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.
Gov. Bill Richardson demanded Monday that state agencies identify an additional 3 percent of current year operating budgets for potential reduction in the special session tentatively scheduled for October.
The request comes on top of the cuts approved in this year’s budget. The request is part of the governor’s broader plan to balance the budget, which will be unveiled in early September, according to a press release sent out Monday by Richardson’s office.
The release said Richardson was urging other branches of state government not under his control to work up similar plans to cut budgets by up to 3 percent.
Richardson will present the budget-balancing plan to an executive-legislative working group being formed to negotiate ideas prior to a special session, the release said. It went on to explain that Richardson’s plan will not increase taxes and will not significantly impact services to the public
“We will all have to make additional sacrifices, but I believe we can close the existing budget gap in a fiscally responsible way, without increasing taxes,” Richardson said in the release. “The purpose of submitting my plan is simply to start the discussion. Nothing is etched in stone. I welcome the Legislature’s input.”
Richardson has appointed five members of the executive branch to the working group: Finance & Administration Secretary Katherine Miller, Taxation and Revenue Secretary Rick Homans, Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Witt, Deputy Chief of Staff Paul Ritzma and Deputy Secretary of Finance & Administration Dannette Burch.
