By Robert Nott and Daniel J. Chacón, Santa Fe New Mexican |
January 20, 2021
Luis Sánchez Saturno/Santa Fe New Mexican
The Democratic side of the House of Representatives was mostly empty during the first day of the legislative session on Tuesday. Democratic representatives worked mostly remotely.
After all the concerns about a potential demonstration (or worse) interrupting the proceedings, the 2021 session of the New Mexico Legislature began quietly and peacefully Tuesday.
At times, it didn’t seem like a session at all. Certainly not an opening like veterans have come to know.
Yes, legislators trooped into the Capitol, but there were few others. No lobbyists. No family members. No glad-handers. And none of the eye-grabbing sideshows that decorate the Rotunda on Day One.
2021 New Mexico Legislative Session Opens Quietly - 11:34 pm
The Republican side of the state House of Representatives was full during the first day of the 2021 legislative session on Tuesday. Republican representatives didn’t work remotely. Luis Sánchez Saturno/SFNM
The Democratic side of the House of Representatives was mostly empty during the first day of the 2021 legislative session on Tuesday. Democratic representatives worked mostly remotely. Luis Sánchez Saturno/SFNM
By ROBERT NOTT and DANIEL CHACON
SFNM
After all the concerns about a potential demonstration (or worse) interrupting the proceedings, the 2021 session of the New Mexico Legislature began quietly and peacefully Tuesday.
Susan Boe still remembers the surprise she felt when she discovered the door was locked. Looking through the small window of a legislative hearing room in the state Capitol, she could make out the members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee within. She had been tipped off that they were talking about the budget, and […]
By Morgan Lee, Associated Press
Leading New Mexico legislators are proposing a 4% increase in state general fund spending that would devote new resources to health care and public education amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The detailed budget proposal was announced Tuesday by Democratic and Republican members of a lead budget-writing committee.
Legislators are also proposing cost-of-living pay increases for state workers and public school employees and a bailout of the state s indebted unemployment trust fund to avoid future payroll tax increases.
Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is suggesting 3.3% increase in spending without blanket pay raises. Economists are predicting a rebound in state government income on top of multibillion-dollar financial reserves.