cannabisnews.com: GOP Disavows Dendahl Remark 





GOP Disavows Dendahl Remark 
Posted by FoM on March 08, 2001 at 08:06:56 PT
By Loie Fecteau, Journal Politics Writer
Source: Albuquerque Journal
Republican House members moved Tuesday to distance themselves from comments made by their state party chairman in support of proposed drug law reform.  At least a half-dozen of the 28 House Republicans also sided with Democratic House members in criticizing GOP Chairman John Dendahl for calling House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, a "thug enforcer" in a recent state Republican Party news release.
  "Mr. Speaker, Mr. Dendahl does not speak for us. He never has," House Minority Whip Earlene Roberts, R-Lovington, told Lujan on the House floor. "We as a group do not support what Mr. Dendahl said about drugs."  On Monday, Dendahl held a news conference with former Democratic Gov. Toney Anaya to reiterate his support for a package of drug reform bills being pushed by Republican Gov. Gary Johnson. Anaya is a paid lobbyist pushing for enactment of the drug reform bills.  Dendahl's comments on Monday led Rep. Ron Godbey, R-Albuquerque, an outspoken opponent of drug law reform, to call for Dendahl's resignation as GOP chairman.  Dendahl, elected chairman in December 1994, said Tuesday he has no intention of resigning. He said he plans to seek re-election to the GOP leadership post when the state central committee meets May 5.  Meanwhile, some House Republicans Tuesday took issue with Dendahl's use of the term "thug enforcer" to refer to how Lujan and other Democratic House leaders handled a GOP-backed bill that would require voters to show identification at the polls. The bill was gutted by majority Democrats last week in the House Voters and Elections Committee.  "For years, Lujan has been the thug enforcer in the regime of the gone and unlamented Speaker Raymond Sanchez," Dendahl said in a March 2 news release. "Many have held their fingers crossed that Lujan could break with the past, turn over a new leaf and live up to a great leadership opportunity. It's now clear this old dog can perform only the same old tricks."  House Minority Leader Ted Hobbs, R-Albuquerque, was among Republicans who objected Tuesday to Dendahl's use of the term "thug enforcer."  "I don't approve of language like that," Hobbs said in an interview. "We were all upset about the way that voter ID bill was handled, but personal attacks are not the way to go."  Hobbs said the atmosphere at the Capitol has been more collegial since Lujan ascended to the speaker's chair this year, after the defeat of longtime House speaker Raymond Sanchez, D-Albuquerque, in the November general election.  "This is absolutely a more collegial session in terms of respecting and communicating with one another," Hobbs said. "Working with Ben (Lujan) has been good, and it's been good with Richard Romero."  Romero was elected Senate president pro tem on the second day of the session when he and two other Democrats joined with all 18 Senate Republicans to oust Sen. Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, from the leadership post he had held since 1988.  Dendahl said Tuesday he would not apologize. "That's what Ben Lujan was under Ray Sanchez," he said.  Lujan told House members he appreciated their support. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me," Lujan said.Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)Author: Loie Fecteau, Journal Politics WriterPublished: March 7, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Albuquerque JournalAddress: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103Contact: opinion abqjournal.comWebsite: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Related Articles:Republican Lawmaker Says Dendahl Should Resign http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8907.shtmlDendahl's Drug-Law Support Criticizedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8905.shtml
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