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.
Health insurers contributed nearly $428,000 to New Mexico elected officials from 2004 to 2008, according to campaign finance data analyzed by The Independent. The data show the companies, an industry association and political action committees spread the campaign contributions around, giving to several state office holders and nearly every state lawmaker in the Legislature. The role of health insurers in policy-making decisions is coming under additional scrutiny at a time when a battle is brewing in time for the 2011 legislative session. Lawmakers and health insurers likely will face off over the question whether policy makers should re-write state laws to strengthen how New Mexico vets health insurers’ requests to raise premium rates.
A bill introduced Tuesday in the state Senate would create a one-stop clearinghouse for public information in an effort to create more transparency in how government works.
Sponsored by Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, the legislation gives the state Department…
Denish said Wednesday that tax increases and spending cuts must be discussed when state lawmakers convene in Santa Fe in January to write next year’s state budget, which could include a $1 billion shortfall. But before state lawmakers increase revenue or cut spending, she said, they should consider eliminating “double dipping” for certain state workers and reform how the state hands out money for brick-and-mortar projects around the state.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish issued a statement immediately following the Senate floor debate tonight lamenting the passage of House Bill 3 by the Senate, while stating that it was necessary. House Bill 3 transfers money from various funds and agencies into…
“Assuming news reports are accurate this is good news for the people of New Mexico. But the fact remains that public confidence has been eroded by the numerous investigations into possible wrongdoings by other government officials. We need strong ethics…
Gov. Bill Richardson, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and the Republican Party of New Mexico reacted to news today that U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy has died.
The governor’s office said a few minutes ago that Gov. Bill Richardson will hold a 6 p.m. press conference at the Capitol to say whether he signed or vetoed legislation to repeal the death penalty.
There was no word on…
Those were the words state Sen. Rod Adair, R-Roswell, uttered moments after the New Mexico Senate defeated his motion to amend legislation to repeal the death penalty.
His amendment would have left capital punishment in state law as…
The reforms include consolidating the seven regional housing authorities into three, designating an agency to oversee regional operations, strengthening conflict-of-interest language, permanently eliminating the authorities’ ability to issue bonds, and requiring that transactions of over $100,000 be reviewed and approved by the mortgage finance authority.
House Speaker Ben Lujan said Sunday that Gov. Bill Richardson‘s decision to stay in New Mexico instead of departing to become the U.S. commerce secretary is a “blessing in disguise.” That’s because the 112-member Legislature convenes in less than three weeks and has a very tall order: balance the state’s books. The state of New Mexico is looking at a budget gap for this year estimated at more than $450 million.
Gov. Bill Richardson’s spokesman Gilbert Gallegos sent out a statement regarding his boss’s decision to withdraw from consideration as U.S. commerce secretary.
In addition to statements saying he had done nothing wrong, a position that has been previously reported, Richardson said…
For the first time in New Mexico, and perhaps the nation, a person is being prosecuted for causing the death of an unborn child. The defendant killed a pregnant 29-year-old woman and has been charged with killing her unborn child,…
Definitive tests have determined that the powdery, white substance sent to the governor’s office in an envelope Thursday was not a chemical agent or anthrax, a state public safety spokesman said Friday morning.
Meanwhile, all the people put in in quarantine…
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and Gov. Bill Richardson have been trying to find time for a one-on-one meeting, but it’s been difficult.
“He’s out of town this week,” Denish said of Richardson on Wednesday. “I have a meeting scheduled…
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish walked a fine line Wednesday between evincing the take-charge attitude of an incoming chief executive and the humility of a second-in-command.
Denish, during a news conference in Albuquerque made no bones about the fact that she…
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, center, looks on as Brenda Brooks speaks. Dan Lopez stands to the right.
ALBUQUERQUE — Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said she is open to the possibility of merging state agencies once she takes over as governor.
Denish conditioned such action on it being among the recommendations she receives from a team of advisers she has empaneled to help her transition into the role of the state’s chief executive.
“I think one of the hallmarks of what we have done in our administration, specifically that I’ve done, is have a model of collaboration between agencies. But we can always do better,” Denish said when asked about the possibility of merging state agencies once she takes over. “If there’s ever a time to think of efficiencies, and smoothness, and operating collaboratively, now is the time.”
Denish’s remarks came at a news conference in downtown Albuquerque, where she named a team of advisers to help advise her as she prepares to take over as the state’s chief executive. On Monday, economists projected New Mexico will have a $450 million shortfall for the year that ends June 30 and a sizable shortfall for the following year.
“My experience with transitions is that there are some innovative ideas that come out of them and that our opportunity …we will see if we can find those innovative ideas and take advantage of them,” Denish said.
Gov. Bill Richardson, who has been appointed U.S. commerce secretary by President-elect Barack Obama, doesn’t expect to resign as governor until middle to late February when the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on his nomination.
Denish said she wanted the creation of the advisory team to send a message to New Mexicans that she is ready to take over.
“I want them to feel very comfortable that in my job as lieutenant governor I am ready to step in and take charge when the time comes,” she said after the news conference.
“The No. 1 priority is to help us have a smooth transition …so that New Mexicans know that our No. 1 to make sure there is no interruption in the work that has to go on,” she said.
She said the advisers will be broken up into teams that will focus on seven key areas: government efficiency and finance; economic stability; transportation and infrastructure; education and workforce; healthy families and communities; energy and environment; and safety and security.
Each team of advisers will solicit the public, state officials and experts in each field for ways to “achieve greater efficiency in state government” and “ways in which agencies can better integrate.” The teams also will “rank priority issues, recommend what can be accomplished in the next two years, and in the next five years,” Denish said.
“I think it is very indicative of who she is as a leader that one of the first things she seeks to do is to get the opinions of the citizens from across this great state of New Mexico, “ said Brenda Brooks, one of two co-chairs of Denish’s advisory team.
The other co-chairman, Dan Lopez, said he had participated in other transitions. “It is really some hard work. It can be useful work if we approach it correctly.”
Lopez is the president of New Mexico Tech and a former cabinet secretary at two state agencies.
Brooks said each team leader will deliver a five- to seven-page report to Denish by Jan. 15, five days before the 2009 legislative session opens.
While driving through downtown Albuquerque, it’s difficult to miss signs of the film industry: Here a blocked-off street with large trailers, there a sign affixed to a pole directing crews to a set.
There’s no mistaking that Gov. Bill…
Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish named part of the team Friday that will help her transition into the role of governor.
Kathy Keith has been named as Denish’s transition director and Chris Cervini will act as its communications director.
Cervini,…
Gov. Bill Richardson and his successor, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, want New Mexico to know this: There will be a smooth transition. That phrase was uttered so often at a joint press conference Thursday featuring Richardson and Denish a day after Richardson was appointed as Commerce Secretary by President-elect Barack Obama that it began to resemble a mantra.
