I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Lobbyists continued to spend money on lawmakers during the last week of the 2010 legislative session, as shown by the latest 48 hour lobbyist reports. Details after the jump.
Some are straight donations and others are for receptions–but no matter the reason the total amount is $52,276.46. That’s how much lobbyists working the 2010 legislature have spent on lawmakers.
For the third time in about a week, supporters of House Bill 118 tried to move their bill through the House Voters and and Elections Committee. The committee had asked the sponsor of HB 118Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, to…
Halfway through the 2010 Legislative session lobbyists are still spending money trying to sway lawmakers. The Independent showed you this first reports when they were posted last week. During the session registered lobbyists are required to file how much…
On Tuesday the House Voters and Elections Committee tabled a bill designed to combat pay-to-play, asking supporters to work with Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, the sponsor of a similar bill.
House Bill 118 is sponsored by Rep. Jose Campos,…
During the legislative session lobbyists are required to tell the Secretary of State’s office how much money they spent on lawmakers within 48 hours of parting with the money. Today is the first day the information is available and…
A Chavez campaign mailer sent this week criticizes Richard Romero for his work as a lobbyist. The card prominently features quotes from a story I wrote in July about Romero’s lobbying, but I think it’s worth pointing readers back…
According to an Associated Press report, spending on lobbying was down this year at the Roundhouse by a third over last year, the lowest since 2000. In 2000, which had a 30-day session, lobbyist expenditures cost $309,000. As one…
Two Martin Heinrich campaign memos recently shared with NMI appear to be incomplete and include shifting documentation of the candidate’s past consulting work. Meanwhile, the campaign has declined requests to disclose original time sheets or tax records that could conclusively settle the dispute over the candidate’s work history.
I have to tell you how surprised I have been to hear Martin Heinrich claim he was not a lobbyist. If you are paid to influence elected officials, I believe that qualifies you as a lobbyist. There is no exception because you “lobbied on behalf of the environment.” Give me a break. Whenever Heinrich got his paycheck each month, you can bet it wasn’t signed by “The Environment.”
