Deborah Martinez

Some critically ill New Mexicans could end up paying more for their health care this year.

Almost 16 hundred New Mexicans are slated to be shifted out of a state high risk medical insurance pool into a new federal health coverage plan on July 1st. That's because the federal government is cutting funding for the state program to just over 12 million dollars.

But the new plan would cost more for the patients, many of whom suffer from HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes -chronic diseases that are often quite expensive to treat.

UPDATE: Exchange board chairman J.R Damron said Monday that New Mexico will focus on having a state-run insurance exchange ready for small businesses this fall and will use a federally operated exchange to offer insurance coverage to individuals for the next year.

He said a "hybrid" approach to the exchange was necessary because the state didn't have enough time to implement its own computer system to serve individuals by a looming federal deadline.

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New Mexico continues to be sluggish in its recovery from the recession and according to a new report, the state lacks over 100,000 jobs.

Gerry Bradley is with New Mexico Voices for Children, a nonprofit children’s advocacy group that produced the report. He says the state needs a jobs package to fill the gap caused by job loss and lack of job growth.  Bradley says state government has conducted an experiment over the last ten years- cutting taxes for high income people and corporations.

Moving into a new home is an exciting event, but for people who have experienced homelessness, the joy is especially poignant. In Santa Fe, the renovated Stage Coach Motor Inn is preserving its classic nicho and viga architecture and working to preserve a sense of permanency for some new tenants.

Mark Olson can't seem to get the smile off his face, and he has a lot to be thankful for - not so previously.

(Laughs)"Mmm, no, for awhile there I couldn't smile for a long-time  because of what was happening.  Still the disability is kinda depressing." 

Moving into a new home is an exciting event, but for people who have experienced homelessness, the joy is especially poignant.  In Santa Fe, the renovated Stage Coach Motor Inn IS preserving its classic nicho and viga architecture ... and working to preserve a sense of permanency for some new tenants.   KUNM's Poverty and Public Health reporter Deborah Martinez has the story.

(amby beep beep of wheelchair):

Mark Olson can't seem to get the smile off his face, and he has a lot to be thankful for.

This year's 60-day session of the New Mexico State Legislature is over, with some surprises revealed in the final hours.   

The last-minute deal includes a tax package that cuts corporate taxes to 5.9-percent and reduces the state's revenue by $56-million within several years.  Governor Susana Martinez announced after the session that she will now sign the $5.9-billion state budget that includes one percent pay raises for state workers.

A legislative bill signed into law Friday by Governor Susana Martinez will help victims of human trafficking get cash, emergency housing and other assistance.  The new law takes effect  July 1 and it also provides benefits and services for victims like child care, legal, and food assistance.  Representative Gail Chasey and the nonprofit New Mexico Women's Agenda worked to develop the bill.

  The House passed the Senate version of a budget bill today that includes raises for public employees.  But the measure leaves out teacher merit pay, one of Governor Susana Martinez's initiatives, and she has threatened to veto the plan.

The merit pay for teachers has been a point of contention for Republicans in the House, who championed the Governor's proposal. But they were unable to convince enough Democrats to agree with them and vote against the Senate version of the bill.

With less than two weeks left in this Legislative session, lobbyists and citizens are flocking to the Roundhouse in Santa Fe for a chance to speak to lawmakers about issues they care about. KUNM's Deborah Martinez reports on how that process plays out in the hallways. 

Several bills aimed at reducing penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana are scheduled for hearings this week in Santa Fe.  Advocates are using a new poll to illustrate that a majority of New Mexicans favor the idea.  

The House of Representatives today approved a bill that establishes a fund to expand the state's development of solar and wind power. 

House Bill 242 would provide general fund money to the quasi-government agency known as the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority, or RETA.  Sponsor Bill McCamley is a freshman Democrat from Doña Ana County:

  New Mexico's congressional delegation is on a two-week break, and KUNM's Deborah Martinez recently sat down with US Senator Martin Heinrich to discuss hot topics in Washington.  Here is part two of her interview with Senator Heinrich, on immigration reform and gun safety.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich addressed a joint session of state legislators in Santa Fe Friday about several challenges facing him and his Congressional colleagues. 

KUNM's Deborah Martinez spoke with the senator, and she brings us part one of her report on looming budget cuts, known as sequestration.

The momentum is picking up for legislation that would tighten background checks on gun sales, and it could be brought to the floor of the House this week.  The compromise bill has some Republican lawmakers' and the governor's support.

Albuquerque Representative Miguel P. Garcia is the sponsor of the bill which mandates background checks at gun shows and removes the provision to have the Department of Public Safety handle the checks.  Instead the onus would be placed on the gun seller to get approval of the sale.

New Mexico's homeless programs that help people get a fresh start could get a funding boost if a legislative bill wins approval in Santa Fe. 

Senate Bill 50 is sponsored by Albuquerque Republican Sander Rue.  He says as a member of the Mortgage Finance Authority interim committee, he wanted to do something to help homeless people and families hit hard by the recession.

A bill that would provide money for incomplete road construction projects is moving through committees at the Roundhouse.  The measure is concurrent with a study showing New Mexico's roads and bridges are in poor condition.

Lawmakers on the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee have approved a resolution that would let voters decide if same-sex marriage should be legal in New Mexico.  

The 3 to 2 vote broke along party lines, with Democrats voting in favor, Republicans against the proposed constitutional amendment.  It's one of several legislative measures aimed at defining marriage, and sponsor Brian Egolf - a Democrat from Santa Fe - says it's a no-brainer:

Dozens of immigrants and supporters of their cause rallied at the state capitol today. They applauded the national movement by Congress and the President towards immigration reform, and they spoke in favor of New Mexico's law that grants driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

They came from as far away as Belen to listen to lawmakers and authorities tout the momentum of immigration reform,  including State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque:

    We've been hearing from Third Congressional District Congressional Representative Ben Ray Lujan this week.  KUNM's statehouse reporter Deborah Martinez visited with him at his office, and she has part two of her interview.

The third-term democrat spoke on a variety of subjects he's passionate about, including the Violence Against Women Act, which he hopes to vote on during this session of Congress:

Congressman Ben R. Lujan is spending some time in his district that includes the northern and eastern parts of the state.  Tuesday he'll address state legislators. he also dropped by the studio to talk with our statehouse reporter Deborah Martinez.  Here's part one of that interview.

  Several bills have been introduced at the state capitol that would change the law granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.  It's unclear whether the governor, who has supported all-out repeal in the past, now wants to compromise.

Republican Representative Stuart Ingle says he wants to find middle ground on the immigrant license topic so legislators can move on to more important issues.

Now that voters have approved constitutional changes to the state's Public Regulation Commission, lawmakers have introduced bills that will spell out exactly how PRC reform will take place.

Senator Tim Keller and Representative Tom Taylor have introduced bills in each chamber to set qualifications for future Public Regulation Commission members.  Both bills require a background in fields regulated by the PRC such as engineering, economics or consumer protection.  

Santa Fe police bought more than 200 guns from people who withstood sub-freezing weather in a long line last weekend.   City leaders hailed the first of several planned gun buyback days as a success.

Here's how the program works:  Gun owners voluntarily turn in their guns and get paid up to $300 per weapon, no questions asked.  Police Chief Ray Rael said as a result of the day's haul, three highly lethal assault weapons were taken in and another was a stolen assault rifle.  Others included relics and high-capacity handguns.

    Legislation dealing with education will be a hot topic for state lawmakers when they convene their 60-day session next week. Teacher pay, holding failing kids back, and charter schools are among measures to be debated.

Almost four-million dollars in PAC money was spent on last month's election, some state lawmakers are making election reform a top priority in the upcoming legislative session. 

Legislative budget hearings are underway at the state capitol this week, as lawmakers get ready for next month's 60-day session in Santa Fe.  Here is the second of two legislative preview articles - this time a look at the new state senate.

Next month marks the start of a 60-day session of the New Mexico State Legislature. The House of Representatives is gearing up for new leadership and newly elected members.

The November election brought new faces to the state legislature - 21 of them, including 16 new House members.  Representative Larry Larrañaga is a 19-year veteran Republican from Albuquerque's northeast heights.  He notes there will be fundamental changes in committees and a new Speaker of the House - the body's most powerful position:

A group of elected northern New Mexico officials is lobbying the region's Congressional delegation for funding for Los Alamos National Laboratory.  But some longstanding environmental groups are wary of their purpose.

The group calls themselves the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities, representing seven cities and counties from Santa Fe north to Taos, and the pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh.    

The organization’s focus is environmental remediation at the lab, regional economic development, jobs at the site  and adequate funding for LANL.

New Mexico's State Engineer made his agency's budget request to the Legislative Finance Committee on Tuesday.  The requested money would help reduce the state's backlog of water rights adjudication, and deal with current and future droughts.