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 House stayed past midnight at the Roundhouse early Thursday morning to concur with changes that the Senate made to the budget and the film incentive cap, but the body failed to concur on the changes the Senate made on the retirement “swaps” legislation. The House will ask the Senate to recede from their amendments, and if the Senate doesn’t, the two houses would have a conference committee to iron out their differences.
If the two chambers cannot agree on changes, the budget will have a $110 million hole. The Gov. Susana Martinez would then have to veto $110 million from the budget.
Opponents of the retirement swap legislation have said that it is balancing the state’s budget on the backs of state workers. Supporters say it’s necessary to balance the budget in tough economic times.
The legislation would require state workers to contribute more to their state retirement plans and reduce the amount the state contributes to these plans.
Two years ago, the state required workers to contribute 1.5 percent more to their pension plans and reduced the amount the state would contribute. This bill, HB 628, would add 1.75 percent to that amount. The sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Donald Bratton, R-Hobbs, was concerned that the Senate did not make the increase permanent and urged members to vote against concurring with the Senate’s version of the legislation.
A majority of the House, however, did earlier vote to concur with the Senate versions of the budget and film incentives.
The budget did not undergo major changes in the Senate, and after a brief debate the House concurred with the changes on a 36-32 vote. The bill will now head to the governor’s desk where she will decide whether to sign the bill as it is, veto it or, more likely, make line-item vetoes of areas she does not agree with.
The budget reduces overall spending by around $152 million for the upcoming fiscal year. State spending will be reduced by 2.7 percent.
Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said he thought the process of creating the budget was flawed and voiced his concern that Martinez said she would consider any revenue-raising ideas. Egolf mentioned combined reporting, which would tax out-of-state corporations on business done in New Mexico. Currently these companies can avoid paying state taxes.
Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell, has long been an opponent of the film incentives and opposed the Senate’s move to increase the film cap to $50 million. He also said he did not agree with the decision to vote on concurring with the Senate’s version of the budget before the other two financial bills that many say are key to balancing the budget this year.
On a 51-17 vote, the House voted to concur with the Senate changes on the film amendment, and send the legislation to Martinez’s desk.
This year’s legislative session ends at noon on Saturday, Mar. 19.
