GOP DISAVOWS DENDAHL REMARK

SANTA FE -- 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.