Senate Protests Being Robbed of Gaming-Winning Shot

Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot

Video can be found on Youtube at:
http://youtu.be/W2gTmFZo4QU
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.

The Senators were challenging the referees’ final call at last night’s Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and the refs did not count the Senators’ final shot that got off right before the buzzer sounded. Senator Howie Morales’ (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.

A video shot by Senate Communication’s Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales’ fingers before the buzzer sounded and the ball made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.

This year’s annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys.

Happy 100th New Mexico from FarmingtonBloomfield Chamber

For Immediate Release Monday, January 23, 2012 Contact: Diane Kinderwater 505-986-4702

Farmington-Bloomfield Chamber Members Presented Giant Birthday Card to State Senate Monday

On Youtube- http://youtu.be/9QsQmA3Ccfo Video and singing happy birthday

Photo Caption:
Members of the Farmington- Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce made a special presentation to the New Mexico State Senate and Lt. Governor John Sanchez as they presented a 100th Happy Birthday card to the New Mexico State Senate on Monday, January 23, 2012. The chamber members were joined by Senate Republican Caucus Chair Steve Neville R-San Juan-2) and Senator Bill Sharer (R-San Juan 1) who represent San Juan County.

This year, 2012, is the state’s centennial with celebrations planned throughout the year. New Mexico was officially welcomed as the 47th state to join the union on January 6, 1912 when President William H. Taft signed the statehood legislation.

The giant birthday card states: For 100 years the question has been asked: Red or Green?
Happy 100th New Mexico! It was signed by over 300 citizens of San Juan County. The question “Red or Green?” was adopted by the legislature in 1999 as the official question of the state. Chiles and frijoles were adopted as New Mexico’s state vegetables in 1965.

Prior to the Senate presentation, the brigade of Red Coat members from the Farmington-Bloomfield Chamber and Senators Neville and Sharer sang Happy Birthday to New Mexico. A video of their rendition can be seen on YouTube address at: http://youtu.be/9QsQmA3Ccfo

Senator Minority Leader Stuart Ingle Comments at end of 2011 Session

US NAVAL Academy Glee Club Performs for NM Senators

Crisis with New Mexico Families

For Immediate Release Friday, February 11, 2011 Contact: 505-239-2336

New Mexico Senate Minority Office

Legislators Getting Their Arms Around The New Mexico Family Crisis this St. Valentine’s Day



As couples show love by putting their arms around each other this St. Valentine’s Day, New Mexico State Legislators are getting their arms around finding solutions to the crisis New Mexico families are in this holiday. The crisis and its solutions will be presented at a news conference on the Westside Capitol Steps on Monday, February 14, 2011.

“Long after the chocolate hearts are eaten and the roses are wilted, our New Mexico families will still be in crisis unless steps are taken today to improve the health of New Mexico families,” Senator Boitano said. “At a news conference on St. Valentine’s Day we are presenting a series of speakers on the crisis, specifically the impact of marriage and divorce on our families and on our community. We will also offer solutions.”

The crisis in New Mexico includes:

• The percentage of children living in poverty is 25.5% higher than the national average
• Children born to single mothers are more than 3.5 times as likely to be poor as children raised by two biological parents
• The highest rates in the nation of teen pregnancy
• Low education outcomes
• Juvenile crime

On this day that typifies love, we want to have our state show its love for its families by showing that it cares enough to do something about the broken hearts and broken families in our communities, Senator Boitano said.

The legislators at the news conference will present a number of marriage strengthening and divorce reduction bills.

Senator Mark Boitano is sponsoring a bill to create the New Mexico Marriage Commission to explore ways the state and local governments can partner with private organizations to:
• Reduce teen pregnancy
• Encourage engaged fatherhood, family formation, healthy marriages and best practices relationships
• Create better social, health and economic outcomes for children
• Reduce the rate of unnecessary divorces in New Mexico

Illegal for Youth to be Drunk

For Immediate Release Thursday, January 27, 2011
Contact: 096-4702
Bill Being Introduced Today to Make it Illegal for Youth to be Drunk



Photo Op- Today, Thursday, January 27, 2011 Noon, Capitol Rotunda

Senator Kent Cravens Introducing various DWI Bills in Senate Today
Santa Fe-- On DWI Awareness Day at the capitol, State Senator Kent Cravens is once again introducing several measures to fight DWI, including one bill that makes it illegal for youth to be intoxicated. Currently, it is illegal for youth to be in possession of alcohol or to buy it, , but it is not illegal for them to be drunk.
Senator Craven’s bill adds this language….”to be visibly in an intoxicated condition” to the current state law that makes it illegal to buy, attempt to buy or be in possession of alcohol for anyone under 21 years of age.
“If it is not in their hands, minors are not in possession and cannot be considered adjudicated or guilty of a crime,” Senator Cravens said. Senator Cravens said the bill sends a strong message to youth that the state serious about youth and drinking. “Drinking alcohol is not an appropriate behavior. It will be a crime,” Senator Cravens said.
While a youth under 18 would be adjudicated for the crime and someone under 21 would be found guilty, both classes would have their drivers’ license suspended for 60 days. If they did not have a license yet, 60 days would be added to the time required to obtain a license.
Senator Cravens will be introducing his DWI legislation this morning in the Senate. At noon he will join his brother Paul Cravens at the DWI Awareness Day Events at the rotunda.
Paul Cravens was injured and he lost his wife and three daughters in a DWI accident on Christmas Eve in 1992 when a drunk driving the wrong way on I-40 plowed into their car. Senator Cravens believes his brother is remarkable after all he has gone through and after all he has done since the tragedy 19 years ago.
“Paul is remarkable. He suffered the loss of his family, severe physical injuries including a brain injury yet has been able to accomplish so much. He is not only a champion in the fight against DWI, but he also earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, and recently completed his MBA from UNM. Paul has just returned from ten months in Afghanistan where he was reviewing plans in the rebuilding effort with Corps of Engineers,” Senator Cravens said.
The Attorney General’s Office requested the legislation.

Senator Vernon Asbill and Bold Educational Changes

New Mexico Senate Minority Office

For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702


End Richardson’s Abusive Hiring Practices

Santa Fe—An effective way to stop Governor Bill Richardson’s abusive hiring practices will be presented to the New Mexico State Senate tonight.

State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort is introducing an amendment to the budget that would require political appointees hand-placed in classified positions be the first to be laid off in case an agency’s budget is overspent.

Senator Wilson Beffort calls Governor Richardson’s hiring practices abusive and states the public is sick and tired of him going against his own hiring freeze to hand place his political appointees in classified positions where they will be protected under the classified state employee system.

“The public has had enough. My amendment will root out these political appointees and say they are the first to go in cases where agencies need to balance their budgets,” Senator Wilson Beffort said. “In various cases these exempt employees were hand placed in the classified positions without having to go through the classified personnel system to qualify for the jobs. That is an abuse of the system and everyone knows it.”

Wilson Beffort’s amendment states that if an agency’s budget needs to be balanced by a reduction-in-force plan, those newly classified employees who used to be political employments at any time in the past four years would be the first to be terminated.

“Fair is fair. These pseudo classified appointees who did not play by the rules and who did not qualify for their positions like true classified employees did, should be the first to go. Those hired during the freeze should never have been placed in classified positions in the first place. They have cost taypayers more money than they should have,” Senator Wilson Beffort said.

Quotes from Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle and Senator Kent Cravens

New Mexico Senate Minority Office
For Immediate Release Tuesday, March 02, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702

All Senate Republicans Voted Against Bill to Increase Taxes $200 Million and All Republican Efforts to Protect Taxpayers were Shot Down TonightAudio and Video Available on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAlJvNHhOVQ

For NM Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle

And at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqYj_u8n1_I

For NM Senator Kent Cravens

And at www.newmexicorepublicansenators.com


Santa Fe- All Senate Republicans voted against the bill to increase taxes by $200 million in fiscal year 2011 and all Republican efforts to amend the bill in order to protect taxpayers were shot down tonight.

The warnings and predictions that the temporary tax increases that were paraded out by the governor would never be “temporary” were absolutely correct.

But what was a surprise to Republican Senators who were not included in negotiations that crafted the tax increase bill was that the tax increases didn’t even start out as being temporary as the public was told it would be.

The bill that increases taxes by increasing the gross receipts tax; by increased personal income taxes; and by allowing local government to tax food does not make any of the increases temporary and a Republican effort to end the increases in two years was shot down.

One Republican amendment after Republican amendment to protect taxpayers against the omnibus tax increase bill on the Senate Floor tonight were killed largely on a partisan vote- with Republicans voting to protect taxpayers.

Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle who tried to amend the tax bill by putting a sunset clause on it reminded the Senate that the governor said in his budget address in early January that he would only support a “temporary revenue increase.” Senator Ingle quoted Governor Bill Richardson’s speech when Ingle read, “As we look to raise revenue to help us through this crisis, I will only support a temporary revenue increase that- automatically expires in three years or less.”
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Republican State Senator Sander Rue of Albuquerque had a prediction two months that the governor’s temporary tax increase is an oxymoron, a combination of contradictory words.

Senator Rue warned the public to beware and questioned whether the public could really trust its elected officials enough to believe any tax increase in this state could be temporary.

His question was answered tonight. It will be answered again by the governor when he either lives up to budget speech where he said he “will only support a temporary revenue increase that automatically expires in three years or less.”

Note:
Governor Bill Richardson’s quote is available in his Jan. 5, 2010 budget news release on his website and is being faxed with the faxed copy of this news release.

Senators Leavell and Kernan Support Lower Utility Rates

For Immediate Release Monday, March 01, 2010 Contact: 986-4702


Photo Caption: Lea County Manager Mike Beverly and his wife Karen visited Senators Carroll Leavell (Carlsbad) and Gay Kernan (Hobbs) at the capitol after the County Manager testified at the EIB public hearing today. Senators Leavell and Kernan are in Santa Fe for the Special Session of the State Legislature.

SE NM Senators Still Fearful of Skyrocketing Utility Rates after Receiving Update On Environmental Improvement Board Hearing

Santa Fe- State Senator Carroll Leavell (Hobbs) and State Senator Gay Kernan (Hobbs) are concerned as ever about potential skyrocketing utility rates in Lea County and throughout New Mexico. Today they received an update on testimony presented at an Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) public hearing. The testimony opposes the proposed EIB regulations and limits to emissions from industry including power plants that could send electric rates flying.

Senator Leavell said he hopes today’s testimony by a number of people representing Lea County will have an eye awakening impact on the state’s Environmental Improvement Board’s plan to impose impossible limits to the amount of carbon dioxide, known as green house gas, that can be emitted into the atmosphere.

“No other state has the restrictive limits the Environmental Improvement Board wants to impose here in New Mexico. I have always believed the EIB has overstepped its authority and its proposal regarding green house gas emissions will be very harmful to Lea County industry. All of the testimony presented to me today further confirms my belief,” Senator Leavell said. “I appreciate the Lea County Manager and all others who represented Lea County and its interests for testifying at today’s hearing.”

Both Senators Leavell and Kernan, as well as Representatives Bill Gray and Don Bratten are plaintiffs in a lawsuit to stop the EIB from usurping its authority to create and legislate laws that would cap green house gas emissions to amounts less than what they were 20 years ago.

Senator Kernan said she is hopeful the efforts of so many in protesting the proposed regulations at today’s hearing will have a positive impact on all of the state.

“I want to express my appreciation to the citizens of Lea County and Southeast New Mexico for taking the time to be present at the EIB hearing,” Senator Kernan said. “The testimony and support by private individuals should have a huge impact on all the citizens of New Mexico in recognizing the detrimental impact of the action of this EIB board in regarding green housing emission cap.”

Lea County Manager Mike Beverly and his wife Karen visited Senators Leavell and Kernan at the capitol after the public hearing.

Lea County Manager Beverly told the Senators about his testimony to the board that the cap on green house gas to 25% of 1990 levels would severely affect utility customers because a number of plants would have to close because they would not be able to meet the onerous restrictions.

“There is no current technology to execute the target in a reliable manner. The result will be the most regressive tax possible on the citizens of New Mexico,” Mike Beverly said.

He said this was the first public hearing and that most testimony was opposed to the petition for an executive order to put in place the restrictions. More technical hearings will be held in coming months.

‘If it is not stopped electric rates in Lea County will go through the roof,” Karen Beverly said.

Mike Beverly said those who testified in opposition of the restrictions today included the Lovington School Superintendent, the Lea County Electric Co-op and representatives from Xcel Energy.

Mike Beverly said Congressional representatives are being asked to develop reasonable federal rules and regulations because carbon monoxide emissions respect no state boundaries and limiting them is not a state issue.

###

Special Session- Tax Increasing Disaster, Scary

For Immediate Release Monday, March 01, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702 Special Session: “Tax Increasing Disaster” “Scary Picture” for NM “Complicated Shell Game” Santa Fe- One Republican State Senator is calling the special session of the State Legislature that began today a “tax increasing disaster” while the Republican Senate Caucus Chair said it is setting up “a scary picture” for all New Mexicans and that Republicans were not included in the process leading up to the special session that is creating a “complicated shell game” to confuse tax payers. “It is a pretty scary picture, a pretty scary situation and a dire situation,” Senate Minority Caucus Chair Dianna J. Duran said. “We need to talk about cutting spending and not only increasing taxes. We have a lot to discuss and I am very concerned that these tax increase proposals are going to be pushed through the legislature without input from the public who will be affected by these tax increases. The Republicans have been left out of the process that developed these tax cutting bills and I fear these tax increases will pass before the public is even aware of what is happening up here.” According to the Senate Majority Leader, the special session that began this afternoon to produce a balance budget for fiscal year 2011could be over tomorrow night. State Senator John Ryan of Albuquerque said. “Oh boy, it is a disaster in my opinion. The deals that are being talked about are going in the wrong direction. I would much prefer that we talk about taking a major chunk out of state government’s budget that has increased over 51% in the past six or seven years that increases taxes.” The proclamation issued by Governor Bill Richardson includes, among other items: increasing the gross receipts tax; increasing compensating taxes; increasing the cigarette tax; and language to allow the repeal of the food tax deduction. ###

For Immediate Release Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Contact: 505-986-4702

Senator Ingle Tells Governor Raising Taxes Not Good Option

Santa Fe—Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle met with Governor Bill Richardson regarding the upcoming special session. Senator Ingle told the governor that he believes the session should be limited to budget issues and he told the governor that during these difficult economic times reducing the size of state government was a better option than increasing taxes on New Mexicans who are already struggling. “Republicans will do their best, they will say more “no” than “yes” to increasing New Mexicans’ taxes,” Senator Ingle said. Senator Ingle said the economic outlook is still dim and more cuts to state government should be considered.

The Senor Ingle said a budget could have been accomplished during the regular session but the governor sent down many messages on controversial issues that took up a lot of time in the limited 30-day session.

Senate Minority Leader- Special Session Guessing Game

For Immediate Release Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Contact: 986-4702

Minority Leader: Special Session Revenue Info Still A “Guessing Game”
If Majority Reaches a Decision on Tax Increases Doesn’t Mean Senate Republicans Will Support it
Santa Fe—The Senate Minority Leader said it would be wiser to have a special session after the state’s first quarter revenue is known in April than to have one starting Monday, March 1 when everything will still be a “guessing game.” The Governor first announced he was calling a special session of the legislature to pass a budget to begin at noon on Wednesday, and then he changed it to begin on Monday.

“It is pure guess work at this point unless we have more accurate information. The revenue information we are dealing with is very optimistic, too optimistic. If we base a budget on the projected 6% growth in revenue we will be in trouble again if the revenue does not come in. By April, we will have a better idea of what we are dealing with,” Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle said. “Frankly, we should not be here for another six weeks, after the first quarter’s estimated revenue is known. But waiting until Monday for a special session is better than tomorrow because it allows for more time to work out an agreement.”

Senator Ingle said a true, accurate revenue picture is especially critical this year because the state could be in trouble financially if Federal stimulus dollars it has used in areas that require recurring money don’t return.

“We need to make sure to get the job done right, we shouldn’t fool ourselves,” Senator Ingle said. “I like to be optimistic, and I hope I am wrong, but a projected 6% growth in revenue for next year is too optimistic.”

Senator Ingle said the budget the Senate passed in the regular session that ended last Thursday is a decent budget considering the economic difficulties the state is facing. The Senate passed its version of the budget, but the House never heard the Senate’s version before the regular session ended. Senator Ingle said he is not aware of any agreements on areas of the budget the Senate and House versions differ, and acknowledged that as a member of the Minority party, he is not invited to Majority party meetings where agreements could be taking place. “Things can change pretty quickly up here, if the Majority party reaches a decision on tax increases doesn’t mean Senate Republicans will support it,” Senator Ingle said.

Senator Ingle said he does not believe the Senate will vote for an increase in the gross receipts tax that the House leadership is supporting. He said the Senate might adjust what the Senate has recommended on the food tax.

NM State Senator Steven Neville

For Immediate Release Saturday, February 13, 2010 Contact: 986-4702


Hit Taken out of Tax Lightening

Senate Passes 22-16 SB 160- Property Tax Methods

Santa Fe—The New Mexico State Senate tonight took the hit out of tax lightening that has largely struck Bernalillo County by passing SB 160- Property Tax Methods by a vote of 22 to 16.

The bill is expected to make property taxes fairer in Bernalillo County and across the state where tax disparities have been striking since a law changed several years ago to remove a cap on property taxes when ownership of the property changed.

That resulted in an alarming tax disparity among property owners because when there was a change of ownership a 3% annual cap on property valuations was not extended to the new owner. That often resulted in property taxes skyrocketing for the new owner whose property was assessed at current and correct values compared to neighbors whose taxes were still being limited by the 3% cap on valuations.

The sponsor of the bill, Steven Neville said the goal of the bill is to equalize valuations and thereby property taxes that have gotten out of whack over the past several so everyone pays their fair share to run government.

“The cap for some and not for all went against the principle of fair and equal taxation, “Senator Neville said. “Some neighbors were paying more than their fair share of services compared to their neighbors. The new owners were subsiding their neighbors and that is not fair.”

Senator Neville says his bill will help equalize taxes by allowing the 3% property valuation cap to remain in place even when there is a change of ownership. He said it also calls for the county assessors to determine the current and correct values for all property in their counties over the next five years so taxation can be based on those current values. While that might mean some taxpayers whose property that has been greatly undervalued will see their property taxes increase when the current and correct value is determined, overall taxes in the county should not rise because of a law called yield control.

Senator Neville said because of yield control, taxes are not arbitrarily raised when property values increase in a county. If property values go up in a county, tax rates applied to the property go down because of yield control, resulting in tax collections in general remaining the same.

“Correcting the problem will be spread out over five years so there will not be a shock for those who have been subsidized in recent years. Facts are, there will be a slow rise in taxes for those who have been subsidized. Those who have bought property over the past several years and experienced unfair taxes should see their taxes slow down over the next five years when valuations become more accurate,” Senator Neville said.

Senator Clint Harden

or Immediate Release Saturday, February 13, 2010-Senator C. Harden 505-986-4369

Removing Employment Barriers for
People with Convictions
A Fair Shake After They Paid their Dues

Santa Fe—The New Mexico State Senate passed a bill to help qualified job applicants in the public sector who have a criminal conviction on their record to not be discounted immediately by the conviction by not having to reveal it immediately.

SB-254 removes from the New Mexico State Personnel Office application a question that asks “Have you ever been convicted of a felony.”

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Clint Harden said the bill does not prevent employers from asking about conviction status, nor does this bill prevent criminal background checks. “By delaying the inquiry on conviction history until the interview process, previously incarcerated persons will be on a level playing field with other candidates with similar qualifications,” Senator Harden said.

SB-253 amends the New Mexico Criminal Offender Employment Act and proposes that public employers delay asking about a criminal conviction until the applicant gets the chance for a face-to-face interview. “They are just hoping for a fair shake after they have paid their dues to society,” Senator Harden said.

According to the NM Criminal Offender Employment Act, employers can deny anyone a position based on "moral turpitude" - which could include everything from drug dealing, to sex offenses, to other violent crimes.

The New Mexico Criminal Offender Employment Act is very clear about preventing people with child abuse or child-related sex offenses from working in any public childcare facility. The Act also has a special exemption for law enforcement agencies.
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“Finding a job is one of the biggest barriers for people with criminal convictions,” Senator Harden said. “People with felony convictions are twice as likely to be denied employment as those with no felony record. The question on job applications often intimidates and discourages previously incarcerated persons from applying for jobs, even if they are qualified for the position.”

Senator Harden said many employers use the criminal conviction question on job applications to immediately disqualify a person with a conviction, even if the applicant is qualified.

The bill passed the Senate passed SB 254 35 to 4. It now goes to the House for consideration.

Senator Steven Neville asks whether House will allow outrage to continue.

Sen. Payne Supports Tougher DWI, Not Bill that Misleads Public

Senator Who Supports Tough DWI Laws Does Not Support Public Being Misled
Mandatory Jail Time Not “Mandatory” at All
View Video Clip on: YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN3JWq336Vs
And at www.newmexicorepublicansenators.blogspot.com

Santa Fe--“The public was sold a bill of goods,” that is the reaction of
State Minority Whip Bill Payne of Albuquerque about a bill he said misled the public about being tough on DWI, when in fact it was the opposite.
“I never voted against tough DWI laws in 14 years, I support tougher DWI laws,” Senator Payne said. “But the bill presented to Senate Judiciary had a huge loophole that would have allowed first time DWI offenders to skip out on any jail time and instead would have only required the offender to wear an ankle bracelet around town. How tough is that? The public was led to believe there was mandatory jail time when in fact the bill allowed and even encouraged the DWI offender to be sentenced to community custody in lieu of jail time. The only thing mandatory in the bill is the word “mandatory.”

The bill, SB 3 & 5- Increasing Penalties for DWI Offenders reads:
“…in lieu of the mandatory jail term, the offender may be sentenced to a minimum of thirty days in a DWI community custody program…”

Senate Votes on Override of Governor's Veto

For Immediate Release Tuesday, February 9 Senator Neville 505-320-0771 Senate Voted 33-4 to Override of Governor’s Veto of Bill to Shift Control of the State Investment Council away from Governor Santa Fe—The New Mexico State Senate this afternoon voted 33 to 4 to override the governor’s veto of a bill to shift control of the State Investment Council away from the governor after years of pay-to-play scandals hit the news media. Last year, both the Senate and House overwhelming passed the measure which was then vetoed by the governor. The bill now goes to the House for a vote on a veto override. 2/3 of those voting in the House would be necessary for the bill to become law immediately. It would not have to go to the governor again. The sponsor of last year’s SB-460-Additional Investment Appointees- Senator Steven Neville said the state never received the slightest explanation from the governor why he vetoed the bill that could re-instill more public confidence in the State Investment Council. The council has been caught up in one pay-to-play scandal after another with reports of governor insiders receiving millions in fees paid by recipients of state investments. Neville said he the bill would have made the state investment council more autonomous and less politically controlled. The governor not only chairs the State Investment Council, but he appoints most of the council’s members and hires the State Investment Officer. “In essence, one person- the governor- has control over $12 billion dollars worth of investments. Investments what were as high as $15 billion in recent years. As it stands now, the State Investment Council has nine members and is essentially able to push through a governor’s request because the governor is chairman of the council, plus the governor has control over six of the eight remaining members,” Neville said. “That needed to change. The legislature wanted the change, but the governor did not.” Senator Neville’s bill would have increased the council’s membership from nine to 13 and would have removed the governor’s power to appoint members. The five standing members would have remained, those being the governor; State Investment Officer; State Treasurer; the Commissioner of Public Lands and the Department of Finance and Administration cabinet secretary. Four members would have been appointed by the Republican and Democrat leadership in the Senate and the House. Then, together, the nine members would have appointed four public members who would have been confirmed by the Senate. Governor Richard pocket vetoed Senate Bill 460 without a written veto message.

Senate Minority Leader Ingle on Budget Cuts to Avoid Tax Increases

Senator Proposes Reducing State Spending to Avoid Tax Increases

Click here for Sen. Ingle interview: www.newmexicorepublicansenators.blogspot.com

Click here for Sen. Ingle on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V5ih40O-9Q

Santa Fe--Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle is proposing various ways New Mexico could live within its means so taxes would not have to be raised to balance the state’s budget. The bill and amendment would help the state address its budget shortfall.

“We can’t spend money we do not have, we are not like the Federal Government,” Senator Ingle said. “Nobody likes having to do this, but we have to remember there had been very large increases to education and teacher salaries in recent years.


Senator Ingle is proposing an amendment to the House’s budget will that would save the state $300 million in costs by reducing state spending across the board by 5.7%.

The budget the House passed last week increases taxes by over $300 million.

Senator Ingle also has proposed SB 246 Public Employee Pension Contribution Increase. It would save the state over $72 million by requiring state employees to increase their contributions to their retirement funds while the state’s contribution for the employees would decrease by the same amount, 2.64%. This shift would be temporary for fiscal year 2011 and would affect the Educational Retirement Board and various plans in the Public Employees Retirement Association. As example, employees earning $55,000 a year would pay an additional $1,000 into their PERA retirement plan for fiscal year 2011.

Senator Steven Neville on veto override attempt Tuesday