Roswell Daily Record
Lawmakers decry EIB rules
Vol. 119, No. 263 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
FACES OF DIVISION
WASHINGTON (AP) — United on almost nothing, Barack Obama and John Boehner are the two faces of America’s divided government, the humbled president and the triumphant House leader. Both claim to speak for the people, yet they have had little to say to each other. - PAGE B3
Local lawmakers say they are frustrated with a state regulatory board’s decision to pass new emission rules that they say will seriously harm New Mexico’s economy. The state’s Environmental Improvement Board approved a proposal for establishing a greenhouse gas emissions program in a 4-3 vote. The rules target sources that emit at least 25,000 metric tons of car-
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
November 4, 2010
THURSDAY
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bon dioxide, mainly coal and gas fired power plants, as well as oil and gas operations, according to environmental groups. The announcement of the EIB’s decision was made late Tuesday afternoon, as polls were preparing to close following this year’s general election. Roswell lawmakers say they oppose the regulations that environmental groups say could actually spur new business development in the state and claim ... “There’s been a lot of overblown rhetoric about
Rally for Veterans Day
A spokesman for the energy company says it’s too early to say exactly how much the regulations could increase consumers’ electric bills.
the financial impact,” said John Fogarty, president of New Energy Economy, an environmental group in support of the regulations. Despite assurances that the cap-and-trade program would benefit the state, local lawmakers say they will fight to overturn the rules, adding that past attempts of limiting greenhouse gas emissions
through legislation have repeatedly been tossed by the Legislature. “It’s a disaster,” said House Minority Whip Keith Gardner, R-Roswell, who says the EIB acted on the instruction of Gov. Bill Richardson. “Isn’t it great that our out-going governor will take one last shot at the economy?” he asked. “It’s a huge
Heath new face in DA’s office
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• Voters choose Martinez • GHS reverses old custom • Bulldogs take regular season title • GOP wins majority of congressional seats • Pearce’s bus tour visits Roswell
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hit.” Other House of ficials agreed with Gardner that the regulations would harm the state’s economy. “I think it’s another example of destructive regulations that har m our state’s ability to grow economically,” said Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell. “This is going to have an adverse impact on the ability of the state to attract new businesses.” Rep. Candy Spence
Mark Wilson Photo
National Guard SFC Joe Luna, left, and members of the Roswell Fire Department Honor Guard greet El Capitan Elementary students who attended a rally, Wednesday morning, to honor Veterans Day and the family of Chris Sanders, a former El Capitan student who died in Iraq. The Sanders family were presented a White House Presidential Memorial Certificate signed by President Barack Obama during the event.
See EIB, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER Roger Heath, assistant district attorney, for the 5th Judicial District is one of several people hired by the district attorney’s office this year. While newly hired, he’s not exactly inexperienced. Heath completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. During his time there, he worked on the Innocence Project in north Texas. The Innocence Project is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to using DNA testing to exonerate wrongfully-convicted people. “Many had been in jail for a long time,” said Heath. He estimated that most had been in jail between 15
Pearce: Message, not mandate Obama, GOP talk compromise, conflict LIONS FALL IN FINAL GAME
For a program that had just three girls show up at its first practice, the Valley Christian volleyball team had a productive season that came to an end on Wednesday. The Lions fell to Vaughn in three games, by scores of 13-25, 19-25, 17-25. Put in perspective of where the program was just a few months ago, the season was, overall, a success. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • • • • •
OBITUARIES
Marcial Martinez Clementine Whiteis Jamie Sue Capps Mary Nunez D. R. (Skip) Skipworth - PAGE B3
HIGH ...67˚ LOW ....36˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Chalk up one congressional seat for Republicans in New Mexico — a modest pickup in an election year where the GOP had hoped to bump all three freshman Democrats from the House. Republican Steve Pearce won back his old job Tuesday night, beating incumbent Rep. Harry Teague to reclaim the souther n New Mexico seat he gave up two years ago. But that was the extent of the GOP’s windfall. Democratic incumbent AP Photo Reps. Martin Heinrich in the Albuquerque area and Republican Steve Pearce and his wife, Cynthia, during a Ben Ray Lujan in north- victory celebration in Hobbs, Tuesday. ern New Mexico successfully held off Republican tory reflected a repudia- us to get on track,” tion of President Barack Pearce said. “But this is challengers. The GOP made big Obama’s agenda, he cau- not a mandate for Repubgains nationally, taking tioned that Republicans licans. This is a message control of the House and shouldn’t get too comfort- that we need to get on track, and the voters will trimming the Democratic able. “It’s a very loud mesmajority in the Senate. While Pearce said his vic- sage that the people want
See PEARCE, Page A8
See HEATH, Page A3
WASHINGTON (AP) — A chastened President Barack Obama signaled a new willingness to yield to Republican demands on tax cuts and jettisoned a key energy priority on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after he and fellow Democrats absorbed election losses so severe he called them a shellacking. But he bluntly swept aside any talk of repeal of his signature health care law — right after the House Speaker -in-waiting, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, vowed Republicans would do everything they could to wipe the legislation off the books. Separately, the Federal Reserve announced new steps designed to further lower interest rates on loans and lead to more job creation, using powers denied mere politicians. Taken together, the fastpaced series of events con-
firmed the primacy of the economy as an issue in a country with 9.6 percent unemployment, record home foreclosures and disappointingly slow growth. In purely political terms, they also underscored a dramatic overnight power realignment after two years of grinding partisanship in Congress followed by a coarse and costly campaign. For all the uncertainty they loosed, there was little that was ambiguous about the election results. House Republicans picked up 60 seats to capture a majority and led for five more, ending a four -year span in which Nancy Pelosi served as the first female speaker in history. The GOP picked up at least six seats in the Senate in races reflecting both the peril and the potential of a
To help during the transition, Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson pledged his cooperation to help Martinez “hit the ground running” on Jan. 1. He named his chief of staf f, Brian Condit, as the administration’s point man in working with Martinez. Martinez defeated Democrat Diane Denish by receiving 54 percent of the vote Tuesday night, according to unofficial returns. She became the first woman elected as governor of New Mexico and will be the nation’s first female Hispanic governor. When Martinez takes office, she’ll find a Legislature populated with more
Republicans to help carry out her agenda of smaller gover nment and rolling back some policies implemented by Richardson. Martinez opposes a law that allows illegal immigrants to get a driver’s license. She advocates reinstating the death penalty and repeal of New Mexico’s medical marijuana program. Republicans are poised to pick up eight seats in the House, based on unofficial returns with several races still very close. If that holds, Democrats will retain a fragile 37-33 majority, but Republicans
Gov.-elect Martinez faces sputtering economy, weak finances
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AP Photo
Gov.-elect Susana Martinez and Lt.Gov.-elect John Sanchez during their victory celebration in Las Cruces, Tuesday.
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — With a historic election behind her, Republican Gov.-elect Susana Martinez faced the daunting task Wednesday of assembling a team to run state government and deal with a looming budget shortfall when she takes office in less than two months. Martinez spent the day after her victory in planning meetings and starting to reach out to legislative leaders and other elected officials. “My focus has now turned to addressing the challenges we confront and putting in place my administration,” Martinez said in a statement.
See OBAMA, Page A8
See MARTINEZ, Page A8