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.
Liberal muckraker and private investigator Michael Corwin, of the Albuquerque-based Independent Source PAC, a liberal political action committee, recently launched a trio of radio spots not merely critical of Governor Susana Martinez and her administration but seemingly intent on exposing…
Gov. Susana Martinez broke rules governing the use of state airplanes, according to a report by KRQE’s investigative reporter. This comes despite Martinez making former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish’s use of the state plane a major campaign issue.
About two dozen Democratic legislators face GOP challengers this November. Fewer than 10 Republican lawmakers confront similar prospects, fending off Democratic challengers. It’s a ratio that causes Republican House Minority Whip Keith Gardner to smile. Two years after Democrats rolled to victory, adding to majorities in the state House and the state Senate, signs are pointing to a year that favors the GOP.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a $26 billion bill that includes extra health care funding — a projected $126 million — and additional education money — $65 million — for New Mexico at a time when the state is in desperate need of a cash infusion. But State Rep. Keith Gardner, R-Roswell, said the move is a Band-Aid that only masks the need to make more cuts.
New Mexico likely will cap the number of New Mexicans who can join a new federal program for hard-to-insure individuals. Only 1,000 to 1,500 New Mexicans could enroll in a federal high-risk pool, which starts July 1 and is the first reform to hit New Mexico from the new health care law. The reason: the pot of money from Washington won’t stretch that far, state officials said.
Republican members of the New Mexico House of Representatives have asked Attorney General Gary King to join a lawsuit that would repeal the health care reform bill. The move mirrors a national trend by some Republican attorneys general who are suing to stop the reforms.
On Wednesday evening, as the House was debating a series of tax increases, five members were missing from the chamber–and not excused, leading to a call of the House. “I believe there was a plan to allow people to leave,” House Minority Whip Keith Gardner said.
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…
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…
While a number of high-profile ethics and transparency measures died as the clock expired on the regular session last week, the New Mexico Legislature also sent a number of significant proposals to the governor for action.
“I’m very disappointed they failed to reach an agreement,” Gov. Bill Richardson said half an hour after the end of the session. “They were very close. It was nip and tuck.”
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…
A bill to authorize $40 million for projects around the state cleared the House early Thursday morning. Lawmakers voted 37 to 31 to fund everything from a Hewlett Packard center in Rio Rancho to a technical support center at
Under the proposal creating a State Ethics Commission a person filing a complaint and then going public could face a $26,000 fine and a year in jail. A public official, on the other hand, found to have violated the public trust would face a censure or public reprimand. The House voted 49 to 15 to pass an ethics commission bill after a relatively short debate in which Democrats swatted away several amendments from Republicans to strengthen the bill.
The fourth try was the charm for the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.
That committee voted 10 to 6 along party lines Thursday evening to pass a bill Wednesday evening viewed as essential to state budget negotiations. The approval followed…
“It’s the worst session I’ve ever experienced and this is my 16th one,” Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque said at The Independent’s panel discussion on Wednesday night. “It’s much more partisan. You know Keith [Gardner, House minority whip] and I usually…
House lawmakers on Wednesday narrowly rejected giving power to state environmental regulators to consider a company’s past crimes and regulatory punishments in other states when deciding whether to revoke or deny an air quality permit. The bill died on the House floor Lawmakers on a 32-33 vote after a lengthy, sometimes testy debate.
Join the staff of The Independent for drinks, snacks and stimulating conversation Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 5 to 8 at Rio Chama Steakhouse. From 5-6 p.m. we’ll mix and mingle. At 6 p.m. we’ll be joined by House Minority…
Those who stopped to take a look at the Legislature’s webcasting page noticed a new option this morning. In addition to being able to hear the debate on the House floor, everyone can now see it.
In a straight party-line vote, the New Mexico House passed a $5.6 billion budget Friday evening. Both sides of the aisle dug deep over a budget that neither is happy with. For Democrats, it was tough decisions over where to…
