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.
Susana Martinez needs a jolt to push her ahead of Allen Weh in June, and past Democrat Diane Denish in November. And depending who you ask, Sarah Palin’s endorsement might just be the lightning strike Martinez she needed. On the same day a major poll showed Martinez in a virtual tie with Weh, the 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate offered her support to the Doña Ana County D.A.
It took some time, but wireless internet access is now a part of the New Mexico Rail Runner. One week into public access and the reviews seem to be good.
It took a 30-day regular session and almost three days of a special session to hammer it out, but New Mexico finally has its budget for the 2011 fiscal year. After debating the measure for about two hours Wednesday night,…
Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said Wednesday that the Senate omnibus tax bill, including a food tax, is so key to fixing the state’s budget that if fails to pass the House cleanly (without amendments), “Then it’s back to…
Just after midnight, the House passed a bill that would add 75 cents to the cost of a pack of cigarettes—including smokes sold on tribal lands. The bill, which is estimated to bring in $33 million, has been called the cornerstone…
“One thing that is clear, its not gray its black and white, Jesus was with the poor, and this is an attack on the poor,” said Allen Sanchez of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, moments after…
The numbers are big and the money bigger, but the bottom line is New Mexico could find $280 million to help fix its budget. Rep. Dennis Roch, R-Tucumcari will try to bring an amendment to the state budget bill that…
Think New Mexico delivered more than 500 letters opposing the food tax to Governor Richardson Tuesday morning.
For the second time in less than a month the New Mexico House has stubbed out a cigarette tax. On Monday night the House Taxation and Revenue Committee voted not to pass along a bill that would have added 75…
By most estimates the cost of the 2010 special session is $50,000 a day. It a number that weighs heavy on the minds of law makers as they try to tackle the states budget crunch. “Everyday of the…
The New Mexico Independent has obtained a draft copy of the proclamation which will call lawmakers into a special session at 1 o’clock Monday afternoon. The copy obtained is headlined with large handwritten letters: ‘Draft: Work in Progress.’
The proclamation outlines the issues lawmakers will be tackling this special session, and according to the copy obtained by the Independent the special session will be limited to budget matters only and includes few surprise. One surprise, however, is the idea of a temporary tax amnesty program.
In the town of Silver City, there are four city employees who might be considered ‘double dippers,’ including the city police chief, Mayor James Marshall told The Independent Thursday. ”These people put in their service and get paid…
Legislative leaders were at the Roundhouse Thursday for a third day of “intense, behind-closed-doors talks and one key Senator said they were almost exactly in the same place they were when the session ended a week ago.
There are a lot of closed doors at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, and presumably behind some of them leaders are talking about how to solve the states budget crisis. Among them are House Republican leaders, who say they…
“It would be a case of us asking everyone who comes in ‘Are you 21?’ and ‘Are you carrying a concealed firearm?” Al Lucero of Maria’s restaurant in Santa Fe said Monday of a bill that would allow concealed weapons in restaurants that serve beer and wine. Meanwhile, John Nardine, the general manager at Upper Crust pizza in Santa Fe, told The Independent: “I just think it’s a really bad idea.”
On Wednesday evening it became clear lawmakers didn’t have a budget deal, Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe said, while speaking to reporters after the close of the 2010 regular session. Democratic leaders say the difference between their budget and the Senate’s was narrowed to $50-$70 million dollars but there were still sticking points they couldn’t overcome.
At the end of the 2010 session there was little that would make anyone happy. But the failure to pass a budget and an impending special session left House Republicans particularly frustrated. “I feel like we ended in…
Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, says a special session is now a “certainty” because the Legislature “just flat ran out of time” to come up with a budget compromise.
Just before the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, House Republicans tried to bring a dead veto override to life. Just as the House was getting ready to adjourn and discuss budget issues in committees, Rep. Paul Bandy, R-Aztec tried…
The aim of the bill is to stop potential state contractors from donating money to public officials while they hold or are seeking a state contract. But the sponsor, Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, says an amendment to the bill…
