Posted on 09/16/2007 9:09:41 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
The state of New Mexico has issued an estimated 30,000 driver's licenses to foreign nationals, requiring them to present only one form of identification such as a card issued by the Mexican consulate.
And the Richardson administration has fought tooth and nail to keep from providing a list of those licenses to state Republican Party officials who want to cross-check them against the rolls of registered voters.
The GOP argument is that the licenses, which aren't distinguishable from those issued to citizens, can be used as identification to register to vote which non-citizens are not allowed to do.
So far, the state is winning the legal fight.
-SNIP-
District Judge Valerie Mackie Huling of Albuquerque ruled recently that state and federal anti-stalking laws trumped public records arguments and the GOP's attempt to make sure non-citizens aren't voting.
-SNIP-
In response to the request for documents used in the audit, Taxation and Revenue turned over some heavily redacted material and claimed the rest was exempt from disclosure because of executive privilege. Huling upheld the denial, ruling the state didn't have to turn over internal memos generated by department employees under the principle of executive privilege.
-SNIP-
"Secondly, executive privilege is usually defined as involving the chief executive's closest advisers. This opens it up to every employee in the state." Patrick Rogers, a former president of FOG who also has represented the Republican Party in court, described it as "the most expansive claim of executive privilege that has ever been made."
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Yep! Funny thing about Richardson, until he started his presidential campaign, I NEVER heard him bragging about being half Mexican. IF he did, I never heard him say it. Before that time, I think he wanted to be considered 'white.' He's only doing this to pick up the illegal/Mexican vote. I may be wrong but I'd bet you that once the election is over, he'll quit advertising that he's half Mexican.
Good thread and comments — Thanks.
Ethics Reform Uphill Battle, Backers Say
An indication of how difficult the battle for ethics reform might become came in remarks attributed to Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, Saturday in the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Sanchez, who could not attend Saturday's forum, sits on a legislative committee looking at reform ideas for the 2008 session. During a committee meeting Friday, he was quoted as saying a bipartisan ethics bill would pass in 2008 but wondered if the push for tougher laws was coming from the public or from "so-called citizens groups and the media."
"Are we being ethical passing this ethics legislation if we're passing these bills we don't believe in because we're being pressured by these special interest groups?" he was quoted as saying.
Senate majority leader Sanchez.....pretty well says it all.
Ethics Reform Uphill Battle, Backers Say
Also, in the article: "Earlier this week, a Journal Poll showed 88 percent of Democrats surveyed support stricter laws, such as campaign contribution limits, additional restrictions on lobbyists and creation of an ethics commission that could investigate complaints against public officials." and this..."Two former state treasurers have been prosecuted on federal corruption charges, and a former state Senate president was indicted this year in a separate federal probe."
I was just reading the article on the war protesters in Albuquerque at Kirtland AFB...had to laugh at some of the repartee between the protestors and cops...One officer told a woman to "shave your armpits and call me later." Another told a man to "take a bath."
One protester yelled: "This is real patriotic, hassling a bunch of old hippies." ;)
And the New Mexico jokes continue to write themselves.
As a New Mexican who just moved to Idaho last year, I can feel your pain.
The lack of political scandals in Idaho compared to New Mexico (Larry Craig’s tapdancing notwithstanding), is refreshing.
I can’t say as much about the air quality, what with all the forest fires around here. :^)
If and when you move back here, bring some Big Jim chiles with you.
That was wonderful, was it not??? What a campaign ad for the Republicans.
The lack of political scandals in Idaho compared to New Mexico (Larry Craigs tapdancing notwithstanding), is refreshing.
I cant say as much about the air quality, what with all the forest fires around here. :^)
If and when you move back here, bring some Big Jim chiles with you.
The smoke from the fires will clear. The stink of NM politics is forever.
If you hear of any openings for an HP-UX admin or an Orcale DbA, feel free to FReep-mail me. :^D
He looks to be about half of a decent-sized Mexican.
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