Santa Fe New Mexican, Feb. 14, 2014

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Faces in the crowd: portraits by Paul-Henri Bourguignon

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Friday, February 14, 2014

Inside

The New Mexic

an’s Weekly Magaz

ine of Arts, Entert

ainment & Culture

February 14, 2014

www.santafenewmexican.com $1.25

Thrift store tax strife Animal shelter, county battle over whether or not nonprofit shop should have to pay taxes. LoCAL news, PAge C-1

Beavers could help wetlands

EARLY EDUCATION

2014 LEGISLATURE

Vote signals long odds on ex-officials’ lobby limits

Funding squeeze threatens schools

By Milan Simonich

Senate plan would end conflict with property owners while aiding ecosystem. PAge C-1

The New Mexican

A bill to bar former legislators from immediately becoming lobbyists was tabled by a 5-2 vote in a Senate committee Thursday, with a mix of Democrats and Republicans voting against it. Later in the day, the House of Representatives approved a mirror bill on a vote of 43-23. It moves to the Senate now, but opposition from the Rules Committee was a clear signal that any bill for lobbying restrictions faces long odds. Sen. Bill O’Neill, D-Albuquerque, sponsored the Senate version of the bill to prohibit former legislators, former Cabinet secretaries and former Public Regulation Commission members from becoming lobbyists for at least two years after leaving office. Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, has endorsed these restrictions. O’Neill said the image of New Mexico’s citizen Legislature is harmed when a former member becomes a paid lobbyist whose job is to influence old colleagues. He said a two-year “cooling-off period” was sensible. Sen. Michael Sanchez, the Democrats’ majority leader from Belen, led the opposition to O’Neill’s bill. He said former legislators could skirt the law in numerous ways, such as going to work for a law firm

S.F. High may get sustainability school District could partner with SFCC to help students graduate with building trades certificate. PAge C-1

‘Snowzobra’ event stirs religious controversy

Please see LIMITs, Page A-5

It’s just fun, not spiritual, Angel Fire Resort says of ‘Pray For Snow Party’

InsIDe u Short on time, Senate committee tackles budget bill. u State Fair chief defends racino deal before panel. u Legislative roundup. PAge A-4 u Panel kills bill to keep Gila flowing freely. PAge A-5

By Jesse Chaney

Sangre de Cristo Chronicle

ANGEL FIRE — While Angel Fire Resort said last week’s “Pray For Snow Party” was meant to be a community celebration steeped in tradition, some people labeled the event a pagan ritual that publicly dishonored God. The two-hour public gathering Feb. 6 included live music, hot cocoa, beer, wine and the burning of “Snowzobra,” a wooden statue apparently named after the Zozobra effigy that is ceremoniously burned during the annual Fiesta de Santa Fe. In a written statement to the Sangre de Cristo Chronicle on Feb. 7, the resort said the party wasn’t intended to be religious.

Please see snowZoBRA, Page A-6

Jayden Silver, 3, swings on the playground at the Playschool for the Arts on Tuesday.

Advocates push lawmakers to tap state’s land-grant endowment to support centers The New Mexican

Mostly sunny. High 61, low 35. PAge B-6

obituaries Richard V. Nichols, Santa Clara Pueblo, Feb.11 Dr. Adrian Bodelson, 90, Santa Fe, Feb. 8 Teresa Reilly, Feb. 7 Marjorie S. Muth, 98, Feb. 4 Dot Wood, 88, Santa Fe, Feb. 10 William Zeckendorf Jr., 84, Feb. 12 Robert Eugene Cowan, 81, Los Alamos, Jan. 29 PAge C-2, C-3

Index

Calendar A-2

Classifieds D-2

Civilian employee forced out for helping ex-analyst access material

CLYDE MUELLER/THE NEW MEXICAN

By Robert Nott

Today

NSA: Worker gave Snowden Net password

I

t was a typical morning at the Playschool of the Arts, with dozens of children spinning and dancing and twirling colorful ribbons around a maypole. Director Martha Shweder and her staff have run the artsfocused Santa Fe preschool for 14 years, catering to nearly 60 boys and girls ages 1 to 5, many of whom come from low-income families. Shweder is among a growing list of proponents of early childhood education who say centers like hers can help children get a better academic start — which is especially important in a state that ranks at or near the bottom of the nation in educational achievement. But her school, which depends heavily on state funding, is facing foreclosure and could close as soon as May if state lawmakers don’t come through with more money for early education, Shweder said. “It’s a struggle,” she said, citing the difficulties of making rent payments and keeping the school open. “A three-payroll month kills us.”

Comics B-8

Lotteries A-2

Opinion A-7

Her school is not alone. According to a report from the nonprofit groups OLÉ Working Parents Association and Early Educators United, 94 early childhood education centers closed in New Mexico between September 2011 and September 2013. And more are facing closure every day because of financial pressures, the groups say. With less than a week left in the legislative session, advocates are pushing lawmakers to tap the state’s $13 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund to put more money into early childhood education. Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, has introduced Senate Joint Resolution 12 to do just that. The measure, he said, would inject about $160 million a year to help fund schools like Shweder’s. On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee moved the measure forward on a 6-3 vote. But it still faces a potentially hostile Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, who shelved a simi-

The National Security Agency has told Congress that it has forced out a civilian employee after a lengthy investigation to “assign accountability” for the disclosure of intelligence secrets by Edward Snowden, one of its former contractors. Two others — identified only as an “active-duty military member” and another contractor — were “removed from access to NSA information” and facilities in August. But because neither worked directly for the NSA, the agency told the House Judiciary Committee in a letter, any further action would have to be Edward determined by their employers. Snowden The letter, first reported by NBC News, was intended to answer congressional queries about who, beyond Snowden himself, would be held accountable for the security lapses that led to his disclosures. The answer appeared to suggest that no senior officials of the NSA or its oversight organization, the office of the director of national intelligence, would be disciplined or fired for what officials have called the largest and most damaging disclosure of classified material in American history.

Please see sCHooL, Page A-6

Please see nsA, Page A-6

Police notes C-3

Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Stephanie Proffer, sproffer@sfnewmexican.com

Presidents’ Day SALE

New Mexican wire services

Sports B-1

Time Out B-7

Gen Next D-1

Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010

Four sections, 32 pages Pasatiempo, 60 pages 165th year, No. 45 Publication No. 596-440

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