Posted on 01/24/2006 11:56:55 AM PST by CedarDave
SANTA FE— State Public Regulation Commission officials cannot by law speak privately with Qwest Communications officials about a settlement proposal, but Gov. Bill Richardson can and has.
The PRC and Qwest are in court over whether the company must invest more than $200 million in the state's telecom system or refund the money to consumers. The New Mexico Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case Feb. 14.
Richardson met with Qwest officials at their request in Aspen, Colo., last August. Ned Farquhar, a senior adviser to the governor, also met privately with company officials seven times between July and November 2005 in Santa Fe and Albuquerque to discuss the proposal, according to e-mail records.
That contact by the Governor's Office certainly has the appearance of trying to push a particular agenda. Commissioner David King told the Journal on Monday it looked as though Qwest selected some of the governor's "pet projects" to include in the proposed settlement, such as fiber-optic cable for the proposed commuter train between Belen and Santa Fe and the spaceport in southern New Mexico.
"I think they're projects we all agree with, but they (Qwest) shouldn't just be able to go to the guv and think that the rest will be forgiven," King said.
King and Commissioner Jason Marks said the commission intends to hold Qwest to its commitment to invest the full amount or return the money to customers. Commissioner Lynda Lovejoy said she would like to see more money in the Qwest proposal and less politics in the process.
Qwest is offering to spend $85 million on New Mexico projects in exchange for the end to the court fight. Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said the governor is not endorsing any specific proposal.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
...remember how Richardson was all hyped about illegals and was pushing along with the lady gov next door to crack down on the problem?
Well seems NM is one of those states that allows illegals a discount to attend state college. Napolitano (sic)even VETOED her states effort to abolish the practice...more to come I'm sure
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