Coal oped in the Denver Post today

Our nation's federal coal program needs a major overhaul.

When I was director of the Bureau of Land Management, which manages our nation's public lands under the Department of the Interior, we aimed to give Americans a fair return from the mining of publicly owned coal deposits in the western U.S. 

It's clear now that this program, which produces 40 percent of our nation's coal, is seriously flawed.

Whether it's revelations by government investigators that coal is being leased to private companies at below fair market value; growing consensus that royalties (what companies pay taxpayers in return for profiting off the coal they produce) are outdated; or mounting agreement that the program is inconsistent with our nation's climate goals, there's no denying that reform is needed.

Even Interior Secretary Sally Jewell remarked in March that,"It's time for an honest and open conversation about modernizing the federal coal program."

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I'm with the secretary. Yet while we have our conversation about reforming the federal coal program, Interior has to get serious about matching its words with its actions.

Coal is mined for one reason: to be burned. Already, more than 10 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to the federal coal program. Yet from the West Elk Mountains of Colorado to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, billions of tons of publicly owned coal are currently on the table. 

Just last month, Interior proposed plans that would make more than 80 billion more tons of coal available for strip mining. If this much coal is stripped from the ground, it stands to unleash 130 billion tons of carbon — more than 20 times the total greenhouse gas emissions released by the U.S. every year.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency is slated to finalize its Clean Power Plan this summer, which aims to cut carbon emissions by 5.3 billion tons. It's not a stretch to say that Interior's coal plans will smother these reductions. 

It's a shocking inconsistency by the Obama administration.

Our federal coal program is based on a system where carbon emissions are completely ignored. The effect is that taxpayers subsidize the extraction of coal, allowing industry to pay rock bottom prices while we shoulder the climate costs.

The disparity between what is paid compared to the cost of coal is confirmed by recent reports from the International Monetary Fund. Taking into account climate and other environmental impacts, the IMF found that fossil fuels globally are subsidized to the tune of $10 million per minute, with coal reaping about 50 percent of those subsidies even in the U.S.

Consider that while Interior often sells coal for less than $1 per ton, the costs of carbon emissions may be as high as $200 per ton. That's a cost that future generations and we must bear in the form of disasters due to drought, fires, floods and other weather extremes.

Selling more coal before we've had a chance to reform how the federal coal program accounts for climate impacts is not only contrary to the public interest, it's also a costly recipe for disaster. It stands to erode trust and confidence that reforms will ever be realized. 

That's why there's an urgent need for Interior to put the brakes on selling more coal.

I'm not alone in making this call. U.S. Sen. Ed Markey recently introduced legislation that would impose a "temporary moratorium on new coal lease sales" until reforms are completed. Other groups — including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, and WildEarth Guardians — have echoed the appeal.

While President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency are courageously moving our nation forward to confront climate change, the Department of the Interior seems bent on sitting at the sidelines.

The federal coal program is clearly no longer serving our nation's economic or environmental interests. For the sake of the American taxpayer and the climate, it's time for Interior to start leading. With 10 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions tied to federal coal, Jewell can make a huge difference.

It's time for Interior to get serious and take a time out on leasing more coal.

Jim Baca was director of the Bureau of Land Management from 1993 to 1994.

East

I will be about as far east in the U.S. as one can possibly get for a few days as I journey to Martha's Vineyard for a Wyss Foundation Board meeting.  It is always a lot of fun to go there and good wine is to be had.  The Board has been very generous with New Mexico environmental groups and has probably had a great part in helping to bring about our new National Monuments in the Land of Enchantment.  We have sent millions in funding to state environmental groups to help with the effort in building support for these designations.

Old Thinking vs. New Thinking

I can't think of a better way to show old thinking vs. new thinking than looking at a column in the Journal this morning by Michael Coleman.  It shows old tired useless leadership and new visionary progressive thinking.

Congressman Steve Pearce is trying to aid robbery of the American Taxpayer by inserting language into a funding bill that the Bureau of Land Management can not charge higher royalty rates on oil and gas on federal lands.  That is oil and gas owned by all Americans and the money is  used for many good purposes.  Can you imagine Pearce championing a law limiting the amount of royalty charged on private land by some of his big contributors in the dirty oil and gas industry?  Of course not.  They should get what the market will bear.  But when it comes to his fellow citizens....well, screw them.  Old dirty thinking from the fossil fuel barons who already get billions in subsidies in addition to low royalty rates.  Republican thievery.  Last century's thinking.

And then there is Senator Martin Heinrich with new thinking for the clean renewable energy folks.  He has asked Congress to extend the Solar Energy Efficiency Property Tax Credit for five years.  This enables citizens to get help in adopting solar photovoltaic panels, solar hot water heaters, geothermal heat pumps and wind turbines at their residences.  Compared to subsidies for the dirty fossil fuel boys, this is a very young program that will require very little if any back end clean  up costs like those associated with coal and oil.  Watch the republicans try and gut this effort.  

Misc.

The City of Albuquerque made it into the Wall Street Journal today.  Not for its tanking economy, but for its per capita payouts for law suits against APD.  Between 2006 and 2011 the city taxpayer paid about $2000 per officer per year to cover the misdeeds of a poorly let cop shop.  And since then it has only gotten worse.  Not a way to shine in the nation's number one business publication.  Not really a part of the Mayor and City Council's vision I would bet.  And yet the horrible command structure and a ineffectual Chief are still at the helm.

Governor Susana Martinez has appointed an extreme rightwing mascot to the District Court Bench in Eastern New Mexico.  Matt Chandler will need to stand for election however, and if the NM Bar doesn't take a close look at this appointment and make a comment at least, then one wonders, why not?  Chandler will have a tough time convincing people who come in front of him that his decisions are worth spit.  Everyone might appeal to the State Supreme Court where Chandler made false accusations against the Chief Justice.  This whole situation is akin to an elected official sticking by a person that will really hurt people in the end.  Think Mayor Berry's undying support of our hapless Police Chief in Albuquerque.

Leaderless

Well, as if I don't have enough critics already, now I will antagonize some allies.  Vote against the sales tax hike to provide more money to the Albuquerque Bio Park.  It is a regressive tax and the poor will pay much more of their portion of the costs than the rich.  This additional money should come from the capital improvement funds that are supported by the property taxes we pay.  That way it isn't the poor and middle class being stuck with the bill.  Zoo supporters are collecting signatures to put this issue on the ballot, and it will probably pass because most people really don't understand how this particular tax is so harmful.

I do support the additions of more funding for the Bio Park.  But not with a gross receipts tax.  There, I took a position.  Unlike the Mayor and most of the City Council who have not stuck their necks out on this issue.  The Mayor is probably being advised two ways on stating a preference.  One, if he is for it then he is for more taxes.  Not a winner amongst his right wing supporters.  And if he doesn't support the tax he will get Albuquerque's large demographic of animal supporters up in arms.  I mean who can come out against furry creatures at the Zoo?

So, what is a person to do?  Why nothing of course!  Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain....!

Limits

This comment sent by a reader is good to know. 

Under New Mexico Statutory law and in particular the Juvenile Code, minors (people younger than 18) are charged for criminal offenses as juveniles in need of supervision and the maximum sentence for ANY crime, INCLUDING VIOLENT CRIMES LIKE MURDER, is two years, unless the minor is specifically charged AND PROSECUTED and sentenced as an adult. WHAT THE JUVENILE CODE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES IS THAT PARENTS OR CUSTODIANS WHO ARE SUED "CIVILLY" FOR the DAMAGES OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR UP TO AND NO MORE THAN $4,000 IN CIVIL DAMAGES, WHICH MEANS PARENTS CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SINS OR PROPERTY DAMAGE DONE BY THEIR CHILDREN BEYOND $4,000. FOR ANY ONE WHO HAS KIDS, THIS IS A GOOD LAW!! 

Conservative Creds

While many people want to form a lynch mob for the families of those worthless gangers who killed a man in his home in the middle of the night, our Governor is doing her part to make sure we turn out more of those sociopath teenage killers.  Let me explain.

Her handlers in the right wing think her signing on to more Medicaid for the state under our nation's new health care programs has hurt her conservative credentials.  She isn't radical enough.  So they are advising she now require food stamp recipients to work 60 hours a month to receive their food.  Remember that this is all funded with federal dollars, not state dollars.  She wants to look tough for her funders in the extreme right wing.

Now, think this through.  A single mother on food stamps with two children.  Abandoned by a husband who makes no child support payments, necessitating food subsidies for the kids.  Now she must go to work 60 hours a month and abandon her children to fend for themselves.  Where does she find daycare for two kids on her $600 a month earnings?  Absolutely no where.  So the kids enter the cycle of running on the streets as mobbers.  And, society will pay a lot more in the future just so Susana Martinez can look tough.

Knee Jerk Mayor

Mayor Richard Berry got on the blame game bandwagon and attacked the parents of the gangers who killed the man in his home in the middle of the night while on a 'mobbing' spree.  After the victims daughter blamed the parents and scores of commenters did so on social media, Berry jumped in with both feet and agreed.  And all of this was done without any one really knowing the parents and their abilities to rein in these 'bad seeds.'  This was all done as a different form of mobbing.  The emotionalism of the victim's family is understandable, but for the elected leader of the city, this is horrible.

I hope these little gangers get just what they deserve.  But, cooler heads should prevail on trying to exact vigilante bloodlust on the families.  Would these attacks on the families help the possibly good brothers and sisters of these murderers?  Who even knows if they have brothers and sisters and if the parents tried everything possible to make things right?  Were the parents terrorized as well by these punks?

And the leader of the lynch mob is the Mayor?

Misc.

The Susana Martinez administration will now have to start defending itself rather than, after multiple years in office, blaming for Governor Richardson for all the problems.  The State Auditor Tim Keller has turned over an investigation to the AG about favoritism and corruption at the upper levels of the Taxation and Revenue Department.  This is one department that usually is not dragged into such public view.  The administration's sophomoric responses to the investigation shows a typical take no prisoners approach to criticism.  They are blaming every thing on partisanship and are now trying to shift blame to the people whose job it is to uncover such things.  This time it just might backfire if the media just practices serious journalism.

Hats off to APD's Detectives for capturing those six little gangers that murdered a man in his own home during a robbery.  APD, for all its problems, is pretty good at finding the bad guys.  If these alleged killers are found guilty, they should be put away for life.

Back

We had a wonderful trip up to Fort Collins, Co.  Our daughter and family are doing great in a booming economy in that state.  Just like Utah, Arizona, and Texas.  What's missing here?  Visionary leadership maybe?

New Mexico and Colorado are so green with the rains.  It is a great thing to see and I am sure we have some happy livestock folks all along those Rocky Mountains.  We even saw a large herd of Elk grazing near Springer, NM.  There must have been 75 of them.  Unlike the cattle, they are native to the area and should be left alone.

Anyway, as we all look at our grandchildren, whether we are on the left, center or right, I think most people would agree we all want what is best for them.  Those feelings used to drive some non partisanship in our legislative and executive bodies in this country.  Now our corporate powers are trumping everyone with the partisanship of profit.  It won't last forever.  It never does.

Here are eight month olds Kate and Alex.  Since they were born so early, they have an adjusted age of five months.  Surely not identical twins.....but real sweeties.

Rest Area

Love to take these kinds of photos.

Raton Pass

Heading home

Off

Off blogging for a week while playing with grandkids!

A Better Approach

I tried to ban concealed weapons in Albuquerque under 'home rule' laws back in 2001 when I was Mayor. We got nowhere as every judge on the Supreme Court in NM ran screaming from the NRA. I recall they were all democrats. This 'good cause' approach might be a good one for some brave city councillor to take on. It basically says that before a concealed weapon license can be issued, that a good cause must exist for it to be issued. Certainly our mascot Mayor will not attempt such a thing. Well, we can always dream.

Once again, did you notice how Donald Trump Piñatas and the confederate flag took all the heat away from the NRA after the last massacre? Culture wars trump real issues. Ha Ha.

Ice

Everything is upside down.  Albuquerque's economic development is as fast moving as a glacier, (going backwards these days.)  Housing starts have once again dropped while all our surrounding states enjoy booming economies.  Meanwhile, an iceless ice rink on the oven known as Civic Plaza in downtown Albuquerque has been opened by the Mayor.

The glacial concern over our staggering economy by the Governor, Mayor and leaderless business community continues.  And the sap public laps up the laurels heaped on them by the Albuquerque Journal.  Pictures of the Mayor and Governor at inconsequential ground breakings and other public appearances while nothing happens to grow jobs and stability for New Mexicans.  How long can this go on?

This is from a golfing buddy of mine who summers in Michigan and winters in ABQ.  A very successful moderate republican business man.

"I think you know we are making a serious building addition - well this you can share with guys

It is so hustle and bustle here we can not get three subs to bid so we have settled for two per trade
Housing very strong
Unemployment really low
Wages up strongly. I especially like that as too many places held off routine raises for to long
Commercial building out of sight
Engineers are darn near impossible to find
Even college enrollment is up at places like Hope Calvin Alma let alone U of M
New med school is open in GR next year one opens in Kazoo at WMU and year after that in Mt Pleasant at CMU

What is missing is NM weather and a fix for lousy roads - the Republicans are obsessed with avoiding gas tax raise"

Pendaries, NM

Golf in Pendaires was incredible.  The abundant moisture has northern New Mexico looking like a garden.  There is still snow atop some of the mountains.  Four years ago this looked like a desert.

Opposite

Think of corporate America and its US Chamber of Commerce who spend millions in suing foreign governments who try and educate people about the dangers of tobacco.  This is a different kind of terrorism that ends up killing many people.  The board and CEO of the Chamber should be brought to trial for murder.

Think of President Obama and his new policy of requiring overtime pay for those in the middle class who are forced to work extra hours.  Doing something good here for many Americans struggling with student loans and the effects of corrupt bankers.

It is easy to see who the decent and moral people are in this debate.

Gerry Mander is Not a Guy

The Supreme Court has slapped down right wing Arizona republicans by ruling that independent commissions can set the redistricting lines for congressional and legislative districts.  This is a great thing.  Gerrymandering has kept right wingers, and left wingers, in office by designing districts only they could win, even if the districts defied all logic.

You can see this in one of our especially bizarre districts for the NM Senate.  District 39 winds it way from San Miguel County like a snake through multiple counties all the way to Ruidoso.  It is non sensical.  See it here.

For a good explanation of gerrymandering look here.

The City of Santa Fe recently handed over its redistricting duties to an independent commission and readily accepted their work and passed it.  Oh, if only we had some brave legislators in Santa Fe that would do the same.  The way is now clear.  We will see who in Santa Fe are self serving.  You will be able to make that judgement by the excuses they give for not letting such commissions function in a non partisan manner for the good of New Mexico.

Evolve

I wonder how many of those folks, like former homophobe City Councillors Mike McEntee and Greg Payne have been able to evolve from their positions on fighting gay rights.  I have a feeling that some  people like them have done so.  Others never will do so.  It is a brain thing formed by hateful teachings and surroundings.

My sister, brother and I were educated all the way through high school by the Catholic school system.  Back then I don't think, at least in grade school, that we were ever lectured about gays in any way.  Strangely, I think in some ways our liberal leanings came from the church in doses between the silly dogma catechism classes.  Compassion and helping others was a theme we learned.  But apparently our new Archbishop has never evolved on the issue, although on many other policy questions he seems fine.  So, in many ways the churches that hold to such xenophobia will never evolve until they are so marginalized that they must do so.  Kicking and screaming.

The media sure isn't evolving on gun issues coverage.  Nor are any of our congressional representatives or Senators.  That latest massacre has done nothing.  However we all know what the social media and mainstream news operations are into, and that would be Donald Trump.  Once again the NRA escapes unscathed because the guy with the combover is so outrageous.

But, at the end of the day....two steps forward and one back.  Health care and human rights in this country are better guaranteed than last week.  It shows progress.  

Little Steps

Here is an old Journal story from April of 2000 on one of the many little steps taken to get us where we are today with the Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage.  I took all sorts of hell from the republicans on the city council and religious extremists for this action.

The GOP is still whining about not being able to stay in the past.  I am proud of this action and saw it as one of my major executive orders.  A lot of credit goes to the gay community in Albuquerque back then.  Especially my communications officer at the time, Brian Morris.

Later that year I served as the first Mayor to ever ride, as grand marshall, in the gay pride parade in Albuquerque.

 Edition--Final Date--04/12/2000 Page--A1 

 City To Insure Domestic Partners 

 Olivier Uyttebrouck Journal Staff Writer 

 Albuquerque plans to extend insurance benefits in July to unmarried domestic partners of city employees. 

 Mayor Jim Baca quietly approved the policy in an order he signed March 8. 

 "It will give insurance coverage to many people and children who don't have it," Baca said Tuesday. "Why would anybody not want those folks to have insurance?" 

 The policy also will help Albuquerque stay competitive with other large employers that offer insurance benefits to their workers' partners, he said. Area employers that offer similar benefits include US West and the University of New Mexico. 

 City officials estimate the extended health insurance will raise the city's premiums 1 percent, or about $185,000 a year. The city pays 80 percent of premium costs for most employees. 

 Councilor Greg Payne said Tuesday he opposes extending city benefits to people who are not married. 

 "There isn't enough money in the budget to put enough cops on the street to answer 911 calls, but we magically find money to benefit domestic partners," Payne said. 

 Payne also said Baca should have brought the issue before the City Council and the public because some will find it offensive. 

 "It's going to have a financial impact on the city, and he has an obligation to bring it before the council," Payne said. 

 Councilor Mike McEntee said he objects to the policy on moral and fiscal grounds. 

 "This is the kind of thing that breaks down the fabric of the family," McEntee said. Unmarried couples "don't have the commitment to get married, but they want you and me to pay for their benefits." 

 Baca responded that councilors would reveal themselves as intolerant if they introduce a bill forbidding the city from extending benefits to unmarried partners of city employees. 

 "To me, that would be promoting discrimination and bigotry," Baca said. Baca also said the City Charter gives him the authority to make administrative decisions, including those regarding employee insurance benefits. 

 City officials said they don't know how many employees will take advantage of the new benefit. Under the new policy, partners must have lived together at least 12 months. The policy will apply to heterosexual and same-sex relationships. 

 Employees who want benefits for their partners will be asked to fill out an "affidavit of partnership." They must produce at least three documents, such as a joint lease or mortgage, a joint bank or brokerage account or a joint automobile registration, showing they "share financial responsibility" for each other. 

 If approved, the employee's partner would be eligible for health and dental insurance coverage and optional supplemental life insurance. The employee also would be eligible to use city leave to attend to a sick partner or attend a funeral. 

 Valerie Santillanes, spokeswoman for US West, said the company began offering insurance benefits to same-sex partners of employees in 1998. But the company doesn't offer the extended benefits to heterosexual partners because, unlike same-sex couples, they have the option of getting married, she said. 

 That policy led the New Mexico branch of the Christian Coalition to file a complaint with the state Public Regulation Commission in March. The Christian Coalition argued that US West has no right to seek a rate increase while spending money on insurance benefits for same-sex partners of employees. 

 PHOTO: Color 

 BACA: "Why would anybody not want those folks to have insurance?"