June 16 – If it weren’t for convicted felon Donald Trump, the politics of the summer would be entirely predictable. Waste and redundancy remain central components of local and state governments.
Let’s start with the men and women in charge at Santa Fe City Hall. mayor Alan Webber and it seems that the eight municipal councilors cannot open public swimming pools on the hottest days. But Webber and a few council members found time to pass a resolution designating city buildings as “bullying-free zones.”
They didn’t seem to know that Santa Fe already has an anti-bullying measure on the books. Resolution No. 2013-84 was adopted eleven years ago. It reads in part: “The Governing Body condemns bullying, harassment and intimidation within schools and throughout the community.”
The incumbent mayor and councilors were either unaware of a long-standing position or they intend to repeat the obvious: city officials disapprove of bullying.
It is easy to commission government-paid lawyers to draft a resolution covering old issues. Ensuring that city pools are accessible is more difficult. Too often, city politicians leave the real work undone while reinventing the wheel.
State officials can be just as stubborn and clumsy as the mayor and city council members.
Democratic Government Michelle Lujan Grisham It would be wise to cancel the special term that she will start next month. But her ego won’t allow it, so she and lawmakers will delve into the broad topic of public safety.
Special sessions are expensive, costing more than $53,000 per day. Therefore they must be short. But New Mexico lawmakers and governors have a track record of being sloppy when moving legislation quickly.
Lujan Grisham’s predecessor as governor, Republican Susana Martinez, wanted a bill to cut corporate taxes to pass in the last two hours of a regular session in 2013. Lawmakers advanced a lengthy, complicated proposal that included other tax breaks.
Martinez’s government miscalculated how much revenue would initially be lost as a result of the corporate tax cut. Three years later, the state government was so bankrupt that it clawed back money from the school districts to pay the bills.
Some of the proposals Lujan Grisham plans to greenlight during the special session are equally complicated. Others are renewal changes that don’t need to be taken into account in the heat of summer.
The Legislature begins a regular 60-day session in January. In the meantime, the country must prepare well-thought-out bills. Instead, Lujan Grisham’s special session will increase the likelihood of mistakes.
Legislation must be methodical. That’s usually how it works, unless there’s a rushed session or lawmakers introduce a bill to increase their own pensions.
A sure bet is that between $110,000 and $300,000 will be spent on a special session lasting a few days. The potential for waste cannot be underestimated.
Which brings me to Trump, lawbreaker and presumptive Republican nominee for president. In a way, he defies the pattern of predictability. Trump could choose one of twenty sycophants as his running mate.
Some of the possibilities are a long shot, but anything seems possible if a criminal who inflated the national debt can return as the Republican nominee for America’s highest office.
Trump denigrated senator. Marco Rubio of Florida when they ran for Republican presidential nomination eight years ago. “Little Marco,” Trump sneered at every opportunity until Rubio left the race.
Now Rubio talks about Trump, calling him someone with wealth and comfort who entered politics because of the desire to serve. Rubio attended the Mike Pence School of Flattery.
Many more apologists for Trump want second place on the list.
Trump could revive the political career of lapdog bulldog Herschel Walker by electing him vice president. Walker, a legendary football player at the University of Georgia, lost a 2022 U.S. Senate race as Trump’s anointed nominee. But Trump still fawns over jocks, even stupid ones.
New Mexico, Trump claims, is a state he can win this year after losing it twice. Santa Fe resident John Eastman was the lawyer who hatched a wild scheme in which Pence would block the certification of Biden’s victory and Trump would remain president.
Although Eastman is contesting the suspension and facing criminal charges, these are not factors that will hinder cooperation with Trump. Eastman would boost turnout in New Mexico, a prospect Democrats would relish.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and governors. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas are all respectful enough to meet Trump’s standard as vice president.
A major underdog is former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. He has often harshly criticized Trump.
With the build of a sumo wrestler, Christie as a vice presidential candidate could make Trump look thinner. Like any veteran of reality TV shows, Trump appreciates optical illusion.
Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080.
