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.
Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia unexpectedly withdrew her support for Gov. Susana Martinez’ effort to end social promotion during the special session Monday. The Governor had asked the Doña Ana County Democrat to appear at a press conference Monday based on her prior support for such a bill, but she had a sudden change of heart.
It’s premature,” Garcia said of the bill. She pointed out that taxpayers will have to fork out about $50,000 a day for legislators to attend the special session, and she stressed it’s not the right time to push for educational reform, given the need to focus on redistricting of political boundaries based on the latest census numbers.
News conferences are usually highly scripted affairs with few surprises, so Garcia’s last-minute change of heart telegraphed the uphill climb that Martinez and her team may face in lobbying lawmakers to pass the social-promotion bill.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk to you beforehand. But I made this decision just last night,” Garcia said to Martinez. “I was mobbed with calls from everybody, saying, ‘You can’t do that. You can’t take away a parent’s rights. We don’t want our kids to be held back. We want them to go on and achieve.’ ”
In response, the Republican Party of New Mexico issued a scathing press release:
- Democrat Majority Whip Senator Mary Jane Garcia (D-Dona Ana) once again proved that no cheap shot is below her. Today, after committing to support the bill to end social promotion — the practice of passing one child to the next grade before they have learned the basics — Garcia backed out in a press conference announcing the bill.
