Federal Grand Jury Probe Featured on NBC Nightly News

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Not what the Governor needs before his U.S. Senate Confirmation Hearings. NBC even shows him walking away from local reporters questions. Richardson has directed state agencies to cooperate with the "Pay for Play" probe.

BUSH OUTLINES $17.4 BILLION AUTO INDUSTRY BAILOUT PLAN

This morning, President George W. Bush says he's offering $17.4 billion in loans to the auto industry because letting them collapse is ``not a responsible course of action.''

He says the rescue plan will require ``meaningful concessions'' from the auto companies and others, including labor unions and suppliers. The companies, he says, ``must understand what is at stake, and make the hard decisions necessary to reform.''

Bush said Friday he ordinarily would let the companies go bankrupt, concluding it's the ``price that failed companies must pay.'' But, he says, ``These are not ordinary circumstances.'' He says letting the industry collapse, amid a financial crisis and a recession, would be irresponsible.

He says there's ``too great a risk'' that a bankruptcy filing would lead to a ``disorderly liquidation of American auto companies'' and send the economy into a ``deeper and longer recession.''

It's Official: Farmington's Allen McCulloch Announces He's Running for NM GOP Chairman!

In a Christmas letter sent to Republican supporters around the state. former U.S. Senate Candidate and Farmington Doctor Allen McCulloch has formally announced he's entering the election to become the State Republican Party Chairman.

Today, I am asking for your support in becoming the next Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico.

We are at a cross-road of our Republican future. We can cease on the opportunity to come together and re-build a stronger more responsive party or sink further into irrelevancy.

Business as usual, will not work! We must begin by building a fundamentally sound organization, from the ground up.

As your next chairman, I am committed to ensuring our county chairs, activist's and legislators have a seat at the New Mexico Republican table. I believe we first have to be organized as a party to defend our values in Santa Fe. In preparation for the legislative session, I am proposing that county chairs develop legislative caucuses that will be prepared to respond to upcoming legislation. These county caucuses will be part of the state Republican Legislative Affairs Committee. Today is the time to start!

Second, we must start now on the development of our ground game in preparation for the 2010 midterm election. One of the most pressing issues that will face our party will be legislative redistricting in 2011. We must not allow a Democrat majority to exist in two years. The old saying that all politics are local is my commitment. We must Stop the Progressive Democrat organizations from making anymore gains in Santa Fe.

McCulloch believes:

Together, we can focus on building a strong party by ensuring every county has the tools they need to build strong efforts in:

• Voter Registration
• Strong ward / precinct organizations
• Candidate recruitment and training
• Meaningful communication from the state GOP

I have travelled to every corner of the state and have developed many strong working relationships. I have been given a commitment by our outgoing members of congress that they will help in the rebuilding of our party. I am asking for your support in electing me the next Chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico.

United we win!
Allen McCulloch

Local Law Enforcement Officers Chasing Christmas.

On Sunday morning, as I set out on my morning errands, I could hear sirens screaming north of my house. After filling up my gas tank, the number of sirens continued to grow. As a journalist, I was curious and followed the sound to the Walmart parking lot near Academy and Wyoming.

Once there I realized it wasn't a fire or a bad accident, but police from multiple agencies lining up to parade through the streets of Albuquerque. Their annual holiday patrol began just after 11 am and will take them up and down multiple streets.

Happy Holidays. Run Santa don't let them catch you.

Saturday Radio: Obama Addresses Mortgage Crisis and Appoints HUD Secretary.

Barack Obama is asking his economic team to develop affordable housing plans to keep families in their homes during "these uncertain economic times."

Obama said he understands the family home is the cornerstone of American's financial security.

During his Weekly Address, the President-elect nominated Shaun Donovan to be his Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Mr. Donovan, a former commissioner of Housing Preservation and Development in New York City, will come to Washington with the innovative ideas and new perspective needed to help the thousands of hard-working American families whose livelihoods have been threatened during this tough economic time.

Obama plans to stem the rising tide of foreclosures and he's asked his economic team to develop "a bold plan that will dramatically increase the number of families who can stay in their homes."

He's proposing a comprehensive, coordinated federal effort to make staying in the family a reality.

Governor Bill Richardson to Ride New Mexico Rail Runner Express on Debut Run to Santa Fe.

SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson will be one of the first riders on the New Mexico Rail Runner Express during its debut run into Santa Fe on Monday, December 15, 2008.  The Governor will board the Rail Runner Express at 10:00am on Monday at the Sandoval/550 stop in Bernalillo.  The Governor will be joined by state, local and tribal officials, and several members of the public for the first inaugural train ride from Albuquerque into Santa Fe. 
 
The official dedication and ribbon cutting for the inaugural run of the Rail Runner Express into Santa Fe will commence at 12:00pm at the Santa Fe Railyard near the Farmer's Market.

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Citizens of New Mexico to Serve Incoming Governor Denish.

Santa Fe - Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish today announced the citizens of New Mexico who have been invited to serve on the transition advisory teams. Representatives from every county in the state will participate in making constructive recommendations to the incoming governor. The teams will report back to the incoming governor no later than January 15.
 
Wednesday, Lt. Governor Denish announced the Transition Advisory Leadership to direct teams in the following areas: Government Efficiency and Finance, Economic Stability, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Workforce, Healthy Families and Communities, Energy and Environment, Safety and Security, Youth Voices and Youth Vision, and Centennial Anniversary.
 
A list of citizens, sorted by county, is attached and pasted below.
 

Richard
Anklam
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Andrew
Baca
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Shannon
Bacon
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Carter
Bundy
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Kevin
Calnan
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Stephen
Capra
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Cristy
Carbon-Gaul
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Martin
Chavez
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Terri
Cole
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Roberta
Cooper-Ramo
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Herb
Denish
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Annette
Dilorenzo-Thayer
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Sheila
Duffy
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Joe
Garcia
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Joseph
Goldberg
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Maria
Griego-Raby
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Trey
Hammond
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Jim
Hinton
Los Ranchos
Bernalillo

Bill
Jordan
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Suzanne Barker
Kalangis
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

John
Kelly
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Daniel
Lopez
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Ganesha
Martin
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Ted
Martinez
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Randi
McGinn
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Tom
Montano
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Sarita
Nair
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Alex
Romero
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Kent
Salazar
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Allen
Sanchez
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Gary
Tonjes
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

luis
Torres
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Calle
Treppiedi
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Christine
Trujillo
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

John
Ulrich
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Angela
Vachio
Cedar Crest
Bernalillo

Chuck
Wellborn
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Avain
Wells
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Cheryl
Willman
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Jane
Wishner
Albuquerque
Bernalillo

Lori
Martinez
Reserve
Catron

Steve
Elliot
Roswell
Chaves

Mike
Trujillo
Roswell
Chaves

Star
Gonzales
Cubero
Cibola

Jaron
Kie
Laguna
Cibola

Greg 
Ortiz
Acoma
Cibola

Debbie
Gabriele
Raton
Colfax

Linda
Pavletich
Cimarron
Colfax

Gayla
Brumfield
Clovis
Curry

Juan
Chavez
Ft. Sumner
De Baca

Patricia
Miller
Ft. Sumner
De Baca

Elizabeth
Bardwell
Las Cruces
Dona Ana

Waded
Cruzado
Las cruces
Dona Ana

Mayra
Franco-Vasquez
chamberino
Dona Ana

Rose
Garcia
San Miguel
Dona Ana

Margie
Huerta
Las Cruces
Dona Ana

Mark
Lautman
Albuquerque
Dona Ana

Ken
Miyagishima
Las Cruces
Dona Ana

Roxanne
Lara
Carlsbad
Eddy

Jim
Townsend
Artesia
Eddy

Charlie
Alfero
Silver City
Grant

James
Marshall
Silver City
Grant

Dr. Randy
Brown
Santa Rosa
Guadalupe

Geno
Lujan
Santa Rosa
Guadalupe

Roger
Ellis
Lordsburg
Hidalgo

Kathi
Bearden
Hobbs
Lea

Brenda
Brooks
Hobbs
Lea

Johnny
Cope
Hobbs
Lea

Troy
Teague
Hobbs
Lea

Greg Lee
Cory
Ruidoso
Lincoln

William
Enloe
Los Alamos
Los Alamos

Sean
Stimel
Los Alamos
Los Alamos

Linda
Enis
Deming
Luna

Landon
Mascarenaz
Gallup
McKinley

Bob
Rosebrough
Gallup
McKinley

Benito
Armijo
Wagon Mound
Mora

Paula
Garcia
Mora
Mora

Nick
Franklin
Newport Beach
Orange

Steve
Brockett
Alamogordo
Otero

Michelle
Frost
San Jon
Quay

Mary
Mayfield
Tucumcari
Quay

Franklin
McCausland
 
Quay

Joseph
Maestas
Espanola
Rio Arriba

Benny
Roybal
Espanola
Rio Arriba

Archie
Vigil
Chama
Rio Arriba

Randy
Harris
Clovis
Roosevelt

Anna
Doherty
Farmington
San Juan

Sammy
Lopez
Farmington
San Juan

Don
Schreiber
Blanco
San Juan

Duane Chili
Yazzie
Shiprock
San Juan

Val
Kilmer
Tesuque
San Miguel

Matthew
Martinez
Las Vegas
San Miguel

Ramon
Montano
Las Vegas
San Miguel

Martha
Burk
Corrales
Sandoval

Don
Chalmers
Albuquerque
Sandoval

Katherine
Freeman
Placitas
Sandoval

Joseph
Sunia
Pueblo of Cochiti
Sandoval

Thomas
Swisstack
Rio Rancho
Sandoval

Tom
Swisstack
Rio Rancho
Sandoval

Charles
Bowyer
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

David
Coss
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Denise
Fort
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

William
Garcia
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Larry
Goldstone
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Jon
Hendry
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Ruth
Hoffman
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Rachel
King
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Jamie
Koch
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Helen
Lopez
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Trevor
Loy
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Beverlee
McClure
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Beth
Moise
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

Lillian
Montoya-Rael
Santa Fe
Santa Fe

David
Farrell
Hillsboro
Sierra

Lori
Montgomergy
T or C
Sierra

Gary
Whitehead
T or C
Sierra

Jerry
Armijo
Socorro
Socorro

Trudy
Healy
Taos
Taos

Ben
Maddox
Taos
Taos

Michael
Anaya
Morarity
Torrence

Robert
Beck
Clayton
Union

Brian
Moore
Clayton
Union

June
Lorenzo
Paguate
Valencia

Joe
Shirley
Window Rock
 
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BINGAMAN DISAPPOINTED AUTO BILL FAILS.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today released the following statement about the failure of the Senate to approve legislation to help the U.S. auto industry weather the nation's economic crisis:
 
"I'm disappointed that this bill died in the Senate.  It's my hope now that the Bush administration will consider using a fraction of the funding set aside to stabilize financial markets to preserve this important American industry."
 
Bingaman voted Thursday to invoke cloture on a House-passed auto bill; that measure failed in a late night vote.
 
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President-Elect Obama Addresses Huge Month of Job Losses

In today's weekly address, President-elect Barack Obama explains the key parts of his Economic Recovery Plan -- which will save or create 2.5 million jobs in the next two years.

To read the transcript and to see how the high unemployment numbers are affecting families click here.

Lt. Governor Diane Denish Names Transition Staff

A day after meeting with Governor Bill Richardson and local reporters, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish is taking the first step in transition to Governor.

This morning (Friday), Denish named Kathy Keith as director and Chris Cervini as communications director for her transition team.

"Governor Richardson and I are committed to a smooth and seamless transition of power. I assure the people of New Mexico that there will be no interruption in good state government and public service. When the time comes for me to take power, I stand prepared to lead," Lt. Governor Denish said.


"The transition staff will work at my direction to prepare the administration to hit the ground running on day one. New Mexico faces serious challenges and we will be ready to meet them head on. Kathy and Chris bring exceptional experience, skills, and professionalism to our transition efforts. It's a pleasure to welcome them to the team."

Lt. Governor Denish named Kathy Keith as Transition Director to be the point person to the Governor's Office and overall manager of transition activities. Kathy Keith joins the staff from Public Works, LLC a private firm which assists Governors and their cabinet agencies nationwide on projects involving planning, innovative policy and efficiency. Previously Keith served as the Director of Economic Development Division for the State of New Mexico (2003-2006), as the Director of the federal program to rebuild Los Alamos following the Cerro Grande Fire (2000-2002), as the White House Liaison at the U.S. Department of Energy (1998-2000) and for the United States Congress (1993-1998) in various capacities. She is a native of Tucumcari and holds a bachelors degree in journalism and political science from Texas Tech University.

Chris Cervini was named Transition Communications Director and will be responsible for communicating the activities of the transition and working with agency PIOs and current governor's office communications staff on the transition. Chris Cervini joins the transition from Lovelace Health System where he served as External Communications Manager in the Marketing and Public Relations Department. Before that he was Chief of Staff and Communications and Policy Director for Lt. Governor Denish from 2003-2006. He has a Master's Degree in Political Science from American University in Washington, D.C.

Photos: MG Bralley