The Citizen Media Group

Give Peace a Chance

About 50 people and half a dozen organizations participated in Peace and Justice Day in Santa Fe, showing support for five measures:

• A memorial calling for immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq
• A joint resolution calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney
• A bill to create a New Mexico Office of Peace for conflict resolution
• A memorial to dismantle nuclear weapons at Kirtland Air Force Base
• A Bill requiring the state to provide testing for veterans for depleted uranium, a radioactive metal used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The measures, some carried by Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, are not symbolic gestures, says Desi Brown, the senator’s assistant.

Lawmakers Call for Housing Investigation

A dozen lawmakers signed a letter to Attorney General Gary King and U.S. Attorney General David Iglesias asking them to investigate the state’s regional housing authorities, especially Region VII in Dona Ana County.

The letter states: We know each of you are aware of the serious allegations of possible wrongdoing, including potential criminal wrongdoing, at the regional housing authorities in the state. We urge you to investigate these allegations fully.

Bills Define Terrorism, Renew Money for Border Sheriffs

Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, is introducing legislation that defines terrorism, renews funding for
border sheriffs, sets up an interim committee for border security and other border affairs, and calls on Congress to establish a guest worker program.

Bill Richardson, Big Spender: Don’t Let This Presidential Hopeful Fool Ya

This commentary as published on National Review Online

By Paul J. Gessing
President, Rio Grande Foundation

Bill Richardson has been traveling the world attempting to build the national profile he needs if he is to claim the Democratic nomination for president in 2008. But regardless of the success (or failure) of this effort, it is his record as governor of New Mexico that begs closest scrutiny.

Richardson’s proclivity for expanding government is obvious, given the astounding 11 percent one-year spending hike he has proposed for fiscal 2008. Having grown the size of state government by an average of nearly 7 percent per year, Richardson’s record has been that of a big spender.

But with the state awash in $720 million of unexpected oil and gas revenue, the temptation to spend has overwhelmed him.

First and foremost, Richardson seems obsessed with lavishing more money on New Mexico’s broken public-education system. With New Mexico’s fourth and eighth graders consistently ranking among the worst performers nationally, one might expect the governor to propose major school reform, or even an educational-choice option such as tax credits for low-income students.

Instead, he is simply rewarding K-through-12 teachers with 7.4 percent raises, and the schools themselves with a 9.1 percent overall funding increase that includes additional monies for the expansion of an unproven pre-kindergarten program.

But education spending is just the tip of Richardson’s 2007 spending iceberg. His budget includes an 18.4 percent increase in the already $2.7 billion in so-called “medical-assistance” spending that is funneled through the state. (Compare that amount with New Mexico’s total fiscal year 2007 general fund of $5.1 billion.)

And while plenty of spending hikes can be found within Richardson’s proposed budget, his embrace of global warming as a state issue could be the most costly in the long term.

To begin, the governor wants to make New Mexico the first state to use 100 percent renewable energy in government buildings, while at the same time adopting California’s strict automobile-emission standards.

Adding even more ambition to this costly agenda, he wants to require that utility companies produce 15 percent of their energy through renewable resources by 2015 and 25 percent by 2020.

Considering that only 6 percent of the nation’s energy production is renewable, with half of that hydroelectric, New Mexico’s utilities will face an almost impossible task of expanding solar- and wind-power generation to fulfill this mandate. That is, if the legislature follows Richardson’s lead.

In all fairness to the governor, his big-government agenda does have a silver lining: eminent-domain reform.

Last year, the Rio Grande Foundation criticized Richardson for vetoing legislation that would have offered some limited protection for property owners from eminent domain. To his credit, Richardson promptly charged a task force with drawing up reforms that, in the words of the governor, are “realistic, and will not prevent municipalities from cleaning up nuisance properties that place communities at risk.”

The task force did not disappoint. Its solid set of recommendations will not, in its own words, “limit governments’ traditional use of eminent domain to condemn property for the public use, such as widening roads or to build schools, but would bar the taking of private property for economic development.”

Richardson has endorsed the task force’s recommendations and is introducing legislation in the 2007 session that will at last protect New Mexico property owners.

Only time will tell if Richardson can leverage his Hispanic heritage and his image as a tax cutter — along with what will hopefully be a successful effort to reform New Mexico’s eminent-domain laws — to generate a successful run for national office in 2008.

But let there be no doubt about it: Bill Richardson is a big spender, and that’s not likely to change if he’s elected president.

The Rio Grande Foundation is a free market think tank based in Albuquerque.

House Dems Vote Down Open Committees

The first attempt this session to give the public access to lawmakers’ conference committees met swift
defeat. House Democrats voted to table Republican Whip Dan Foley’s resolution that would have prohibited House members from participating in a closed committee meeting.

The conference committees are where the House and Senate hammer out their differences on legislation. The meetings are also where a lot of wheeling and dealing get done.

Supporters of closed committees say the privacy is necessary to have open debate on differences.

Proponents of open committees say the committees deal with the public’s business, and so the public should be allowed to hear the process and witness the votes. Right now, committee members’ votes on issues are also not public.

Energy Tax Break for Consumers Proposed

With all the talk about energy, from global warming to solar power to biofuel research, one New Mexico
lawmaker has come up with a down-to-earth idea: give energy consumers a tax break on energy efficient appliances -- a simple incentive to do the right thing.

Media Crow About Cockfighting, Public Cares About Bigger Issues

Given the recent news coverage, it’s apparent the mainstream media want you to think the hottest issue for the Legislature is cockfighting.

We’re not sure if that’s because they really do think cockfighting is the hottest issue, or they are content to dumb-down the news coverage.

And, let’s face it, cockfighting has all the elements of a flashy news story: it’s local, it’s quirky, and it’s controversial – if you care about it.

But at The Citizen, we don’t sit around imagining what should be important to you. We just ask.

Our survey of just a few community groups indicates New Mexicans have a lot more on their minds than cockfighting. And they won’t be duped by media-directed distractions.

Here are a few of the issues you told us you care about:

• Ethics reform in government – meaningful reforms that will hold officials much more accountable for their conduct, including spending of your tax dollars

• Restricting the use of eminent domain so your private property cannot be taken by the government and given to developers

• More choices for your children’s education – public, charter, private schools

• Tax relief and its parallel issue, restrictions on government spending

• Health care solutions that won’t break the state budget or yours

• Tougher laws for crimes against women and children

• The federal Real ID Act controversy state lawmakers must vote on

So, lawmakers, citizens do care about a lot more than cockfighting. We hope you will listen when they contact you. They will be watching you this session to see what you really care about, and so will we.

Real ID Act = Real Concern; Just Say “No”

By Paul Gessing
President, Rio Grande Foundation

The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in May of 2005 without a single hearing in the Senate. Although the law is theoretically supposed to increase the integrity of our nation’s identification cards, it really amounts to yet another power grab by arrogant politicians in Washington.

This new federal mandate – if implemented – will cost New Mexico taxpayers $43 million and place a heavy enforcement burden on small business.

During the upcoming legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers will be faced with the decision to either go sheepishly along with outrageous Congressional demands or instead stand up for New Mexicans and New Mexico businesses by rejecting this costly mandate.
So, what would REAL ID actually do?

• If New Mexico chooses to implement REAL ID, the state’s Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) will need to verify the “issuance, validity and completeness” of every document presented to them;
• MVD would be expected to copy, and store both in paper and electronic form documents such as the birth certificates and Social Security cards and to keep those records for up to 10 years;
• New Mexico would automatically take part in a shared database making each person’s information available to all states, the federal government as well as the Canadian and Mexican governments;
• A “machine readable zone” that will allow for easy capture of personal data by anyone with the appropriate reading mechanism would be added to your drivers’ license.

It is hard to believe that New Mexicans would want to put nearly all of their personal information and the responsibility for protecting that it in the hands of a government agency that is not even set up for that purpose. That is exactly what would happen under REAL ID implementation.

The potential for mismanagement of personal information was made clear last year when, in the hunt for alleged cop-killer Michael Astorga, it was discovered that MVD employees were providing Astorga with driver’s licenses in other people’s names

While leaving identification efforts open to abuses, the law makes obtaining licenses more difficult for law-abiding citizens. Gone will be the days when you can apply for a license and receive it in the same day.

Since the law requires those without an official government document verifying their address to attain alternative verification, businesses (most especially utility companies) will face increasing burdens under the new law.

In addition to implementation costs, New Mexicans could wind up paying close to $100 for their ID’s – six times more than the $16 they pay now – if the Legislature goes along with Congress’s wishes.

It is unclear exactly how much the additional paperwork and bureaucratic hassle will cost businesses, but given the requirements of the new law, those costs may be quite high.

So what are taxpayers getting for their money? Even if REAL ID improves our ability to identify people, discerning their intentions is another problem entirely. Worse, once the system is fooled or identities are stolen, centralized databases will allow for even greater mischief than under the current system.

Time and again, for example, the ability of government officials to accurately separate friend from foe has been called into question. The so-called “No Fly List,” which has been used to stop potential terrorists, has led to confusion and problems for some travelers.

The wife of Senator Ted Stevens – whose name “Catharine” is similar to that of blacklisted singer “Cat Stevens” – is just one of thousands of innocent people to face repeated problems. Will the bureaucrats at New Mexico’s MVD be any better than those working for the federal government?

If the outrageous cost and the vast potential for mischief associated with REAL ID implementation are not enough, principle alone should convince policy makers to reject REAL ID.

For too long, New Mexico and other states have allowed the federal government to badger them into bad policy making with an array of big sticks and carrots. Telling states how to run their driver registration systems is not Congress’s job.

It is time for New Mexicans to stand up for the Constitution and our state’s autonomy when Congress oversteps its authority. Say “No” to REAL ID.

Paul Gessing is the president of the Rio Grande Foundation, a non-partisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization dedicated to promoting prosperity for New Mexico based on principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility.

Public School Promotes School Choice

The Education World As It Should Be
By Troy Williamson
Executive Director, Educate New Mexico

This past week as legislators began their discussions regarding education in New Mexico, I was privileged to be a part of something very rare – and very exciting - in the education world.

A short distance from the Roundhouse, Agua Fria Elementary School hosted their second annual “Middle School Information Fair.” The event started at 6 p.m. with a Santa Fe area student Mariachi Band.

Following a wonderful performance, parents and students visited various tables throughout the cafeteria gathering information from local middle schools and other educational organizations like Educate New Mexico.

What is so unusual about this event? Take a look at how Agua Fria – a publicly financed school – described the purpose of the gathering in their promotional brochure:

The transition from elementary to middle school is often filled with excitement and fear. It is a transition we as parents and students look forward to and worry about.

There are many options in Santa Fe for the middle school years. You may choose your local “zoned” public school or you may apply to “interzone” into another public school of your choice. Charter schools are available to all students, regardless of your address, but you must apply through a lottery system.

Private schools are open to families through an application process. All of the private schools at the Open House tonight have scholarship or financial aid programs. If you think this option is the best for your child, talk to the private school about their particular application process.

That’s right – many of the schools invited to participate in the Information Fair were privately financed schools. Right along side schools like Alameda Middle School, Capshaw Middle School, DeVargas Middle School and charter schools like Academy for Technology and Classics and Monte del Sol were schools like Desert Academy, New Mexico Academy, St. Michael’s, Santa Fe Girls School and Santa Fe Preparatory School.

And not one fight broke out!

In fact everyone was very pleasant, sharing ideas and pointing parents and students to different tables across the room. Sure everyone was there to recruit new students to their school. But everyone present seemed to recognize that not every child would succeed at their school – different kids need different schools.

The message was clear: We at Agua Fria care about educating kids - period. We don’t care where they are educated, as long as they are educated. We are here to help you, the parent, in any way we can because the ultimate responsibility for your child’s education rests with you. You have choices, choose wisely.

What are we to take from the terrific example set for us by Agua Fria?

Parents: You have more choices than you might think. Most privately funded schools have financial aid available. For example, on March 17th, Desert Academy is hosting their Merit Scholarship Challenge to distribute over $100,000 in financial aid.

In addition, Educate New Mexico has been helping low-income families finance an education at the school of their choice for seven years (www.educatenm.org). If you think a particular school would be good for your child, check it out and be persistent.

Educators: It is entirely possible to promote your school as a “great school” while recognizing that you will be unable to help every child that comes along. We are all in this together for the benefit of New Mexico and New Mexico’s kids.

Dedicated educators from all kinds of schools are working hard, educating children using a variety of methods. Both competition and cooperation are needed to improve education.

Legislators: Now is the time to put New Mexico at the front of the class by creating a system that educates the public. Recognize the tremendous service done for New Mexico by the privately funded schools in the state. Recognize that, because of finances, many parents do NOT have access to the schools that are best for their children denying them the power necessary to take control of their children’s education, a fundamental right.

We must develop a way to make a broader range of educational options available to low-income families. (i.e. - A low-income student scholarship fund generated by giving tax credits to those who contribute to that fund.)

My wife and I have three children. Our oldest daughter is a graduate of Hope Christian, our youngest daughter is a senior at Albuquerque Academy, and our son is a freshman at Eldorado High School (and we live in the La Cueva district). We are fortunate to be able to place our children in the schools we feel are best for them.

Shouldn’t every family in New Mexico have access to the same options our family has access to? I think so . . . and apparently the folks at Agua Fria agree. Thank you Agua Fria, for having the courage to give us a glimpse of the education world as it should be.

Citizens Left Out of Legislative Process

Citizens who would like to watch their state lawmakers in action are, for the most part, out of luck. New Mexico is one of only four states that do not have any type of live broadcast of their legislative process, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

One Republican lawmaker, Sen. Mark Boitano of Albuquerque, got $75,000 in funding last year for webcasting so citizens could watch the process online.

“It’s log-jammed in bureaucracy,” he says of his effort.

State Needs Healthcare Interpreters

Lawmakers Introduce Bill for Pilot Training Program
‘Intoxicado': $71 million word
By Linda Armas
President, Southwest Center for Linguistic and Cultural Competency

"Intoxicado" has been called the $71 million word. That's the award a Florida hospital was to pay in a malpractice suit that left 18-year-old William Ramírez a quadriplegic due to the wrong interpretation of the word.

The paramedics took it to mean intoxicated; the intended meaning was nauseated. This was a preventable tragedy that should be cause for alarm throughout our health-care systems.

There is a "new reality" in New Mexico in which the Limited English Proficient (LEP) population has grown dramatically in recent years and most health-care workers have felt the impact of this unprecedented growth, currently numbering approximately 400,000.

Nationally, there was a 53 percent increase in the number of LEP Americans in the last decade. This makes it imperative that a new approach to health care include addressing language access...

Mesa del Sol Scores Political Goals

The 12,000-acre Mesa del Sol development at Albuquerque’s southeast mesa scored two political goals this week that will help propel its progress in the new year:

city council approval of tax revenue to back bonds for infrastructure and congressional support for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s plans to build a new service center on 20 acres.

Bond Sale Benefits Seniors, Schools, Libraries

Before you lament your increased property tax bill, know that senior centers, colleges, universities and libraries across the state will benefit from it.

Next week, the state Board of Finance will sell $143.1 million in general obligation bonds approved by voters in November to fund hundreds of projects. The 10-year bonds are backed by a property tax increase that adds about $11 a year to a $100,000 home.

Film Advisor Gets Mixed Reviews

He’s an entertainment lawyer who’s, well, entertaining. Peter Dekom spent more than a quarter century
navigating Hollywood’s bizarre business climate and learning the art of the deal.

As the film advisor for the state of New Mexico, the charismatic celebrity attorney now vets the film deals competing for the state’s interest-free loans of up to $15 million. The role has earned him both fans and critics.