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.
Gov. Susana Martinez outlined some of her goals for the 2011 legislative session Tuesday in her first State of the State address at the state Legislature. Martinez also said that she would veto any tax increases that pass the legislature.
In the House chambers, Martinez emphasized the state budget deficit, saying “New Mexico is in the state of financial crisis.”
Martinez began with a conciliatory tone, saying that “the challenges that confront us cannot be overcome by simply replacing one party with another. They can only be overcome when Republicans and Democrats – the Governor and the Legislature – come together to put New Mexico first.”
“We pledge to work with the new governor to get things done, achieve these goals and keep our state growing,” Rep. Rhonda King, D-Stanley, and Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, said in the Democrats’ response. “We pledge this because the people of New Mexico deserve nothing less.”
Martinez went on to say that politicians previously had “shirk[ed] responsibility and avoid[ed] tough decisions.” She promised “no more shell games, no more rosy projections.”
The state budget deficit is between $260 million and $450 million depending on which projection is cited. The Legislative Finance Committee assumes cuts from last year would be continued while the executive budget proposal does not.
Martinez reiterated her support for reinstating the 2009 death penalty repeal, rolling back environmental regulations put in place under former Gov. Bill Richardson and expanding Katie’s Law to collect DNA from all those arrested for felonies.
But much of Martinez’s speech focused on the economy.
“We must not sugarcoat it, New Mexico is in a state of financial crisis,” Martinez said. “We face an historic budget deficit that will require candor to address and courage to resolve.”
Martinez said that any tax increases or “revenue enhancements” will be vetoed. She specifically cited “taxing the Internet,” or a proposal for an internet sales tax which was discussed last year.
Martinez said that companies will often choose where to relocate based on a “state’s tax structure and regulatory policies.”
One of Martinez’s new plans is to grade public schools and put the grades on the web. This is similar to a program in Florida, where Hanna Skandera served as deputy commissioner of education for two years.
Martinez also opposed “social promotion, the practice of passing children from one grade to the next before they have mastered the basics.”
“We believe public education is not only a right; it’s a promise to our children and grandchildren,” the Democrats responded. “We must make sure all our children have the opportunity to succeed.”
Martinez said, “I support the film industry and support maintaining the incentive at 15 percent.” Currently, the film incentives stand at 25 percent.
Martinez specifically went after pit rule 17 and “cap-and-tax,” or recently passed cap-and-trade regulations.
Martinez said that she will base “environmental regulations on sound science – not on political ideology.” Martinez has said that she has doubts that “the science completely supports” global warming.
The governor also said that she will encourage hiring by small businesses by covering part of new workers’ salaries for six months through the state unemployment fund.
As part of a plan to end corruption, Martinez said that she supports banning members of the administration and legislature from lobbying for two years after leaving state government and that she “signed an executive order prohibiting state agencies from hiring lobbyists.”
Perhaps breaking from the ranks of legislators who argue against ethics reforms by saying “you can’t legislate ethics,” Martinez said, “Corruption is a crime, not an ethical dilemma. Those guilty of corruption are criminals and they should be treated as such.”
She said those found guilty of corruption should be removed from office, serve prison time and have their pensions taken away.
Martinez also once again said that she supports an expansion of Katie’s Law, which would require taking DNA from all of those arrested of felonies. Former state Rep. Dan Foley said on KNME after the address that he believed there would be tea party opposition to such an expansion.
A number of states around the country already have this provision. Currently, Katie’s Law only applies to those arrested of some violent crimes.
One area that the Democrats’ response touched on, but Martinez’s State of the State did not, was higher education. “They provide high-wage jobs in our communities and they also provide the opportunity for our citizens to receive training to increase job skills that they might not otherwise have access to,” Rep. King and Sen. Lopez said.
Some other areas were noticeably absent from Martinez’s address. Martinez did not talk about her opposition to medical marijuana, nor did she mention the Rail Runner or the issue of gay rights.
