Dewey's Daily Cup

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The latest from the Roundhouse………there are smoke in them hills .I think it is coming from the Roundhouse! The Gov is meeting with Legislative members…here is a report from State Rep. Janice E Arnold Jones from the Roundhouse………just got this moments ago………..

Dewey:

Please allow me to vent. This system of one party domination is hurting our State! We are $325 million short on paying the bills in 2009 and it is clear we will not have the income necessary to meet the 2010 budget – a shortfall of $660 million. Worse — we are four months into the 2010 year with little hope of a “repair” that will soften the budget catastrophe looming in 2011.

The saddest part of all this is my colleagues, on the other side of the isle, know what is right yet they continue to try to protect and defend the Richardson/Denish Administration. If you or I managed our business budgets in the same way the Governor has managed the State budget, we would both be looking for a new job! To watch my colleagues condone the Governor’s neglect and bullying is heartbreaking.

So here we sit on the floor House, waiting, waiting to convene the Appropriations Committee. It was supposed to meet at 11:00 AM, Waiting to convene the Floor Session that was supposed to convene at 1:00 PM. It is now 6:20 PM. We are still waiting.

My colleagues are in a caucus hoping to come to an agreement between themselves and I assume with the Governor. And we wait…

Thanks for allowing me to vent . . .

Very pleased about your accomplishment. So wonderful news.

Thanks.

Janice E. Arnold-Jones
Representative, House District 24
7713 Sierra Azul NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 379-0902 cell
(505) 986-4451 Capitol Room 412C

Also things really heated up for the Gov. when this was announced…from www.nmindependent.com

State investment officer Gary Bland resigns
The head of the State Investment Council resigned this afternoon, a spokesman just confirmed.

In recent months, Gary Bland has been dogged by this lawsuit, (in which he is named) among other things, but hasn’t issued a public statement yet on why he’s leaving.

New Mexico spent $220,123 between March and July on lawyers to defend the state on the lawsuit over an alleged pay-to-play scheme, known as Foy v. Vanderbilt, according to records obtained by The New Mexican. That’s in addition to $119,680 spent on the case in January and February.

Bland’s resignation comes as other financial scandals abound.

Bland’s resignation letter says he’s “saddened and disappointed” to tender his resignation, effective immediately, but doesn’t say why.

A Gov. Bill Richardson spokesman said the governor has accepted the resignation.

“Governor Richardson has accepted Gary Bland’s resignation and thanks him for his service to New Mexico. The governor will start the process to name a successor to run the State Investment Office,” Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said.

The announcement comes as the investment council this afternoon posted a notice about an emergency meeting for tomorrow, but later canceled it.

Dear KKIM Family,

Here is a response from State Rep. Janice E Arnold Jones on my earlier posting……
She has common sense written all over her! Hope you heard her a week ago explaining the Budget crises on NM News and Views…….

Dewey; the Republican members of the House offered 48 ideas to cut costs that the Governor could enact today — steps that did not require any legislative action among those ideas was the release of non-violent offenders who were within 90 days of their scheduled release date. Also on that list was the elimination of the rose bowl float. The point is the Governor has overspent. We’re here. Now how is/are he/we going to fix the problem?

this process will be difficult and some choices unpleasant.

Rather than stand without solutions we tried to bring to light cost saving ideas that could be implemented with almost immediate affect. Most of these ideas were pulled from e-mails sent by our constituents. Some of the ideas were great. Some need thought. We were so impressed that we created an e-mail address to solicit more cost saving ideas. We hope everyone, especially State employees, will share what they see, how we can save money and at the same time improve service to our citizens. The e-mail address is NMBudgetIdeas@gmail.com
talk about choices, the House voted to suspend contributions to the State’s teacher pension fund the same fund that we required an additional contribution from teachers in January. Choices! I thought this was a poor choice.

Always appreciate KKIM/ Daily Cup and your service to our awesome God. Please continue to pray for wisdom and guidance for your servant legislators. Janice

And from Shona in White Rock, NM………

Dewey,

Yes, it is a sad state of affairs. But, just last night I was telling my hubby that I’ll bet I could go to SF and cut the budget…..and I’ll bet I could do it in one day! If my personal budget was in such shambles, I could do it there too.

Gov Richardson just doesn’t live in the real world and I figure that the current politicians (even the good ones) are so close to the situation (and to those who want/need) money, that they are having a hard time being objective. IF we got some citizens in the budget meetings that didn’t have any ties to any entities receiving gov’t money, there would be some effective (if painful) cuts that would help eliminate waste.

s

Dear KKIM Family,

I am moved by the Lord to send these thoughts on the New Mexico State Legislature’s Special Session.

Here go my random thoughts………….

How come these folks think they can fix a nearly 700 million dollar problem in a few days?

The Gov. wanted it done in one day!

The Gov. and Legislature would never want to go shopping with Sharon or me………we take hours to make a small purchase.

There talking about nearly 700 million!

And they seem not to have their figures straight……….

I have been told the following……….

The Special session is costing taxpayers $50,000 a day

The Special session is costing $80,000 a day

How come know ones how much it is costing?

I guess that is one of the reasons we are 700 mil in the hole, nobody knows the cost of anything.

Gov. Gary Johnson had 167 at will employees when he served. Gov. Richardson has so many his staff cannot come up with the number.

His aides say it’s like 450.

Some reports have it around 500.

The Gov. doesn’t even know?

The Legislature doesn’t even know?

These are employees that the Gov. hires for his staffing.

My sources tell me that the average salary of these folks is $80,000 plus!

It would be nice to get a count on them!

Do they all come to work everyday?

The Gov’s personal Chef makes $90,000 a year.

I think the Gov. should do his own cooking like you and I……..he needs to go on a diet anyhow…….both fiscal and food wise LOL!

The First Ladies assistant makes $105,000 a year……..Does the First Lady even live in New Mexico?

The manager of the Gov’s mansion makes $79,000 a year.

What did these folks do when the Gov. was out of New Mexico running for President?

Oh…..and how about the salary the Gov. made from the State of New Mexico when he was out of the state for about a year running for President..I think the state should get a rebate!

And now the GOP wants an early release of non-violent criminals to save money? Are they nuts?

I can hear every crook from here to Timbuktu, “WOW, This bad economy is so good for us..they’ll never be able to keep us in the joint!”

Yes the GOP has Public Safety on their minds!

Hey, but the State Tourism Bureau is paying thousands to have a float in the Rose Bowl Parade!!!!! I guess they were not happy with the Gov’s float on Elephant Butte Lake!

And then this morning……….

The headlines in the Albuquerque Journal…. CITY HALL SALARIES BOOSTED!!!

Can you believe it?

About a week after the city election, a handful of city employees received pay raises,
including a 67 percent bump for an aide to the mayor!

Mayor Elect Berry is not exempt from this lack of common sense, he did not check with the council or talk to council-elect members before naming Sheriff White to become Public Safety Dir.

Councilman Brad Winters told me he wishes the Mayor-elect would have talked to the council and those just elected before doing that. Winter said it would have been better to cut the Public Safety Dir position, save $100,000 a yr and name Sheriff White Police Chief.

Winter said the Public Safety Dir. Position was created in the first place by Mayor Chavez to give one of the Mayor’s friends a job.

Everybody talk’s fiscal responsibility…….but it seems the Government does not, Democrats do not, Republicans do not.

Common sense is on vacation in Government.

I don’t know whether to cry or laugh?

No wonder the people are fed up and are having tea parties and are telling me I used to vote Republican but not anymore, or I used to vote Democrat, but not anymore…….

People need hope……..Hope is not found in a Political Party……..It is found in Jesus Christ.

There was a comment made from Someone at the Roundhouse yesterday .I think it was Ken Cravens who said, “Don’t you get it..we’re broke.”

Yes, the State of New Mexico is broke.

Yes, the United States of America is broke.

We know the truth…….Our Country is bankrupt…….

We don’t need more double talk by Politicians.

We need to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and put on the armor of God each day and carry out the great commission. Bring others to Jesus Christ. Our personal relationship with Jesus will carry us through everything. Our pay check is heaven.

In the Love of Christ, Dewey Sharon and Family