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WASHINGTON – Jude McCartin, a longtime communications director for Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., has accepted a job as legislative director for Sen.-elect Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who will succeed Bingaman when the new Congress convenes in January.
McCartin, a New York state native, has worked for Bingaman for 14 years handling communications and press duties. Her extensive knowledge of New Mexico policy issues and Senate procedure should be a major asset for Heinrich as he goes to work in the Senate.
TIPS FOR COLBERT: Now that he’s leaving Congress, maybe Bingaman can hit the comedy circuit.
The strait-laced senator – not widely known as humorist – cracked up the studio audience on the “Colbert Report” on Wednesday night. Host Stephen Colbert, a master political satirist, is seeking the open Senate seat in South Carolina as a write-in candidate.
This week, Colbert sought out departing senators to give him advice on how to do the job.
“It’s not exciting as you might expect,” Bingaman told Colbert with a smile. “You’ll fit right in if you don’t expect excitement.”
Colbert recoiled when Bingaman told him the salary for senators is $174,000 a year.
“How do you live?” Colbert said, incredulously. “Do you guys get food stamps?”
Bingaman said he does not, and explained why.
“I don’t, but that’s because I have a wife who has also been very successful in supporting our family,” Bingaman said. “You need to marry rich, for sure.”
Colbert also asked Bingaman whom he needed to cozy up to in order to be a successful senator.
“You need to, first of all, figure out who the major influence organizations are in South Carolina and roll over for them, I would assume,” Bingaman said.
“Do I have to physically roll over like a dog and show them my stomach or can I just vote the way they want me to?” Colbert asked.
“No, I think the voting will probably be adequate,” Bingaman said.
Senate Goodbye: In a more serious forum Thursday, Bingaman delivered his farewell speech on the Senate floor.
“I consider it an honor and a privilege to have represented the people of New Mexico in the Senate for the last 30 years,” Bingaman said, also thanking past and present staff and Senate colleagues.
“Of course I thank my wife, Anne and our son, John, and his wife, Marlene, for their support that allowed me to serve in the Senate,” he said.
“To all my friends and colleagues who will be here in the next Congress and in future Congresses, I hope you can find the common ground necessary for our country to effectively move forward and meet its challenges.”
Email Michael Coleman at mcoleman@abqjournal.com.
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