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 tax cut deal which includes extending tax cuts for Americans making more than $250,000 a year is still going on right now due to inclement weather across the country but it already has more than enough votes to pass. The deal passed the Senate 83-15.
Among those who voted against invoking cloture, or ending debate and allowing a final up-and-down vote on the bill, is New Mexico’s senior senator, Jeff Bingaman. Sen. Tom Udall voted to invoke cloture on the deal made between the White House and Republican members of the Senate.
“While I still have serious concerns with the package, there has been adequate time to study it and now we must do our jobs and vote,” Udall said in a statement explaining his vote to invoke cloture. “I have continually fought against obstruction and needless delay in the Senate and refuse to contribute to our dysfunction by voting to delay further this bill’s consideration.”
“This bill does have some useful provisions to stimulate the economy, and I do strongly support extending tax cuts to New Mexicans who need it most. But this bill goes further than that,” Bingaman said in a statement. “It extends tax cuts to the highest earners and adds a substantial estate tax cut that will make it very difficult for the next Congress to act in a responsible way to our serious deficit situation,” For those reasons, I could not support it.”
The deal would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for all income levels for two years. It would also extend unemployment benefits for 13 months and temporarily cut the 6.2 percent payroll tax to 4.2 percent. The bill would also set the estate tax at 35 percent on estates of over $5 million.
Bingaman and Udall previously voted to extend tax cuts for those making under $250,000. That effort to invoke cloture received the votes of a majority of Senators but failed to reach the 60 votes necessary to restrict debate and have an up-and-down vote on the legislation.
