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.
House Bill 118, a measure that would prevent registered lobbyists, state contractors and agencies seeking subsidies from making contributions to state candidates, was tabled in committee Thursday, but supporters say it’s a temporary setback. The bill would also make nonprofits that engage in partisan activities disclose their donors.
Talking about the status quo, Fred Nathan, director of Think New Mexico, a non-profit group pushing hard for the bill, said: “We think it’s hypocritical, we think it’s unfair and we think it’s wrong.”
Representatives from the League of Women Voters and Common Cause New Mexico also stood up in support of the bill. Opposing the measure was the ACLU, arguing the bill “impinges directly on the freedom of speech.”
The bill came before the House Voters and Elections Committee on Thursday, but a substitute bill complicated things. Several of the members of the committee had signed on to support the bill but once the substitute was brought out, so were members’ reservations.
“We get a substitute bill dumped on us, first thing in the morning, and no time to read it,” said Rep. Kathy McCoy, R-Cedar Crest, adding “I would rather sit down at a quiet time to read this.”
The committee agreed, voting unanimously to table the bill until the substitute can go through the vetting process.
Supporters say the move is a fair one, and they fully believe the new bill will be heard again on Tuesday. If it clears House Voters and Elections it would have to go through another committee before reaching the house floor.
