Get the latest on the housing authority

In case you haven't had enough news on scandals and problems in state government these days -- or if you're just really interested in the housing authority mess, check out PBS this weekend.

Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones and Sen. Mary Kay Papen will talk about what's happening these days with the regional housing authorities on the show hosted by Lorene Mills, Report from Santa Fe.

The show airs at 6 a.m. Sunday for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and northern New Mexico viewers on Channel 5. If you live on the east side of the state, check out the show Saturday night at 6 p.m. on Channel 3. Or, if you live in Las Cruces and the southern part of the state, watch it on PBS at 11 a.m. Sunday.

If those hours don't work for you , or if you don't have Tivo, you can catch the interview Monday at 9:30 am on KANW, 89.1 FM.

Audiocasting up and running

There's already been live streaming audio from the KUNM web site, but now you can get it right from the Legislature home page as well.

This is a big step in the realm of webcasting, which at the beginning of the session didn't look like it was going to happen at all. Lawmaker opinion about it seems to be growing, although opposition remains in the Senate. Check out the story I did today where I polled all 112 legislators on the topic. Oddly, some of the people I know are opposed to webcasting didn't return the email poll.

Cal Vilmer visits Senate

Yes, Cal Vilmer, not Val Kilmer. I thought those senators were playing tricks on me, but no, a man introduced as Cal Vilmer did visit the Roundhouse. (If you know who that is, please let me know because the only person I could find with that name was this guy.)

Yesterday, of course, Val Kilmer visited the House, so maybe that's a dig at Kilmer for not visiting the Senate.

The Roundhouse apparently is the place to be these days.

A day in the life of a reporter

Ok so the story here on Sempra Energy's campaign contributions to Gov. Bill Richardson that KUNM's Jim Williams produced doesn't happen every day. But it illustrates the difficulties out there of getting to the bottom of some of state government's more meaty topics.

It's worth a listen if you missed it on the radio.

John Doe No. 2 = Dave Contarino

Photo by Kate Nash

That's the word from attorney Victor Marshall, (above left) the lawyer in the lawsuit alleging pay to play at the State Investment Council and Educational Retirement Board.

The lawsuit filed by Frank Foy, the former chief investment officer at ERB, alleges Bland and Malott were instructed by an unnamed "John Doe # 2" to invest with Vanderbilt Financial and associated companies in exchange for political contributions from the firm's employees.

Contarino didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

The name was announced by Marshall at an Albuquerque press conference that turned into a true shouting match when attorneys Sam Bregman (above far right) and Marty Esquivel (above middle) asked for a chance to speak to reporters. Bregman is representing one of the defendants in the case, Meyners and Co., an accounting firm, while Esquivel represents Bruce Malott, head of that company and a defendant in the suit who is also the chairman of the ERB. The pair set about denouncing the claims in the lawsuit as false when the shouting started.

More in Wednesday's New Mexican.

Update, 3:!3 p.m.

Contarino just released a statement, calling the accusations a "fairly tale."

"This is a flat out lie. I never instructed Gary Bland or Bruce Malott to invest in anything," he said in a statement. "I wasn’t even Chief of Staff at the time of this investment. I played no role in this investment and have no recollection of ever meeting Mr. Foy or anyone involved with Vanderbilt investments. I was not aware of any contributions from any individuals from or related to Vanderbilt investments to the Governor’s campaign and this entire accusation is a total fairy tale concocted by Mr. Foy and his attorney," Contarino said.

This entire lawsuit – by a former employee – is irresponsible and the claims are ridiculous and untrue. People are tired of political witch-hunts. Enough is enough.”

John Doe # 2 to be revealed

If you're like the rest of us around here, you've probably been wondering about the curiously secret identity of John Doe No. 2 in the lawsuit that alleges a pay-to-play scandal at the State Investment Council and Educational Retirement Board.

"Barring unforeseen developments," the plaintiffs in the lawsuit on Tuesday will unseal and discuss the identity of John Doe #2, according to an e-mail from lawyer Victor Marshall.

Another site to offer audio webcasting

Check out this free new service from the New Mexico Legislative Reports.

Already, KUNM is offering audio webcasting as well. Who would have thought the House and Senate would become so popular this session?

On that note, the subcommittee that's looking into allowing webcasting (with video, too) meets Tuesday at 8 a.m. in room 307. The full House Rules Committee is slated to meet at 8:30, during which it will receive a report from the subcommittee. That panel has already said it will recommend audio casting from the House chambers as soon as possible along with a pilot project from House committee rooms.

Given the hour of the committee hearing, that's one webcast I'd rather watch from home!