New Mexico News

At least 29 states plus the District of Columbia, including several of the nation’s largest states, faced or are facing an estimated $48 billion in combined shortfalls in their fiscal year 2009 budgets (which begins July 2008 in most states.) Two other states expect budget problems in fiscal year 2010, although some of those gaps may occur earlier than expected.

To read the full June 2008 report of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, copy and paste the following link into your search box:

http://www.cbpp.org/1-15-08sfp.pdf

American families are being squeezed on all sides – at the gas pump, the grocery store, through healthcare costs, and especially in housing costs, long the most substantial piece of the American household’s budget. With resetting interest rates, negatively amortizing loans, plummeting home values, and an illiquid market that severely restricts refinancing availability, the national mortgage delinquency rate has topped 6% of all loans, and 30% of subprime loans. More Americans lost their homes to foreclosure in 2007 than at any time in recent history, and the crisis is only expected to deepen in 2008 and 2009. Currently, 2.5% of all mortgages are in foreclosure, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. One in 10 borrowers is underwater, owing more money to their lender than their home is worth, and increasingly homeowners are walking away from their homes and sending their keys to their lender in the mail, giving rise to the post-subprime phenomenon of “Jingle Mail.”
There is an unlimited supply of blame to go around for the genesis of this crisis, from regulators who were asleep at the switch, predatory brokers that swindled borrowers into bad loans in exchange for higher commissions, lenders who abandoned any semblance of underwriting standards, insurance and ratings agencies that did no due diligence, investors seeking to game the system, and a federal government that approached the crisis with the fortitude of an ostrich. These failures were then compounded by the nearly universal inadequacy of mortgage servicing companies to handle the sheer volume of delinquent mortgages, and some saber-rattling from moneyed investors that slowed down appropriate loss mitigation and other foreclosure avoidance workouts.
While Congress and some governors have grabbed headlines for some of their modest reactions to the foreclosure crisis, there is another critical and largely untold story of the innovative and impactful leadership that many states’ attorneys general have demonstrated in their diverse responses to the crises in their states.
This report, the first effort of its kind, seeks to catalogue the work that all 51 attorneys general have done, highlight and recommend the best practices and cutting-edge strategies they have employed, and compare their efforts and willingness to engage in solving this crisis and preventing the next one with those of their colleagues around the nation.
ACORN appreciates the willingness of the vast majority of the state attorneys general and their staffs to engage with us on this project and tackle the issue. The reactions that attorneys general have had to the current crisis range from total inaction to all-out efforts using the full complement of available resources to protect borrowers and reform the current system to prevent another crisis in the future. A questionnaire from ACORN distributed to all 51 offices focused on nine issue areas in which some attorneys general have acted to protect borrowers and enact reforms, from simple constituent service like establishing a 1-800 line for distressed borrowers, to legal strategies like seeking preliminary injunctions against foreclosures sought by companies that engaged in widespread predatory lending and advocacy roles like using the bully pulpit to advance legislative protections at the state and federal level. The questionnaire further sought a summary of any and all actions that the office had taken outside of the scope of the nine questions, which resulted in a few inches-thick binders of information from some of the field’s leaders.
The coming pages include the 51-state scorecard, a discussion of findings including highlights of some best practices from the front lines, a fuller explanation of methodology, and an appendix with the full questions.

To read the full report of the ACORN Survey and Scorecard, copy and paste the following link into your search box:

http://www.acorn.org/fileadmin/ACORN_Reports/2008/agreport.pdf

A Report from Families USA, June 2008
To view the complete report, copy and paste the link below into your search box:

http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/publications/reports/failing-grades.html

Democracy for New Mexico: http://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/ Posted 6.10.08

How much power does Gov. Richardson have?
 

Weekly Alibi, Jerry Ortiz y Pino, V.17 No.22, 5.29-6.4.08

Will 2008 be a repeat of 2004?

Weekly Alibi, Jim Scarantino, V.17 No.23, 6.5-11.08 

One project is complete. Plans develop to continue on down the tracks.

Weekly Alibi, Aeriel Emig, V.17 No.23, 6.5-11.08
 

Seven cars were clamped last year. Last month? Thirty.

Weekly Alibi, Simon McCormack, V.17 No.23, 6.5-11.08

Albuquerque Journal, Lance Chilton, MD, 6.2.08

Albuquerque Journal, Olivier Uyttebrouck, Journal Staff writer, 6.9.08

Albuquerque Journal, Martin Crutsinger, AP, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, H. Josef Hebert, AP, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, John Wilen, AP, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Martin Crutsinger, AP, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Malden Read, AP, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jack King, Journal Staff writer, 6.2.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 6.2.08

Albuquerque Journal, Richard Metcalf, Journal Staff writer, 6.5.08

Albuquerque Journal, Winthrop Quigley, Journal Staff writer, 6.5.08 

Albuquerque Journal, From the Executive's Desk, 6.5.08

Albuquerque Journal, Susan Stiger, Journal Staff writer, 6.8.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 6.9.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 6.9.08

Albuquerque Journal, Dan Boyd, Journal Staff writer, 6.9.08

Albuquerque Journal, Steve Shoup, Journal Staff writer, 6.9.08

Albuquerque Journal, Martin Salazar, Journal Staff writer, 6.7.08

Albuquerque Journal, Dan McKay, Journal Staff writer, 6.7.08

Albuquerque Journal, Zsombor Peter, Journal Staff writer, 6.7.08

Albuquerque, Journal, Dan McKay, Journal Staff writer, 6.7.08

Albuquerque Journal, Eric Billingsley, Journal Staff writer, 6.8.08

Albuquerque Journal, Dan Mayfield, Journal Staff writer, 6.8.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jack King, Journal Staff writer, 6.9.08

Albuquerque Journal, Dan McKay, Journal Staff writer, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jim McKay, Journal Staff writer, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, TJ Wilham, Journal Staff writer, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Andrea Schoellkopf, Journal staff writer, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Felicia Fonseca, AP, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Carla K. Johnson, AP, 6.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal staff, 6.10.08

ARE YOU A WORKING WOMAN? TAKE THE SURVEY NOW, TO TAKE POWER BACK!

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.23.08

Albuquerque Journal, Barry Massey, AP, 05.23.08

Albuquerque Journal, Sean Olson, 05.23.08

Albuquerque Journal, AP, 05.23.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jack King, 05.23.08

MSNBC, Jeremy Engar, 05.23.08

Political differences shake bipartisan relationships

MSNBC, AP, 05.12.08

'This is the equivalent of taking 140 million cars off the road'

MSNBC, AP, 05.16.08

Bush administration bows to pressure from Congress over high gas prices

MSNBC, AP, 05.21.08

MSNBC, AP, 05.22.08

Energy Secretary Bodman rebuffs Congress' calls to bring down crude prices

MSNBC, MSNBC Staff, 05.19.08

Americans cutting back on other expenses to keep tanks full
 

MSN.com, Shirely Skeel, 05.16.08

Forget pizza delivery. And cheap airfares. And bottled water. In fact, forget a way of life that looks much like today's. But would that be so bad?

Albuquerque Journal, Michael Coleman, 04.24.08

Albuquerque Journal, Michael Coleman, 04.18.08

Albuquerque Journal, Michael Coleman, 04.27.08

Albuquerque Journal, Michael Coleman, 05.02.08

Albuquerque Journal, Michael Coleman, 05.08.08

Albuquerque, Journal, Julia Zappei, AP Writer, 05.21.08

Albuquerque Journal, Lily Hindy, AP Writer, 05.21.08

Albuquerque Journal, Sinan Salahuddin, AP Writer, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, Anne Flaherty, AP Press Writer, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, Andrew Taylor, AP Press Writer, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, John Wilen, AP Business Writer, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, Rene Romo, 05.21.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jeff Jones, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, Martin Salazar, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.22.08

Albuquerque Journal, John Fleck, 05.22.08

Santa Fe New Mexican, Kate Nash & Steve Terrell, 05.19.08

Santa Fe New Mexican, Barbara Rose, for the Chicago Tribune, 05.19.08

Weekly Alibi, Jim Scarantino, V.17 No.19 | May 8 - 14, 2008

Weekly Alibi, Marisa Demarco, V.17 No.19 | May 8 - 14, 2008

Weekly Alibi, Marisa Demarco, V.17 No.19 | May 8 - 14, 2008
 

Weekly Alibi, Marisa Demarco, V.17 No.19 | May 8 - 14, 2008

Weekly Alibi, Laura Sanchez, V.17 No.20 | May 15 - 21, 2008
 

Weekly Alibi, Marisa Demarco, V.17 No.20 | May 15 - 21, 2008

Weekly Alibi, Simon McCormack, V.17 No.20 | May 15 - 21, 2008
 

Albuquerque Journal, John Wilen, AP, 05.21.08

Albuquerque Journal, Raam Wong, 05.19.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jack King, 05.19.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.19.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jerry Pacheco, 05.19.08

Albuquerque Journal, James Hamill, 05.19.08

Albuquerque Journal, AP, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, D'Val Westphal, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, Juan-Carlos Rodriguez, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jeff Jones, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, Dan McKay, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jeff Jones, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, Sean Olson, 05.20.05

Albuquerque Journal, Thomas J. Cole, 05.20.08

Albuquerque Journal, AP, 05.20.08

ABQnewsSeeker, Bruce Daniels, 05.20.08 


 

Albuquerque Journal, Bruce Chilton, M.D., 02.25.08

Albuquerque Journal, Olivier Uyttebrouck, 03.03.08

Albuquerque Journal, Lance Chilton, M.D., 03.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Olivier Uyttebrouck, 04.21.08

FOR THE RECORD: This story incorrectly described Herceptin as a chemotherapy drug. Instead, it is a monoclonal antibody used to treat women with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Albuquerque Journal, Lance Chilton, M.D., 03.24.08

Albuquerque Journal, Lance Chilton, M.D., 04.21.08

Albuquerque Journal, Lance Chilton, M.D., 05.05.08

Albuquerque Journal, Joline Gutierrez Krueger, 05.01.08

Albuquerque Journal, Joline Gutierrez Krueger, 04.29.08

Albuquerque Journal, Dan McKay, 05.09.08

     Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver has been on the job for 16 months, but her first test before voters comes June 3.
     That's when she will face Ambrose E. Chavez in the Democratic primary. The winner will campaign against Republican Richard Abraham in the fall general election.
     County commissioners last year appointed Toulouse Oliver to fill the unexpired term of Mary Herrera, who left to become New Mexico secretary of state.
     Chavez, a real estate agent, didn't return a Journal questionnaire or phone calls.
     Toulouse Oliver, who worked previously as Southwest campaign manager for the League of Conservation Voters, said she is carrying out a host of ideas to improve elections.
     She held meetings with political parties, election workers and others to get ideas for improvements. In response, Toulouse Oliver said, she has improved training for poll officials and clarified procedures for securing ballots to ensure they aren't tampered with.
     Also, the county has spent about $60,000 to expand the capacity of its telephone system, which has been unable to handle the crush of Election Day calls in the past. She is also working with a University of New Mexico professor to audit the procedures for hand- tallying provisional ballots.

Albuquerque Journal, Dan McKay, 05.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Juan-Carlos Rodriguez, 05.08.08

Albuquerque Journal, Rosalie Rayburn, 05.07.08

     Improving education and building a stronger, more diverse economy are priorities for the two Democratic candidates in the primary race for the House District 44 seat.
     Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education president Lisa Cour will face retired U.S. Air Force officer and businessman Gary Van Valin in the June 3 primary.
     House District 44 is in southern Sandoval County, including a section of northern Rio Rancho and small portions of the town of Bernalillo and the village of Corrales.
     Jane Powdrell-Culbert, a Republican from Corrales, has held the seat since 2003. No other Republicans are on the primary election ballot, according to the Secretary of State's office.
     Van Valin, a resident of Bernalillo, is president and CEO of Keystone International, which provides consulting support to defense, energy and technical companies and government agencies.
     His primary focus, if elected, would be efforts to improve the economy statewide, he says. Improving education, health care and safeguarding the environment also rank high on his to-do list.
     Van Valin believes working with health-care organizations and professionals to hold down costs and streamline access to care is the best way to extend coverage to people without health insurance.
     He says he would support measures to ensure open ethical government, take a tough stance on DWI offenses and create a law establishing legally binding domestic partnerships for nontraditional couples.
     Cour has been a member of the Rio Rancho school board since 1997, serving as secretary and president.
     She has been a strong supporter of the proposed Central New Mexico Community College and University of New Mexico campus in Rio Rancho.
     Cour says she believes in equality for all people and thinks couples who are in committed relationships should have equal access to services.
     She would support opening legislative conference meetings to the public.
     Cour says she would like to see better funding for education and improved communication within the education system to avoid duplication of efforts.

Albuquerque Journal, Sean Olson, 05.09.08

     Education is tops among issues for New Mexico House District 22 Republican candidates.
     Incumbent Kathy McCoy said improving the future of the state's youngsters would be one of her top priorities during her next term— and her career.
     "I could die a happy woman if we could somehow get our kids educated and graduated," she said.
     Challenger Daniel Salzwedel, a teacher, said he would like to see the state support education while maintaining accountability for schools.
     The Journal has been unable to contact another candidate, James E. Smith.
     District 22 encompasses parts of three counties— Bernalillo, Sandoval and Torrance— and borders the western edge of Santa Fe County.
     The district includes Placitas and areas east to Santa Fe County: the East Mountains communities of Sandia Park, San Antonito, Tijeras and San Antonio, among others. It also includes Edgewood.
     McCoy said she sees the need for accountability in education, but she warns that without including parents in the equation, "I'm not sure we can expect a different result."
     Salzwedel said his Christian pedigree would play an important role in decisions he makes as a legislator, and he would support traditional family values in his post.
     Another top priority for Salzwedel is business and "managed" development.
"We need services out here and we need business. We need development in order to prosper," he said.
     McCoy said she also supports growth in the area, but much of the responsibility for it would lie with local officials.

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.07.08 

Albuquerque Journal, Jeff Proctor, 05.03.08

Albuquerque Journal, Sean Olson, 05.06.08

Albuquerque Journal, Sean Olson, 05.06.08

Albuquerque Journal, Juan-Carlos Rodriguez, 05.03.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.07.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.10.08

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.08.08

Albuquerque Journal, Rosalie Rayburn, 05.04.08

Albuquerque Journal, Leslie Linthicum, 04.27.08

Sheriff's Interactions Every Day 'Invaluable'

Albuquerque Journal, Leslie Linthicum, 04.27.08

Status Quo Doesn't Satisfy State Senator
 

Albuquerque Journal, Leslie Linthicum, 04.27.08

Controversies Roll Off Ex-Secretary of State

Albuquerque Journal, Leslie Linthicum, 04.27.08

Legal Work Prepared Pidcock to Make Laws

Albuquerque Journal, Leslie Linthicum, 04.27.08

Life Rooted in Public Service, Grisham Says

Albuquerque Journal, Leslie Linthicum, 04.27.08

Heinrich Was Inspired by Loss of a Leader                                                                          FOR THE RECORD: This story has been corrected to reflect that Martin Heinrich has a degree in mechanical engineering.

Albuquerque Journal, Leslie Linthicum, 05.18.08                                                       

Congressional candidates were asked the following two questions regarding rising fuel-costs: QUESTION 1: What specific legislation would you propose to address gasoline prices?       QUESTION 2: Would you support or oppose a federal gasoline-tax holiday?
Here are their answers:

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 05.20.08                                                                              

QUESTION 1: At what point should the Iraqi government take responsibility for the majority of security problems in their own country? QUESTION 2: How would you encourage that and get American troops out of Iraq? These are their answers:
 

Albuquerque Journal, Journal Staff, 04.27.08

Albuquerque Journal, Jeff Jones, Journal Politics Writer, 05.18.08

     With no good news in sight, the Journal asked the Republican candidates seeking to replace retiring Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.— U.S. Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce— how they would propose addressing gasoline prices, and whether they would support a federal gasoline-tax holiday.
Here's what they had to say:
 

Albuquerque Journal, by Jeff Jones, Journal Politics Writer, 05.17.08

Albuquerque Journal, by Journal Staff, 04.20.08

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - New Mexico Business Weekly

Taos is the first town in New Mexico to earn Fair Trade Certification.  The distinction came from Fair Trade Towns USA and marks the first designation in the western United States.

For the complete story, click here.