Roosevelt County Chamber’s
Legislative Report
Feb. 6, 2018
Budget Bill still steeping
The main show at the state legislature in Santa Fe in a 30-day session is always the budget bill. With a little over a week to go it is still under construction. Right now the biggest back-and-forth on the budget seems to be in the area of funding to fight crime. While some of that money has impacts statewide a lot of it is focused on the Albuquerque area where crime has been out of control recently. No one at this point is pushing the panic button on the budget bill but the clock is ticking.
Revenue loopholes tested
The Albuquerque Journal reports that a late-developing House bill dealing with taxing internet sales as well as not-for-profit hospitals is getting traction. The ideas, especially taxing internet sales are popular and even a recent Chamber workshop on growing small business revealed that local retailers favor leveling the playing field between internet retailers and brick-and-mortar sales. Similar legislation last year was proposed and vetoed by the Governor because she was holding out for broader tax reform. She has indicated some desire to close loopholes but its anyone’s guess what she might do if this measure gets to her desk.
Regents proposal killed by Senate committee
A proposal that would have put a Constitutional Amendment on the ballot this fall concerning how university regents are selected was shut down by the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. This sought to put in place a bipartisan nominating committee that would send three finalists to the Governor to fill an open position. It was proposed to take the politics out of the process. Interestingly, the measure was killed on a mixed, not partisan vote.
