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House Passes $6.3 Billion Budget, Social Promotion Bill Stalls

ROBERT SMITH VIA FLICKR
/
CREATIVE COMMONS

House Passes $6.3 Billion BudgetAssociated Press, Santa Fe New Mexican

New Mexico's Republican-led House of Representatives passed a $6.3 billion budget that increases spending on Medicaid health care, early childhood education and prisons while cutting funding to state colleges and universities.

The spending bill was rewritten over the past week after state economists slashed revenue expectations for the year starting in July by more than $200 million because of low crude oil prices and weaker-than-expected tax receipts.

The general fund budget plan would increase spending by $81 million, or 1.3 percent over the current fiscal year. The majority of that money will come from raiding agency coffers and special reserves for spare cash.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported the bill passed 38-31 mostly along party lines. Democrats issued a press release calling the budget a “Republican bridge to nowhere.” House Republicans said it was a fiscally responsible budget. An amendment to delay corporate tax cuts passed in 2013 from taking effect failed.

The budget now moves to the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Bill Ending Social Promotion Stalls In New Mexico SenateThe Associated Press

A bill that calls for New Mexico third graders who don't show proficiency in reading to be held back has stalled in a Democratic-controlled Senate committee.

The Senate Education Committee voted Monday to table a proposal that would have had students not reading at grade level repeat the third grade and be given intensive remediation. The move likely kills the bill this session.

Rep. Monica Youngblood, an Albuquerque Republican, reintroduced the Gov. Susana Martinez-back bill that passed the GOP-controlled House last session but failed after the Democratic-led Senate failed to take it up.

But it faced strong opposition from teachers unions and Democrats who have stopped similar legislation in the past. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez has said student retention should be based on teachers' assessments, not test scores.

Gallup Diocese Bankruptcy Case's Costs Exceed $3.6 MillionThe Associated Press & The Gallup Independent

Costs for the Diocese of Gallup's bankruptcy proceedings have exceeded $3.6 million.

The Gallup Independent reports that the figures, which come from quarterly billing statements, do not include the more than $38,000 the diocese has paid the U.S. Trustee Program or other miscellaneous expenses.

The majority of the expenses will not be paid until the diocese has an approved plan of reorganization.

A bulk of the diocese' bill is owed to Tucson, Arizona,-based law firm Quarles & Brady LLP, which has a total post-petition legal bill of more than $1.9 million. A Tucson accounting firm is also asking for more than $431,000.

The Gallup diocese filed Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy in November 2013 in response to lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of children by clergy.

Bill Proposes Adding Qualifications For Sheriff CandidatesThe Associated Press

A proposal has been approved by the state Senate's Public Affairs Committee that would increase the necessary qualifications needed to for sheriff in any New Mexico county.

Senate Democrats say there are currently no minimum qualifications outlined in state law for holding a sheriff's office.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Michael Padilla and approved in committee Saturday would include requiring candidates for sheriff to be at least 21 years old and have at least seven years of professional law enforcement experience, plus a certification of basic law enforcement training.

Those with prior felony convictions would not be eligible to run for sheriff under the measure.

Padilla calls the list of proposed requirements "common sense qualifications" that will help improve public safety.

Padilla is an Albuquerque Democrat.

Nation's Only Unsalaried Legislature Is Well CompensatedThe Associated Press

New Mexico legislators received more than $20,000 in compensation on average in 2015 even though they are not paid a salary.

More than $2.3 million was paid out to state lawmakers to offset personal expenses and travel, according to information from the Department of Finance and Administration obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request.

House and Senate members collect a daily expense payment that covers work during legislative sessions and committee meetings year-round.

They also can receive compensation for driving mileage, out-of-state legislative conferences and are eligible for retirement benefits.

Senator Lee Cotter received $43,604 in compensation. That is more than any other New Mexico lawmaker. The Las Cruces Republican said the compensation is a reflection of his dedication to year-round legislative work.

Official Details Storm's Lasting Effects On Dairy IndustryThe Associated Press

The head of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture is warning lawmakers that it could take months to tally the true costs of a winter storm that killed an untold number of livestock and derailed the dairy industry.

Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte testified Monday before the House agriculture committee.

He said producers have been working with the Farm Service Agency to tally losses as the state builds its case for a federal disaster declaration.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and members of the state's congressional delegation already have pushed federal officials for a declaration.

In late December, New Mexico was hit with more than two feet of snow and strong winds helped to form drifts that overtook corrals, buried livestock and stalled milk production. Freezing temperature then set in as part of the one-two punch.

Troubled New Mexico Border City Gets Temp City ManagerKVIA-TV, Associated Press

A former New Mexico Oil and Gas Association president has been named interim city manager of a troubled New Mexico border city.

KVIA-TV in El Paso reports that Sunland Park city council voted 4-3 during a heated meeting to hire former New Mexico State University regent Bob Gallagher to a $56,000 six-month contract. Under the terms of the deal, Gallagher will work two weeks per month.

The vote comes as two Sunland City councilors face legal problems stemming from separate arrests.

One councilor was arrested recently during a council meeting on drug charges and another was arrested on allegations he gave beer to his 19-year-old girlfriend.

Sunland Park has been without a full-time city manager for a year now, after firing Vernon Wilson a year ago.

Bill Proposes Adding Qualifications For Sheriff CandidatesAssociated Press

A proposal has been approved by the state Senate's Public Affairs Committee that would increase the necessary qualifications needed to for sheriff in any New Mexico county.

Senate Democrats say there are currently no minimum qualifications outlined in state law for holding a sheriff's office.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Michael Padilla and approved in committee Saturday would include requiring candidates for sheriff to be at least 21 years old and have at least seven years of professional law enforcement experience, plus a certification of basic law enforcement training.

Those with prior felony convictions would not be eligible to run for sheriff under the measure.

Padilla calls the list of proposed requirements "common sense qualifications" that will help improve public safety.

Padilla is an Albuquerque Democrat.

Group Denounces Locked-Door Meeting Of New Mexico LawmakersAssociated Press

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government says a House appropriations committee locked out the public from a meeting on the state budget.

Foundation Executive Director Susan Boe wrote to the House speaker and Senate president Friday to urge that all legislative committee meetings be held in public.

Boe says the House Appropriations and Finance Committee locked the doors to its committee room and barred the public while discussing a state budget bill on Monday. The committee presented a detailed $6.3 billion budget plan in public the next day.

Committee staff acknowledged the closed meeting, while members could not be reached.

Gallup Senator's Detox Center Proposal Goes Before Committee Associated Press

A proposal to fund detox and substance abuse treatment centers for the homeless with money from the state's liquor excise tax is scheduled to go before the state Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee on Monday.

The proposal from Sen. George Muñoz, a Gallup Democrat, could appropriate about $40,000 every month to McKinley County if it passes. The allocations for substance abuse services for the homeless would begin in July.

Gallup, which is part of McKinley County, has seen a high rate of hypothermia deaths linked to alcohol each year, and the city has struggled to keep open a detox center during the coldest month of the year to hold those on the streets deemed intoxicated.

Committee Suggests Domestic Violence Gun Law For New MexicoAssociated Press

Lawmakers' push this year to crack down on violent crime doesn't include strengthening laws to keep firearms from domestic abusers, despite recommendations from a state-appointed review team and a trend that has seen more states enact similar laws.

Between 2006 and 2014, FBI statistics showed there were at least 56 gun-related domestic homicides in New Mexico. The Legislature tasked a committee to review domestic violence homicides in the state.

The committee's recently released report recommends a law that would prohibit gun possession by those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence and those accused of the offense and under a temporary restraining order.

Lobbyists Spend $175,000 So Far On LawmakersSanta Fe New Mexican

Anemic revenues have plagued the budget-making process this year at the New Mexico Legislature but lobbyists continue to spend thousands entertaining lawmakers.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that lobbyists have spent about $175,000 on receptions, dinners and other gifts so far in the session with the largest amounts coming from the golf and ski industries.

Lobbyist reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office also detailed receptions or dinners held by the New Mexico Mining Association, Louisiana Energy Services, the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University and BNSF Railway, among others.

Under the state Gift Act, lobbyists cannot give gifts worth more than $250 to individual lawmakers. They must report expenditures larger than $500 to the Secretary of State within 48 hours during the session.

New Mexico REAL ID Compromise Passes 2nd TestAssociated Press

A second Senate committee has passed a bipartisan proposal aimed at making New Mexico compliant under the federal REAL ID Act.

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Friday a measure that would create "driver's authorization card" following emotional pleas by some senators.

Under the proposal, immigrants living in the country illegally would be allowed to apply for that card but could no longer get a New Mexico driver's license.

Democratic Sen. Joseph Cervantes urged senators to pass a REAL ID fix. He said he knew someone close who couldn't visit a dying father because Fort Bliss in El Paso was no longer accepting New Mexico driver's licenses from entry.

The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee chaired by Sen. John Arthur Smith, a co-sponsor of the compromise bill.