Even lobbyists for for-profit colleges must be stunned by their industry’s ability over the past two years to capture an enormous share of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits earned by Iraq and Afghanistan war era veterans. The gold rush is on and competition to sign veterans who have the most valuable education package since World War […]
Campaign money bill hits snag
February 15, 2010
By Steve Terrell: The Santa Fe New Mexican With time running out for this Legislature, a bill that would prohibit campaign contributions from lobbyists and state contractors hit a bump Monday in the House of Representatives. After debating House Bill 118 for more than an hour, sponsor Rep. Joe Campos, D-Santa Rosa, asked to “roll […]
State sees increase in lobbyists
January 28, 2009
The New Mexican Days remaining in session: 51 A swarm of lobbyists More than 500 lobbyists have registered with the Secretary of State’s Office this session, with another 500 expected. There also are 600 organizations represented by lobbyists. That’s a ratio of 4.46 lobbyists to each of the 112 lawmakers. It’s also a decent amount […]
Latest round of ethics laws full of loopholes
August 22, 2007
By Freedom Newspapers The problem with ethics legislation of the kind just passed by both houses of Congress (now awaiting President Bush’s signature, not an entirely foregone conclusion), is that it addresses the symptom rather than the disease. It would hardly be tragic if the current bill became law, but it would be a mistake […]
Legislature not just for lawmakers
January 17, 2005
Mike Linn: CNJ News Editor Mike Miller knows how government works. He knows state lawmakers and he’s a “people person.” He likes to talk. In many ways the Portales resident is a prototype lobbyist, a profession that much like sports runs in seasons — in annual stints of 30 or 60 days. “Santa Fe is […]
Don’t ignore lobbyists’ gift in Legislature
April 1, 2004
Ned Cantwell New Mexico lobbyists, I’ve always thought, were nothing more than paid beggars. To my mind, the only thing that separated them from the guy on the street corner with a “hungry-need-work” sign is they wore nicer clothes. What I’ve always thought was if there came a day when I had to decide between […]
Lobbyists spend money in wrong places
May 21, 2003
By Ned Cantwell Here’s the thing. You can shower me with all kinds of gifts. I will accept the Lexus. Nice gesture. Oh, and how I am looking forward to those two weeks in Hawaii at your expense. Be warned, though. Those gratuities will have no effect on me whatsoever should I ever write about […]
