Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Watch the state of the state on KNME
If you won't be at the Capitol today but want to keep up with what is happening on the opening day of the session, including Gov. Susana Martinez' state of the state address, see it live streamed courtesy of KNME, Channel 5, here. It should start around noon, but that's never written in stone.
So many issues, so little time
Lawmakers from across the state head to Santa Fe today for the opening of the 2011 session. Because it's a 60-day event this year, anything is on the table. And almost everything is. Sources say they are seeing more bills than usual on a wide, wide variety of topics.
The budget is the biggie, of course, But among other discussions will be drivers licenses for immigrants and what to do about the Rail Runner. Don't forget social issues, crime, taxes, the environment. . . the list goes on. There's also the fascinating race for House speaker.
The budget is the biggie, of course, But among other discussions will be drivers licenses for immigrants and what to do about the Rail Runner. Don't forget social issues, crime, taxes, the environment. . . the list goes on. There's also the fascinating race for House speaker.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Martinez boots commission members including Johnny Cope
As part of her state government house cleaning, Gov. Susana Martinez has kicked out the appointed members of the New Mexico Labor and Industrial Commission and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority Board of Directors, her office said.
She also removed Johnny Cope from his position on the State Transportation Commission, saying "It’s time to restore accountability to the Transportation Commission. As a body that has exceptional control over the use of taxpayer money, the potential for abuse is equally great. If we hope to restore the public’s trust in government, we must guarantee that public servants are held to the highest standard as responsible stewards of taxpayer money."
As for the industrial commission, Martinez said, "Given the issues coming before the commission, it is absolutely necessary that all sides have a say in the decision-making process. My administration is committed to leading by example when it comes to cutting spending and I believe that new leadership at the commission is needed to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer money."
Martinez also wants a new direction for the Spaceport Commission.
"There’s no question that the Spaceport can bring jobs to New Mexico, but long-term success will require the right leadership. Given its significant costs, I believe that developing the Spaceport to its full potential requires more robust private investment and new leadership to make necessary adjustments," she said. "With more than half of construction costs coming from state funds, we must explore ways to ease the significant financial commitment that taxpayers have made in this project.”
Expect more removals in the coming days.
While she removes some people, Martinez has appointed two new people to the state Legislature. Bill Burt of Alamogordo will take Dianna Duran's old seat while Bob Wooley of Roswell will serve in Keith Gardner's previous spot.
And, speaking of commissions, I just got this email from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women, who apparently don't like Martinez' plan to eliminate the commission completely.
The commission's chairwoman, LaNelle Witt, said the group was caught off guard by the proposal, in part because it had just convinced lawmakers on a government restructuring task force to vote to keep the commission.
"Just as we began to catch our breath, we received unexpected news. On January 10th, Governor Susan Martinez recommended to eliminate 100 % of the Commission’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012, potentially shutting down the 37 year-old agency’s doors on June 30, 2011. Needless to say, this was completely unexpected. Over 51% of New Mexico’s population is women and girls. The recommendation to de-fund the State’s woman’s agency is historic on several levels."
Witt says the commission's budget is now just $598,000 and has a staff of seven and eliminating it wouldn't help the state's multi-million deficit.
Stay tuned on this fight as the session revs up.
Stay tuned.
She also removed Johnny Cope from his position on the State Transportation Commission, saying "It’s time to restore accountability to the Transportation Commission. As a body that has exceptional control over the use of taxpayer money, the potential for abuse is equally great. If we hope to restore the public’s trust in government, we must guarantee that public servants are held to the highest standard as responsible stewards of taxpayer money."
As for the industrial commission, Martinez said, "Given the issues coming before the commission, it is absolutely necessary that all sides have a say in the decision-making process. My administration is committed to leading by example when it comes to cutting spending and I believe that new leadership at the commission is needed to ensure the responsible use of taxpayer money."
Martinez also wants a new direction for the Spaceport Commission.
"There’s no question that the Spaceport can bring jobs to New Mexico, but long-term success will require the right leadership. Given its significant costs, I believe that developing the Spaceport to its full potential requires more robust private investment and new leadership to make necessary adjustments," she said. "With more than half of construction costs coming from state funds, we must explore ways to ease the significant financial commitment that taxpayers have made in this project.”
Expect more removals in the coming days.
While she removes some people, Martinez has appointed two new people to the state Legislature. Bill Burt of Alamogordo will take Dianna Duran's old seat while Bob Wooley of Roswell will serve in Keith Gardner's previous spot.
And, speaking of commissions, I just got this email from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women, who apparently don't like Martinez' plan to eliminate the commission completely.
The commission's chairwoman, LaNelle Witt, said the group was caught off guard by the proposal, in part because it had just convinced lawmakers on a government restructuring task force to vote to keep the commission.
"Just as we began to catch our breath, we received unexpected news. On January 10th, Governor Susan Martinez recommended to eliminate 100 % of the Commission’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012, potentially shutting down the 37 year-old agency’s doors on June 30, 2011. Needless to say, this was completely unexpected. Over 51% of New Mexico’s population is women and girls. The recommendation to de-fund the State’s woman’s agency is historic on several levels."
Witt says the commission's budget is now just $598,000 and has a staff of seven and eliminating it wouldn't help the state's multi-million deficit.
Stay tuned on this fight as the session revs up.
Stay tuned.
New DOT secretary will have hands full with Rail Runner
Just as Gov. Susana Martinez picked Alvin Dominguez to head the state Department of Transportation, I got the new quarterly ridership numbers for the Rail Runner. See that story here.
In short, Dominguez will have to take a long look at the train and what, if anything, could be done to boost ridership -- and revenues.
Rail transit is of course, just one of the issues facing a department that's got so many topics to tend to, the least of which is financing for infrastructure improvements.
In short, Dominguez will have to take a long look at the train and what, if anything, could be done to boost ridership -- and revenues.
Rail transit is of course, just one of the issues facing a department that's got so many topics to tend to, the least of which is financing for infrastructure improvements.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
State cars and phones could be perks of the past
As she works to whittle the budget this year, Gov. Susana Martinez is taking aim at taxpayer funded cars and cell phones, among other things. Check out the details in my story today.
Looking into the size and use of the state fleet was a campaign promise of Martinez. But expect other little perks to be under scrutiny as well...bottled water, unlimited copies of handouts at committee meetings, it's all on the table, Martinez has said.
Looking into the size and use of the state fleet was a campaign promise of Martinez. But expect other little perks to be under scrutiny as well...bottled water, unlimited copies of handouts at committee meetings, it's all on the table, Martinez has said.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Martinez' budget proposal online
If you follow the state budget, you've no doubt read the coverage by now of what all is in Gov. Susana Martinez' first budget proposal. But if you are the type who wants to look up a certain department or program, you can find all the details you want where the spending plan is posted online.
Seeing it online made me think back to when I first covered the Legislature in the late 1990s. Getting a copy of the budget was sometimes tough, and it always involving going to the press conference where the governor announced his proposal and handed out just a few copies of the budget book. In the media room at the Capitol, we frequently had to mark our respective newspaper's name on the books, too keep track of them. Other reporters and lobbyists often would stop by to see what was in the proposals.
Funny how things have changed, and how fast those printed budgets became obsolete.
Seeing it online made me think back to when I first covered the Legislature in the late 1990s. Getting a copy of the budget was sometimes tough, and it always involving going to the press conference where the governor announced his proposal and handed out just a few copies of the budget book. In the media room at the Capitol, we frequently had to mark our respective newspaper's name on the books, too keep track of them. Other reporters and lobbyists often would stop by to see what was in the proposals.
Funny how things have changed, and how fast those printed budgets became obsolete.
What perks will state government employees keep?
As the budget cutting begins in earnest, there are questions about the perks that state employees get -- and which ones they will keep. In California, Gov. Jerry Brown just took away about half of the 96,000 employee cell phones. In other states, employees are being asked to pay more into pension programs.
The story on state cell phones caught my eye because I frequently got complaints during the Richardson administration about employees only being available on their cell phones -- and presumably not at their desk. Whether anything will come of the idea here remains to be seen.
What state employee perks would you cut? What should we keep?
The story on state cell phones caught my eye because I frequently got complaints during the Richardson administration about employees only being available on their cell phones -- and presumably not at their desk. Whether anything will come of the idea here remains to be seen.
What state employee perks would you cut? What should we keep?
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