The not-too-surprising results from the New Mexico Democratic Party’s pre-primary convention on March 13 at Buffalo Thunder are available at the New Mexico Independent, here. But we got pictures.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, with Gov. Bill Richardson nowhere to be seen. SFR checked the gambling floor, too: No Richardson there, either.

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This week’s SFR draws attention to an oil-industry tax break extension sponsored by oilman and US Rep. Harry Teague, D-NM, a newbie to Congress whom conventional wisdom describes as “vulnerable.”

Yesterday, Public Citizen put out a list meant to shame Congressional opponents of key reforms in the financial sector who had taken big money from…the financial sector. Teague was on that list. From Public Citizen:

Dec. 8, 2009 – Representatives sponsoring two amendments that would weaken critical consumer protections in financial reform legislation have received at least $2.3 million from the financial services sector since the beginning of 2009, according to Public Citizen’s analysis of data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org).

An amendment sponsored by Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) would block states from enforcing their own consumer protections laws. A second amendment, sponsored by Rep. Walter Minnick (D- Idaho), would set up a feckless alternative in place of the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

h/t Harper’s, who calls these lawmakers “The Bankers’ Financial Protection Agency.”

The Sunlight Foundation and the Center for Responsive Politics have released an extremely timely and thorough expose,
“Curious Clusters“, involving “hidden” Congressional campaign contribution bundling by health care special interests. Here’s their 1-2-3 on the investigation:

The investigation identified outside lobbyists that donated to the same members of Congress as their clients, and strongly suggests that special interest giving is enhanced by the K Street contributors they hire…

There is no indication that the extra giving by lobbyists was part of a planned effort by the healthcare firms to solidify their support among key members of Congress. But whether coordinated or not, the newly-found clusters of lobbyist giving clearly illustrate the intensity of the full-court press that the industry is currently waging on Capitol Hill.

In all, 61 members of Congress—39 in the Senate, 22 in the House, 38 Democrats and 23 Republicans—got money from 10 or more outside lobbyists whose healthcare or health insurance industry clients also contributed to their campaigns.

Sen. Max Baucus, the Senate Finance Committee chairman who recently voted down two public-option amendments, was the third largest recipient after Republicans Sen. John McCain and Sen. Mitch McConnell. (click the chart to enlarge). Of the 61 members, only two New Mexican names turn up: Sen. Tom Udall and Rep. Martin Heinrich, both Democrats.

According to the research, Udall accepted $2,250 from two health-related organizations—Roche Holdings and UnitedHealth—which was then “enhanced”  ten-fold by $22,700 in donations from 21 lobbyists. Heinrich accepted $2,250 from Amgen, which was then amplified by $9,850 from 11 lobbyists.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, one of the original “gang of six” assigned to hash out a health reform bill and one of the eight Senate Finance members to vote for both public option amendments, was not one of the 61 Congressmen. Nor was Rep. Ben R. Lujan or Rep. Harry Teague.

Tortilla Coast, DC’s unbuckle-your-beltway Mexican joint, is hosting a fundraiser for Rep. Ben Ray Lujan on Sept. 22. That’s a Tuesday and, according to TC’s web site, that means it’s Burrito Night! Yay! Burritos! The menu includes “The Big House” burrito, a veggie burrito, the “Inside Out” burrito, the “Big Tex” burrito, the “Sunset” burrito, and a”BBQ” burrito. Your choice for just $7.99.

Oh, wait. Make that $1,007.99.

The Sunlight Foundation’s Political Party Time site has posted information regarding Lujan’s latest fundraiser, including directions and a flyer. The event costs $1,000 for “guests,” $2,500 for “PAC sponsors” and $5,000 for “PAC Hosts.” Oh, but no nachos for federal lobbyists; your money’s no good with Lujan.

So, who, then, is shelling out the loot for a chance to chew the beans with Ben Ray? Spokesman Mark Nicastre says he’ll get back to us, via email, “We do not have final numbers or confirmed attendees for Tuesday’s event. Any contributions will be reflected on the 3rd quarter report, which will be released on October 15.”

CD-1’s Rep. Martin Heinrich is more of a breakfast man. He had one this morning at Jacob’s House and another brekkie scheduled for Tuesday at Johnnie’s Half Shell, each costing $500 per individual.

CD-2’s Rep. Harry Teague is the busiest fundraiser of all this week (and in all cases, the minimum price is $1,000):

Sept. 23rd, Breakfast @ Tortilla Coast
Sept. 22nd,  Energy Breakfast @ American Gas Association
Sept. 20th, Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants @ Cowboys Stadium
Sept. 17th, Labor Community Lunch @ Tortilla Coast

Lujan flyer after the jump.

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According to the Federal Elections Commission’s website, the New Mexico 2nd Congressional District race just got a little tighter, with Democrat John DeJoie filing to run against the freshman incumbent Rep. Harry Teague in the Democratic primary.

Oops. That’s a glitch. DeJoie, a professional firefighter, has formed an exploratory committee, but not in New Mexico. He’s actually running to replace U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes, who currently serves New Hampshire, where DeJoie is a state legislator.

While the FEC database correctly lists DeJoie’s address in Concord, NH, it lists his state of candidacy as NM. The site’s candidate comparison feature also puts him side by side with Teague as well as Republican Steve Pearce, who has announced his intention to run again for the seat he gave up last year to run for the US Senate.

DeJoie tells SFR in a phone interview this is the FEC’s mistake, not his.

Dejoie says that he’s never actually been to the Land of Enchantment, though (tongue-in-cheekily) he does wonder if he can accept campaign donations from New Mexico and claim it as local fundraising.