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 sent a message Wednesday allowing the Legislature to discuss streamlining state agencies. The recommendations for what agencies to streamline came from the governor’s Committee on Government Efficiency.
“These are recommendations from the Task Force that I believe should be given a hearing, particularly in light of the current budget streamlining process,” Richardson said in a news release. “They represent opportunities to combine naturally allied functions, reduce redundancies and inefficiencies, and eliminate boards and commissions that are no longer functional or necessary.”
Richardson will allow the streamlining of the following agencies:
- Merging the Department of Aging and Long Term Services Department with the Human Services Department;
- Merging the Department of Homeland Security with the Department of Public Safety;
- Merging the Public Education Department with the Higher Education Department;
- Merging the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department with the Environment Department and the Office of the Natural Resources Trustee;
- Elimination or consolidation of various state boards and commissions.
In 30-day sessions, the state Legislature must receive a message from the governor for a bill to be considered unless the bill is related to the state budget. Then it automatically qualifies for discussion. In 60-day sessions, the Legislature does not need approval from the governor to debate any piece of legislation.
