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 aim of the bill is to stop potential state contractors from donating money to public officials while they hold or are seeking a state contract. But the sponsor, Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, says an amendment to the bill is a ‘poison pill’ and she is not sure she still wants the bill to move forward.
Senate bill 28 passed the Senate on a 33-8 vote, but while in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, an amendment brought by Rep. Paul Bandy, R-Aztec excluded those seeking or holding oil and gas contracts from the bill.
“This is a terrible thing, this is really not the intention, ” Feldman said.
Rep. Bandy told The Independent that oil and gas contracts are different from typical state contracts.
“In these contracts, people pay the state, the state doesn’t pay them,” he said.
Oil and gas contracts pertain to land use and then companies pay New Mexico by what they produce, Bandy said, adding that some companies hold a contract for decades, and would therefore be prohibited from contributing for that whole time.
Updated 10:30pm: After getting a chance to review the complete mark up of SB 28 she feels the bill is worth moving forward with. “On balance I believe it’s a step forward,” Sen. Feldman said.
