Roosevelt County Chamber’s
Legislative Report
March 16, 2017
Legislative Report
March 16, 2017
Budget Battle Lumbers On
With three days left resolution toward a budget plan still hasn’t emerged from the fog. We’re watching HB 412 in particular as the lynch pin for whether or not a compromise can be reached. The bill was still in joint consideration by the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Corporations Committee. The bill’s sponsors seek to broaden the tax base while lowering taxes including gross receipts taxes. This legislation is one of the more promising for business than most other items in this session.
Veto Pen Shaping the Battle
Governor Martinez started with a veto of the bill that would have allowed teachers not to be penalized in their evaluations for more than three absences a year.Even though teachers have more sick leave they’ve been afraid to use it because they would be marked down in evaluation. The measure passed overwhelmingly in both houses but the Governor said the loss of teachers in the classroom would cost the state and degrade the learning experience by having teachers out of the classroom. Yesterday the Governor vetoed six bills and didn’t sign any. She must be sending a message to lawmakers but it’s hard to say exactly what that message is or if anyone is listening. The Senate voted to override her veto on teacher sick leave and now we’re waiting to see if the same thing happens in the House. If it happens it would be the first override of a Martinez veto in her tenure.
Governor Martinez started with a veto of the bill that would have allowed teachers not to be penalized in their evaluations for more than three absences a year.Even though teachers have more sick leave they’ve been afraid to use it because they would be marked down in evaluation. The measure passed overwhelmingly in both houses but the Governor said the loss of teachers in the classroom would cost the state and degrade the learning experience by having teachers out of the classroom. Yesterday the Governor vetoed six bills and didn’t sign any. She must be sending a message to lawmakers but it’s hard to say exactly what that message is or if anyone is listening. The Senate voted to override her veto on teacher sick leave and now we’re waiting to see if the same thing happens in the House. If it happens it would be the first override of a Martinez veto in her tenure.
Permanent Fund Tap Killed
The effort to further tap the state’s land grant permanent fund, which is one of the main funding mechanisms for public schools, was effectively killed Wednesday in the Senate Rules Committee. The measure would have raised an estimated $153 mullion for early childhood education in its first year. Opponents said that raising the distribution level by the proposed 1 percent would eventually cause insolvency in what was meant as a permanent endowment.
The effort to further tap the state’s land grant permanent fund, which is one of the main funding mechanisms for public schools, was effectively killed Wednesday in the Senate Rules Committee. The measure would have raised an estimated $153 mullion for early childhood education in its first year. Opponents said that raising the distribution level by the proposed 1 percent would eventually cause insolvency in what was meant as a permanent endowment.
Ethics Commission Proposal Moving Forward
HJR 8 passed the Senate this afternoon on a vote of 30-9 and goes back to the House for final approval. The bill proposes a constitutional amendment be placed on the ballot this fall in order to create a seven-member commission charged with investigating complaints lodged against elected officials, lobbyists and others. According to the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico is just one of eight states in the nation without an ethics commission. Proponents say it will instill confidence in economic development circles where the state has a bad reputation for political cronyism.
HJR 8 passed the Senate this afternoon on a vote of 30-9 and goes back to the House for final approval. The bill proposes a constitutional amendment be placed on the ballot this fall in order to create a seven-member commission charged with investigating complaints lodged against elected officials, lobbyists and others. According to the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico is just one of eight states in the nation without an ethics commission. Proponents say it will instill confidence in economic development circles where the state has a bad reputation for political cronyism.
Coyote Contest Ban Closer to Governor’s Desk
A bill seeking to ban coyote killing contests passed its last committee and headed to the House Floor on Wednesday. The bill, which has already passed the Senate will likely be called before the session ends.
A bill seeking to ban coyote killing contests passed its last committee and headed to the House Floor on Wednesday. The bill, which has already passed the Senate will likely be called before the session ends.
