Legistlative Committee to Discuss Controversial Racino Deal
Lawmakers want governor’s presence at Rules Committee hearing to discuss racino contract under federal scrutiny.
The state Senate’s Rules Committee wants Gov. Susana Martinez and her top political advisor to appear at a hearing to discuss a racino deal that’s been subject to scrutiny from state and federal investigators, the committee chairwoman wrote in letters this week.
The State Fair Commission and the state Board of Finance, both comprised of Martinez appointees, agreed in 2011 to let the Downs at Albuquerque Racetrack and Casino lease the state fairgrounds for another 25 years. The deal, estimated to bring in an billion in revenue, has drawn attention from state Attorney General Gary King along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.