Comments on: Friends of Bill find it pays to play http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play New Mexico news and commentary Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:27:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: lifetree http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play/comment-page-1#comment-17725 lifetree Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:07:55 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=14599#comment-17725 Under the leadership of Value Options, the Estanca clinic hired a drug counselor who was, an alcoholic only 6 months (if that) off alcohol and an individual who had no degree in counseling. The director of the clinic resigned after being asked to remove record involving a workman's comp. case. Sam Vigil may have something to do with these selections and of course Value Options. Under the leadership of Value Options, the Estanca clinic hired a drug counselor who was, an alcoholic only 6 months (if that) off alcohol and an individual who had no degree in counseling. The director of the clinic resigned after being asked to remove record involving a workman's comp. case. Sam Vigil may have something to do with these selections and of course Value Options.

]]> By: lifetree http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play/comment-page-1#comment-9596 lifetree Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:07:55 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=14599#comment-9596 Under the leadership of Value Options, the Estanca clinic hired a drug counselor who was, an alcoholic only 6 months (if that) off alcohol and an individual who had no degree in counseling. The director of the clinic resigned after being asked to remove record involving a workman's comp. case. Sam Vigil may have something to do with these selections and of course Value Options. Under the leadership of Value Options, the Estanca clinic hired a drug counselor who was, an alcoholic only 6 months (if that) off alcohol and an individual who had no degree in counseling. The director of the clinic resigned after being asked to remove record involving a workman's comp. case. Sam Vigil may have something to do with these selections and of course Value Options.

]]> By: lifetree http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play/comment-page-1#comment-6326 lifetree Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:07:55 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=14599#comment-6326 Under the leadership of Value Options, the Estanca clinic hired a drug counselor who was, an alcoholic only 6 months (if that) off alcohol and an individual who had no degree in counseling. The director of the clinic resigned after being asked to remove record involving a workman's comp. case. Sam Vigil may have something to do with these selections and of course Value Options. Under the leadership of Value Options, the Estanca clinic hired a drug counselor who was, an alcoholic only 6 months (if that) off alcohol and an individual who had no degree in counseling. The director of the clinic resigned after being asked to remove record involving a workman's comp. case. Sam Vigil may have something to do with these selections and of course Value Options.

]]> By: blanconm http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play/comment-page-1#comment-3359 blanconm Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:45:01 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=14599#comment-3359 this article only lists the top guys in this circle. Whenever their is a judicial opening, Richardson gets to select the new judge. Candidates are always assessed by how much they have contributed to the guv's war chest. this article only lists the top guys in this circle. Whenever their is a judicial opening, Richardson gets to select the new judge. Candidates are always assessed by how much they have contributed to the guv's war chest.

]]> By: tripjennings http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play/comment-page-1#comment-3303 tripjennings Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:48:26 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=14599#comment-3303 Guys, I hate to be a party pooper, but the last time I checked the Democrats controlled the New Mexico Legislature and ethics reform has not passed. Politicians from both parties oppose ethics reform. Similarly, there are folks in each parties who support it.<br><br>I've watched the ethics reform process in two states -- New Mexico and Connecticut. <br><br>Connecticut is instructive. There a Republican governor went to federal prison for corruption. It capped a series of high profile scandals, including the convictions of a state treasurer, and two big-city mayors. After all that, the Democratically controlled Legislature had to be dragged kicking and screaming to pass ethics reform.<br><br>Why? Because ethics reform, in many ways, is not a partisan issue. It's about people in power who are afraid to change the rules, to legislate themselves. The sooner the public understands this and eschews the partisan charade, the better. <br><br>The Capitol press corps in Hartford used to have a saying: At the Legislature, there are three parties, Democrats, Republicans and incumbents. On many issues it's the party of incumbents that make decisions, not Democrats or Republicans. Guys, I hate to be a party pooper, but the last time I checked the Democrats controlled the New Mexico Legislature and ethics reform has not passed. Politicians from both parties oppose ethics reform. Similarly, there are folks in each parties who support it.

I've watched the ethics reform process in two states — New Mexico and Connecticut.

Connecticut is instructive. There a Republican governor went to federal prison for corruption. It capped a series of high profile scandals, including the convictions of a state treasurer, and two big-city mayors. After all that, the Democratically controlled Legislature had to be dragged kicking and screaming to pass ethics reform.

Why? Because ethics reform, in many ways, is not a partisan issue. It's about people in power who are afraid to change the rules, to legislate themselves. The sooner the public understands this and eschews the partisan charade, the better.

The Capitol press corps in Hartford used to have a saying: At the Legislature, there are three parties, Democrats, Republicans and incumbents. On many issues it's the party of incumbents that make decisions, not Democrats or Republicans.

]]> By: babyfatt http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play/comment-page-1#comment-3302 babyfatt Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:08:59 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=14599#comment-3302 Ethics reform, of course. Something meaningful (the City of Albuquerque re-do of campaign regulations is a good start), but also a top to bottom investigation of Richardson and his cronies (business partners, recipients of patronage jobs, et al). The Republicons are all over this just because they see an easy opportunity (and a possibility of taking back the governorship on '10), but as a liberal Dem I think we have to push for an investigation of Richardson and his buds as stridently as we do for an investigation of Domenici and Wilson and their corruption and illegality (even though we'll only see the Richardson investigation in the Journal, which has already effectively endorsed Wilson in '10, and would rename half of NM after ole Pete if they could). <br><br>Richardson has always been an elitist, out for his own. He bullied and money-grubbed his way to power, and all anyone who really wants to know about it has to do is follow the money. Every contract that was let must be investigated; and every political appointee must be called to testify to determine exactly how he/she came to be offered that job. Put it all on the record. The Republicons are too cynical to ever call for investigation of their own, but it is cynicism that is destroying our country. Time to open some windows and clear the air. Ethics reform, of course. Something meaningful (the City of Albuquerque re-do of campaign regulations is a good start), but also a top to bottom investigation of Richardson and his cronies (business partners, recipients of patronage jobs, et al). The Republicons are all over this just because they see an easy opportunity (and a possibility of taking back the governorship on '10), but as a liberal Dem I think we have to push for an investigation of Richardson and his buds as stridently as we do for an investigation of Domenici and Wilson and their corruption and illegality (even though we'll only see the Richardson investigation in the Journal, which has already effectively endorsed Wilson in '10, and would rename half of NM after ole Pete if they could).

Richardson has always been an elitist, out for his own. He bullied and money-grubbed his way to power, and all anyone who really wants to know about it has to do is follow the money. Every contract that was let must be investigated; and every political appointee must be called to testify to determine exactly how he/she came to be offered that job. Put it all on the record. The Republicons are too cynical to ever call for investigation of their own, but it is cynicism that is destroying our country. Time to open some windows and clear the air.

]]> By: barbwire http://newmexicoindependent.com/14599/friends-of-bill-find-it-pays-to-play/comment-page-1#comment-3297 barbwire Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:41:58 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=14599#comment-3297 I'd like to see Republicans back ethics reform. Then we'll know the revolution has arrived. Some of Richardson's biggest critics -- who insist that NM is a pay to play state -- have been the most stubborn opponents of campaign finance and ethics reform. Ironic, isn't it? I'd like to see Republicans back ethics reform. Then we'll know the revolution has arrived. Some of Richardson's biggest critics — who insist that NM is a pay to play state — have been the most stubborn opponents of campaign finance and ethics reform. Ironic, isn't it?

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