Democracy for New Mexico

2008 NM Wild Guide Now Available

From the NM Wilderness Alliance:
The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance has just released its “2008 Wild Guide, The Passport to New Mexico’s Great Outdoors.” Copies are going fast! Get yours today. Order A Copy Online Right Now!

Sponsored by REI, this year’s Wild Guide is jam-packed with great hikes, volunteer service projects and Wilderness lore. Included are 48 hikes, some of which are self-guided, but most are lead by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. There are nine backpacking trips, four car-camps, and 27 volunteer service projects all across the state. Some of our projects venture into areas that are not normally open to the public.

Through the numerous hikes, backpacks, and Wilderness service projects we aim to build awareness and support for the protection of these special landscapes – all while having FUN! The 2008 Wild Guide captures a wide variety of experiences while showcasing some of our states greatest wilderness resources and potentials. Additionally, there are cooking recipies, safety tips, stories written by outdoor enthusiasts, and much more.

Make Real Change With Bush Coins!

Hat tip to Booman Tribune

NM-01: Pueblo of Jemez Endorses Heinrich

From Martin Heinrich for Congress:

Heinrich: "My campaign is about changing the way Washington works, and I am proud to have the support of the Pueblo of Jemez as we move forward"

Former Albuquerque City Councilor and Democratic candidate for Congress Martin Heinrich picked up another endorsement today in his campaign to bring change to Washington. The Pueblo of Jemez has endorsed his bid to represent New Mexico's First Congressional District. The Pueblo of Jemez is Heinrich’s second tribal endorsement as the Pueblo of Zia endorsed Heinrich in November.

"I am honored to have the support of the Pueblo of Jemez. New Mexico has a long history of elected officials who have proven to be effective advocates on tribal issues and I intend to continue that tradition. My door will always be open to New Mexico’s pueblos and tribes as well as the members who reside in CD-1.” Heinrich said. 

While the Pueblo of Jemez is outside the boundaries of District 1, many members of Jemez Pueblo reside in the district, particularly in Albuquerque. In addition, the Pueblo has a long history of working closely with New Mexico's entire congressional delegation on matters important to the Pueblo and all New Mexicans.

Over the course of the campaign to date, Heinrich has amassed an impressive number of endorsements from community leaders and elected officials across the First District.  Heinrich's backers include two state senators, five state representatives, five Albuquerque city councilors, and many other elected officials. For a full list of Martin's endorsements, click here.

To read our previous coverage of the 2008 NM-01 Congressional race, visit our archive.

Bingaman & Udall Urge Funding of Galisteo Basin Study, Ask County to Delay Leases

The Santa Fe County Commission will hold its first public hearing on their proposed new oil and gas drilling ordinance on January 22, at 3:00 PM in Santa Fe Community College’s Jemez room. A second public hearing is set for February 12 at 6:00 PM in the County Commission chambers.

In the meantime, two of New Mexico's members of Congress are working on another aspect of protecting New Mexico's unique treasures from potential damage from Tecton's proposed drilling in the Galisteo Basin, and have issued this statement:

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman and Representative Tom Udall are pressing the Bush administration for funding to produce an archaeological management plan for the Galisteo Basin, which is home to the largest ruins of Pueblo Indian settlements in the United States, spectacular examples of Native American rock art, and ruins of Spanish colonial settlements.

Simultaneously, the lawmakers have asked the Santa Fe County Commission to delay the issuance of drilling leases in the area until the management plan is completed.

In a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle, Bingaman and Udall cite the Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act, legislation they sponsored, which became Public Law No: 108-208 on March 19, 2004.  Their legislation requires the Secretary of Interior to undertake a comprehensive study of the archeological assets of the basin and to determine what actions are
needed to protect them. 

In their letter to Nussle, the lawmakers said, "We included this language because we know we have only just begun to take stock of all the prehistoric and historic archeological resources in this area yet they are constantly under threat of ruin by natural causes, urban development, vandalism, and uncontrolled excavations."

Bingaman and Udall expressed their deep concern that nearly four years after their legislation was enacted no funds have been proposed or released to recommend new areas for protection or to develop a management plan. They pressed Nussle to adequately fund the study, as directed by law, in fiscal year 2009.

In a separate letter to Santa Fe County Commissioners, Bingaman and Udall also urge the Santa Fe County Commission to "delay issuing leases for any activities, such as exploration or drilling, that have the clear potential to permanently disturb or destroy irreplaceable historic artifacts in the Galisteo Basin."

Text of the letters to both Director Nussle and the Santa Fe County Commission are included below.

Jim Nussle
Director, Office of Management and Budget
725 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20503

Dear Director Nussle,

We are writing with regard to the Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act, which became Public Law No: 108-208 on March 19, 2004. This law was written to help protect the many well preserved prehistoric and historic archaeological resources of Native American and Spanish colonial cultures found in the Galisteo Basin of New Mexico.

This law mandates that the Secretary of the Interior shall continue to search for additional Native American and Spanish colonial sites in the Galisteo Basin area and, within three years of funding being made available, make recommendations for additions to, deletions from, and modifications of the boundaries of the list of archaeological protection sites in the Act. We included this language because we know we have only just begun to take stock of all the prehistoric and historic archeological resources in this area yet they are constantly under threat of ruin by natural causes, urban development, vandalism, and uncontrolled excavations. The Secretary is further directed by the Act to, within three years of funding being made available, develop a management plan to provide for the identification, research, protection, and public interpretation of sites in the Basin.

We are deeply concerned that, to date, no funds have been proposed for either of these purposes. The threats remain, and these invaluable resources continue to degrade. We ask that as you prepare the budget for Fiscal Year 2009 you include adequate funding to commence the investigation, cataloguing and preservation of the uniquely North American archeological treasures in the Galisteo Basin of New Mexico.

Thank you very much for your prompt consideration of our request.

Santa Fe County Commission
102 Grant Avenue
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501

Dear Commissioners:

In 2004, we sponsored and passed into law the Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act because many well preserved prehistoric and historic archaeological resources of Native American and Spanish colonial cultures were found in the Galisteo Basin and the surrounding area, but were yet to be fully identified and protected. These resources, in large part unique to New Mexico, include the largest ruins of Pueblo Indian settlements in the United States, spectacular examples of Native American rock art, and ruins of Spanish colonial settlements. Over time, it was becoming evident that these invaluable resources were being threatened by decay and erosion, urban development, vandalism, and uncontrolled excavations.

The law states that the Secretary of the Interior must continue to search for additional Native American and Spanish colonial sites in the Galisteo Basin area and, within three years of funds being made available, make recommendations for additions to, deletions from, and modifications of the boundaries of the list of archaeological protection sites. Additionally, the Secretary is directed to prepare a general management plan for the identification, research, protection, and public interpretation of the archaeological protection sites located on federal land and for sites on state or private lands for which the Secretary has entered into cooperative agreements.

The identification and development of plans for the protection of the wealth of historic artifacts that exist in this area is still in its early stages. Accordingly, we ask you to delay issuing leases for any activities, such as exploration or drilling, that have the clear potential to permanently disturb or destroy irreplaceable historic artifacts in the Galisteo Basin. We will continue to work to secure the federal funding necessary to complete these surveys.

We thank you for your consideration.
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For more info on these issues, visit these websites:

• Drilling Santa Fe
• Santa Fe Not Oil

Also see our previous post, which contains links to older posts and other sources of info.

(Updated) Tonight's NM In Focus: Galisteo Basin Drilling, Richardson Prez Campaign

UPDATE 1/14/08: You can see video of Friday's show by visiting my subsequent post on this controversial issue.
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You can tune into this week's New Mexico In Focus on KNME public television tonight at 7:00 PM, with a repeat airing on Sunday at 6:30 AM. The In Focus segment of the show will take a hard look at the future of oil and gas drilling in New Mexico and the latest battleground in the fight over this precious resource: the Galisteo Basin. David Alire Garcia sits down with David Bacon, energy consultant, advocate and former Green Party candidate for the PRC, and Bob Gallagher, President of the New Mexico Oil and Gass Association, for a look at an industry that brings in millions of dollars per year to the state, but is under pressure by many who want tighter regulations to minimize or eliminate environmental threats posed by increased drilling.

Also, host Gene Grant and The Line panel will be discussing Gov. Bill Richardson's withdrawal as a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination and the highlights and lowlights of his campaign, as well as the upcoming legislative session. Guest panelists include New Mexico bloggers Mario Burgos and Heath Haussamen, and John Wertheim, former New Mexico Democratic Party chairman.

NM Mining Claims Jump: Officials Urge Reform Legislation

Proposed oil and gas drilling in Santa Fe County has prompted a citizen uprising in New Mexico, but increases in other kinds of claims to exercise mineral rights are also being challenged. Yesterday a press conference was held in Albuquerque about the need for reforming the 1872 federal mining law with participation from the Haaku Tribal Water Office/Acoma  Pueblo, Dine Against Uranium Mining, Conservation Voters New  Mexico, New Mexico Wilderness  Alliance, and Environment New Mexico. Here's their statement about this pressing issue and what needs to be done to safeguard the integrity of Western lands and communities and require that mining companies pay a fair share of royalties on their profits to taxpayers:

Albuquerque, N.M. – In the face of dramatic increases in new mining claims in New Mexico, state and county officials called on Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici, leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to reform the 135-year-old law that governs the mining of gold, uranium and other hardrock minerals on federal lands in New Mexico and other western states.

A comprehensive bipartisan package that would modernize the Civil War era statute was passed by the House of Representatives in November. The Senate will host its first mining reform hearing this month.

“This year, New Mexico will take center stage in the effort to reform the 1872 Mining Law,” said Gregory Greene of the Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining. “Senators Bingaman and Domenici can play a lead role in protecting  the health of New Mexico’s communities, lands, water and wildlife by producing a modern framework for mining that protects taxpayers and the environment. We all have a stake in their success.”

The 1872 mining law, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, offers special status to those filing claims on public lands -– without safeguarding watersheds, wildlife or communities from the messy business of mining. It also allows mining companies to take minerals from public lands without compensating taxpayers, while oil, gas and coal industries have been paying royalties for decades. 

New Mexico has had a significant share of mining-related disasters. In 1979, 94 million gallons of radioactive, acidic mine tailings spilled into the Rio Puerco. The release from the site, promoted as a modern and safe treatment facility, is the largest release of liquid radioactive waste in U.S. history. Thirty years later, the impacts of that spill still linger.

The need for reform has also been made more urgent by the dramatic increase in new mining claims in western states, including New Mexico. According to Bureau of Land Management data analyzed by the Environmental Working Group, the total number of hardrock mining claims in New Mexico is 50 percent higher in mid-2007 than in 2003. Claims totaled 11,348 in July of 2007. 

“The state of New Mexico has a stake in federal mining law reform,” said Bill Brancard, Director of New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division. “While the state has created significant safeguards for water, we needs federal mining law reform that includes resource protection and a reasonable royalty.

“We’ve shown that you can have stringent protections for mining yet still have a viable, productive mining industry,” said Brancard.

“Counties have a stake in mining reform,” said Deanna Archuleta, Bernalillo County Commissioner. “We're dealing with an antiquated law where the taxpayers are left with the clean-up, and it's a financial burden on everybody for a few to make a profit. We ask Senators Bingaman and Domenici to take this opportunity to take the lead at reform at the federal level.”

“Sportsman have a stake in mining reform,” said Kent Salazar, president of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “Our public lands are the source of our best fishing, elk hunting and wildlife habitat, and we pay user fees to hunt and fish. It's time the industry also paid its own way, and took on the cost of mine cleanup.”

On January 24, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hear testimony about the need for mining law reform and is expected to produce a bill by late February. The hearing follows passage late last year of H.R. 2262, which provided fundamental reform measures.

To contact New Mexico's U.S. Senators about this issue click:

• Sen. Pete Domenici
• Sen. Jeff Bingaman

Calling Gov. Richardson and All Legislators: Required Reading

As we head towards another New Mexico Legislative Session, the repetitive message we hear coming from our Governor and most of our Legislators is that they can't support universal healthcare coverage under the Health Security Act because (fill in your own answer). I want every single one of them to read this letter. Read it carefully. Read it with an open mind and heart. Try to connect with the human being behind the letter, rather than perceiving her as another lifeless, abstract statistic. Try to remember her when you are tempted once again to concoct a getaway plan you can use to avoid the truth, the facts, the real suffering, the deaths and the poverty you are causing by failing to act in a meaningful way to solve this problem.

I don't care how hard it is. I don't care how upset insurance industry profitmakers will get. I don't care what political price you think you will pay. You know in your heart it is necessary, moral and compassionate to act now to achieve universal coverage the only way it is possible and affordable -- via a co-op plan like the Health Security Act or some kind of single-payer plan. If you don't do it, I KNOW you will all pay a political price because I KNOW voters will set out to unseat every single one of you who refuses to do the right thing. This Session. Now. There are lives in the balance and they're in your hands.

Come to the Roundhouse Comedy Revue

From New Mexico Voices for Children:
Join us for an evening of laughs as we poke fun at New Mexico’s own unique brand of politics. The Roundhouse Comedy Revue is Monday, January 21, 2008, 8-10 PM, at the Lodge at Santa Fe, 750 N. St. Francis Dr. Tickets are $50. Proceeds benefit NM Voices for Children. Visit our website to purchase tickets online and for sponsorship opportunities.

(Updated: Richardson Drops Out) Watch Richardson Announcement Today at 1 PM

UPDATE 1:45 PM: Gov. Richardson gave about a 15-minute speech and officially dropped out of the Dem presidential contest after what he described as 24 debates and forums (that felt like 200) and hundreds of town hall meetings in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. His campaign raised more than $22 million.

You can read his prepared remarks below the fold. You can watch archived video of the entire announcement on the KRQE News 13 site. Jim Baca has some nice photos to the event over at his blog, Only In New Mexico.

He was introduced by Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03) and his wife, Barbara Richardson, both of whom had been with him recently in Iowa and New Hampshire. I especially liked that he praised all the other Dem presidential candidates, including Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel:

• Sen. Joseph Biden's "passion and intellect.
• Sen. Christopher Dodd's "selfless dedication to public service."
• John Edwards, for being a "singular voice for the most downtrodden."
• Sen. Barack Obama, for being a "bright light of hope and optimism."
• Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's "poise in the face of adversity" and "lifetime of achievement."
• Rep. Dennis Kucinich, for being "a man of great decency."
• Mike Gravel, for his "brave leadership during the national turmoil of Vietnam."

Richardson said he wasn't endorsing any candidate at this time, and encouraged his supporters to make their own choices.

He called himself very lucky in that he got to marry his high school sweetheart, lives in a place called the Land of Enchantment, has the best job in the world as Governor of the state, and got to run for president. He's looking forward to riding his horse and plunging into the upcoming Legislative Session, where he pledged to work to achieve universal health care for all New Mexicans. He'll work hard to make Tom Udall the next Senator from New Mexico.
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Governor Bill Richardson is expected to officially withdraw from the race for the Democratic nomination for president at 1:00 PM today at the Rotunda at the Santa Fe Roundhouse. All three local TV news stations will broadcast the announcement live, as well as provide a live stream on their websites:

• KOB-TV
• KRQE News 13
• KOAT-7

There is also some speculation that Richardson might stay in the race but "suspend" his campaign for the 30-day New Mexico Legislative Session that begins on January 15th.

"Thank You"

Governor Bill Richardson's Prepared Remarks for Thursday, January 10, 2008 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Thank you all for coming today.

I want to begin today by speaking directly to those who have supported my campaign for president from the very beginning, those who joined us along the way, those who were with us at the end, and most importantly, the people of New Mexico.

It is with great pride, understanding and acceptance that I am ending my campaign for President of the United States.

It was my hope that all of you would first hear this news from me, and not a news organization. But unfortunately, as with too many things in our world today, it's the ending of something that garners the most intense interest and speculation.

It has been an exhilarating and humbling year -- an experience I will treasure and never forget. The voters of this country -- and particularly of the early primary states where I focused my campaign -- tested me in ways I have never been tested. We had 200 debates! Actually, it was only 24 but it sure felt like 200. And, I believe we made our case to the people.

We made our case for change -- guided by an experienced hand.

We made our case for a foreign policy of principle and realism. Of rebuilding alliances through diplomacy and unflagging support for democracy.

We made our case for rebuilding this country with a laser like focus on economic growth, creating quality jobs like we've done in New Mexico, investing in education, science, math and the arts and providing universal health care.

And we made our case for bringing people together -- as I have done for my entire career-Democrats, Independents, Republicans -- to break the gridlock in Washington and get things done for the American people.

I knew from the beginning that this would be an uphill climb. When I entered the campaign, it was clear that we, as Democrats, had the most talented field of candidates in my lifetime running to change the direction of our country. And in the end, one of them will.

Despite overwhelming financial and political odds, I am proud of the campaign we waged and the influence we had on the issues that matter most to the future of this country.

A year ago, we were the only major campaign calling for the removal of all of our troops within a year's time from Iraq. We were the only campaign calling for a complete reform of education in this country, including the scrapping of No Child Left Behind. And we were the campaign with the most aggressive clean energy plan and the most ambitious standards for reducing global warming.

Now, all of the remaining candidates are coming to our point of view. I am confident that the next President of the United States will implement much of what we've been urging for the last twelve months, and our nation and world will be the better for it.

This has been a remarkable process. I have learned I don't have all the answers. Not every solution can be found inside the Beltway.

I have been grilled in over a thousand forums and town meetings, pressed on my views, my accomplishments, my ideas and policy prescriptions for this nation.

From the farm towns of Iowa to the mountain towns of New Hampshire, from the South Carolina shore to the glittering cities of Nevada, I traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, faced tens of thousands of citizens. They shared their hopes, their ideas, their problems and questions with me and -- boy, there were some tough questions. I gave them the best I had-and I gave this race the best I had.

We raised over $22 million, with 68,000 donors. We built a multi-state organization of hundreds of staff and thousands of volunteers. We had organized steering committees in 36 states and are on the ballot in 42 states. And we worked harder than anyone. Boy, did we work hard. And we did our best. And that's all we can expect from each other.

Running for president brings out the best in everyone who graces the stage, and I have learned much from the other candidates running. They have all brought great talents and abilities to the campaign.

Senator Biden's passion and intellect are remarkable.

Senator Dodd is the epitome of selfless dedication to public service and the Democratic Party.

Senator Edwards is a singular voice for the most downtrodden and forgotten among us.

Senator Obama is a bright light of hope and optimism at a time of great national unease, yet he is also grounded in thoughtful wisdom beyond his years.

Senator Clinton's poise in the face of adversity is matched only by her lifetime of achievement and deep understanding of the challenges we face.

Representative Kucinich is a man of great decency and dedication who will faithfully soldier on no matter how great the odds.

And all of us in the Democratic Party owe Senator Mike Gravel our appreciation for his brave leadership during the national turmoil of Vietnam.

I am honored to have shared the stage with each of these Democrats. And I am enormously grateful to all of my supporters who chose to stand with me despite so many other candidates of accomplishment and potential.

Now that my time in this national campaign has come to an end, I would urge those who supported my candidacy to take a long and thoughtful look at the remaining Democrats. They are all strong contenders who each, in their own way, would bring desperately needed change to our country. All I ask is that you make your own, independent choice with the same care and dedication to this country that you honored me with during this campaign.

At this time, I will not endorse of any candidate.

And all I ask of the candidates is that they do not resort to personal attacks to win the nomination. Our country and our party deserve better than that. I have said from the beginning that we must avoid attacking each other and I continue to believe that to this day.

This campaign is not about those of us who ran or are still running. It is about the American people. Disagree on policy, but respect the personal privacy and personal integrity of the others running. To do otherwise could result in another four to eight years of more of the same. And that would be biggest tragedy of all.

Now I am returning to a job that I love, serving a state that I cherish and doing the work of the people I was elected to serve. As I have always said, I am the luckiest man I know. I am married to my high school sweetheart. I live in a place called the Land of Enchantment. I have the best job in the world. And I just got to run for president of the United States.

It doesn't get any better than that.

So, the time has come to end my quest and come home to tackle the challenges before us in New Mexico. Our Legislature starts next week and I intend to put my full efforts behind our number one priority -- extending health insurance to every New Mexican by the end of my term. So, to all New Mexico Legislators and Citizens who participate in the public process -- I have a message -- I am back!

I will continue my international missions to advance the cause of human rights and democracy. I will enjoy riding my horse, again. I will work hard to make Tom Udall the next U.S. Senator from New Mexico.

I'd like to finish this afternoon with the most important part … saying an appropriate thank you to all of you who supported this campaign.

There are so many of you -- thousands of supporters and donors who made my dream your dreams and supported my campaign with your own extraordinary efforts. Let me just name a few:

Barbara Richardson

Ed Romero -- Finance Chair

Dave Contarino -- Campaign Manager

Amanda Cooper -- Deputy Campaign Manager

Mike Stratton -- my senior political advisor

The New Mexico Roadrunners hundreds of them -- who gave their time, and their hard work, to my campaign.

And my hard-working campaign staff.

I am an optimist. I am positive about this country and our ability to tackle the great challenges ahead. The last year, I have learned so much, but I have learned, most of all, that the people of this country are a sincere and caring people. They are also thoughtful and deadly serious about the choice before them as they consider these candidates. So, it is with an optimistic spirit that I withdraw my candidacy for the Presidency today. I believe in the American people and their wisdom to make the right choice in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you. God Bless you and God bless America.

1/11/08: Join Peaceful March Against Santa Fe County Drilling

12/8/07 march. Photo credit: Tony Bonanno

From Drilling Santa Fe:
On Friday, January 11th, a twilight march to protest oil and gas drilling and exploration in Santa Fe County will begin at 5:30 PM from the park by the U.S. Courthouse at Washington and Federal Place, then proceed to the Santa Fe Plaza. Dr. Jerry Held has obtained a permit and suggests bringing torches, flashlights and candles. For more information email drillingsantafe@earthlink.net.

Dr. Held, who is concerned about the long term health effects upon our Santa Fe County citizens from the possibility of oil and gas activity in the County, also organized a peaceful march to the Plaza on December 8th. Tony Bonanno Photography has photographs of the December 8th march. (Tony has given permission for free downloading and use of the pictures.) Related sites: Our Stolen Future and NRDC Endocrine Disruptors.