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.
The House easily approved a bill Wednesday that would temporarily withhold funding from government agencies that don’t submit timely audits. The bill now heads to the Senate, with less than 24 hours until the session ends.
House Bill 228, sponsored by Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela, D-Santa Fe, passed on a vote of 60-5. The legislation would require that the state Department of Finance and Administration temporarily withhold funding to a state agency that has failed to submit required audits to the state auditor.
The bill was sought by State Auditor Hector Balderas, who in September released a list of dozens of state agencies that hadn’t submitted annual and compliance audits as required by law. Even after doing that, many of the agencies ignored Balderas’ call to come into compliance with the law.
Under current law, Balderas has no recourse in that situation. This bill would change that.
