Asked by state Rep. Debbie Rodella for an opinion on what's a legitimate campaign expense and what's vote-buying, Attorney General Gary King came up with a critique of state law along with legal-scholarly response:

There's no "bright line" between the two in New Mexico statutes. But Rodella, the wily political veteran, should read between the lines of the entire King opinion:

What he's really saying is "use your head."

Rodella, who has represented La Mesilla and vicinity down around Española for most of two decades, is given to giving out money — $50 here, a hundred there — to folks she figures could use it; funeral expenses, a phone card for a college student headed out of town, things like that.

"Random acts of kindness" is how the representative coyly characterizes her largesse.

She's performed such acts often enough to raise eyebrows, and questions of impropriety — mainly because it isn't her own money she's giving away; it's her campaign fund, replenished from time to time by big interests who'd like her to think kindly of them when key legislation comes up.

So to head off further charges, or perhaps just to get her head straight, Rodella asked the AG's office to clear things up.

Can she use campaign money on a Christmas party? A pizza party? How 'bout buying lunch for a bunch of people?

State law being vague on such specifics, about all King could do was cite passages and put them into context. "At no time," he said, "should there be any understanding, express or implied, that voters should vote in a certain manner" as a quid pro quo.

Well of course not. And perish the thought that those favored with passed-along campaign money would have to vote for Rodella on the rare occasions she draws opposition to her re-election. Not that anyone knows what happens in the privacy of voting, such as it is. Yet there on the ballot is the name "Debbie Rodella." Kind Debbie Rodella. Generous Debbie Rodella, who's going to get votes from our whole family for going out of her way to give us that hundred bucks at grandpa's funeral ...

This kind of behavior has been going on for years — notably in places like the Louisiana of legendary Huey and Earl Long, in the Chicago of the first Richard Daley, and in south Texas counties of the Lyndon Johnson era. In other words, during days long, and well, past.

Not that such stuff isn't still going on today in those places — but crusading political reformers and reporters have helped keep it to a low roar. And here in New Mexico, Rep. Rodella has at least made a good tactical move by raising the issue with the Attorney General.

And to the extent that King's office could point out the existence of what the opinion called "an illegal inducement," he has cleared her campaign-glazed view of handouts. His opinion should serve as warning to many another político who might want to play Lady Bountiful with campaign contributions.