Legislature resists efforts to rein in payday loans
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Since 2010, at least 11 bills that would have capped interest rates on storefront lenders have met quiet deaths without ever making it out of their initial committees. Continue Reading
Moratorium on charter schools heads to full House
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A committee voted along party lines Saturday to temporarily halt the creation of any new charter schools. Continue Reading
Dems block ban on mandatory union fees after impassioned debate
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New Mexico will not become the nation’s 29th “right-to-work” state, at least not this year. Continue Reading
Committee OKs bill to change whistleblower law
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Sen. Candelaria’s amended bill would put a new requirement in the law that government employees exhaust certain administrative remedies prior to filing a whistleblower claim in court. Continue Reading
Patient strapped to gurney signs form, gets big bill later
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Mary Jo Oxford’s experience is not unique for emergency patients who receive a surprise bill from a company or a specialty provider not under the umbrella of their insurance network. Continue Reading
We must resist protectionist border policies
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We must continue to support the North American Free Trade Agreement. Continue Reading
Martinez orders agencies to consolidate human resources
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Martinez wrote that centralizing and streamlining human resources divisions will improve service to employees and reduce costs. Continue Reading
Latest attempt to cap storefront loans clears committee
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The bill would cap interest rates for many small storefront loans in New Mexico at 175 percent. Continue Reading
Spare schools from further cuts, superintendents plead
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At least 41 of New Mexico’s 89 school superintendents stood outside the state Capitol on a windy, bone-chilling Friday afternoon to deliver a message of desperation. Continue Reading
House OKs legislation that would consolidate most local elections
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Proponents say consolidating most local elections, including those for cities and school districts, would increase voter turnout. Continue Reading
Senators quiz, then confirm, new state Corrections chief
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Senators unanimously confirmed David Jablonski but he still faced questions about the controversies that shadowed his predecessor’s resignation. Continue Reading
Automatic voter registration bill dies in committee
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Two House Democrats, Debbie Rodella and Daymon Ely, joined with Republicans to kill the legislation. Continue Reading
A state government too big to cut
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If New Mexico had enemies who wanted to harm the state, what would they do differently in the Legislature? Nothing. Continue Reading
Changes to whistleblower legislation unlikely to sway critics
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Sen. Jacob Candelaria has made a number of changes to a bill that would impact whistleblowers in New Mexico — but the changes don’t appear to be winning over his critics. Continue Reading
Tax vetoes would force more cuts to essential services, Sen. Smith warns
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‘We’re out of places to find additional dollars,’ says Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, the state Senate’s leading budget hawk. Continue Reading