The House has voted 271-139 to extend the $1000-per-child tax credit to families with incomes as high as $300,000 a year. Some Democrats noted that would make a lot of Congressional families eligible.
And, of course, the tax cut adds some $228 billion to the already huge deficit.
Wanna bet Heather was in the majority?
Ah, but let’s not be sour. I want to tell you about something sweet.
Yesterday I attended a LWV forum for candidates interested in Herb Hughes’ old District 1 seat on the Public Regulatory Commission.
The three Republicans were Ward Camp, Tina Cummins and Hess Yntema.
Camp is a lawyer-consultant in utility regulation, so his comments demonstrated familiarity with the issues. He has been active with Habitat for Humanity; on the other hand, he emphasizes his service as a member of the Executive Committee of the Bernalillo County Republicans.
Still I liked his familiarity with utilities issues and his ability to speak about them in English.
Tina Cummins, the City Councilor, was personable and intelligent, but she leans on claims of "common sense financial management" and "experience cutting bloated budgets…" And she’s endorsed by Sally Mayer.
I came away liking her, thinking she would be good in a promotional job.
Hess Yntema, the Libertarian lawyer who has served on the City Council twice, impressed me with his earnestness, intelligence and willingness to say "I don’t know." He took credit for his hard-nosed pursuit of Mayor Chavez in the ABQPAC affair, as well he should; Yntema conveys a certain moral strength.
But I wondered why a Libertarian wants to join a regulatory body. A perfect contradiction? And I cannot forget his strong opposition to the City’s role in rebuilding the Sports Stadium and wooing the Isotopes. Not that I was surprised; on principle, Libertarians hate spending public money on public goods.
There are two Democrats in the running, but Steven Marks did not show up. He had previously objected to the forum being held at PNM, since it is regulated by the PRC.
Don Letherer is the other Democrat in the race. Don was in the insurance business for years. Later, he was appointed State Superintendent of Insurance. The Albuquerque Tribune says he lowered rates for consumers. But that job is under the PRC and the political powers that be cashiered Don to replace him with Eric Serna, a political hack from Northern New Mexico.
Because I have known Don or years, I’ve paid attention to his campaign, if we can call it that. He has no mailings, bumper stickers, radio ads, nothing. He told one of the newspapers he saw no point in spending money in the primary, but might if he made it to the general election.
He is not even glad-handing. At two recent political gatherings, including the Romero-Nelson debate, Mr. Marks was a busy bee and Don Letherer was absent.
At the PNM forum, Don astounded me. First, he was unbelievably succcinct. Then, where he knew the issues (like insurance) he was strong and clear. Don said the Insurance Department belongs elsewhere in state government. He also favors the appointment of PRC commissioners rather than their election. (Also, he said he would try to minimize personal and political conflict on the panel and that he would be responsible to the citizenry first.)
Where he was less knowledgeable – in the utility area, for example - Don said just that, adding that he felt capable of learning the material.
He was so simple, straight-forward and unwilling to go beyond what he knows that I was uncomfortable. I never have the courage to admit my limitations, especially in public.
At the conclusion of the forum, I wanted to cheer for my friend Don.
But I was happy, too, with the other presentations, in particular those of Ward Camp and Hess Yntema. Yes, they talked too much about the "free market" but I got the sense that they cared about the issues and were personally dedicated to improving administration of government at the PRC.
For a while, I felt good about democracy itself. Until, outside, I found a parking ticket on my windshield. Oh, well.