Senator Pete Domenici's Legacy 2012: The Proceedings from the 2012 Pete V. Domenici Public Policy Conference

By Sara Micka Patricolo

Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) served in the U.S. Senate for over thirty-six years. He had a long legacy of contributions to New Mexico as well as the entire country. The Pete V. Domenici Public Policy Institute, located at New Mexico State University, holds an annual conference on Domenici’s legacy and these are the Proceedings from the 2012 Pete V. Domenici Public Policy Conference, edited by Sara Micka Patricolo, and published in collaboration with New Mexico State University.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781936744596

Book preview

Copyright © 2013, 2014 New Mexico State University

Published by Rio Grande Books

925 Salamanca NW

Los Ranchos, NM 87107-5647

505-344-9382

www.LPDPress.com

Printed in the United States of America

Book Design: Paul Rhetts and Barbe Awalt

Photographs in the book are by Niki Rhynes, except for photograph of Floyd Correa on

page 58 which is by Kim Jew.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.

Cataloging Information

Pete V. Domenici Public Policy Conference (5th : 2012 : New Mexico State University)

Senator Pete Domenici’s legacy : the proceedings of the 2012 Pete V. Domenici Public Policy Conference / Sara Micka Patricolo, editor.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-936744-08-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)

ISBN 978-1-936744-59-6 (ebook formats)

1. Domenici, Pete--Influence--Congresses.

2. Domenici, Pete--Political and social views--Congresses.

3. United States--Politics and government--1989---Congresses.

4. United States--Politics and government--1945-1989--Congresses.

5. United States--Social policy--1980-1993--Congresses.

6. United States--Social policy--1993---Congresses.

7. Legislators--United States--Biography--Congresses.

8. United States. Congress. Senate--Biography--Congresses.

I. Sara Micka Patricolo. II. Title.

Cover photograph of Senator Pete V. Domenici by Darren Phillips, Chief Photographer, University Communications & Marketing Services, New Mexico State University

Proceedings from the

Pete V. Domenici Public Policy Conference

September 19-20, 2012

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Contents

Opening and Welcome

Session 1 Remarks on State Issues

Session 2 Entrepreneurship

Session 3 Entrepreneurship

Session 4 Entrepreneurship

Session 5 Entrepreneurship at NMSU

Session 6 National Security Threats

Session 7 U.S. Military Outlook

Session 8 2012 Elections

Session 9 2012 New Mexico U.S. Senate Candidates

Domenici Public Policy Conference

Program Agenda

September 19-20, 2012

Wednesday, September 19

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Conference registration

10 a.m. Opening and Welcome

Master of Ceremonies: Dean Garrey Carruthers, NMSU Domenici

Institute Director and Dean of the College of Business

Posting of Colors: Army and Air Force ROTC

National Anthem: Pride of New Mexico Marching Band

The Pledge of Allegiance: Cadet Katie Roberts, Air Force ROTC

Invocation: Mr. Craig Mayberry, Aggies for Christ

NMSU Fight Song: Pride of New Mexico Marching Band

Welcome: Regent Mike Cheney, New Mexico State University

Welcome: President Barbara Couture, New Mexico State University

Welcome: Mayor Ken Miyagishima, City of Las Cruces

Introduction of the Hon. Pete V. Domenici: Ms. Breeana Sylvas,

President, Associated Students of New Mexico State

University

Welcome: Hon. Pete V. Domenici, retired U.S. Senator

Recognition of retiring U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman

10:45 a.m. Session 1: Remarks on State Issues

Introduction: Regent Mike Cheney, New Mexico State University

Speaker: Hon. Susana Martinez, New Mexico Governor

Student Panelists: Ms. Amneh al-Rawashden, Ms. April Bond, Ms. Emma Hamilton

11:45 a.m. Lunch (convention center ballroom) sponsored by

Molina Healthcare, Inc.

Recognition of conference sponsors

1 p.m. Session 2: Entrepreneurship

Introduction: Mr. Ron Solimon, Laguna Development

Corporation

Speaker: Ms. Linda Alvarado, Alvarado Construction

President and CEO; First Hispanic Co-Owner of

a Major League Baseball Franchise

Student Panelists: Ms. Kristina Chavez, Mr. Sunny Liu,

Ms. Shanta Thoutam

2 p.m. Session 3: Entrepreneurship

Introduction: Hon. Pete V. Domenici, retired U.S. Senator

Speaker: Rev. Robert Sirico, President, Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

Student Panelists: Mr. Ehben Reed, Ms. Francisca Reyes, Ms. Lauren Salvato

3 p.m. Session 4: Entrepreneurship

Introduction: Ms. Jerean Hutchinson, Owner, La Posta de Mesilla

Speaker: Ms. Myrtle Potter, former Genentech President and COO; Myrtle Potter & Company CEO

Student Panelists: Mr. Iric Guthrie, Ms. Marcella Martinez, Ms. Shanae Roybal

4 p.m. Session 5: Entrepreneurship at NMSU, featuring Arrowhead Center

Introduction: President Barbara Couture, New Mexico State University

4:30 p.m. Reception for conference attendees with Arrowhead Center exhibits

Thursday, September 20

7:30 to 11 a.m. Conference registration

7:30 a.m. Continental breakfast

9 a.m. Session 6: National Security Threats

Introduction: Erik Webb, Ph.D., Sandia National Laboratories

Speaker: Michael Hurley, Esq., former CIA Officer; 9/11 Commission Senior Counsel and Director of Counterterrorism Policy Investigation

Student Panelists: Mr. Zackary Quintero, Ms. Lauren Salvato,

Mr. Daniel Sonntag

10 a.m. Session 7: Military Outlook

Introduction: Ms. Berna Holzman, Wells Fargo Bank

Speaker: Gen. Lester Lyles, retired U.S. Air Force Four-Star General and former Commander, Air Force Materiel Command

Student Panelists: Ms. Gabriella Ferrari, Mr. Mark Kunzman, Mr. Carlos Martin

11 a.m. Chevron U.S.A. Gift Presentation to the Domenici Institute by Mr. Mitch Mamoulides

11:05 a.m. Session 8: 2012 Elections

Introduction: Mr. Woody Hunt, Hunt Companies, Inc.

Speakers: James Carville, Esq., Political Strategist and former Campaign Manager to President Bill Clinton;

Ambassador Karen Hughes, former Counselor to

President George W. Bush;

Mr. Sam Donaldson, ABC News Contributor

Student Panelists: Mr. Richard Baca, Ms. Gabriella Ferrari,

Ms. Marcella Martinez, Mr. Zackary Quintero

12:15 p.m. Lunch (convention center exhibit hall) sponsored by El Paso Electric Company

12:45 p.m. Session 9: 2012 New Mexico U.S. Senate Candidates

Introduction: Mary Kipp, Esq., El Paso Electric Company

Speaker: Ms. Heather Wilson (R)

U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) was invited but is not able

to attend

Student Panelists: Ms. Emma Hamilton, Ms. Keioshiah Peter, Mr. Daniel Sonntag, Mr. Jacob Wellman

1:30 p.m. Closing remarks

Domenici Conference Executive Committee

Garrey Carruthers, Chair; Sara Patricolo, Sharon Jones, Andrea Tawney, Ramon Dominguez, Janet Perez

Domenici Conference Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

El Paso Electric

Molina Healthcare Inc.

Gold Sponsors

Bravo Mic Communications LLC

Hunt Family Foundation

Lockheed Martin

Route 66 Casino Hotel

Sandia National Laboratories

U.S. Bank

Wells Fargo Bank

Silver Sponsors

Arrowhead at NMSU

Bank of the Rio Grande N.A.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico

Citizens Bank of Las Cruces

First American Bank

New Mexico Mutual

Stolar Research Corporation

Western Commerce Bank

Western Refining

Conference Supporters

La Posta de Mesilla

Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico

Friendship Sponsors

Van H. Gilbert Architect PC

Hon. James and Mrs. Ann Halligan

Mr. William and Mrs. Jan Keleher

KRWG TV/FM

Opening and Welcome

Dean Garrey Carruthers: Good morning. I am Garrey Carruthers. I am dean of the College of Business and director of the Pete V. Domenici Institute. I’m delighted to be able to do both of those jobs. This is the most responsive crowd I’ve ever been before. I asked them to come in and sit down, and they did! [Audience Laughter]

So, we have got a dynamite conference coming up in just a few minutes. I’m gonna wait another three or four minutes; there’s some people in the registration line. But I thought we’d get ready and kind of sit back, relax and we’ll start it in three or four minutes. We’re gonna have a wonderful conference—so delighted all of you are here. So, I’ll be back to you in about three or four minutes.

[Conference Pause]

Dean Carruthers: Okay. Good morning again. Welcome to the fifth annual Domenici Public Policy Conference. And, in that I’m in my so-called five-year review as dean at New Mexico State University, I thought it’d be prudent for me to introduce the authorities from New Mexico State University. It’s called sucking up. [Audience Laughter] But, anyway, we have with us the president of our university—I’ll give a better introduction a little later on—Dr. Barbara Couture [Audience Applause]; Dr. Wendy Wilkins, who is the Provost of New Mexico State University [Audience Applause]; Michael Cheney, who is the chairman of the Board of Regents, and he’ll be introduced a little more later on [Audience Applause]; Chris Delaney, who is a local businessman and a member of the Board of Regents [Audience Applause]; and then, I know that Kari Mitchell, who is the most recent appointment to the Board, is here somewhere, but I can’t—I can see there’s an audience out there, barely, but the lights are pretty bright. But, when Kari comes in, if I see her again, I’ll introduce her.

One of the things that we like to do is to make this conference as affordable as we possibly can, and that only happens through the generosity of our sponsors. We actually offer it at a very low price. I think it was fifty dollars cash, American; no Euros accepted. And, it’s free to our students. One of the things, when Senator Domenici and I began to work on this project, we thought it was very important to have student engagement in these kinds of policy discussions, and we’ve been very pleased to have great turnout for students. We’ll probably have over 400 students at this conference today, maybe 450 students.

This is the greatest subscription to the conference we’ve ever had. It’s somewhere over 900 people have signed up altogether for these various sessions. [Audience Applause]

And, as you know, students, in particular, will come and go as they go to class. In fact, I got a student coming up here in just a minute that has to run off and take an exam. And so, we like that kind of dedication in our students, that they want to go to class, but they want to participate here.

I’m gonna quickly go over the sponsors. First of all, though, let me introduce the committee, if you can see them. Sara Patricolo? I saw her a moment ago. Sara Patricolo and all the committee, please stand and give them a hand for putting this together. Sara’s over there by the door. I can see her. [Audience Applause]

To develop one of these conferences, we spend a good share of the year. Right after this, as a matter of fact, within the next two weeks, we will adjourn to our conference room and start the planning for the next conference. As Senator Domenici is, obviously, the key member of our committee, we get these outstanding speakers and this kind of attention because of our great Senator, Pete V. Domenici. Pete V. Domenici’s sitting right up here. Give him a big hand. He’s back there. [Audience Applause]

And now, let me just list the sponsors and we’ll reference them again at lunch. But, the Diamond sponsors are Molina Healthcare, Incorporated. Where’s the Molina gang? Molina’s over here. Right over here. [Audience Applause] And, El Paso Electric. El Paso Electric’s table, where do we have them? Are they here? Must have been a power outage somewhere. Okay. [Audience Laughter]

Gold sponsors—the Hunt Family Foundation from El Paso. Is anybody here from the Hunt Foundation yet? I know Woody’s gonna be here tomorrow because he’s participating. Lockheed Martin Sandia. We have some people from Lockheed Martin Sandia over here. [Audience Applause]

Bravo Mic Communications here in town. Bravo Mic Communications over here. [Audience Applause] I ran into the Laguna Development Route 66 Casino people a little earlier on. They’re gold sponsors. [Audience Applause] Wells Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo Bank here? I think I saw some people from them. [Audience Applause] And, U.S. Bank. I saw the U.S. Bank people over here in the corner. [Audience Applause]

The Silver sponsors are Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University and there are a whole bunch of people here from Arrowhead working around. [Audience Applause] Western Refinery. Western Refinery out of El Paso and they have a lot of locations here in New Mexico as well. I saw Larry Stolarczyk of Stolar Research Corporation out of Raton. Larry’s here somewhere I know and has bought a table. [Audience Applause] Bank of the Rio Grande. Mike Cheney is the southern president of the Bank of the Rio Grande. [Audience Applause] Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico. I have not run in—oh, we’ve got ‘em over here. Blue Cross and Blue Shield. First American Bank. They’ve got a bunch of First American Bank people here. I saw them. [Audience Applause] You can just yell real loud when I call your names so we know you’re here, okay? Citizens Bank. [Yelling] Alright. Go ahead. [Audience Applause] We’ll see if these banks can out yell each other. Western Commerce Bank? [Yelling] [Audience Applause] I got some over here. New Mexico Mutual. New Mexico Mutual? I saw Norm Becker here a while ago. Where are you, Norm? You’re hidden out there somewhere. Thank you, Norm. [Audience Applause]

And then, our Conference Supporters are the Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico and La Posta de Mesilla. Is anybody here from La Posta or the Rehab Hospital? [Audience Applause]

And then, this is a Friendship sponsor, but kind of a special Friendship sponsor. It’s the Honorable James and Mrs. Ann Halligan from Oklahoma. [Audience Applause] And when he left here, we didn’t call him Honorable. We probably called him several things. But, he has been elected to the state Senate. He’s been elected to the state Senate in Oklahoma. And, believe it, that crafty little guy got on the right committees. I was hearing him tell Dr. Dan Lopez that he’s on the appropriations committee and the higher education committee. And so, he ought to be taking care of his own. But, would you give a round of applause for a great president that we had here some years ago, Dr. Jim Halligan and his wife. [Audience Applause]

Bill and Jan Keleher are here. Bill and Jan Keleher, where are you? Thank you very much for your contribution. [Audience Applause] And I should tell you that I met with Bill and Jan Keleher in the lobby, and I know this for a fact, that they’ve been with Domenici since Abraham Lincoln was president. They’ve been a supporter of his for a long period of time. [Audience Applause]

KRWG-TV. I saw some folks from there. KRWG-TV, our local TV station. [Audience Applause]

And then, Van Gilbert Architect. Van Gilbert does some work here. He’s done some work here now on the building that will soon house the—

[Inaudible Comment]

Dean Carruthers: What’s that? Okay. Did you bring money? [Audience Laughter] ‘Cause we always expect Van to bring money. So, if you brought money, go ahead and take a seat. [Audience Laughter] Otherwise, you’ll— [Inaudible]. Thank you, very much. [Audience Applause]

Now, the other couple of really special people, and those of you who’ve been to the Domenici Conference in the last three years understand that only students ask questions of the people who speak. And, we actually thought of that after our first conference, which was a fine conference, and we offered people in the audience an opportunity to ask questions and it wasn’t as manageable as we would like. And so, we said, Why, at a university, why wouldn’t students ask questions? And so, over the last few years, including this year, we have student panelists. This year, there are twenty student panelists.

But, first of all, I would like to introduce a person who actually mentors these students over a period of time to prepare them and that is Dr. Ramon Dominguez. Where’s Ramon? Is he with a student somewhere back here? Dr. Ramon Dominguez. [Audience Applause]

I met with the students briefly last night, and I gave them a lesson on university life, even though they’re all in the universities. But, one of the most prestigious things that you can have at a university is to be a chair holder. A chair holder is normally a chair that’s valued over one million dollars and it’s a very prestigious appointment. One of the most recent appointments to the Stan Fulton Chair in Education is Dr. Ramon Dominguez, and he richly deserves that appointment. [Audience Applause]

And then, we have Phill Bond—Phill is from White Sands Missile Range—and he worked with Ramon to help mentor these students and prepare for today and tomorrow.

Okay. I want to brag just a moment about the students. In team one, asking questions of Governor Martinez, will be Ms. Emma Hamilton from NMSU [New Mexico State University]; Ms. April Bond from NMSU; and Amneh al-Rawashden of NMSU. They’ll be asking questions of Governor Martinez.

For the Alvarado team, we have Ms. Shanta Thoutam from NMSU; Ms. Kristina Chavez, NMSU; and Sunny Liu from UNM [University of New Mexico]. This is a mixed bunch. We allowed a UNM person in there.

For Father Sirico, Lauren Salvato from UNM; Francisca Reyes from NMSU; and Ehben Reed from UNM will be the team.

Team four, speaking to Myrtle Potter, will be Iric Guthrie of UNM; Marcella Martinez from NMSU; and we’re delighted to have Shanae Roybal from Northern New Mexico College. I think this is the first time Northern New Mexico has sent a representative.

To speak to Mr. Hurley, we have Zackary Quintero from NMSU; Daniel Sonntag from NMSU; and Lauren Salvato again from UNM.

For General Lyles, we have Carlos Martin, again from Northern Mexico; Gabriella Ferrari from NMSU; and Mark Kunzman from UNM.

And this is the one that’ll be challenged. For team seven, Carville and Hughes, we had to add extra students to this: Richard Baca from UNM; Marcella Martinez, NMSU; Zackary Quintero, NMSU; and Gabriella Ferrari, NMSU.

And then, team eight, asking questions of candidate Wilson, will be Jacob Wellman from UNM; Keioshiah Peter from UNM; Daniel Sonntag from NMSU; and Emma Hamilton from NMSU.

As we go along, we’ll mention these names again, but I am so proud of the fact that these students not only apply, but they spend time studying the speakers, studying the issues, and I’m told by Dr. Dominguez that they’re very well prepared to ask some really insightful questions of our speakers. So, would you give them a big round of applause, please? [Audience Applause]

And, now, they sent me with a housekeeping list. One, if you can turn your cell phone off, please do so or put it on vibrate. Otherwise, we’ll collect it and we’ll sell it later on. I understand, those of you that have iPhones, there’s a big market for it. So, the iPhones, we particularly want.

There are no scheduled breaks in this. We have one hour for each of the speakers, generally, and you can come and go as you need to.

There are a host of giveaways out on the table in the lobby area, and I’m gonna tell you some of them. The Domenici documentaries are out there. There’s a one-hour documentary and two 30-minute documentaries. The two 30-minute ones are new. Those are available to you and one of these documentaries is now going to be utilized to develop lesson plans for high school students by a teacher in Las Cruces High School. She’s going to use some of her students and it’s actually gonna be part of the lessons in the school system, in Las Cruces Public School system, and, hopefully, throughout the state.

Myrtle Potter has generously donated a number of books to which she has contributed. Those are outside, first-come, first-serve basis.

I did not know until recently that this is U.S. Constitution Week. And so, I know you all have peeked at your Constitution lately, but if you haven’t, there are free books on the Constitution out there and you’ll be amazed that the U.S. Constitution is incredibly much shorter than the New Mexico Constitution, which should tell you something. [Audience Laughter] We have made some mistakes.

The Domenici Fellows, we have a Domenici Fellows program, where we have faculty members who write public policy papers and they’re featured as well.

The Reenergize Conference is coming up. There are flyers on the table out there as well for those of you interested in energy issues. That’s coming up fairly soon and you can pick up one of those flyers.

And then, I’m just inclined to want to ask you to do us all a favor. We will have a GO Bond issue coming up. I think it’s Bond Issue C. It deals with higher education. There are some other bond issues you wanna take a look at, but I always take care of my vested interest whenever I can. And the Bond Issue C is about higher education and we had a failure of bond issues in the last election. We would rather not have that this time. Several of those investments go to New Mexico State University, but they go to universities all over the state. So, would you pick up one of those brochures and take a look at it and, as you approach the polls, think, I’m gonna vote for this Bond Issue C.

At this time, I’d like to call the NMSU ROTC program to post the colors. Would you please rise?

[The colors are posted; the PRIDE of New Mexico marching band performs The Star-Spangled Banner.]

Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Cadet Katie Roberts of the Air Force ROTC. Katie.

Cadet Katie Roberts: [Recites The Pledge of Allegiance along with the audience.]

Dean Carruthers: Also, remain standing, if you don’t mind, for an invocation delivered by Mr. Craig Mayberry of Aggies for Christ. Craig?

Craig Mayberry: If you’d take this time to bow your heads with me. Dear God, we thank you for this day, and we thank you for providing us with the freedom to convene together and discuss policies without the fear of oppression. Throughout this conference, please allow your wisdom to govern the hearts and minds of each of us. Let us be slow to speak and quick to listen. Above all, I pray that as we discuss our opinions and try to make changes for our future, we do so with an attitude of humility and thankfulness in the face of what you have done for us as a people. We thank you for the liberties that we have to pursue our dreams and worship you freely. We thank you for the rich blessings we have in America, and we also pray that our wealth, our privileges, and our comfort never let us forget that you are the one who sustains us. I pray that we glorify you with the way we conduct ourselves and that we do our best to imitate Jesus Christ in our lives. And, it is in His name that we pray. Amen.

Dean Carruthers: Thank you very much. Thank you, Craig. Now, depending upon your allegiance, you may remain standing for the Aggie Fight Song. [Audience Laughter] But if it is just not your cup of tea, why, you can sit down. But, we Aggies are gonna stand for the Aggie Fight Song. Where’s the band?

[The PRIDE of New Mexico marching band performs the NMSU Fight Song.]

[Audience Applause]

And regardless of your preferences, show up to the Aggie football game this Saturday. We play the University of New Mexico Lobos. Both teams have recently decided to take up football. [Audience Laughter] And so, you ought to come out and watch it and have a good time. We’d like to have a stadium full of good folks rooting for either side.

At this time, I’d like to welcome the chairman of the Board of Regents, Mr. Mike Cheney, to come up. Mike’s a longtime friend of mine. He’s currently the Southern New Mexico president of the Bank of the Rio Grande. He is chair of the NMSU Board of Regents. And I think his greatest credential is his wife, Denni, who’s with him today. He is a 1985 graduate of the College of Business at New Mexico State University. Mike— [Audience Applause]

Regent Mike Cheney: Thank you, Garrey. He left out one of the proudest moments of our lives, which is, we welcomed our daughter to the NMSU alumni family this May, so that was fantastic. [Audience Applause]

So, I just want to formally welcome everyone to the fifth annual Domenici Public Policy Conference. In my humble opinion, there’s no better place to be on one of the last days of summer than in beautiful Las Cruces with the opportunity to hear from an outstanding list of speakers that have been assembled for you.

This conference has grown in size and scope throughout the years and has provided a host of speakers and a host of subjects, including: national security, nuclear energy, the U. S. economy, the national debt,