House approves budget; film incentives next
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UPDATED: On a vote of 35-34, the House passed the budget today, sending it to the Senate for consideration. Continue Reading
Is Martinez lobbying or campaigning?
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Some are complaining that Gov. Susana Martinez remains in campaign mode during the legislative session. Others accuse her of breaking state law by using campaign funds to pay for issue advocacy instead of campaigning. The tension between the two reveals a potential gray area in the law. Continue Reading
How to flame your dragon
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Congratulations, administration and its supporters: Through this unwillingness to engage people with actual knowledge of the film industry, you have sent New Mexico plummeting from a globally respected position of leadership straight into the gutter. Continue Reading
Energy Department staffer, a Dem, misses Schmitt
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The public information officer for the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, a lifelong Democrat, says she was sad to see Republican Harrison Schmitt withdraw his nomination to lead the department because he was doing a good job. Continue Reading
In defense of the film compromise
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The recent bipartisan compromise endorsed unanimously by my colleagues and I on the House Taxation and Revenue Committee demonstrates that New Mexico is still willing to incentivize film production in our state but sets a reasonable limit on the annual negative impact to the state’s general fund. Continue Reading
Senators decry rule on filming, photographing meetings
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UPDATED: Sens. Peter Wirth and Sander Rue went on the radio this morning to decry a rule their colleagues passed that allows committee chairs or ranking members to shut down filming and photographing of public meetings. Continue Reading
Spaceport America has a new director
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The N.M. Spaceport Authority on Monday named retired Air Force civilian employee Christine Anderson to be its executive director. Continue Reading
UNM keeps wining and dining legislators
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“Tight budget doesn’t dampen this party,” declared a headline in the Sunday edition of the Albuquerque Journal. It was referring to the University of New Mexico’s continued wining and dining of legislators during the budget crunch. Continue Reading
Blogger raises questions about small business task force
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Clearly New Mexico’s Tracy Dingmann has obtained some interesting documents related to the governor’s “Small Business-Friendly Task Force” and has some revealing posts about them. Continue Reading
Working to increase transparency and accessibility
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Promoting government transparency and accessibility is what motivates me to publish this site. It’s why I called out senators last week for passing an unconstitutional rule and challenged the governor to expand webcasting. But I need your help to continue doing that work. Continue Reading
Who vets the Senate Rules Committee’s vetters?
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As the secretary-designate for the Energy Department, I agreed to background investigations by both the Rules Committee and the Department of Public Safety. The issue was whether private eyes would be held liable for the misuse of personal and family information. Continue Reading
Senate photography, filming rule gets media coverage
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Following Heath Haussamen’s exchange last week with Sens. John Arthur Smith and Sue Wilson Beffort, the Senate’s controversial rule requiring permission to photograph or film committee meetings is getting some media attention. Continue Reading
Watchdog group concerned about Senate photo, filming rule
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The N.M. Foundation for Open Government sent a letter to Senate committee chairs and ranking members today stating that it is “gravely concerned” that senators are placing “new and unconstitutional restrictions” on people wanting to photograph or film public meetings. Continue Reading
Interesting dynamics in play during budget discussions
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While I’ve been in Santa Fe this week, I’ve been talking to people about the state budget and found that there are some interesting and, in some instances, unconventional dynamics in play. Continue Reading
Martinez will webcast State Investment Council meetings
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Gov. Susana Martinez says her administration is going to webcast meetings of the State Investment Council and some other executive branch boards and commissions, and adds that others should not be prohibited from webcasting such meetings. Continue Reading