenici and Wilson finally admitted in written statements that they phoned Iglesias.  Although their statements seem waffling and inconsistent, both Wilson and Domenici disingenuously blame anonymousconstituents for prompting them to violate congressional ethics rules.

An independent watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint against Domenici with the Senate Ethics Committee.  Communication by members of congress to U.S. Attorneys is inherently suspect because of congressional members role in the selection, approval and funding of U.S. Attorneys.  As the Washington Post editorialized today the calls were, "ethically dicey in any circumstance." [www.citizensforethics.org/]

Iglesias’ testimony today illustrates how Senator Domenici expressed his displeasure with the pace of the investigation by abruptly hanging up the phone when he became unhappy with Iglesias' response to his inquiry.  Meanwhile, Wilson has many questions to answer about, among other things, how and why she became involved in researching sealed indictments

The Democratic Party of New Mexico

Rapidly Emerging Stories on Iglesias Matter

Talking Points Memo reports "the White House 'was aware of [Domenici's] concerns' and as we showed last night, Domenici's concerns were Iglesias' too slow pace of indicting Democrats."

TPMmuckraker has video of the key portion of Iglesias' testimony this morning before the Senate Judiciary Committee. So does Think Progress.

Here's a live stream of this afternoon's House Judiciary Committee hearing on the attorney firings, and a Daily Kos thread is dedicated to live blogging. Health Haussamen has a local version on the House hearing.

After filing a complaint about Sen. Pete Domenici yesterday with the Senate ethics committee, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) today requested an investigation into Rep. Heather Wilson (R, NM-01) by the House ethics committee. Click for their complete letter. In their press release regarding Wilson, CREW said:

Rep. Wilson’s call to Mr. Iglesias violates chapter 7 of the House ethics manual, which prohibits members from contacting executive or agency officials regarding the merits of matters under their formal consideration. House rules also state that if a member wants to affect the outcome of a matter in litigation, the member can file a brief with the court, make a floor statement, or insert a statement into the Congressional Record. Directly calling officials to influence an ongoing enforcement matter is not an option.

House rules also state that a member may not claim he or she was merely requesting “background information” or a “status report” because the House has recognized that such requests “may in effect be an indirect or subtle effort to influence the substantive outcome of the proceedings.”

Rep. Wilson’s conduct may also violate the requirement that members conduct themselves in a manner that “reflects creditably on the House.” In a precedent cited by the House ethics committee when it admonished former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), the House has held that members are prohibited from asking an executive branch employee to engage in an activity having an impermissible political purpose.

CREW’s complaint alleges Rep. Wilson contacted Mr. Iglesias to discuss an ongoing investigative matter for the impermissible political purpose of harming Democrats in the November elections.

In Bloomberg's Fired Prosecutor Says He Was Warned to Keep Quiet, "H.E. "Bud'' Cummins told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Mike Elston, the deputy attorney general's top aide, threatened him with retaliation in a phone call last month if he went public [about his negative views of the firings]. Cummins said he passed the warning on to five U.S. attorneys who were ousted last December, believing that was what Elston wanted.

And don't forget my earlier post on this morning's testimony.