Jim Scarantino's Archive
A Costly Ride on the Rail Runner
Like the train has money to burn. How about blowing the annual salary of a teaching assistant on an overnighter to Raton, just to show off? Latest report on the Great New Mexico Train Robbery at New Mexico Watchdog.org
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Jim Scarantino, Lawrence Rael, New Mexico Watchdog, Rail Runner
Attorney General’s Senior Counsel Doubles as President of Law Firm Pushing CO2 Caps
This a a pretty unusual situation. One of the AG’s closest advisors doubles as president of a law firm that sues the state, cities, municipalities, appears before administrative agencies, and lobbies the Legislature. The Environmental Improvement Board is proceeding to hear a petition to cap CO2 emissions statewide. The petitioner is represented by the very [...]
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Enviornmental Improvement Board, greenhouse gas caps, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, New Mexico Watchdog, Stuart Bluestone
RailRunner Costs Are Eating New Mexico Alive
Jim Scarantino and Steve McAllister review the RailRunner’s red ink and its consequences for our state. Read the latest report at New Mexico Watchdog here.
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Jim Scarantino, New Mexico Watchdog, RailRunner, Steve McAllister
Fed Stimulus Grows NM Government More Than Broader Economy: No Surprise There
The latest report on the stimulus spending shows that government continues to benefit while unemployment rises in the broader economy. I’ve done two reports crunching data from recovery.gov, the official U.S. government website to track stimulus spending and employment impacts. The first showed that the number of jobs funded by stimulus dollars dropped [...]
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Jim Scarantino, New Mexico Watchdog, recovery.gov, stimulus
Rail Runner FY 2008 Losses Top $19 Million, $37.6 Million Since Service Began
New Mexico Watchdog updates its August report. The red ink lubricating the wheels of the Red Runner is getting redder. This pic from inside the Rail Runner during service between Santa Fe and Albuquerque speaks volumes.
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Jim Scarantino, NM Watchdog, Rail Runner
Manny Aragon’s Castle
New Mexico Watchdog takes you inside the castle Manny Aragon has been building for the past 21 years in Albuquerque’s South Valley. See the monument being built by the man who was once the most powerful politician in New Mexico in a video report by New Mexico Watchdog’s Steve McAllister.
In: Uncategorized
Denish Records: False Vouchers and Irregularities in Political Worker Payments
Jim Scarantino’s latest report on how Lt. Governor Diane Denish spent stimulus funds is now available at New Mexico Watchdog.
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Denish, Scarantino, stimulus
Obama Administration Spends Millions in Nonexistent NM Congressional Districts
I am not making this up. See my new report at New Mexico Watchdog. The Obama Administration is claiming to have created jobs and spent tens of millions of dollars in ten New Mexico Congressional districts that do not exist. I repeat: I am not making this up. Read for [...]
In: Uncategorized
Watchdog Round-Up ‘Round the Nation
The Rio Grande Foundation’s New Mexico Watchdog, though it stands on its own, is part of a national network of Watchdog investigative reporting projects in other states. Jim Scarantino, who edits and reports for New Mexico Watchdog, is a former attorney. The Watchdogs in other states are run by veteran journalists, accountants, and [...]
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Scarantino, Watchdogs
Jim Scarantino on Denish and the Broken Windows Theory
The little stuff matters. Details count. NYPD proved it with their application of the Broken Windows Theory. I think that approach applies equally to how we hold government and politicians accountable. Combing through records showing how the Lt. Governor spent $225,000 is a good case study in application of this theory. [...]
In: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Denish, Scarantino, stimulus
