Political roundup
Days to the primary election: 91
Governor’s expenses: A fund that Gov. Susana Martinez can spend on just about anything connected with her official duties paid for $9,000 in food and beverages during the last three months of 2017.
Known as the governor’s contingency fund, the fund got $18,000 during that period and Martinez used the pot of cash to cover about $2,000 in contract services for events, $500 for supplies at the governor’s mansion and about $7,000 in miscellaneous expenses, such as correspondence, visits by dignitaries and postage.
The numbers come the week after Martinez signed legislation that would require the governor to file monthly reports on contingency fund expenses and be subject to audits.
But the law, sponsored by Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2019 — the day after Martinez leaves office.
The spending is not nearly as elaborate as under former Gov. Bill Richardson, Martinez’s Democratic predecessor known for hosting starstudded parties at the governor’s mansion.
But Martinez also is no Gary Johnson, the former Republican governor who was known to have slashed the size of the fund and returned more than $200,000 in unused money when he left office.
Court OKs PNM coal plan: The state Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the Public Regulation Commission’s ruling permitting the closure of two of the four coal-burning units at the aging San Juan Generating Station.
Public Service Company of New Mexico, operator of the generating station, said it would replace the lost capacity with more coal-generated power from another unit at the plant, as well as with nuclear power from Arizona, natural gas and a small amount of solar power.
Chief Justice Judith Nakamura wrote the commission’s vote in December 2015 to approve a compromise agreement between PNM and intervening parties, including a coalition of environmental groups, was “supported by an abundance of evidence.”
New Energy Economy, a Santa Fe-based advocacy group, appealed the commission’s decision in January 2016. Mariel Nanasi, executive director of the group, argued the commission’s approval had enabled PNM to acquire additional coal generation, though wind, solar and other clean energy sources were available.
PNM has said it is considering shutting down the San Juan plant by 2022.
No bust for soldier: Gov. Martinez plans to veto funding for a bronze bust recognizing the accomplishments of a Hispanic soldier in the Civil War.
Martinez’s spokeswoman, Emilee Cantrell, said Monday the governor will veto the $50,000 proposal for a bronze bust of Manuel Antonio Chaves in the state Capitol. She says that money would be better spent at a school or on a law enforcement project.
Chaves is credited with leading a Union Army attack on a supply caravan during the 1862 battle at Glorieta Pass in New Mexico that turned back the western advance of Confederate forces.
He also led bloody campaigns against the Navajo and other American Indian tribes in the mid-1800s and had close ties to a community known for enslaving Native Americans.