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.
Thursday on the live blog, Governor Bill Richardson spoke to the press, Senator Stuart Ingle caused an unusual stir on the opening bill of the session and a man suing the state over corrupt state investment practices appeared in front of a Senate committee.
Richardson held a press conference to announce a green building project by C/D² Enterprises, LLC., in McKinley County. The questions afterward, however, centered on proposals before the state Legislature.
Richardson said, for example, that the state needed targeted spending cuts and revenue of about $200 million. How he would do so is less clear. He again restated his opposition to the food tax, but said “loopholes in that law that involved junk food, that involve soda” could be fixed with taxes. He said he is also open to considering raising the so-called sin taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.
When asked if a 30-day session is the correct time for legalizing domestic partnerships, Richardson said, “I’ve heard every excuse as to why we shouldn’t do it” and said he would push it. He framed it as “an essential civil rights issue.”
On the Senate floor, there was some drama when discussing the feed bill. From the live blog:
Gwyneth Doland (NMI-Sen.): Stuart Ingle is proposing an amendment that would divert $200,000 to an investigation of what happened to the state’s retirement funds.
After about 45 minutes of debate, as Ingle was closing on the bill, he received a message from the governor about a bill to provide oversight and reform for the State Investment Council and withdrew his amendment.
Whistleblower Frank Foy appeared in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee to reiterate allegations of pay to play at the Educational Retirement Board and the State Investment Council. The committee also met with Nan Erdman, an Assistant Attorney General, over whether or not the state should be paying for the defense of those accused by Foy.
At the end of the two hour-plus hearing committee Chairman Cisco McSorley raised the specter of an extraordinary session (a session called by the lawmakers).
Afterward, McSorley said, “This is a harbinger of what this session is going to look like for us.”
