Domenici: Reflections On Good Old Saint Pete

By Jon Schwedler, 12-20-07

For the past several months the New Mexico has busied itself with maudlin lamentations over the retirement of six-term Senator “Saint” Pete Domenici, who announced he wanted to spend more time with his favorite oil well.

It didn’t take long for the circus to start, with the state media latching onto the retirement story like tiger sharks circling a fat man slathered in cod oil clinging to a raft. They interviewed Domenici colleagues, neighbors, family members, and even dug up one of his old elementary school teachers in Albuquerque.

“Was he a good boy?”

“Yes.”

(I thought the reporter was going to spike the microphone after that news coup.  Lindbergh baby, move aside!)

But here’s the rub: Was Domenici actually a good Senator?

This question may be more immediate to me than most people because I live near the Pete Domenici University of New Mexico Health Center.  And while I don’t doubt some Domenici earmark helped pay for that building, I happened to be walking by it the same day Domenici led a filibuster to prevent the energy bill that “would have extended incentives for wind and solar energy and reduced some tax breaks for oil companies.”

In other words, Domenici’s actions led the Senate to preserve the oil companies’ stranglehold over our public health, economy, quality of life, and national security. As Senator Dick Durbin said: “The oil companies are celebrating in their boardrooms.”

It made me wonder how big the waiting room is at the UNM Pete Domenici Health Center, because it is estimated that health-hazards related to the burning of fossil fuels will cause 8 million avoidable deaths by 2020— from asthma, heart conditions, and other air-pollution related illnesses. 

And that’s not even considering the health effects of global warming, which are likely to cause what my two-year old son calls, “ouch-booboos.”

Here’s another measure of Domenici’s questionable “sainted” status:  Would you say our energy situation has improved over the past 30 years?  Because Pete has been on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee for 30 years, even serving as its Chair for a handful of recent years.

For example, the price of a gallon of gas in 1972, Domenici’s first year on the sub-committee, was $1.50 (in 2007 dollars).  By a show of hands, how many of you would still like to be paying $1.50 for gas?

After 30 years of being deeply engaged in energy issues, you would think Domenici would have learned something, even if he only cared about national security.  But his latest action to knee-cap alternative energy initiatives is a perfect example of what is wrong with our government today— too many dinosaurs running the show, getting fat on K Street money.  Domenici hasn’t quite said that alternative energy is “a series of tubes” – a la Senator Stevens – but you get the feeling these guys eat at the same lunch table. 

But, of course, not everybody takes such a dim view of Sen. Domenici.  The fossil fuel companies love old Saint Pete.  In fact, they loved him so much, they bought the Senator!  They’re his top career contributor, with more than $1 million going to Pete’s pockets.

Maybe it’s me.  Maybe I’m just cranky.  After all, Domenici has not solely focused on smogging up our nation’s energy picture.

For instance, last year he sponsored Senate Bill 3681: “A bill to amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 to provide that manure shall not be considered to be a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”

Good old Saint Pete.  Even his manure don’t pollute.

Editor’s note: Jon Schwedler’s blogs are part of NewWest.Net/Politics’ “Diary of a Mad Voter” feature, a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post’s Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the ‘08 election cycle. For more columns check in with www.newwest.net/madvoter. And for more information on each of the bloggers, click here.