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 state legislature and Gov. Susana Martinez will begin the 2011 session today with some big ticket items — including, most notably, a state budget deficit that’s estimated to be anywhere from $200 and $400 million. Martinez has vowed to fill the gap without raising taxes or making cuts to either classroom education or Medicaid.
Martinez will outline her hopes for the 60-day session in her first State of the State address at 12:30 today.
During the gubernatorial campaign, Martinez promised not to make cuts to education or Medicaid. As governor, Martinez has suggested a 1.5 percent cut to education and said that it should all come from “the bureaucracy,” or the administrative side of the ledger, rather than from the classrooms. Teachers and students held a large rally at the state capitol Monday to protest the cuts, which they say will harm education.
Another high-profile battle looms over film-production tax credits. Martinez has proposed rolling back the incentives that help bring film and TV jobs to the state. Martinez and many Republicans claim, however, that this unfairly subsidizes the film industry and costs the state more money than it brings in. Martinez has talked about rolling the tax credits back but has said that discussion of other tax credits is off the table.
The Legislative Finance Committee and the governor were also at odds over how to fund corrections. While the LFC suggested slashing nearly $11 million from the corrections program, Martinez is seeking a much smaller cut.
Other action items include Martinez’s plans, which face opposition from Democrats, to roll back environmental rules. Martinez has voiced opposition to the controversial pit rule for oil and gas providers which was put in place during Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration. She suggested cutting $3 million, or more than 20 percent, of the budget of the Environment Department and nominated Harrison Schmitt, who does not believe that global warming is real, to head the energy department. The position is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
There is intrigue in the House as well. A high profile battle over the Speaker of the House spot will end today. Speaker of the House Ben Luján, D-Nambé, may be ousted in favor of a coalition of Republicans and southern New Mexico Democrats in favor of more conservative Democratic Representative Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces.
However, tea party groups from around the state are urging that Republicans nominate a Republican and stand unanimously behind him or her.
A similar coalition has made Sen. Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, Senate president pro tem for the last two sessions. Jennings was elected by a coalition of 15 Republicans and 8 Democrats last year over Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa.
