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.
It was only supposed to be an informational meeting Saturday. But while Senators heard presentations on the state’s budget gap deep divides arose over how to close it.
The House passed tax increases Friday to help shore up the budget shortfall, but those increases will face a huge battle in the Senate.
The resistance surfaced during Saturday’s informational session.
“We’re looking at cutting expenses 1.4 percent and increasing taxes over 6 percent,” argued Sen. Clinton Harden, R-Clovis.
“That’s the resume (the House) wants to run on,” replied Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, hinting to the fact that every member of the House is facing re-election in November.
But Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, praised the House for passing the tax increases.
“I commend my colleagues in the House for doing a what I think is courageous,” Griego said. “If we’re serious about balancing the budget, we need to step up to the plate.”
The divisions over the budget in the Senate are similar to those in the House. However, in the Senate key Democrats could side with Republicans on the state’s fiscal issues, meaning big broad-based tax increases are in jeopardy. One of the measures the House passed Friday would raise the state’s gross receipt tax by half a penny. That means consumers would pay 50 cents more on a $100 purchase.
Another measure clearing the House Friday would require the state’s wealthiest residents to pay an additional 1.5 percent surtax on income they earn. The tax would hit married couples filing jointly earning $200,000. Estimates are that it would raise $66 million.
