New Mexico’s veto problem
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The New Mexico veto system is dysfunctional, and it’s time to consider a permanent fix. Continue Reading
Lawmakers sue to try to overturn 10 Martinez vetoes
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The lawsuit asks a district court to overturn the governor’s vetoes and compel the secretary of state to chapter the bills into law. Continue Reading
An ethics commission? Not quite.
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The Legislature has ample time and opportunity to let the people of New Mexico know what powers, duties and scope they intend to give the commission before we enter the voting booth in November 2018. Continue Reading
State finds a temporary budget deal, but uncertainty and division remain
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Policymakers avoided resolving a standoff over budget cuts and tax hikes this week by covering New Mexico’s fiscal woes with a Band-Aid. Continue Reading
Governor ‘pleased’ with ‘agreement on the budget’
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If a new statement from Gov. Susana Martinez is any indication, policymakers who’ve been in a standoff over the state budget for months may have found a path forward. Continue Reading
Fate of state budget in governor’s hands, for now
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Lawmakers are leaving themselves an opportunity to come back next week and respond to possible vetoes or other action by the governor. Continue Reading
Here’s how the special session is likely to end
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The likely scenario would leave the state with essentially no money in reserves for the new fiscal year, at best. And then the question would be what Gov. Susana Martinez does. Continue Reading
Read Rep. Harper’s 430-page tax reform bill here
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Click on the headline to read the massive bill, which the public hadn’t seen before Wednesday. Continue Reading
NMSU’s Carruthers asks for funding, stability for higher education
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Garrey Carruthers detailed for lawmakers on Wednesday the “collateral damage” Gov. Susana Martinez’s veto has caused at NMSU. Continue Reading
GOP blocks attempt to override higher education, legislative vetoes
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The override attempt landed with a thud in both the House and Senate in the opening moments of the special session of the N.M. Legislature on Wednesday. Continue Reading
Public hasn’t yet seen massive tax-reform bill governor wants
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A top transparency advocate said there’s a lot at stake, and the public should have access to information and the decision-making process. Continue Reading
It’s special session time! Here’s what you need to know.
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A legislative special session aimed at resolving a budget standoff and restoring funding for higher education and the Legislature begins at noon Wednesday. Continue Reading
Tax tobacco and alcohol, not food and medicine
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New Mexicans prefer increasing taxes on harmful luxuries like alcohol and tobacco rather than imposing new taxes on necessities like food and medicine. Continue Reading
Pension raid proposal is nothing more than grandstanding
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House Republicans say they want to take money from their own retirements, which sounds quite noble. But the reality is very different. Continue Reading
Loophole and vague laws create ambiguity in lobbyist reporting
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New Mexico lobbyists and their employers reported spending more than $690,000 during the first four months of the year, but whether that’s everything they spent is anyone’s guess. Continue Reading