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.
By most estimates the cost of the 2010 special session is $50,000 a day. It a number that weighs heavy on the minds of law makers as they try to tackle the states budget crunch. “Everyday of the session costs about $50,000,” Rep. Dennis Roch, R-Tucumcari, said Monday. ”That’s enough to pay one full time teacher for a year.”
Many lawmakers waited in the House and Senate chambers Monday as the expected start time for the 2010 special session came and went. At the heart of the delay, and the debate, is how to fix the state’s budget gap.
“The barriers to getting a budget are no different today than they were at the end of the regular session,” said Rep. Roch.
The divide between tax increases and budget cuts are just two of the disagreements among lawmakers. Among those who are looking at tax increases there are also divisions over how to raise them.
“There’s definitely folks who philosophically agree and disagree with parts of the package and we still see that,” said Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces.
“We’re doing what I think people expect, we’re duking it out over the details,” Steinborn said. All the divisions and factions lead to the question of whether or not lawmakers can get the job done in time. They have budgeted for three days of the special session but no one seems to know exactly how long it all will take, ”That is the million dollar question, actually the $50,000-a-day question,” said Rep. Steinborn.
In the video below, Reps. Steinborn and Roch discuss the special session, where its going and why, so far its not going there very fast:
