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.
High-powered lawmakers are in Santa Fe today trying to persuade Gov. Bill Richardson to delay the special session planned for tomorrow.
House leadership is already meeting with Richardson, said Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, and chairman of the…
A majority of states–New Mexico included–are tapping into rainy-day funds to get through this year, reports Stateline.org.
Last week the New Mexico Legislature failed to craft a budget for next year because of disagreements between legislative leaders. But…
“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.”
HB 150, the House version of the Hispanic Education Act passed the Senate Wednesday by a vote of 25-13. But because of an amendment by Sen. Linda Lopez, the bill must go back to the House before it…
Message to New Mexico state lawmakers: Don’t take off next week if New Mexico remains without a state budget for next year.
Gov. Bill Richardson told media Tuesday he’d call state lawmakers back into special session if they don’t…
The controversial domestic partnership bill, SB 183, which was scheduled to head to the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday before going before the Senate Finance Committee is instead headed straight for Finance. Senate Majority Floor Leader
Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced what looks to be a competitor to the House’s budget bill. HB7 is the state budget bill. SB 228 is a near mirror image,…
Gov. Bill Richardson sent a message Wednesday allowing the Legislature to discuss streamlining state agencies. The recommendations for what agencies to streamline came from the governor’s Committee on Government Efficiency.
What will become one of the best-read bills during this session dropped in the Senate Monday afternoon. It would cancel funding for more than 1,500 brick-and-mortar projects around the state
The first day of the 2010 session ended as it began: with no clear plan to solve New Mexico’s worst budget troubles in decades. If past experience is any guide, the budget negotiations will come fits and starts over the next four weeks, with bouts of frustration interspersed with glimmers of hope.
Below is a copy of the governor’s speech:
Before we begin, let me say that the thoughts and prayers of every New Mexican are with the people of Haiti during this terrible disaster.
What we don’t hold in…
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish says she will not raise money during the upcoming session of the Legislature, continuing a voluntary policy she’s practiced during her time in office.
By law, the governor and lawmakers can’t raise money during legislative…
With progressives gaining seats and influence in the New Mexico Legislature in recent years, the Albuquerque Journal takes a look today at what this group of lawmakers is all about:
“These Democratic lawmakers have defined themselves as a new breed…
Thirty-six states confront budget shortfalls totaling $28 billion this year according to an analysis by the National Conference of State Legislatures, Stateline.org reports today. New Mexico is listed in the report as struggling with one of the worst budget…
Gov. Bill Richardson on Thursday said he would order nearly 20,000 state workers to take five furlough days. He also pledged to axe 1,000 vacant state jobs and make cuts at the agencies under his control. But state lawmakers said he could have averted some of the pain by taking action earlier this year.
During last month’s special legislative session Richardson prohibited state lawmakers from repealing past tax cuts or raising taxes. But on Monday he said tax increases will be needed when state lawmakers convene in January to address perhaps New Mexico’s most serious financial challenge in decades.
Gov. Bill Richardson’s proclamation defines what the Legislature can work on during the special session. It contains this sentence:
Legislation concerning the object of this proclamation Shall not include measures reducing salaries or raising tax rates, reducing or eliminating tax credits,
…
On the eve of the legislative special session in Santa Fe, the Capitol is eerily quiet.
Top Democratic and Republican lawmakers were behind closed doors earlier in the day going over the budget, but it’s unclear when they’ll meet with…
As New Mexico lawmakers prepare for Saturday’s special legislative session to deal with this year’s large budget shortfall, Gov. Bill Richardson and some lawmakers have repeatedly said that repealing the state’s income tax cuts isn’t an option — not…
The New Mexico Legislature goes into special session Saturday to address a yawning budgetary shortfall of around $700 million for the year that ends July 1. And Gov. Bill Richardson and powerful state lawmakers are still debating how exactly…
