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 tactics Gov. Susana Martinez used to push for revoking drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, including the use of campaign funds on radio ads, is raising eyebrows — and calls for an investigation. Common Cause New Mexico is asking the Attorney General to look into whether this use of funds breaks New Mexico state election law.
“The Campaign Reporting Act places strict limitations on how campaign funds can be used,” said Steven Robert Allen, executive director of CCNM, in a statement Wednesday. “Funding this kind of lobbying advertisement seems to be a clear violation of this statute.”
The immigrants-rights group Somos un Pueblo Unido has also called for an investigation as well.
Martinez defended the use of the funds today, telling KUNM, “I don’t have anything to worry about in the sense of they were campaign funds.”
“Tax dollars were not spent in any way for any of that. And in fact the Secretary of State has said it was completely appropriate,” Martinez continued.
Martinez has also sent staffers with video cameras to committee rooms for her legislative priorities, which some legislators said amounted to an attempt to intimidate them. This led the Senate to say that committee chairs have the ability to ban video cameras from committee hearings.
