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.
State lawmakers should have judged Neri Holguin on her professional qualifications, not her past political work, Gov. Bill Richardson said Tuesday, after the Senate rejected his nominee to the state Environmental Improvement Board by a vote of 17…
Lively debate preceded the Senate’s Wednesday vote in favor (23-15) on SB 148, which prohibits insurance companies from using gender as a factor in determining health insurance rates.
A bill that would allow same-day voter registration at early voting sites cleared the Senate Rules Committee on a 4-3 party-line vote. The committee turned back an attempt to require government-issued photo ID when registering at early voting sites.
A major transparency bill that would create a “sunshine portal” passed the Senate unanimously Friday afternoon. The sunshine portal is described as an online version of the state’s checkbook, showing information about state spending, including state contracts and state employee…
A 25 percent excise tax on medical marijuana could potentially raise about $1.2 million dollars for the state, according to the Legislative Finance Committee’s fiscal impact report of Sen. John Sapien’s bill, SB 56. But in a response…
During a panel discussion hosted by the New Mexico Independent Wednesday night, New Mexico State Sen. John Sapien signaled a willingness to compromise on a proposed 25 percent excise tax on medical marijuana. Also during the discussion, Sapien,…
On Wednesday, Jan. 27, The New Mexico Independent will host the second in a series of Legislature-related events at Rio Chama Steakhouse in Santa Fe. We’ll begin shortly after 6 p.m. with refreshments (the food is free, the booze…
Lawmakers negotiating a budget fix with Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday that cuts greater than the 3 percent he’s proposed may be necessary, and they also want to consider cutting funding for education.
The lawmakers who are involved in…
NMI and the Santa Fe Reporter’s SFReeper.com cohosted a webcast and live blog from the New Mexico State Senate on Friday. During this session, the Senate passed a death penalty repeal and a resolution that will implement webcasting as soon as possible. Click the headline to read the transcript.
Two senators introduced compromise webcasting legislation late Tuesday, keeping alive the hopes that live audio and video of the Senate’s proceedings could become available online before the end of the session.
Could Barack Obama have Election Day coattails long enough to reach down into the New Mexico Legislature? That’s certainly the hope of state Democrats — and the fear of at least a few Republicans. Thanks to clever redistricting, most seats in the 112-member body have remained remarkably stable for years. But at least a few are drawing intense interest, and money, in this election cycle.
