Some tourism employees got canned, public gets ... a can

The Department of Tourism earlier this week had to lay off some folks who worked for the New Mexico Magazine. The same department earlier this year got an eight-foot can to promote an anti-littering campaign. Although the two pots of money are separate, the purchase is raising some eyebrows.

Read my story about the $26,400, eight-foot can in today's paper here.

Keep track of lawmakers votes, attendance record

The New Mexico state Legislature is a lot to keep track of, what with 112 members, who knows how many bills and things happening at all hours.

But the folks at the conservative Rio Grande Foundation have a tool they say will help average folks keep tabs on the happenings in the Roundhouse.

The group first launched the site in 2008, and I have used it from time to time to look up how a lawmaker voted on a specific issue. One handy feature allows you to look up votes a lawmaker cast that went against the majority of votes in his or her party. Users can also see how many votes a lawmaker has missed. The info is helpful now during the session and I'm guessing gets even more hits around election time.

Stay up to date on the go

Just in the nick of time, the Legislature's web site has a nifty app to help you keep tabs on the lawmakers from your phone.

The lawmakers are back in town starting today to talk on meaty topics including redistricting. But don't expect much real work for a few days as they get organized again. Sources say this special session could take a month or more. . .

A site for DIY redistricters

I know you are out there: people who want to know a little more about the state's redistricting effort than you will get from us media types during the upcoming special session. (Newspapers just don't have the space anymore to cover every machination of the debate.)

So check out the Legislature's redistricting page for more info on meetings, (done until the special session starts) maps and population information.

PRC employee says he was fired for reporting others' misuse of computers

After so many years covering state government, I have lost track of how many of stories I have written about the PRC.

Here is my latest, from today's paper. In short, a former employee says he was fired for reporting that other agency employees were looking up inappropriate information online.

The kind of funny part is that while employees allegedly were looking up things they aren't supposed to, several employees have said that political blogs including this one are blocked from being viewed at the agency.

Get in your redistricting comments before it's too late

Want to comment on where the boundaries for political districts in New Mexico should be? Better hurry. The last meetings of the Legislature's redistricting committee are Aug. 30 and 31.

The first meeting is Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Kennedy Lounge at Highlands University in Vegas.
On Wednesday, the meeting will be in room 307 of the Capitol.

Check out the agendas here.

The special session starts Sept. 6.

Buh bye, jet

What once cost the state more than $5.45 million was sold for $2.5 million today to an Alaska couple, the Governor's Office announced.

"The state’s luxury jet was the ultimate symbol of waste and excess," Gov. Susana Martinez said in a statement.

"There is no reason that taxpayers should have been on the hook for the millions of dollars that it cost to purchase and maintain this plane. It was a purchase that was neither practical nor cost-effective, and I’m proud that we kept our promise to sell it."

The Cessna Citation Bravo was at the center of criticism of former Gov. Bill Richardson during the 2010 gubernatorial race.

Stay tuned for what else may be on the chopping block. At least one group would like the state to get rid of its commuter train. . .