Clovis/Portales holds Legislative Appreciation Dinner
The Clovis/Portales Legislative Appreciation Dinner was well attended on Monday night at the Hotel Santa Fe. Dinner planners were a little nervous as dinnertime neared and most of the guests of honor hadn’t arrived.It seems the House worked late that night with a floor session adjourning just in time for legislators to make the dinner.

As each legislator took to the microphone after dinner each resolved to do the best job possible but admitted the 60-day session was going to be painful. Sen. Stuart Ingle said he had seen about four other sessions in his career where oil revenues had affected the budget this greatly.He said in the end they’ll accomplish what has to be done.

Thanks to Matt Hunton for serving as emcee for Roosevelt County at the dinner and thanks to City of Portales staff and councilors, Roosevelt County staff and commissioners and ENMU staff for attending.

Peanuts, get your peanuts!
The Chamber, with the help of Workhorse of the Year Casey Peacock, dropped off gift baskets put together by Hampton Farms for our area legislators’ offices. Then we distributed Valencia peanuts to the floor of both Houses as well as lawmakers’ offices. They know they’re coming and those folks at the Roundhouse love our goobers.

Solvency package on Governor’s desk
The House finished up its solvency package this week and the conference committees completed their work and those measures are now on Governor Martinez’ desk. The package ended up with $216 million in cuts, short of the $260 million the Governor had called for in her package.She had budgeted a 4 percent reserve and the package will only provide around 2 percent. She has three days and a line-item veto ability so that number could move.

Outlook for LEDA money brightens
Most of the week it looked like LEDA (economic development closing fund) was set to take an $11 million hit but $4 million of that was restored in conference before the solvency package went to the Governor. One of the strings attached with this move was an earmark for funds for a new roof at the recently announced expansion of a Roswell business that paints aircraft. The projects funded through LEDA have always been judged individually on merit and earmarks have never entered into the picture until now. Lawmakers on both sides are not happy with the change. The Governor has promised to veto any legislation that cuts LEDA.

Minimum wage bills weighed
The Democrats minimum wage bill that appears to be moving forward is one sponsored by Rep. Miguel Garcia of Albuquerque, HB-67. Instead of the proposed increase to $15 an hour (HB-27). HB-67 would increase minimum wage in the state by increments from $6.50 to $10.10 per hour by January 2020. It also increases the hourly pay rate for those receiving tips to 40 percent of the minimum wage, which would nearly double wages for restaurant wait staff. We believe this kind of minimum wage increase would have a very negative effect on business, especially small businesses. Some proposals have also tied automatic increases to the consumer index. Consider keeping track of this bill and other minimum wage bills and letting your legislators know your views.

Education cuts in the solvency solutions
Results of a poll released this week in the Santa Fe New Mexican indicate that 72 percent of registered voters oppose further cuts to education. That leaves lawmakers in a really tough bind since such a large portion of the state budget goes to education.

SB-114 dealing with cuts to education originally required a 2 percent cut for all schools. In conference schools with less than 4 percent cash reserves were exempt from the cuts. Finally, in a compromise, it was agreed to exempt those school districts with less than 3 percent reserves. The Albuquerque Chamber’s Roundup said that Rep. Dennis Roch led the fight against the compromise, saying “4 percent was do-able but the 3 percent compromise could push some smaller districts toward insolvency or lower bond ratings. Portales Municipal Schools Superintendent Johnnie Cain told the Rotary Club this week that the district would be exempt at 4 percent. He reminded folks that the district’s budget had already taken a 5 percent hit and more cuts were likely when legislators took up the 2018 budget later in the session.