NewMexicoMatters.com

Governor Speaks Out on Politically Connected Attorney's DWI Hit and Run

ABQJOURNAL NORTH: Gov. Confident in Hit-Run Investigation    

Gov. Bill Richardson expressed confidence Wednesday in the investigations conducted by state and local police into a fatal hit-and-run DWI crash involving a former member of his security detail.

    Describing the November death of San Felipe Pueblo resident William Tenorio as a "tragedy," Richardson said he expects all DWI suspects — regardless of their political connections — to be held to the same standard.
    "Every state employee that works for the government cannot be treated differently than anybody else," Richardson said.

Governor rejects efforts to reform title insurance - SantaFeNewMexican.com

Link: Governor rejects efforts to reform title insurance - SantaFeNewMexican.com.

Gov. Bill Richardson has turned down requests from state regulators, the attorney general and others to have the Legislature consider reforms of the title insurance industry, which contributed to Richardson's presidential campaign.

Advocates say legislation is needed to bring price competition to the title insurance system, which could lower closing costs for home buyers.

Richardson will not put title insurance on the agenda of the 30-day session, but the industry's political contributions played no role in the governor's decision, according to a Richardson spokesman, Allan Oliver.

PRC hosting forum on Nuclear Power

From Break The Grip!: PRC Hosts Nuclear Forum Today

We have just learned that the PRC is hosting a forum today on Nuclear Power with speakers: at the PRC Hearing Room at the PERA building just after 9:30 am. The PERA building is located at the Northeast corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta.

The PRC's agenda listing is:
"COMMENT ON THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY: VICE-CHAIRMAN JASON MARKS, PRESENTED BY BRUCE BARNABY, MARVIN MOSS, DON HANCOCK, DAVE MCCOY AND JIM FERLAND"

Public comment is scheduled just before this.

This forum comes on the heels of PNM installing a Mr. Jim Ferland, a major nuclear industry player, to head new generation development for PNM in May. During the same week that this occurred, Governor Bill Richardson began openly supporting nuclear power development.

Nuclear power development has consistently paved the way for nuclear weapons development throughout the world. Yet the Bush Administration is proposing to re-start reprocessing nuclear fuel rods, precisely the approach that enabled India, for example, to acquire nuclear weapons in three short years in the late 1960s after they pledged publicly not to (we gave them the technology on the basis of their pledge). The National Academy of Sciences recently called for putting the brakes on Bush's plan: Click here to read.

Meanwhile, industry is pushing ahead to turn New Mexico into a one-stop nuclear store: Chevron, Hydro Resources, and others are all pushing to re-start uranium mining here; LES is already building an enrichment plant near Eunice, NM, and another is proposed; A reprocessing facility is being proposed near Roswell, New Mexico. And a BTG! member heard an Association of Commerce and Industry, the most powerful business lobby in the state, say that they intend to see a nuclear power plant built in New Mexico within ten years.

Finally, the attempt by the Richardson Administration and PNM to drastically weaken renewable energy provisions of the so-called Renewable Energy Transmission Authority" suggests that this is also really about building more conventional power plants.

Press Release: Richardson and Pearce to Team Up for Tour of Abq VA hospital

Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Steve Pearce will Tour VA Hospital in Albuquerque on SATURDAY

NEWS ADVISORY

Friday, March 09, 2007

                                                               

Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Steve Pearce will Tour VA Hospital in Albuquerque on SATURDAY

SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson and Congressman Steve Pearce will tour the VA Hospital in Albuquerque on Saturday to meet with Iraq war veterans and get an update on the operations of the facility.

Portions of the tour will be open to the media. Governor Richardson and Congressman Pearce will also hold a brief news availability at the end of the tour.

The tour is scheduled for 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, at the VA Health Care System, 1501 San Pedro Drive S.E., in Albuquerque. A news availability is scheduled at 10:45 a.m. in the auditorium at the VA.

#30#

Technorati Tags: budget, Congress, Iraq, media, newmexico, news, Politics, puppy, Republicans

ABQjournal: Gov. to Sue Judicial Nominating Committee

ABQjournal: Gov. to Sue Judicial Nominating Committee:
SANTA FE— Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday he will sue a judicial nominating commission, challenging its decision to twice send him a single nominee for a vacant judgeship in Carlsbad.

"The power of a governor to appoint means the power to choose," said Richardson, who said he finds it hard to believe there's only one person in the community qualified to be judge.

Technorati Tags: Bill Richardson, newmexico, NM, richardson

ABQjournal: Inquiry Targets Vigil-Giron

ABQjournal: Inquiry Targets Vigil-Giron:
Inquiry Targets Vigil-Giron
By Trip Jennings
Journal Capitol Bureau
Gov. Bill Richardson put the brakes on a new state job for former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron on Friday, pending a financial review at her old agency.
She was scheduled to start an $85,000-a-year job running the New Mexico Film Museum on Monday.
Vigil-Giron, who served until the end of last year as the state's chief election official, accepted the development, which came after days of controversy.

Technorati Tags: 2006, Bill Richardson, Elections, newmexico, news, Politics, richardson

Donor to Richardson has Business in New Mexico. Is this still news?

Yes, not because the Governor has celebrity status in New Mexico, but because the information may impact the citizens of the state.

Here's a reversed engineered news slug for the story:

Richardson 2008--Richardson was slammed in a DC for blog for fundraiser at the home of NM business owner seeking favors from the state. Republican State Senator says its unethical, Governor's campaign says its not. 

sources: WashingtonPost  blog post,  2006 Campaign reports, Pahl Shipley, State Senate Minority Whip Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces. 

Campaign Event Blasted

ABQjournal: Campaign Event Blasted

By Jeff Jones

Technorati Tags: 2008, 2008elections, billrichardson, Blogs, corruption, Democrats, Elections, Fundraising, GOP, lobbying, newmexico, news, Politics, Republicans, richardson

FreeNewMexican: Editorial, 02/05/2007 -- With Bill off, running,who's minding store?

FreeNewMexican: Editorial, 02/05/2007 -- With Bill off, running,who's minding store?:
Former gubernatorial opponent -- and former New Mexican, now he's leaving his home state in a huff -- John Dendahl sought during the past year to make Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential ambitions a campaign issue.

READ FULL STORY >>

Technorati Tags: 2008, 2008elections, Battleground, billrichardson, Democrats, Elections, Fundraising, newmexico, news, NM, Politics

NH Union Leader: New Mexico governor tests waters for '08 run

Union Leader - New Mexico governor tests waters for '08 run - Monday, Dec. 18, 2006

MANCHESTER – Gov. Bill Richardson is leaving a private luncheon at the Puritan Backroom restaurant and getting ready to chat it up with Democratic voters at a house party in Hooksett. But first, he has to make a quick phone call.

"Tell him I want to see, obviously, President Bashir," the New Mexico Democrat tells his scheduler via cell phone as the state trooper at the wheel speeds their SUV onto the interstate. Richardson is referring to Omar al-Bashir, the president of war-torn Sudan, and a "humanitarian mission" the governor is trying to orchestrate.

"Just put, 'Anybody making decisions on U.N. force,'" Richardson tells the woman on the line. "But, you know, certainly the president."

Madrid Won't Investigate Gov's Hires

In brief, 12/16/2006: AG won't investigate governor's hires

Attorney General Patricia Madrid announced Friday that she won't investigate the hiring practices of Gov. Bill Richardson, which Republicans say have resulted in illegal and unauthorized hirings.

The GOP lawmakers in March requested an investigation of Richardson's hiring of at least 65 people as "temporary" exempt employees. Many of the people are politicians and members of political families.

"In their submission, those requesting an investigation have neither allegations nor presented any evidence that a public servant has received pay for services not rendered or that payments have been made in excess of legislative appropriations," Madrid said in a written statement.

Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque, said Friday: "I'm not shocked that she's not going to jump on an investigation with (Richardson's) professional ambitions being what they are."