New Mexico in Focus; 819; Women Veterans

>> PARTIAL FUNDING FOR THE PRODUCTION OF "NEW MEXICO INFOCUS" PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. >> THIS WEEK ON "NEW MEXICO INFOCUS" HOW PLUMMETING OIL PRICES IMPACT NEW MEXICO'S BUDGET IN THE COMING YEAR. >> WE ARE SETTING BUDGETS BASED ON CRAZY MATH SCIENCE BECAUSE SOMEBODY DECIDES WE ARE GOING TO SAY OIL IS GOING TO BE $85 A BARREL AND -- >> THE NUMBER OF WOMEN VETERANS IS RISING IN THE U.S., BUT CULTURAL ATTITUDES AND SERVICES AREN'T KEEPING PACE WITH THAT REALITY. NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. >> THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE OF VETERANS ISSUES AND WE'LL LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY FEMALE VETS. THEIR NUMBERS ARE RISING BUT A NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS STATS OF HEALTHCARE, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT. PRODUCER MEGAN KAMERICK TALKS WITH LOCAL VETERANS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE HERE. >> LINE OPINION PANEL EXAMINES THE STATE'S TWO NATIONAL LABORATORIES AND A NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT REPRIMANDS OFFICIALS AT SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES

FOR USING FEDERAL MONEY TO LOBBY FOR AN EXTENSION ON ITS CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. AND, A SCATHING STORY IN THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN POINTS OUT LAX PROCEDURES AND OVERSIGHT AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY REGARDING A BARREL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE THAT SHUTTERED THE WASTE ISOLATION PILOT PLANT. >> THE LINE ALSO LOOKS AT THE SHIFTING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE CHANGES IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING ELECTIONS. BUT BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT PLUMMETING OIL PRICES AND THE NEW MEXICO MOST OF US LOVE SEEING PLUMMETING GAS PRICES WHEN WE. GO TO FILL UP OUR CARS, BUT IN A STATE LIKE OURS, WHERE 1/3 OF REVENUES COME FROM OIL AND GAS, THOSE PLUMMETING PRICES CAN MEAN LESS MONEY FOR THINGS LIKE EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. BACK IN AUGUST STATE ECONOMISTS WERE COUNTING ON OIL PRICES OF ABOUT $95 A BARREL, WHICH COULD HAVE BROUGHT IN AS MUCH AS 285 MILLION MORE TO THE BUDGET BUT, BUT, NOW LEGISLATORS ARE SAYING IT COULD DROP BY 100 MILLION. THE OIL PATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ONE BRIGHT SPOT HERE IN OUR OTHERWISE DISMAL JOBS PICTURE. SOME ECONOMISTS,

AND THIS IMPORTANT, SPECULATE THIS ONLY A TEMPORARY DROP IN PRICE. JOINING ME TO TALK AND TOPICS OF THE WEEK IS ATTORNEY SOPHIE MARTIN, EDITOR OF DUKECITYFIX.COM. ALSO AT THE TABLE IS DANIEL FOLEY, FORMER HOUSE MINORITY WHIP, AND WELCOME BACK STEVEN SPITZ OF NEW MEXICO PEOPLE, PLACES AND IDEAS AND KUNM. ALSO JOINING US IS STEPHANIE MAEZ FROM THE CENTER FOR CIVIC POLICY. >> YOU GOT IT KIND OF WORKING. >> DAN, SIMPLE QUESTION HERE, DAN TO START, YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THIS TABLE MANY, MANY TIMES. OUR LACK OF DIVERSITY IN OUR ECONOMY. IS THIS A GREAT WAKE UP CALL, 100 MILLION DOLLARS LESS TO WORK WITH. >> I THINK, THERE IS TWO THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, GENE. IN THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE WE HAVE TO GET TRUTH IN FORECASTING. MY ENTIRE CAREER IN THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK EVEN SINCE WE JUST PICK A NUMBER OUT OF AIR. WE THINK OIL AND GAS IS GOING TO BE THIS AND BUILD A BUDGET AROUND WHAT WE THINK IT IS

GOING TO BE, THEN MAKE THE CORRECTIONS LATER ON. IN MY OPINION, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE NUMBER. I THINK IT IS TIME THAT WE STEP THAT NUMBER BACK AND SAY, AS TIME ROLLS ON, WHEN THE CASH COMES, FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND IT IF YOU NEED, BUT CLEARLY WE DON'T WANT TO TURN OUR BACK ON EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY. THEY ARE IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION. IT IS SOMETHING THE STATE HAS BEEN BUILT ON. I THINK IT IS TIME WE LOOK AT -- I WAS JUST UP IN BOULDER, THE AMOUNT OF -- BUSINESSES THAT ARE GROWING IN BOULDER AND I WAS READING ABOUT THEM AND THEY HAVE GOT A POLICY IN BOULDER THAT ONCE YOUR BUSINESS HITS 500 EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE TO LEAVE. IT IS AN INCUBATOR. THEY WANT TO BRING YOU IN AND THEY WANT YOU TO GROW. ONCE YOU GO TO A CERTAIN SIZE THEY WANT YOU OUT. WHY DON'T WE REACH OUT TO THEM AND OKAY WE WANT YOU TO COME FROM 501 TO 1000. ONCE YOU'RE AT 1001 GET OUT OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY, KEEPING OUR KIDS AT HOME. THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THAT ARE LEAVING THIS STATE, GETTING EDUCATED ON THE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP AND LEAVING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IS DESTROYING NEW MEXICO. >> DAN MAKES

A GOOD POINT THAT WE WANT TO GET BACK TO AND THAT IS THIS IDEA OF FORECASTING. FISCAL YEAR STARTS NEXT JULY, YOU SET A NUMBER, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MARKETPLACE IS GOING TO BE. >> ESPECIALLY THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY. WE HAVE SEEN IT IS EXTREMELY VOLATILE AND I THINK TO REALLY BE DISCIPLINED AND STABLE FORMS OF REVENUE, AND I THINK THAT WE SAW SOME LEADERS AGO SCALE BACK ON THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX AND THAT WAS A HUGE HIT TO OUR BUDGET, 210 MILLION REVENUE LOSS IN FY17. WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT. NOT RIGHT NOW. >> POLITICS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING, WE HAVE A NEW SHAPE AND FORM OF OUR HOUSE MAKEUP. SENATE IS STILL UNDER DEMOCRATIC CONTROL BUT THERE IS LESS MONEY TO WORK WITH, SIGNIFICANTLY LESS MONEY TO WORK WITH. THAT HAS GOT TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON DECISION MAKING OF NEEDS. >> IT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON DECISION MAKING. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE HEARD FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT

ADDITIONAL TAX REFORM IN THIS NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE SHOULDN'T ANTICIPATE TAX CUTS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T THINK APPROVALS WILL BE FLOATED BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PUSH IN THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATURE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT THE OIL AND GAS SITUATION THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PRESSURES DRIVING DOWN OIL AND GAS PRICES AND ONE IS ACTUALLY FRAC'ING AND AS WE SEE THE PUSH TO CONTINUE FRAC'ING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT OPENS UP REVENUE -- I SHOULDN'T SAY REVENUE -- THAT OPENS UP RESERVES, THAT OPENS UP AMOUNTS OF OIL THAT THEN WILL PUSH DOWN OUR PRICES AND IT MAY NOT BENEFIT US AS A LARGER COMMUNITY TO CREATE EXCESS CAPACITY. >> YOU KNOW, INTERESTINGLY, SOPHIE'S POINT THERE, STEVEN, THAT THEORY WAS AS DOMESTIC STUFF ROSE, WE HAVE LESS RELIANCE ON THE OVERSEAS, BUT WE ARE IN FACT BEING GAMED BY FOLKS OVERSEAS, BY OPEC WITH THEIR LOW PRICES. WE'RE

IN A COMPETITIVE SITUATION WITH OUR SHALE OIL THAT SOPHIE IS MENTIONING HERE AND IT WORKS OUT FOR CONSUMERS, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE NOT A GOOD END GAME COULD HAPPEN WITH THIS. >> I AM NOT OIL EXPERT BUT THE SAUDIS HAVE CONTINUED TO PUMP OIL, I THINK, AT 9.7 BILLION BARRELS A YEAR. THAT IS A LOT. THE QUESTION US WHY? BECAUSE DEMAND HAS BEEN GOING DOWN, U.S. ACTUALLY IS THE ONLY DEVELOPED COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN DOING REALLY WELL. SOMETHING YOU WOULD NEVER DISCOVER IN THE ELECTION. EUROPE IS DOWN, JAPAN IS BACK INTO A RECESSION. SO DEMAND IS DOWN. INDIA IS DOWN, SO, YEAH, THE QUESTION IS WHY ARE THE SAUDIS DOING THIS? AND SUPPOSEDLY THE THEORY IS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO HARM IRAN, BECAUSE IS IRAN SUPPORTING ASAD IN SYRIA? THEY KNOW WHAT THE BREAK EVEN POINT FOR IRAN IS IN TERMS OF MONEY, AND SO THEY ARE TRYING TO HARM IRAN. HOW LONG WILL THEY CONTINUE THAT? IS

THAT REALLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING? AND, I GUESS THE OTHER THING IS, DEMAND COULD WELL INCREASE. I MEAN PEOPLE ARE PREDICTING DEMAND GOES UP WOULD DRIVE OIL PRICES BACK UP. >> THIS ADMINISTRATION PLACED TARIFFS WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING THAT KIND OF GAME IS GAMING THE SYSTEM AGAINST US AS WELL. WHEN THEY ARE DUMPING THE AMOUNT OF OIL, THEY ARE OVERPRODUCING WHAT THEY AGREED TO AS AN OPEC NATION. THEY ARE THROWING MORE OIL OUT ON THE MARKET AND WE'RE STANDING BACK AND NOT PUTTING TARIFFS ON THAT STUFF, SAYING WAIT A MINUTE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO IMPORT THAT STUFF, WE ARE GOING TO CHARGE YOU FOR THAT AND WE'RE LETTING THAT STUFF HIT THE MARKETS AND THAT IS ALSO -- >> IT IS A FREE MARKET. >> -- THE REASON -- WELL, BUT IT IS NOT A FREE MARKET. IT IS A CONTROLLED MARKET BUT THAT IS A GOOD TRY. BUT, WE'RE TRYING TO GET -- YOU SEE IN THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE THE THOUGHT IS, AND WE'LL SEE, IS THAT WE CAN START SHIPPING THAT EXCESS CAPACITY UP TO CANADA. MAYBE THAT WILL GENERATE REVENUE. WE DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. BUT THERE HAS TO BE ACTION ON THE TARIFFS WHEN OPEC IS DOING -- >> THE COMPLAINT ABOUT TARIFF IS THEY HAVE BEEN

RAISING THE PRICE NOT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LOWERING IT. OUR TRADITIONAL CONCERN IS THAT THE OPEC NATIONS WERE RAISING THE PRICE OF OIL TO US. WHEN THEY LOWER THE PRICE, PRESUMABLY THAT IS GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT TRADITIONALLY WE COMPLAINED. >> THE OIL MARKET IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT -- >> THIS INTERNATIONAL POLICY CONVERSATION IS FASCINATING BUT TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE STATE LEVEL AND NEW MEXICO IMPLICATIONS, I THINK THIS FACT RIGHT HERE, AND YOU MENTIONED TIME FRAME, YOU KNOW, IF IT GETS TO $70 A BARREL FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THEN YOU NEED TO BE CONCERNED. BUT TO MY BROADER POINT ABOUT US NOT SOLELY RELYING ON OIL AND GAS REVENUE, I THINK IT ALSO SPEAKS TO NEED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY IN OUR EXISTING STATE BUDGET. TIM KELLER HAS BEEN SPONSORING YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE TAX EXPENDITURE BUDGET. WE NEED TO TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT WHAT EXPENDITURES WE'RE PROVIDING TO LARGER CORPORATIONS WHO ARE COMING HERE AND WHETHER OR NOT THOSE TAX BREAKS ARE ACTUALLY PROVIDING WHAT WE WANT THEM TO PROVIDE, WHICH IS LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE GOOD PAYING JOBS. SO, I THINK THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO INSPECT THE BUDGET. >>

ANOTHER POINT WITH THE LEGISLATURE, THERE IS ONE ITEM I AM CURIOUS ABOUT. THERE IS LIKE DOMINOES FALLING OVER HERE. WHAT HAPPENS TO HOLD HARMLESS FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES HERE IN THE DISCUSSION IN OUR LEGISLATURE. DO WE NOW SAY, OKAY, WE NEED THEIR MONEY NOW MORE THAN EVER OR IS IT THE WRONG TIME TO BE TOUCHING COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES SINCE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LOWER REVENUES. >> COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS THEY ARE STARVED FOR REVENUES, THEY CANNOT COVER, IN MANY CASES, THE VERY BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR A CITY OR COUNTY AND THAT THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MORE. THEY ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED, OF COURSE, ABOUT THE CHANGE THAT IS COMING -- THE CHANGE WE SEE IN TERMS OF HOLD HARMLESS BUT BEYOND THAT WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE TO VIEW EVERY PART OF GOVERNMENT AS A POTENTIAL

PIGGY BANK WITHOUT LOOKING AT WHERE CAN WE RAISE REVENUES THAT PERHAPS IS LESS POPULAR, BUT CORPORATE TAXES, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, PROBABLY PERSONAL INCOME TAXES. NOW, YOU KNOW ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION NOT TO TAKE IT TOTALLY BACK TO THE OTHER THING, BUT ONE THING I FEEL SOME CONCERN ABOUT AS OIL AND GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO DROP IS THAT THERE MAY BE LESS URGENCY OR LESS PRESSURE TO INVEST IN NON-EXTRACTIVE ENERGY PRODUCTION. YOU KNOW, IN SOME WAYS OUR SOLAR INDUSTRY, OUR WIND INDUSTRY HAVE BENEFITED WHEN OIL AND GAS COSTS HAVE BEEN HIGH AND HERE WE ARE IN A PLACE WHERE, I MEAN, I HAVE TO BELIEVE WE KNOW OIL AND GAS COMPETES WITH RENEWABLES. THIS INCREASING PRESSURE DOWNWARD OF THOSE PRICES, I HAVE TO BELIEVE PART OF THE CONSIDERATION IS WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES. >> INTERESTING POINT. WE MIGHT COME BACK TO THAT AT THIS TABLE. STEVEN,

ANOTHER IDEA IS THE LINGERING PERMANENT FUND AND THE IDEA IF THERE IS LESS MONEY COMING IN, DOES THIS, IN EFFECT, KILL THE IDEA ABOUT MORE MONEY FOR EARLY CHILD EDUCATION FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION? >> I THINK THE ORIGINAL PREDICTION WAS, I THINK, ABOUT 650 MILLION COMING IN. SO, PERCENTAGE DECREASE ISN'T THAT SIGNIFICANT, THERE WOULD STILL BE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW -- THERE WOULD STILL BE ENOUGH MONEY COMING INTO THE FUND, COMING INTO THE FUND SO YOU COULD SUPPORT ALL THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND PLUS 1% OF EARLY CHILDHOOD AND THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY NET NEGATIVE TO THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND. IT WOULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH ITS OWN FINANCIAL ASSETS ABOUT 7 TO 8% PER YEAR, SO THERE IS SIMPLY -- NO, I DON'T THINK THAT, IN MY VIEW, A GOOD ARGUMENT

AGAINST IT. >> IS THERE A KIND OF ARGUMENT. >> THE KIND OF ARGUMENT, GENE, YOU AND I JOKE ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE. WE SIT HERE TODAY AND WE SAY WE WANT TO USE THAT 1% FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SPENDING TO INCREASE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, OKAY, TWO MINUTES LATER YOU WANT TO PAY TEACHERS MORE, WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT AND THERE IS ONLY AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS. SO I APPRECIATE US TALKING ABOUT FINDING OUT WHAT WE DO FOR BUSINESSES WHEN GIVING THEM A TAX CUT. NOBODY IS OPPOSED TO MAKING SURE THEY ARE BRINGING IN THE JOBS THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO BRING, BUT I THINK THIS WHOLE THING STARTS OFF WITH TRUTH IN FORECASTING. WE ARE SETTING BUDGETS BASED ON CRAZY MATH SCIENCE BECAUSE SOMEBODY DECIDES THAT WE ARE GOING TO SAY OIL IS GOING TO BE $85 A BARREL AND WE'LL BE TRADING MCF $7 AN MCF AND AWAY WE GO AND WE FIND OUT IN JULY, HALFWAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AFTER THE SESSION IS OVER, WELL, IT IS NOT THERE AND WE CHANGE IT. >> THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN DO. >> HISTORICALLY WE ARE WAY BAD. WE HAVE BEEN PREDICTING -- WE ARE SAYING

OIL IS $100 AND IT WINDS UP BEING 70. >> WE'RE BACK WITH A SEGMENT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN WE GOT FROM GOVERNMENT, ET CETERA, LISTEN, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF IT, ARE YOU A REASONABLE PERSON YOU WILL BELIEVE US. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE REASONABLE PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE AND WE HAVE LOST TRUST. >> ALMOST 280,000 WOMEN HAVE SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ SINCE 9-11. THAT IS ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY DISABLED VETERANS OF AMERICA. WHICH POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE NUMBER OF MALE VETERANS WILL DECLINE IN THE COMING YEARS, THE NUMBER OF FEMALE VETERANS WILL GROW DRAMATICALLY. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SERIOUS GAPS IN THE PROGRAMS THAT SERVE WOMEN. FEMALE VETS ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT AND MANY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES. PRODUCER MEGAN KAMERICK TALKS ABOUT THESE ISSUES

WITH A GROUP WOMEN VETERANS OF NEW MEXICO AND HENDERSON HOUSE, A HOMELESS SHELTER LAUNCHED BY YWCA OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE AS WELL AS TWO VETERANS. >> I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, DENISE EDWELL, A VETERAN WHO IS ALSO AT HENDERSON HOUSE. AND MEGAN RACHELLE BROWN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR HENDERSON HOUSE, JUDY QUINTANA, PRESIDENT OF WOMEN VETERANS OF NEW MEXICO AND CARLA TORRES IS A VETERAN OF THE IRAQ WAR, STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY, ALMOST ABOUT TO RETIRE. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. A RECENT REPORT BY DISABLED WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS RAISED TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS TO SERVE COMBAT VETERANS, THE CURRENT SYSTEM FOR WOMEN TRANSITIONING FROM MILITARY SERVICE IS A DISJOINTED PATCH WORK, I AM QUOTING, OF PROGRAMS MARKED BY SERIOUS GAPS IN HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, OTHER COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT AND EFFORTS TO ERADICATE SEXUAL ASSAULT. SO, CARLA, I WANTED TO START WITH YOU.

YOU'RE STILL ON ACTIVE DUTY ABOUT TO RETIRE. YOU WERE DEPLOYED TO IRAQ WITH THE NEW AS A SUPPLY SERGEANT. SO, RIGHT? TECHNICALLY YOU WEREN'T ON THE FRONT LINES BUT GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT YOU REALLY DID END UP ON FRONT LINES. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT. >> WE WERE RIGHT UP WITH NABU GHRAIB AND WE WERE MORTARED DAILY. >> WE WERE IN A LOT OF ACTION. SO IT WAS A LOT TO TAKE IN. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE PASS AWAY ON OUR POST FROM MORTAR ROUNDS. >> WHAT WAS THE IMPACT ON YOU IN TERMS OF THAT AND BEING A WOMAN ON THE FRONT LINES? >> YOU KNOW, AS WOMEN WE TEND TO HOLD EMOTIONS DIFFERENT, WE TEND TO HOLD THEM ON -- WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR? WE HOLD THEM

ON DIFFERENTLY THAN MEN DO, SO I THINK IT IS HARD BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE DAY BY DAY STUFF. SO YOU'RE JUST GETTING THROUGH ONE DAY AT A TIME NOT THINKING OF WHAT THE IMPACT IS WHEN YOU COME HOME. SO, IT IS PRETTY HARD AND IT IS HARD BEING A FEMALE. THERE WAS ONLY A HANDFUL OF US THAT WAS ON A POST WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER MALES. >> DID YOU FEEL YOU HAD TO PROVE YOURSELF A LOT? >> YEAH, IT IS A DAILY -- THAT IS A DAILY EVENT. IT IS STILL A MAN'S WORLD, NO MATTER WHAT GOES ON. SO, THAT IS KIND OF A DAILY THING. >> HAVE YOU STRUGGLED WITH PTSD, SINCE YOU CAME BACK? >> YEAH, I HAVE MY DAYS. I HAVE MY MOMENTS. SOMETIMES A LITTLE MORE MOMENTS THAN NOT -- >> WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE GETTING HELP FOR THAT. >> IT HAS BEEN OKAY. THE VA HAD A GOOD PROGRAM. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE PROGRAM IS WHEN I ENTERED IN, I THINK

IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS SO FAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN I DEPLOYED THAT THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS IN COUNSELING WITH WERE ALL THERE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAUMA, NOT NECESSARY MY SAME TYPE OF TRAUMA. >> YOU HAD COMBAT TRAUMA. >> IT WAS KIND OF HARD BECAUSE THEY WANTED YOU IN A GROUP SETTING BUT HARD FOR ME TO RELATE TO THEM AND HARD FOR THEM TO RELATE TO ME. >> DENISE, YOU WERE IN THE ARMY SOME TIME BEFORE THE MOST RECENT CONFLICTS BUT YOU WERE GOING TO DEPLOY IN THE FIRST GULF WAR AND IIT ENDED BEFORE YOUR DEPLOYMENT. YOU WERE IN GERMANY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND YOU RETURNED TO CIVILIAN LIFE AND WERE BASICALLY A HOMEMAKER, BUT IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS OR SO, YOU HAVE BEEN AT HENDERSON HOUSE WHICH WAS A PROGRAM SET UP BY THE YWCA FOR WOMEN HOMELESS VETERANS. CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU CAME TO BE AT HENDERSON HOUSE? >> I WAS IN A VERY UNHEALTHY

RELATIONSHIP AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT IN OUR SOCIETY TO FIND HELP FOR WOMEN THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE. >> IN THE MIDDLE. >> AS FAR AS A LOT OF PLACES THAT CAN HELP WOMEN HAVE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ON DRUGS OR YOU HAVE TO BE BEING BEAT AND SO IF YOU DON'T MAKE THOSE REQUIREMENTS, YOU ARE NOT READILY ACCEPTED INTO THOSE >> THEY HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT KIND OF HELP FOR WOMEN. >> YES. SO, THAT HAS BEEN MY JOURNEY TO BE THERE. >> SO, IN TERMS OF YOU HAD TO LEAVE A RELATIONSHIP AND YOU HAD TO -- IS IT BECAUSE YOU NEEDED MORE SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO BE INDEPENDENT THAT YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY GET IN THE ARMY OR AFTER THE ARMY? >> DEFINITELY. I WAS A HOMEMAKER. I DID PART-TIME JOBS BUT NOT

ANYTHING NEAR TO SUPPORT MYSELF. >> YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ABOUT 15 MONTHS. >> YES. >> WHY IS IT -- WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING THERE? WHY IS IT AN IMPORTANT PLACE FOR WOMEN VETERANS? >> IT IS A SAFE PLACE FOR WOMEN TO BE. IT IS A REGULAR HOME AND WE HAVE DEFINITELY SET A PRECEDENCE OF PEACE, LOVE AND HEALING AND IT IS NEAT TO REALLY SEE THE WOMEN THERE GROW AND BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES. I THINK THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS NOT BEING ABLE -- NOT EARNING ENOUGH TO SUPPORT OURSELVES, BUT SEEING EACH OTHER GO BACK TO SCHOOL, GET HIGHER PAYING JOBS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. >> YOU GOT A DEGREE WITH YOUR GI BENEFITS IN NATURAL THERAPY. >> I DID USE THE PROGRAM AND I DID GRADUATE FROM THE NEW MEXICO SCHOOL

OF NATURAL THERAPEUTICS CANS. IT IS AN AMAZING SCHOOL. I LOVE IT. >> YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SOME WORK WITH ACTUALLY PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE PTSD. YOU DON'T NECESSARILY. >> I DON'T HAVE PTSD, BUT I HAVE A PASSION FOR PTSD AND THAT IS MY HEART IN WORKING WITH VETERANS AND USING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES. >> I WANT TO TURN TO MEGAN. YOU'RE PROGRAM COORDINATOR WITH HENDERSON HOUSE, STARTED THREE YEARS AGO BY THE Y. WOMEN VETERANS FACE GREATER RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND HOMELESSNESS THAN MALE VETS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THAT WOMEN ARE COMING TO YOU GUYS? >> WELL, I THINK THAT I GUESS WOMEN ARE NOT TRADITIONALLY LOOKED AT AS VETERANS IN GENERAL. I THINK THAT MILITARY CULTURE DOES NOT REALLY WELL PREPARE WOMEN TO LIVE IN SOCIETY, MAYBE EVEN AS MUCH AS MEN ARE. I KNOW ALL VETERANS ARE SORT

OF A DEFICIENCY THERE WHEN THEY RETURN BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS REALLY JUST -- IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WOMEN EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY AS WELL. >> ONE IN FOUR WOMEN HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA. THAT IS THE ONES WHO REPORT. SO, WE KNOW THAT IS PROBABLY A LOW NUMBER. >> AND THERE IS A LOT OF STIGMA AGAINST EVEN REPORTING IN THE MILITARY THOSE SORTS OF THINGS BECAUSE, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, YOU KNOW, WOMEN HAVE THEIR SUPERIORS WHO ARE OFTEN PEOPLE WHO CAN BE ABUSERS IN THOSE SITUATIONS AND IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO REPORT OFTEN. >> FROM THE TRAUMA THAT CAME OUT DOES THAT AFFECT THEM BEING ABLE TO GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED, FIND HOUSING THAT THEY NEED, BECAUSE THEIR -- I AM GUESSING THEIR PRIMARY

GOAL IS TO FEEL SAFE; RIGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY. A LOT OF IT IS BASED IN FEAR. I THINK THAT WOMEN IN THE MILITARY ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE STRONG PEOPLE TO BEGIN WITH AND IT IS PROBABLY VERY HARD FOR A VERY STRONG PERSON TO SEEK SERVICES FOR HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THEM. >> WHEN YOU HAVE WOMEN THAT ARE THERE IN THE HOUSE WITH DENISE, WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE FOR THEM THAT THEY FACE RIGHT NOW? >> FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN TALKING WITH THE LADIES AT HENDERSON HOUSE, I HAVE SEEN A BIG DEFICIT IN FAMILY SUPPORT OR SOCIAL SUPPORT IN GENERAL. AND, AS WELL AS DIFFICULTY FINDING JOBS THAT SUIT THEM. I MEAN, MANY COME STRAIGHT FROM HIGH SCHOOL INTO THE MILITARY AND SO THEY ONLY HAVE SKILLS THAT THEY LEARNED

IN THE MILITARY. >> AND, JUDY, YOU'RE PRESIDENT, A VETERAN, LONG-STANDING VETERAN, AND PRESIDENT OF THE WOMEN VETERANS OF NEW MEXICO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW? WE'RE SEEING MANY MORE WOMEN, RIGHT, COME BACK? >> ON RIGHT NOW IS THE TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM AND THAT IS THE ONE THAT WILL TRANSITION THEM INTO A LOCATION, WHETHER IT BE HENDERSON HOUSE OR THE NEW MEXICO VETERANS INTEGRATION CENTER. AND THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEM INTO A SAFE LOCATION, INSTEAD OF THEM HAVING TO SLEEP IN THEIR VEHICLES AND STUFF. >> WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VA KIND OF PLAYING CATCH UP. ARE THEY FINDING WHAT THEY NEED HERE? >> SOME OF THE LADIES INITIALLY LAST YEAR WERE SAYING THEY WEREN'T RECEIVING ASSISTANCE THEY NEEDED BUT THEY STARTED GETTING TOGETHER WITH THE PATIENT ADVOCACY TO BE ABLE TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WERE

THE PROBLEMS THEY WERE HAVING, IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TO THEM, THERE WAS COORDINATORS AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN VETERANS, THEY GET TOGETHER WITH US THAT WE CAN TALK TO DIRECTLY. SO THAT WAY WE IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN CONGRESSIONALLY SOME OF THE LADIES WENT THROUGH THAT STEP TO BE ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE THEY NEED WHEN NOT BEING HEARD AT THE VA SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN NEW MEXICO. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I READ IN PREPARATION FOR THIS, WOMEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO IDENTIFY AS VETERANS AND THEREFORE NOT SEEK THE SERVICES THEY MAY BE ENTITLED TO. HAVE YOU SEEN THAT, JUDY, WITH WOMEN VETERANS. >> I THINK FOR US IT IS KIND OF A COACHING THING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THEM THE LOCATIONS WHERE THEY CAN GO AS A REPRESENTATIVE, EITHER TAKING THEM TO THE DAV OR TO THE AMERICAN LEGION. SO IT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE INDIVIDUAL, WHAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY TO THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION OF DO THEY HAVE INFORMATION TO ACTUALLY DOCUMENT THAT THEY WERE AT A LOCATION WHERE A TRAUMA OCCURRED. >> WHY DO YOU THINK SOMETIMES WOMEN ARE HESITANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THE THINGS THEY DESERVE, AFTER THEY HAVE

BEEN IN THE MILITARY? >> IN MY EXPERIENCE IT IS ACTUALLY MAYBE AN ATTITUDE OF NOT DESERVING THAT KIND OF HELP. AND, YOU KNOW, I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO MAKE WHY THAT WOULD BE BUT I HAVE SEEN -- IT IS POSSIBLY THE MILITARY CULTURE THAT MAKES THEM FEEL THAT WAY. >> WOMEN WE ARE VIEWED AS MOM'S, SISTERS, AS GRANDMAS, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T THINK -- I THINK IT IS HARD AS A CULTURE IN SOCIETY FOR MEN TO SEE US AS COMBAT VETERANS OR AS A SOLDIER. OR AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN BEING A HOMEMAKER, THE PERSON WHO TAKES CARE OF THE KIDS AND THE HOUSE. >> AND TAKES CARE OF THE SOLDIERS. >> RIGHT. >> AND JUDY, HOW DO WE RAISE THAT AWARENESS? YOU MENTIONED WHAT IS GOING ON HERE TO -- >> WE HAVE HERE

IN ALBUQUERQUE RIGHT NOW IN MARCH NEXT YEAR, TIME FRAME, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE TRIBUTE TO WOMEN IN THE MILITARY. THE ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO HAVE A SCULPTURE THEY WILL PUT AT VETERANS MEMORIAL AND THEN ALSO DOWN IN LAS CRUCES THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A PROPOSAL TO BE ABLE TO GET ONE PUT DOWN THERE. THEY DID FINALLY HAVE THEIR FIRST FEMALE SOLDIER SCULPTURE PUT UP IN ANOTHER STATE SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HERE IN NEW MEXICO THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND SOCORRO HAS BEEN LOOKING AT SCULPTURE FOR WOMEN VETERANS. >> WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME BUT I WANTED TO ASK CARLA AND DENISE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR FUTURE PLANS ARE. YOU'RE ABOUT THE RETIRE. >> I AM ABOUT TO RETIRE AND I HAVE TWO AMAZING BABIES. MAIN GOAL IS TO BE A STAY-AT-HOME MOM. I MENTIONED BEFORE, I WOULD LOOK TO -- I AM IN THE PROCESS MILITARY WOMEN AND THE FOCUS IS TO HAVE IT BECOME A HEALTHFUL NAME SO WHEN

YOU SEE A WOMAN WEARING A SCARF THAT HAS MILITARY WOMAN ON IT, YOU KNOW SHE SERVED OR IS SERVING IN THE MILITARY. FOR THE DESIGNS I WOULD LIKE TO PUT, YES, I AM A COMBAT VETERAN. >> TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE. >> RIGHT, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF US DON'T RUN AROUND AND TELL PEOPLE THAT WE WERE IN COMBAT OR THAT WE SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO ALSO TUNE IN ON WHEN YOU SAID WHY IS THAT WE SOMETIMES DON'T TELL AND I THINK IT SUCH A STIGMA BECAUSE I WAS IN WAL-MART ONE DAY IN MY UNIFORM, AND I HAVE A COMBAT ACTION BADGE, AND I HAD AN OLDER GENTLEMAN TELL ME, OH, SO YOU JUMP OUT OF AIRPLANES? I SAID, NO, THIS IS MY COMBAT ACTION BADGE. AND HE SAID, "HU". LIKE HE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. HE DID NOT BELIEVE ME AND SO IT IS HARD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I WAS LIKE THIS IS WHY I DON'T GO ANYWHERE

IN MY UNIFORM BECAUSE YOU GET THAT RESPONSE. I AM PROUD OF MY SERVICE, VERY PROUD OF ALL OF IT, YOU KNOW. SO, YEAH, THAT IS MY GOAL. I REALLY WANT TO GET SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT IS NICE AND PRETTY FOR WOMEN THAT SHOWS THAT WE SERVED. >> AND, DENISE, I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING TOWARDS YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEGREE AND TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AROUND PTSD AND HOLISTIC MEDICINE. >> I AM REALLY EXCITED. I AM INTERESTED WOULD LIKE TO TEAM UP WITH A GROUP AND EVEN YOU LADIES AS WELL BECAUSE I FOUND OUT THERE IS THIS HUGE GAP. THERE WAS A REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN AUGUST FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY WHERE THERE IS NO -- THE VA ISN'T KEEPING REGULAR DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT IS WORKING FOR PTSD AND WHAT

ISN'T. AND SO THERE IS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY THESE THERAPIES AND SEE WHAT WORKS AND TO IDENTIFY THAT THROUGH BRAIN MAPPING AS WELL. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS ON THERAPEUTIC GRADE OILS WHERE THEY CHANGED THE FREQUENCY OF THE BRAIN WITHIN MINUTES AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND HELP PEOPLE IS REALLY MY PASSION, MY HEART. >> GREAT, WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AS WELL AND THANK YOU FOR COMING THANK YOU. >> THERE WASN'T REALLY A PROGRESSIVE POINT. I LOOKED BECAUSE I WAS DOING A SHOW ON IT AT WHAT LEGISLATORS IN THIS ONE DISTRICT FOR DEMOCRATS WERE SAYING. I COULDN'T TELL WHAT THEY WERE RUNNING ON. HONESTLY I HAD NO IDEAS. >> IT HASN'T BEEN A GOOD WEEK FOR THE TWO

NATIONAL LABORATORIES IN NEW TO ALBUQUERQUE BUSINESS FIRST PUBLICATION, REPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ACCUSES SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES OF USING FEDERAL FUNDS TO LOBBY FOR A NONCOMPETITIVE EXTENSION OF ITS CONTRACT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. AND THAT ENGAGED FORMER CONGRESSMAN HEATHER WILSON IN THE ACTIVITIES. MS. WILSON REFUSED REPORTS, CHARACTERIZATION OF HER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CONTRACT EXTENSION AND LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB IS FACING RENEWED SCRUTINY AFTER IN-DEPTH REPORT BY THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN FOUND EVIDENCE OF SHORTCUTS AND LAX DOCUMENTATION ON THAT INFAMOUS BARREL SHIPPED TO WASTE ISOLATION PILOT PLANT THAT CAUSED THAT RADIATION LEAK WHICH SHUTTERED WIPP AND CONTAMINATED 20 WORKERS. THESE LABS ARE A BIG PART OF OUR ECONOMY. HUGE. PROVIDE LOTS OF JOBS. BUT, LET'S START WITH LANL THING FIRST. THIS IS DISTURBING TO ME, TO ANYONE WHO WOULD READ THIS. TERRIFYING WOULD BE A BETTER THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY INSTITUTE THIS KITTY

LITTER/NITRATE SALT SHORTCUT TO NEUTRALIZE THE PH BALANCE. I AM NOT A CHEMIST BUT THAT SOUNDS TERRIBLE, ONE, AND HOW DID IT GET DOWN TO WIPP AND THEN PUT 55 OTHER BARRELS AT RISK, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT RISK. THE WHOLE PROGRAM AT RISK AND THEY SAID BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY WANTED TO ENSURE THEY HAD A CONTRACT EXTENSION, LANL, OF THE TWO BILLION, 2.2 BILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT THAT THEY HAVE, SO THEY HAD TO MEET THIS CLEANUP DEADLINE. AND SO THEY TAKE THE SHORTCUT WHICH IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO COST TAXPAYERS ADDITIONAL 500 MILLION TO CLEAN THIS UP AND SHUTS DOWN THIS PIECE OF WIPP FOR A YEAR. SHORTCUTS? NO. LACK OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND THE FACT THAT THIS EMPLOYEE AT LANL WAS REPRIMANDED FOR COMMUNICATING WITH WIPP TO LET THEM KNOW. THIS PUTS THE WHO COMMUNITY AT RISK. >> THAT WAS THE TERRIFYING PART TO ME WAS THE CLAMP DOWN ON THAT. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DO KNOW SO FAR FROM THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

REPORTING WHICH WAS TERRIFIC, THERE WAS COMMUNICATION. FOLKS AT WIPP WERE FRANKLY APPALLED, IT WOULD BE SAFE TO SAY, WHAT THEY WERE GETTING FROM THESE FOLKS. >> INTERESTING UP UNTIL HAS BEEN ON WIPP AND THEY HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF FLACK WITH RELATIVELY LITTLE REGARD TAKEN FOR WHAT HAPPENED AT LANL, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, BOTH FACILITIES, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, HAVE TO BE DOING IT RIGHT IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE SAFE. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, WIPP IS A PILOT PROJECT. IT IS A MODEL FOR WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH OTHER SIMILAR PROJECTS AND THEY REALLY IDENTIFIED AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM IN HOW -- >> YOU HAVE GOT THAT LOUISIANA ENERGY THAT WENT DOWN THERE AND BUILT THIS BILLION DOLLAR FACILITY BECAUSE OF WIPP AND NOW THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING THOSE SPENT RODS AND NUCLEAR ENERGY TURNING IT BACK INTO REUSABLE -- THIS HAS

THAT COULD AFFECT THIS STATE AND PROJECTS GOING FORWARD FOR AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME. ONCE AGAIN ALL BECAUSE SOMEBODY DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS, RUN AROUND A FEW CORNERS. >> THOSE DREADED GOVERNMENTAL DEADLINES. >> WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY? THEY LAY OUT IN THE RESEARCH THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR CURRENT ENERGY OR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL, ACTUALLY HAS RELAXED ON THE INSPECTIONS AROUND WIPP AND WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE AT LANL. >> IT MADE IT SEEM AS IF LANL FOLKS WERE HOLDING THOSE FOLKS OFF. THAT IS HOW I INTERPRETED THAT. >> IT IS A FEDERAL INSTALLATION. WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INPUT OTHER THAN WHEN IT IS DRIVING ON THE ROAD. >> THEY ACTUALLY DO. THEY DO HAVE THE JURISDICTION TO DO SOME -- >> DAN BROUGHT UP SOMETHING INTERESTING. THAT STUFF GOES ON THE ROAD. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT IS PART THAT GETS ME AS WELL. ANY OF US COULD

HAVE BEEN EXPOSED IN THE BARREL IF SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENED. >> DID THE ANALYSIS THAT REALLY CONCLUDED THIS WAS LIKE A BOMB, IT WAS LIKE A BOMB BEING SENT ON THE ROAD, LIKE A BOMB -- >> IT MET THE CRITERIA. >> THIS ORGANIC KITTY LITTER PLUS A NEUTRALIZER PLUS THE ACIDIC WASTE THAT WAS BEING PACKAGED INTO THIS 55-GALLON DRUM AMOUNTED TO A BOMB. THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD OR SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN NEXT TO OTHER RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL. SO, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID HERE. NOW, YOU KNOW, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT WHO SAID WE DON'T WANT RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL BROUGHT TO WIPP BECAUSE IT IS LIKE MY SON SAYS TO ME WHENEVER I COMPLAIN ABOUT MY COMPUTER, OPERATOR ERROR. THERE IS GOING TO BE OPERATOR ERRORS MADE. >> THAT IS INTERESTING. >> I THINK

THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT AND ONE OF THE PHENOMENA THAT I AM NOTICING AMONG US AT THE TABLE IS FOR A LONG TIME THERE HAD BEEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID, WE DON'T REALLY TRUST THE LAB, DON'T REALLY TRUST HOW THIS WILL BE HANDLED. THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE DURING BYPASS CONSTRUCTION IN SANTA FE AND THE MESSAGE WE GOT FROM LANL AND THE GOVERNMENT, ET CETERA, WAS IS LISTEN, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF IT. IF YOU'RE A REASONABLE PERSON YOU'LL BELIEVE US. I BELIEVE WE ARE REASONABLE PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE AND WE HAVE LOST TRUST. AND SO WHEN AN ORGANIZATION -- I HATE TO SAY IT BUT WHEN LANL SAYS -- WHEN WIPP MANAGEMENT SAYS, THIS IS CAREFULLY CONTROLLED, WE ARE TAKING CARE OF IT, THEY HAVE A MUCH HIGHER BURDEN BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SKEPTICISM, BECAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS ELEMENT OF THE MATERIAL, AND TO HAVE BEEN SO SHORTSIGHTED AS TO REALLY BLOW THAT OFF, IT CREATES A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM. TO STEPHANIE'S POINT EARLIER

ABOUT A MUCH EXPENSIVE PROBLEM, IT CREATES A MUCH BIGGER TRUST ISSUE. >> WE HAVE TO STOP LANL FROM HIDING BEHIND TOP-SECRET MONIKER OF EVERYTHING. THIS IS TOP SECRET. THIS IS TOP SECRET. THE STATE OVERSIGHT ONLY GOES SO FAR. WHEN THEY START STAMPING STUFF TOP-SECRET, THE STATE SAYS HERE IS THE FORM, YOU CHECKED ALL THE BOXES YOU TOLD ME TO CHECK AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS TOP-SECRET ABOUT SHIPPING A CONTAINER OF WASTE. WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT IS IN THERE. IT SHOULD BE OPEN. >> PAPERWORK SHOULD BE OPEN, INFORMATION SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND IT IS NOT. EVERY TIME THAT THE STATE AGENCIES OR THE MEDIA OR ANYBODY PUSHES THE ENVELOPE, THEY GET THE REDACTED DOCUMENT SENT TO THEM, STAMPED TOP-SECRET, AND EVERYBODY SAYS, OH MY GOD, YOU'RE ENDANGERING NATURAL SOCIETY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT RAG RADIOACTIVE GOING TO WIPP HAS TO DO WITH NATIONAL SECURITY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KITTY LITTER WITH THESE ISOTOPES HAS TO DO WITH NATIONAL SECURITY. THEY ARE THE PEOPLE AT WP THAT ARNGTU >> SANDIA NATIONAL

LABORATORIES, YOU JUMPED AT THE SETUP ABOUT WHO THERE ARE MACHINATIONS WHENEVER A CONTRACT OF ANY SIZE IS HAPPENING IN ANY STATE. WERE YOU TERRIBLY SURPRISED BY THE REPORT? >> THIS IS STUFF THAT GOES ON EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF, I THINK ABOUT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT SETTING UP THE NON-PARTISAN REDISTRICTING WE WERE GOING TO DO IN THE STATE, AND THE IDEA WAS WE ARE GOING TO FIND 15 PEOPLE THAT COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTIONS THAT DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THAT ARE GOING SERVE ON IT. YOU'RE LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE. BILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE AT PLAY HERE AND YOU THINK EVERYBODY IS GOING TO FILL OUT A NOTEBOOK THROW IT ON THE TABLE AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION BASED 100% ON MERIT. IT IS INSANE. >> THERE ARE VERY STRICT RULES ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO. >> THERE ARE LOOPHOLES. WE SAW THAT TAKE PLACE CLEARLY WITH THE SANDIA NATIONAL LABS EXAMPLE BUT ONE THING THAT DOES GIVE ME HOPE, IF YOU WILL, HOPE AND CHANGE, RIGHT? SOUNDS FAMILIAR. WELL, WE'LL SEE HOW TONIGHT'S

ANNOUNCEMENT GOES. LIBERATION ANNOUNCEMENT. BUT, THE WAY THAT SANDIA ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR'S GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS, I THOUGHT WAS FANTASTIC. THEY HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF DOING THE RIGHT THING AND -- >> TO ME -- BUT I WILL I AGREE, THAT IS ONE OF THOSE, OKAY YOU CAUGHT ME. EVERY TIME MY KIDS GET IN TROUBLE, I AM SORRY. >> I AM GOING TO TIME OUT. I AGREE WITH YOU. >> I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A LEVEL OF THEM OWNING IT. >> THERE IS A FEDERAL STATUTE THAT SAYS -- WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU TO ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE US TO EXTEND YOUR CONTRACT. THEREFORE, YOU CAN'T USE APPROPRIATED MONEY TO ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE. IT IS A VERY CLEAR STATUTE, PRESUMABLY EVERYBODY AT SANDIA KNEW ABOUT THIS. WITH REGARD TO HEATHER WILSON, SHE WAS HIRED AND AGAIN THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE CONTRACT, ONE OF THESE -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY WITH THAT AT THE BACK -- HAS ALL THE WRITERS

AT THE BACK. ONE OF THE WRITERS AT THE BACK SAID, YOU CANNOT HIRE ANYONE TO TRY TO INFLUENCE AN AGENCY OR CONGRESS. >> PRETTY SIMPLE TO ME. >> PLUS THEY USED FEDERAL MONEY TO DO IT, SO IT WAS A DOUBLE WHAMMY. >> IN MS. WILSON'S DEFENSE, WOULDN'T YOU THINK SHE COULD RELY ON LOCKHEED OR SANDIA TO KNOW THAT SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE HIRED TO DO THIS? >> SHE HAS BEEN AROUND THAT BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME AND WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME IS THE FOLKS AT SANDIA GAVE BACK THE MONEY THEY PAID HER WITHOUT ADMITTING GUILT, LIKE A TRIAL AFTER -- >> SHE USED SOME INTERESTING LANGUAGE IN THE ENTRY HERE IN THIS DISCUSSION WHERE YOU SAID WILSON REFUTED ALLEGATIONS, BUT ACTUALLY SHE JUST DENIED THEM. I THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE THERE. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT, I THINK, IN HER BEST INTEREST TO ADMIT IF SHE HAS DONE SOMETHING UNTOWARD BUT SANDIA TAKES THE BRUNT AND THEY CAN AFFORD

IT. >> FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BILLION, MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT, TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE GOVERNMENT, OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WAS INTERESTED IN KEEPING SANDIA. FOR MS. WILSON TO INFORM THEM, GIVE THEM INFORMATION, THAT IS A LOBBY. SO THERE IS ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ONE COULD HAVE. >> IF ONE ASKS. THAT IS RIGHT. >> IN A MOMENT WE LOOK AT THE SHIFTS IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY HERE FOLLOWING THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. >> YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US ANY TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION. WE'RE AT NMINFOCUS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND FIND EPISODES AND WEB EXTRAS AT OUR WEBSITE, THE RECENT ELECTIONS BROUGHT

A SEA CHANGE TO THE STATE. REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE CONTROL OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE PROMPTING SOME SOUL SEARCHING OVER ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE. PARTY CHAIRMAN, SAM BREGMAN, SAYS HE WILL NOT RUN FOR A SECOND TERM. HE SAYS HE TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POOR ELECTION RESULTS AND HOUSE SPEAKER KENNY MARTINEZ, FACED WITH LOSING HIS CHAIR SINCE HIS PARTY LOST THE MAJORITY, SAID HE WILL NOT RUN FOR ANY LEADERSHIP POST IN THE MINORITY. >> DANIEL, YOU HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS. ACTUALLY JUST ON ONE SIDE. >> MINORITY SIDE. >> YOU WERE PART OF THAT THE LAST YEARS. THAT IS RIGHT. START WITH SAM BREGMAN, PRETTY TOUGH LANGUAGE WHEN HE FIRST GOT THE GIG. HE WAS GOING TO HATES ITSELF UNLEASHED AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN. DID HE HAVE A CHOICE IN THIS? >> I THINK WHEN YOU'RE THE LEADER, WHEN YOU'RE THE COACH AND THE TEAM FAILS, YOU DO THE ADMIRABLE, I THINK THE DEEPER CONVERSATION IS, YOU KNOW, WHY HE CAME OUT WITH HIS I AM

GOING TO GO GET SUSANA AND THEN HE STEPPED BACK, I THINK HISTORY WILL LOOK BACK AND IT IS GOING TO BE THAT EMAIL PROBLEM. HE GOT CAUGHT UP IN THAT EMAIL DEAL. IT STIFLED HIM, HIS INABILITY TO BE ABLE TO LEAD A CHARGE BECAUSE HE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT WHOLE DEAL AND THAT THING TOOK SO LONG, IT TOOK THE WIND OUT OF HIS SAILS. MY STATEMENT IS GOING TO BE THAT I THINK THAT KENNY MARTINEZ WILL WIND UP BEING THE LEADER. I THINK HE'LL BE IT AND YOU'LL COME BACK AND SAY, WE WANT YOU STAY IN CHARGE. >> I REMEMBER, YOU CALLED IT FOR JOHN TRIPP HALFWAY THROUGH ELECTION NIGHT TO BE -- [MULTIPLE VOICES] >> YOU KNOW ME -- I COULDN'T GET ELECTED WHEN I WAS THERE, SO THEY ALL LISTEN TO ME NOW. >> REALLY, WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO AND WHAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT A WHOLE LOT OR HAVEN'T THE NEED FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP A POLICY

PLATFORM THAT IS COHESIVE. THAT WE HAVE A MESSAGE AROUND AND NARRATIVE TO DRAW PEOPLE IN AND GET PEOPLE EXCITED. >> BOTH PARTIES. >> I WOULD PREFER IT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. >> STEPHANIE, THERE IS A LOT OF ANGST OUT THERE FOR DEMOCRATS BOTH NATIONALLY AND HERE, THAT BEDROCK DEMOCRATIC ISSUES ARE NOT AT THE SURFACE, BUT THE REAL STUFF THAT MADE DEMOCRATS WHAT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, IT HAS ALMOST BECOME REPUBLICAN LIKE IN A WAY. AND IS IT YOUR SENSE WE WILL RETURN TO VERY BEDROCK THINGS? >> I HOPE SO. I THINK THAT -- WHAT WE'RE SEEING THE STATE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS TO GET BEHIND ISSUES LIKE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND MINIMUM WAGE. UNFORTUNATELY THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN DEMOCRATS COMPROMISING ON THOSE ISSUES AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT IT DOES SORT OF DILUTE WHAT OUR NARRATIVE IS. WAS THAT YOUR ATTEMPT TO COUGH OVER ME? BUT I THINK -- >> ON STEPHANIE'S POINT THE MACHINATIONS AND STRATEGERY OF BEING

A DEMOCRAT NOW IN THE MINORITY, OR LACK OFF, DOES ONE TAKE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL HOUSE IDEA AND JUST LIKE SAY NO TO EVERYTHING? DOES THAT WORK? >> I AM NOT SURE THAT IS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CHARACTER, YOU KNOW, THE LESS CONSERVATIVE PARTY HAS A TENDENCY TO WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. I THINK IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE, AND I DON'T THINK IT IS JUST A REFLECTION OF PROGRESSIVE OR MORE CONSERVATIVE POLITICS BUT STATE LEGISLATORS WHO WORK ON MORE PROGRESSIVE ISSUES WHO PUT FORWARD MORE PROGRESSIVE IDEAS, THEY COULD DO THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A RELATIVELY SAFE DISTRICT, BUT THOSE LEGISLATORS DIDN'T HAVE THE TROUBLE THAT SOME OTHER LEGISLATORS HAD IN THE LAST ELECTION. WE SEE, FOR INSTANCE, I AM FORGETTING HER NAME, LEGISLATORS WHO ARE SURVIVING AND WE SEE FOLKS LIKE TIM KELLER WHO HAS A GOOD PROGRESSIVE BACKGROUND DOING SO WELL. AND SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE THIS FINALLY POST CLINTON SORT OF WAY OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT

THE PARTY REALLY DOES. >> ON THAT NOTE, STEVEN, I AM WONDER WHAT WOULD BE THE MAKEUP OF A MINORITY LEADER? THE IDEA OF SOMEONE FROM THE LIBERAL WING OF THINGS, SOMEONE FROM THE MODERATE WING OF THINGS? IS THAT BETTER STRATEGICALLY, INTERESTING CHOICES. >> I THINK STEPH IS TOWARDS THE PROGRESSIVE WING AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, I HAVE MAYBE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. DEMOCRATS, IT WAS A CRUSHING LOSS, THEY LOST THE HOUSE, MORE VOTES THAN THE REPUBLICANS DID, THAT IS A VERY UNDER-REPORTED STORY. WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY LOST IN THE SWING DISTRICTS. THEY ACTUALLY DID A TERRIBLE JOB OF JERRYMANDERING BECAUSE THEY CREATED THESE SWING DISTRICTS AND THE REASON THEY LOST THE SWING DISTRICTS GOES BACK TO EXACTLY WHAT STEPHANIE SAID. THERE WASN'T REALLY A PROGRESSIVE POINT. I LOOKED BECAUSE I WAS DOING A SHOW ON IT AT WHAT THESE LEGISLATORS IN THE SWING DISTRICTS FOR DEMOCRATS WERE

SAYING. I ALSO LOOKED AT REPUBLICANS. I COULDN'T TELL WHAT THEY WERE RUNNING ON. HONESTLY, I HAD NO IDEA. IT STARTED WITH GARY KING, HIS MESSAGE NEVER GOT OUT, MARTINEZ KEPT HIM PINNED DOWN. >> THEIR MESSAGE VERSUS THEIR ACTIONS, I THINK THE ONES THAT LOST IN THESE DISTRICTS, I THINK THEY WERE PROGRESSIVES. THEY WERE PRETTY YOU LOOK AT WHERE CONRAD WON. OR SARAH MAESTAS BARNES WON, THOSE ARE PRETTY PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS. >> ALSO VERY TIGHT RACES -- >> DEMOCRATS HAD THE LIKELY VOTERS CAME OUT AND THEY VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS. AND WHAT YOU DIDN'T GET WAS UNLIKELY VOTERS, THEY WEREN'T STIMULATED ENOUGH. >> WHAT HAPPENED -- WE MAY BE AGREEING BUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS, I THINK THE MAIL THEY SENT OUT WAS DIFFERENT THAN ACTIONS THEY PORTRAYED. SO THE DEMOCRAT VOTERS AND LIBERAL VOTERS, PROGRESSIVE VOTERS, THEY GOT CONFUSED ABOUT THIS STUFF BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST SAYING, LOOK, THEY ARE PROGRESSIVE, PUSHING OUT THE REPUBLICAN VOTE AND THEN THERE WERE

DEMOCRATS THAT WERE, LIKE, WELL, THEY ARE NOT LIBERAL ENOUGH OR THEY ARE TOO LIBERAL. DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS GOING THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED WHICH WAS A REAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE RIGHT WING REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN PARTY. WE HAD THIS BATTLE AT THAT TIME SAYING IF YOU ARE NOT PRO LIFE, IF YOU ARE NOT TO DEFINE MARRIAGE, YOU'RE NOT A REPUBLICAN. THAT HAS MOVED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND NOW IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THERE IS A REAL, ARE YOU A DEMOCRAT OR ARE YOU A PROGRESSIVE? AND THAT BATTLE IS ENSUING RIGHT NOW ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE FINDING IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE A PROGRESSIVE, THAT MAY WORK IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS OUTSIDE. IN MORE CONSERVATIVE COUNTIES AROUND NEW MEXICO THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY CONSERVATIVE, THAT PROGRESSIVE MONIKER DOESN'T WORK REAL WELL AND I THINK THEY HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP THEIR PROGRESSIVE ROOTS BUT REPACKAGE THEM. >> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM, AND I ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT DOWN IF YOU WANTED TO SIGN ON. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS THIS IS REALLY PROGRESSIVE DOCUMENT. I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. WE ARE AGREEING ON THAT. >> IS THE BODY ENGLISH OUT THERE

PROGRESSIVE? >> NO. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. I THINK AND ALSO ONE THING THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS DRASTICALLY, HISTORICALLY LOW TURNOUT WE SAW. 40% OF THE ELECTORATE. >> THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT I AM SAYING, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GIVING THE UNLIKELY DEMOCRATIC VOTE A REASON TO COME OUT AND VOTE, SO WE HAVE, WHAT, ABOUT 39% TURNOUT. SO, UNLESS YOU GIVE A STRONG OVERALL MESSAGE, NOT JUST PAMPHLETS THAT COME TO YOUR HOUSE. >> A SOLID BASED NARRATIVE THAT PEOPLE CAN SAY, I AM EXCITED TO GO SUPPORT THIS CANDIDATE. >> LET'S SEE HOW THIS WORKS FROM THE LEADERSHIP ON DOWN. IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING SESSION. COMING UP SHOULD THEY BE ABLE TO GET A GED? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH A GED? >> ARE YOU SPEAKING TO THE NEED FOR US TO FUND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION? >> NOT A ALL. YOU HEARD WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR. >> SORRY. WE HAVE

TO BALANCE TECHNOLOGY WITH ACCESS. >> WE ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO EDUCATE ON THE CLOCK NOW WITH A GREAT GROUP OF SUBJECTS WITH A GREAT GROUP. ONE OF THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS WHO SHOT CAMPER BOYD EARLIER THIS YEAR IS RETIRING, JUST BEFORE HE WAS TO MEET INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATORS. HIS NAME IS KEITH SANDY AND HE WAS CAUGHT ON TAPE DURING THAT BOYD STANDOFF CALLING BOYD LUNATIC AND TELLING ANOTHER OFFICER HE PLANNED TO SHOOT THE MENTALLY ILL MAN IN A SPECIFIC PART OF HIS BODY. >> APPARENTLY MR. SANDY WILL STILL BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY INVESTIGATIONS BUT HE WILL ALSO BE COLLECTING HIS PENSION, SOMETHING HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IF CONVICTED OF A CRIME. FBI INVESTIGATION INTO SANDY'S SHOOTING OF BOYD IS ONGOING AND JUST OVER A WEEK AFTER THE CITY SIGNED A CONSENT DECREE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, COMES WORD FROM KRQE THAT AN APD OFFICER SENT AN EMAIL ON AN APD ACCOUNT ADVERTISING A CLASS BY RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL WHO CALLS HIMSELF THE FOUNDER OF KILLOLOGY. NOT A WORD

REALLY. THE STUDY OF KILLING IS WHAT HE CALLED IT. ALL THESE ISOLATED INCIDENTS TO ME ADD UP SOMETHING. LET'S KIND OF STRIP THESE OUT ONE AT A TIME. THE IDEA THAT OFFICERS SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO OTHER OFFICERS ABOUT THIS EVENT. YOU WATCH THE FOOTAGE. HE IS DOING NOTHING MORE THAN CONSTRUCTING IDEA THAT WE ARE AT WAR. YOU'RE GOING TO BE KILLED OR YOU HAVE TO KILL SOMEBODY ELSE. HOW DID THAT STRIKE YOU? >> IT IS JUST MORE FODDER FOR HOW OUT OF CONTROL THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS. MAYOR BERRY HAS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, HE GOT ELECTED MAYOR, EVERYBODY THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DO ALL THIS GREAT STUFF TO I THINK THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLE ANCHOR AROUND HIS TIME AND I THINK THAT HISTORY WILL NOT SHOW THAT HE HANDLED THIS VERY WELL. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISCUSS THIS, TO SAY WE SHOULD BE TAKING STEPS TO FIX THIS. THERE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE TERMINATION FOR THE OFFICER THAT DID THAT. >> MY DAD IS A RETIRED SECRET SERVICE AGENT AND HE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING

ABOUT THIS APD SITUATION AND HE IS WHOLLY SUPPORTIVE OF FULL ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSEQUENCES. LIKE THIS IS BAD FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND BAD FOR THE CITY. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IN THE SANDY SITUATION IS A FUNCTION OF HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO FIRE SOMEONE WHO HAS A GOVERNMENT JOB. YOU DON'T USUALLY HEAR ME SAY THIS KIND OF THING BUT WHEN THERE IS AN OUTRAGEOUS SITUATION, MANAGEMENT TENDS TO HAVE TO PUSH THE PERSON THROUGH ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO TRY TO GET THEM OUT AND THIS IS THE LOOP HOLE THAT GETS THEM OUT FAST. >> WE ARE SHORT ON TIME. ACCORDING TO NUMBERS PROVIDED BY THE ALBUQUERQUE BUSINESS FIRST, THE NUMBER OF NEW BUSINESS LICENSES ISSUED IN ALBUQUERQUE HAS SUDDENLY FALLEN EVERY YEAR SINCE 2007. THIS, DESPITE MAYOR RICHARD BERRY STATED GOALS TO MAKE ALBUQUERQUE THE MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL CITY IN THE COUNTRY. SHOCKING FALL TO ME. 6500 DOWN TO 3400 AND CHANGE. >> IT IS A TREMENDOUS DECLINE. SOME OF THE DIFFICULTY PEOPLE HAVE IN GETTING MONEY AND THERE WAS

SOME IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE PRE-RECESSION BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR A CITY STRUGGLING TO PULL ITSELF BACK UP. >> HERE I'LL HAVE TO JUMP TO MAYOR BERRY'S DEFENSE ALTHOUGH I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT APD. IF YOU LOOK AT A GRAPH OF HOW NEW MEXICO HAS BEEN DOING ECONOMICALLY, YOU PUT A GRAPH ON THAT OF HOW ALBUQUERQUE HAS BEEN DOING, IT IS ALMOST ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING. IT IS HARD TO BLAME A MAYOR WHO IS PART OF THE CITY. I ALSO THINK HE IS DOING A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS. HE GOT A GRANT, 100,000, COULD RESULT IN 10 MILLION ME FDI. HE ISNGHEO TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMY. HE IS IN A BAD -- >> THESE ARE OUR RISK TAKERS, NOT TAKING RISKS. THAT IS A BAD THING. >> I THINK THAT HE INHERITED A PRETTY BAD OPPORTUNITY WHEN HE TOOK OVER AS MAYOR. THE FORMER MAYOR DID A GOOD JOB OF SEEDING SOME CONTRACTS

THAT WE COULDN'T GET OUT OF, PUTTING US INTO SOME THINGS WE COULDN'T NEGOTIATE OUR WAY OUT OF CHANGE. WE DIDN'T GET HERE OVERNIGHT AND WE'LL NOT GET OUT OVERNIGHT. THE ONLY THING I CRITICIZE MAYOR BERRY ON IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MORE SOUND PLAN. THIS IS WHAT I AM DOING. IT SEEMS TO BE IT IS POLICY BY PRESS RELEASE. I AM DOING THIS TODAY OR THAT TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THIS TIES INTO HIS OVERARCHING PLAN. >> WHAT SOME ARE CALLING A SURPRISE, MINORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI ANNOUNCED SHE IS NAMING REPRESENTATIVE BEN RAY LUJAN FROM NEW MEXICO'S THIRD AS NEXT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE. NO SMALL DEAL. MS. PELOSI CALLED HIM A DYNAMIC AND FORWARD-LOOKING LEADER WITH FRESH ENERGY AND IDEAS. MR. LUJAN WILL TAKE CONTROL OF U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT'S ELECTION STRATEGY AND WILL BECOME ONLY THE SECOND LATINO TO HOLD THE POST. I LOVE THIS. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THIS? IT IS A BIG DEAL. >> THIS IS HUGE TO NEW MEXICO AND NOD TO LET YOU KNOW IT IS THIS BIG DEAL AND I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED

FOR THE CONGRESSMAN TO SEE WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO IN THIS NEW ROLE. >> I BELIEVE PART OF THIS IS A REFLECTION OF THE FACT -- FOR ALL WE TALK ABOUT, BEN RAY LUJAN BEING A LEGACY. HE IS A LEGACY. HE GREW UP IN POLITICS. HE IS SOMEONE WHO DOES UNDERSTAND HOW THE OFFICE IS MANAGED. I'M AM EXCITED TO SEE HIM REPRESENTING OUR STATE. >> HE IS NOW PART OF THE ELITE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT HIM AND HIS CHARM. HE WAS LATE TO THE MEETING WHERE NANCY PELOSI WAS GOING TO APPOINT HIM. HE SAID "I JUST COULDN'T GET MY MOTHER OFF THE PHONE." >> I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR HIM AND ELEVATE. THERE IS SOME THINGS GOING ON IN NEW MEXICO WITH FOLKS THAT WORK FOR HIM, THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. THERE IS LAWSUITS BREWING ON SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT I THINK NOW THAT HE HAS RAISED HIMSELF AT THAT LEVEL, IT MAY BE BAD TIMING FOR HIM TO HAVE TAKEN A POSITION LIKE THIS, WITH STUFF BREWING BEHIND HIM.

>> ALL THE TIME WE HAVE. WE'LL HAVE MORE OF THE THESE ON THE CLOCKS ON THE WEB. >> AS ALWAYS, ALL OF US HERE AT NEW MEXICO INFOCUS APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT. YOU CAN FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING NEW MEXICO INFOCUS AND YOU CAN FIND ARCHIVED INTERVIEWS AND BONUS MATERIAL ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG. I AM GENE GRANT, JOIN US NEXT WEEK, THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING,