I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The director of New Mexico’s Legislative Finance Committee, David Abbey, has won a national award for his work on budgetary issues.
Abbey was named the 2009 winner of the Legislative Staff Achievement Award by the National Association of Legislative Fiscal Officers, according to a news release.
In addition, Erlinda Campbell, analyst and administrator for the Senate President Pro Tem office, received the leadership staff award for her contributions to the New Mexico Senate and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) leadership staff section.
Abbey, who has been LFC director for 12 years, was recognized “for his work on the solvency plan for the 2009 budget shortfall and for his ongoing work on public policy and the legislative process,” the release states.
New Mexico is one of the few states in which the Legislature proposes a state budget. Abbey, in his role as LFC director, helped legislators develop a package of revenue increases, budget reductions and reversions to help prevent a shortfall, the release states.
In addition, the release states, Abbey and his staff have developed a performance-based budget system that “has become a model for other legislatures,” and a range of materials from post-session reviews to agency report cards that explain the role and status of government and fiscal policies to the public.
Campbell became a member of the NCSL leadership staff section executive committee in 2007 and has served on the outreach, awards and newsletter committees. She was instrumental in planning a national leadership staff professional development seminar that was held in Santa Fe in 2006.
