This article in not directly related to health care but given our recent trouble in the legislative process it speaks to who the legislature really listens to, hired ex-government officials, not constituents.
Legislature hires ex-govt. officials
For its regular session each year, the state Legislature hires several former government officials as temporary workers to help them analyze proposed legislation and provide other support.
Among those on the payroll this year: the recently fired head of the New Mexico Finance Authority, former Secretary of State Mary Herrera, a former public regulation commissioner busted for pot possession while on government business and a former legislator convicted of drunken driving three times while in office.
Former Finance Authority CEO Rick May earned $23 an hour as an analyst for the House Republican leadership during the Legislature’s 60-day session ending today.
The Finance Authority board dismissed May in September in the fallout over an audit of the agency forged by its former controller. May was never accused of taking part in the forgery or trying to cover it up, and he has said he did nothing wrong.
May served as Gov. Susana Martinez’s secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration before being moved to the Finance Authority in 2011.
Herrera, a Democrat elected secretary of state in 2006, earned $12.90 an hour as a roving secretary for House committees during the session.
Herrera was defeated for re-election in 2010 after being repeatedly accused of creating a pay-to-play culture in her office. She said the allegations were false and politically motivated.
Herrera was also accused of general mismanagement of the office, including its handling of elections, but she said she inherited many problems from her predecessor.
Former Public Regulation Commissioner E. Shirley Baca earned $28.13 an hour during the session as an analyst for the Democratic leadership in the Senate.
While on the PRC and en route to an out-of-state conference on utility financing, Baca was arrested at Albuquerque International Sunport when marijuana and a glass pipe were found in her luggage. Misdemeanor charges were dismissed, because airport police failed to tell her about her right against self-incrimination.
Baca, a Democrat, was defeated for re-election to the PRC in 2006. She served six years in the House as a representative from Las Cruces before her election to the commission in 2002.
Former state Rep. Albert Shirley earned $25 an hour as an analyst for House Speaker Ken Martinez, D-Grants.
While in the House, Shirley pleaded guilty twice and no contest once to DWI. He was arrested on marijuana charges in 1998, but a prosecutor later dismissed the case, citing insufficient evidence.
Shirley, a Democrat, served eight years in the House as a representative from Church Rock before being defeated for re-election in 1992.
Other former government officials hired by the Legislature for this year’s session:
♦ William J. Verant, fired by Gov. Martinez in 2011 as head of the state Financial Institutions Division. Verant led the !– –ision for 16 years under Republican and Democratic governors.
Verant earned $19 an hour as an analyst for the House Democratic leadership.
♦ John Kormanik, former state budget director and deputy secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration.
Kormanik, recently appointed to the state Board of Finance by Gov. Martinez, earned $43.20 an hour as an analyst for the Senate Republican leadership.
♦ Dennis Hazlett, former assistant state treasurer and former deputy land commissioner. He earned $32 an hour as an analyst for House Speaker Martinez.
♦ Dannette Burch, former secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration. She earned $41.14 an hour as an analyst for the Senate Republican leadership.
♦ Michael Burkhart, former secretary of the Department of Health. He earned $40.83 an hour as an analyst for the Senate Finance Committee.
♦ Dorothy Danfelser, former secretary of the Department of Human Services. She earned $26.38 an hour as an analyst for Senate Republicans.
♦ Paul Minogue, former state budget director and deputy secretary of the Health Department. He earned $43.20 an hour as an analyst for the Senate Democratic leadership.
♦ Dona Wilpolt-Cook, former state budget director and deputy secretary of the Department of the General Services. She earned $36.76 an hour as lead analyst for Senate Republicans.
♦ Ron Forte, former deputy secretary of the Department of Transportation. He earned $54.24 an hour as chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen.
♦ Ron Beserra, former deputy state treasurer and former director of the state Racing Commission and the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Beserra was deputy to former Treasurer Michael Montoya, who was convicted after leaving office of collecting millions of dollars in kickbacks in exchange for state investment contracts.
Beserra earned $26.38 an hour as deputy sergeant-at-arms of the Senate.
♦ Florence “Lee” Witt, former assistant to Barbara Richardson, wife of former Gov. Bill Richardson. She earned $25.12 an hour as a secretary for Senate Majority Leader Sanchez.
The former government officials were among more than 460 temporary workers, including custodians, cooks and proofreaders, hired for the legislative session.
Many of the employees are retired government workers, but temporary workers for the Legislature are exempt from restrictions on collecting a pension and a government paycheck at the same time.
UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Thom Cole at tcole@abqjournal.com or 505-992-6280 in Santa Fe. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. — This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal
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