Democracy for New Mexico

Saturday Music Hall: Sweet Home ...

From Young Turks , who ask that we merely think about it ...

We went to a magical, magnificent Joan Armatrading concert last night at my favorite New Mexico venue, Paolo Soleri Amphitheater, where the spectacular sunset provided an especially ethereal character to Joan's powerful performance. However, since I'm still soaring on a natural high from it, I don't have it in me to follow up with a Saturday Music Hall post on the experience yet. In the meantime ....

Guest Blog: Dem Senate Candidate Jim Hannan on Don Wiviott

This is a guest blog from Democratic Senate candidate Jim Hannan:

Don Wiviott has announced he wants to run against Pete Domenici for the US Senate as a Democrat. I've been talking to Don for several months about the race. I have a concern about Don. In 2006, Don contributed the maximum allowable, $2,100, to David Pfeffer. David Pfeffer was running as a Republican against Jeff Bingaman.

As you know, 2006 was a critical year for Democrats. We all worked hard to take back Congress. During that time period, I was contributing money to the DCCC, and walking door to door for Patricia Madrid.

David Pfeffer was running against Jeff Bingaman as a hard right conservative. He was a very vocal supporter of the invasion of Iraq. In 2006, the centerpiece of his campaign was to support the Minutemen camped out on the border of New Mexico and Arizona. 

I told Don that by supporting David, he had positioned himself to the right of Pete Domenici on the immigration issue.

I also raised my concern with Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Brian Colon and the State Party's current Executive Director, Matt Farrauto.  I told Don Wiviott that he should talk about this issue with his campaign supporters. The fact that Don still decided to run means that they don't think it's an important issue. I guess I differ.   

Editor's Notes: This is a guest blog by Jim Hannan. Click to visit his campaign website. Guest blogs provide our readers with an opportunity to express their opinions on political issues, and they don't necessarily represent our views. If you'd like to submit a post for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link at the upper right-hand corner of our main page.

Click to read DFNM's earlier post on the candidacy of Don Wiviott.

Crying Wolf on Lab Funding Cuts?

I know everyone in New Mexico is supposed to be hysterical because of the U.S. House cuts to the budgets of Los Alamos and Sandia Labs totaling about $400 million. But as far as I can tell, I don't see how such cuts would result in up to 2000 layoffs at Los Alamos and 900 at Sandia, as is being bandied about. Googling around, I found that the cuts are mostly directed at reducing spending on security enhancements, computer hardware upgrades, a new chem building and funding for the controversial and much criticized Reliable Replacement Warhead and plutonium pit manufacturing programs.How do these cuts translate into that many lost jobs?

Moreover, If we look at this issue carefully, I think what the cuts really portend is a growing movement in Washington (and the nation) on both sides of the aisle to to deemphasize Cold War-era type nuke weapon spending and put more money into modern-day security in the form of clean and renewable energy technologies. If the labs -- and Domenici, Pearce and Wilson -- don't wake up and start moving quickly into the new era of global warming threat reduction and diminishing fossil fuel use, they'll have only themselves to blame.

Udall's Role
Rep. Tom Udall tried unsuccessfully to reinstate $192 million of the budget cuts, but not for the plutonium pit and Reliable Replacement Warhead programs. Instead he requested more funds for the Los Alamos high-speed supercomputer system and the stockpile stewardship programs that test the reliability of already existing bomb components without using underground blasts. Udall's amendment failed by a vote of 121-312. Sen. Domenici and Reps. Wilson and Pearce have been trying to blame the cuts entirely on Democrats -- and especially on Udall. However, 103 Republican members of Congress voted against Udall's attempt to restore lab funds:

Democrats; 24 Aye; 209 Nay; 2 Not Voting
Republicans: 97 Aye; 103 Nay; 2 Not Voting

Back to the Future
As Eric Griego writes in his latest Albuquerque Tribune column:

... could the cuts really be an opportunity? Could the proposed cuts to the labs be the impetus so desperately needed to finally change the mission of both labs to one focused on renewable energy development instead of protecting and developing nuclear weapons?

Conservationists and those who oppose continued nuclear weapons development have tried for years to redirect the mission of the state's two national labs in the direction of renewable energy. Sandia has taken on more renewable energy work over the past several years, but Los Alamos has actually deepened its nuclear mission.

Rep. Udall has been the target of a lot of often mean-spirited bashing because of the cuts, but I applaud him for refusing to attempt to reinstate the funding for the RRW and plutonium pits. It's high time we bring the core missions of our national labs into the 21st century, where renewable energy and mitigating global warming will be the key areas where we need our best scientific minds to concentrate their research. We're moving into an era of rapid and profound change, with many similiarites to the years when horse power was being replaced by the combustion engine.

At some point, you either have to face the new realities and make the switchover, or you'll pay the consequences for hanging onto a no longer relevant mindset. We'll be needing fresh ideas and a change in focus from our national labs if they are to survive and thrive in the new techology environment. Many believe the world as we know it hangs in the balance. Yes, an inconvenient truth. I had to say it.

ABQ City Councilors Host Heinrich for Congress Fundraiser

MARTIN HEINRICH for CONGRESS FUNDRAISER:
Hosted by Albuquerque City Councilors: Michael Cadigan, Debbie O'Malley, Isaac Benton

Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 5:30-7:30PM, at the home of Michael and Traci Cadigan, 2705 Bosque del Sol NW, Albuquerque (map). Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

Contribution Levels:
$100: Juniper; $250: Piñon; $500: Cottonwood

Checks should be made out to Martin Heinrich for Congress, and may be submitted either at the event or via mail to: 2118 Central Avenue, SE #71, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106. For information or additional directions, please call Michael Cadigan at (505) 980-5623. 

Amy Foster, Finance Director
Martin Heinrich for Congress
2118 Central Avenue SE #71
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106
Office 505.244.0022
www.martinheinrich.com

Editor's Note: You can also contribute to Martin Heinrich's campaign via the Democracy for New Mexico Netroots page at Act Blue.

Developer from Santa Fe Prepared to Self-Fund Run Against Domenici

We first mentioned Don Wiviott's name back in early May as a possible Democratic candidate when Pete Domenici's Senate seat comes into play in the 2008 election. That rumor has now been confirmed by Joe Monahan, who revealed today that Wiviott declared during a phone conversation that he is prepared to use his own money to mount a serious campaign against Domenici. And he has a lot of money.

Wiviott is the developer of The Lofts in Santa Fe, and formerly chairs the Santa Fe Economic Development Review Committee. He also served on Governor Richardson's Task Force on Our Communities. The political newcomer is known up North as an advocate of "smart growth," development that incorporates green design features and the creation of innovative live-work communities.

According to Monahan, Wiviott will put up $400,000 to kick off his Senate campaign and is ready, willing and able to spend up to a cool million, if necessary, to run a competitive challenge. He's also raising funds at Act Blue, where he's described as "an ardent environmentalist and successful small businessman who believes New Mexico, like the rest of our country, needs change in direction of leadership and priorities."

The main question circulating about Wiviott is whether or not he's really a placeholder for a late-entry run by Gov. Bill Richardson should his presidential ambitions bite the dust. As Monahan says:

Wiviott, who is married to Santa Fe real estate agent Kelley Owen, is moving quickly to assemble a campaign team, some of whom have ties to Big Bill, including the Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner polling firm and media consultant Doc Sweitzer. His fundraiser, Kim Scott, worked for President Clinton.

So it's evident that Wiviott will rely on a number of inside-the-Beltway types, some employed in the past by Richardson, to help run his campaign. Philadelphia-based Doc Sweitzer, by the way, was a media consultant for Dem Joe Sestak's successful campaign for Congress in Pennsylvania in 2006, and was an adviser to Richardson's 2002 campaign for governor. He's also been involved with the campaigns of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and many other Dems.

If he's serious about his run, let's hope Wiviott also hires some top-notch local folks knowlegeable about the unique dynamics that shape New Mexico politics. More than one campaign in the past has been derailed by the misguided advice of those with little or no experience in the state.

Wiviott joins two previously announced (and much more meagerly funded) Democratic candidates for the Senate seat -- Jim Hannan and Leland Lehrman. A few other names of possible Dem contenders have surfaced over the last few months, but no others have come out of the shadows to announce a run. At this point, it's difficult to know what Viviott's announcement is really all about, or what his views are regarding any number of issues. He has no real track record except in putting together lucrative developments in Santa Fe.

Video: Santa Fe Reporter Editor Interviews David Iglesias

As reported on the AAN Wire, Juliia Goldberg, editor of the Santa Fe Reporter, recently interviewed fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias at the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies' First Amendment Luncheon at the organization's convention in Portland, OR after Iglesias spoke to the group:

At Saturday's First Amendment Luncheon, the former federal prosecutor for New Mexico who helped sparked the scandal presently engulfing U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and the Bush Administration discussed loyalty, politics, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) with Santa Fe Reporter editor Julia Goldberg. "I'm still processing the damage that could be done to the rule of law [by the administration]," he said. Among other things, Iglesias also said that John Ashcroft's staff at the DOJ was older and more experienced than Gonzalez's, and that Gonzalez led a shift in the department from "working for the people" to "working for the White House."

We have three video clips available from the luncheon. Part one is embedded above; part two can be found here, and part three, here. MORE: Read bloggers' reactions (scroll down) to the Iglesias' speech at the convention.

Domenici to Join Filibuster Against Important Labor Bill Introduced by Dem Senators

Score one for the Dems. See below for a release from the Democratic Party of New Mexico discussing the critically important Employee Free Choice Act introduced this week by Democrats in the U.S. Senate. The measure was passed by the House in March by a healthy margin of 241-185, with Rep. Tom Udall (D, NM-03) cosponsoring and voting for the bill. Both of our Repub Reps., Heather Wilson (NM-01) and Steve Pearce (NM-02), voted against the bill and working families. And surprise, Bush is already threatening to veto the measure should it gain passage.

Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, our increasingly grouchy and out of touch Senator Pete Domenici is strongly opposed to the bill. In fact, he plans not only to vote against it, but to join in a Republican filibuster to stop it. Senator Bingaman, on the other hand, is one of the bill's sponsors on the Senate side, and every single Democratic Senator, plus Repub Sen. Arlen Specter, has indicated they will support the Employee Free Choice Act with an aye vote.

We Democrats can often be very tough on Democrats in government, but I think we need to balance that with praise where praise is due. This is one of those times:

NEW MEXICO WORKERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT: Democrats Move to Pass Workers’ Rights Legislation

Democrats in the Senate stood up this week for New Mexico’s working families by introducing the Employee Free Choice Act. Thousands of union members, joined by labor leaders and Congressional Democrats, came together to support this legislation.

The Employee Free Choice Act is designed to protect workers against employer interference and intimidation when forming unions. Right here in New Mexico, somewhere between 30,000 and 75,000 people will benefit from the Employee Free Choice Act by receiving pension and health care benefits from union participation.

President Bush continues to threaten to veto this important legislation. The Republican Congress and the Bush Administration have steadily eroded workers’ freedom to form unions through lax enforcement of labor laws, cuts to organizing protections, and the Administration’s interference in collective bargaining.

“At a time when health care costs are skyrocketing and people are unsure about their retirement security, it is more important than ever for workers to have the right to engage in collective bargaining and to be able form unions without employer intimidation,” said Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian Colón. “Union workers in New Mexico are more likely to have health insurance and additional benefits for long term security than non-union workers.”

Colón continued: “Senator Pete Domenici should stand with New Mexico’s working families and support this legislation to improve working conditions, strengthen America's families, and rebuild America's middle class.”

Early ABQ Sneak Preview of "Sicko" Set for This Saturday

See later post for more info on general opening of this film on June 29th.
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Due to high demand based on terrific reviews from special screenings, Michael Moore's new film about our broken health care system, "Sicko," will now be shown early at sneak previews around the nation. The movie will now be screened at special premiers at many theaters, including the Century Rio 24 in Albuquerque, at 7:30 PM on Saturday, June 23rd. You can buy advance tickets here. The movie will start its regular run at Albuquerque's Century Rio 24 and Century 12, as well as theaters all over the country on June 29th.

Check out our previous post about the movie and the health care activism it's inspiring. Also see MichaelMoore.com:

ACTION ALERT: Make Your Voice Heard on Health Coverage in NM

The final draft report prepared by Mathematica to evaluate health care coverage options for New Mexico has just been released. You can find links to the report in two parts on the website of Health Action New Mexico:

• (pdf)
• (pdf)

Important Opportunities for Public Input
The Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee, the task force appointed by Governor Richardson to make recommendations for health coverage legislation, will be meeting on Thursday, June 21, starting at 9AM and on Friday, June 22, starting at 8:30 AM, in Room 322 of the Santa Fe Roundhouse to discuss the results of the Mathematica study. If you want to see real health care reform in NM, you should attend this meeting and make your views known. Public input will be accepted on both days.

Next Up: Interim Legislative Committee
The NM Legislative Interim Committee on Health and Human Services will consider the Mathematica report results at its meeting starting at 10 AM on June 25th in Room 322 of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Although no public input will be accepted, it's a good idea to show legislators there's strong public interest in reforming health care coverage by your attendance.

You can also find links to the final draft Mathematica report on the , which also has information on the Governor's task force -- the Health Care for New Mexicans Committee.

It's critical that the powers that be hear your views on the future of health care coverage in New Mexico! If you can, please attend one or more of these important meetings.

Peacecraft Organizes Fundraiser for Global Health Partnerships

From Peacecraft in Albuquerque:
Please join us this Saturday, June 23rd for a fun and informative fundraiser for Global Health Partnerships at the Albuquerque Peace & Justice Center, 202 Harvard SE from 6-8 PM! Global Health Partnerships is a local non-profit organization working to improve the health and well-being of the poor and marginalized throughout the world. Currently we are helping to build a health clinic, deliver medical supplies and services, and train health workers in Kisesini, Kenya.

Dr. Angelo Tomedi will speak at the fundraiser about the work he and other volunteers are doing there. We'll also have entertainment, food and beverages. Tickets are $5 students, $7 general admission and are available now at Peacecraft, 3215 Central NE and also at the door. Questions? 505-255-5229