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 liberal London daily Morning Star cited New Mexico’s cuts in Medicaid services as a cautionary tale Tuesday for proposed English health system cutbacks, arguing that New Mexico and other states are trying to balance state budgets by slashing medical services for the poor.
“New Mexico is expected to eliminate a number of Medicaid services that are not stipulated by federal law — including dental services, spectacles, emergency hospital services and inpatient psychiatric care,” The Star reported Tuesday. “In the US … the grim consequences are starting to emerge of the cutbacks driven by the recession which has left public-sector budgets drained even as it has made more low-paid and unemployed US citizens dependent on public support.”
New Mexico is not alone in cutting services for its most vulnerable populations, according to an August report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More …
An internal U.S. Department of Energy investigation found that Los Alamos National Laboratory and its federal managers have repeatedly skirted nuclear safety rules at plutonium labs, the Albuquerque Journal reports.
Mexican consul Gustavo de Unanue has accused city…
A spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Richardson has said he’s committed to avoiding layoffs as state government readies for more budget cutting, reports Kate Nash of the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The state Health Department and Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) have agreed to jointly administer the Health Policy Commission (HPC), according to a memorandum of understanding released by the Health Department. More …
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.
When it came from the House, the budget called for $300 million dollars more than the state had. To make the numbers add up the House passed controversial tax measures. But the Senate Finance Committee dropped a surtax on high earners and a temporary increase in the gross receipts tax in favor of reinstating the tax on non-staple foods, cutting education and other measures.
Their voices were clear and their shouts were loud in the Roundhouse rotunda on Tuesday. One week into the legislative session and Better Choices New Mexico wants every law maker to know more budget cuts aren’t the answer. And…
Gov. Bill Richardson demanded Monday that state agencies identify an additional 3 percent of current year operating budgets for potential reduction in the special session tentatively scheduled for October.
The request comes on top of the cuts approved in this…
More than 450 state workers who answer to Gov. Bill Richardson will take a 2-percent pay cut in March. The governor also plans to close his Albuquerque and Las Cruces offices.
That news was in a release just issued…
By a vote of 66-0, the House just passed legislation that would trim more than $100 million from state government to help balance this year’s $6 billion budget.
Much of the trimming will be done at state agencies. And all…
