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 signed the $5.4 billion state budget today with a few line item vetoes.
The vetoes included $1.9 million in yearly funding and $2.6 million in one-time spending, according to the Associated Press.
“I am proud to sign a budget that cuts government spending while preserving classroom funding and healthcare for the most vulnerable New Mexicans,” said Martinez in a statement sent to the press Friday. “During these difficult times, we have created a balanced a budget that reflects our shared priorities without raising taxes on a single New Mexican and we have demonstrated that education is a top priority by increasing state spending to our schools by roughly $56 million.”
Martinez also signed legislation that was key to the passage of the budget during the legislation session. This includes a $50 million cap on film production tax rebates that was fiercely debated in both the House and Senate.
The film production tax rebate was a large part of Martinez’s agenda during the year. She said this would cut the film production tax rebate by $25 million.
“Without this reduction, we would have faced deep cuts to schools and health care services.”
Another key economic bill that Martinez signed makes changes to the public employees pensions. That will require tens of thousands of state workers to pay 1.75 percent more of their salaries into their pensions, and the state will reduce their funding of pensions by the same amount.
The pension swap will save the state $50 million and will not apply to state employees who make less than $20,000 a year.
Today was the final day for Martinez to make decisions on whether to sign or veto legislation passed during the session. If Martinez does not take action on bills, they will be “pocket vetoed.”
This means that any bills not signed today will be dead until next year’s session.
