A proposed six-point-two billion dollar spending plan for the next fiscal year has been left largely intact by a New Mexico Senate committee. Adopting a budget is a must-do assignment for lawmakers before the session adjourns March 21st. The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved the budget bill Tuesday. The full Senate could vote on the plan as early as Saturday. The measure cleared the House last month. The spending plan includes pay raises for new teachers and state police officers. Most department budgets remain flat, but the bill boosts spending for education, the state's child welfare agency and tourism. Gov. Susana Martinez and lawmakers have highlighted education as a priority with some of the lowest performing schools in the nation. The bill calls for a 37-million dollar bump for education initiatives.
The New Mexico Senate has approved a proposal that would allow a handful of Native American tribes to continue with their gambling operation. Governor Susana Martinez's office has spent three years working with the tribes to craft a new gambling compact since existing agreements are set to expire in June. Supporters say the compact would bring stability to New Mexico's gaming industry, protect jobs and increase revenues to the state. But some lawmakers said they couldn't support the measure because it would exclude the Fort Sill Apache tribe, which wants to build a casino on land in southern New Mexico that was put into federal trust in 2002. Under a provision in the compact, tribes wanting to put a casino on land acquired after 1988 would have to negotiate separately with the state.
A Senate bill that would allow farmers in the state to grow industrial hemp for research has sailed through its first New Mexico House panel. The Agriculture, Water and Wildlife Committee Wednesday unanimously approved and moved Albuquerque Democrat Senator Cisco McSorley's proposed legislation to the Judiciary Committee. McSorley's proposal would allow the Agriculture Department to set up regulations and fees for the processing of hemp for research and development, not for sale.
Hemp has a negligible content of THC, the psychoactive compound that gives marijuana users a high. Many products made from hemp, such as oils and clothing, are legal. McSorley says his bill, if signed into law, would put New Mexico in a position to cash-in on hemp. A bill pending in Congress, if passed, would approve hemp cultivation for commercial production as well.
Dueling New Mexico House and Senate moves are highlighting a battle over the authority of counties to regulate oil and gas development. The New Mexican reports that the House passed a measure Tuesday on a 37-28 vote that would limits local control. The bill also gives the state Oil Conservation Division and Oil Conservation Commission exclusive authority to regulate oil and gas extraction. The bill goes next to the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate Conservation Committee tabled two bills that sought to limit county authority to regulate oil and gas or penalize those that do. Lobbyists for the oil and gas industry, agriculture representatives and some private landowners spoke in favor of the two Senate bills.
A coalition of environmental groups is suing the federal government over the approval of oil and gas drilling permits in northwestern New Mexico. The groups filed their lawsuit Wednesday as they prepared to rally at the State Capitol. They contend that more development and hydraulic fracturing could harm the environment and sites such as the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The suit names the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Interior Department.
The BLM did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agency is in the process of updating its management plan for the San Juan Basin in the face of an expected shale oil boom, and the groups have been pushing the agency to stop approving new drilling permits until the plan is in place.
I’m sad to report the death of KSFR reporter Joe Day. Joe died suddenly last Sunday at his part-time home in Hawaii. He was 78. Joe Day’s journalism career included work as a newspaper, television and radio reporter. Joe’s “around and about in Santa Fe” segments were featured here on KSFR. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy, and three children. A celebration of Joe Day’s life will take place in Santa Fe at a date to be determined. KSFR will host an hour-long program commemorating Joe on Friday, April third at 5pm.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy today through tomorrow, today’s high, 58… cooling to 54 tomorrow. The overnight low tonight, 38.