Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION EFFORTS GOT
SEVERAL BOOSTS IN THE SESSION WHEN A BILL THAT BUILDS A
ONE-STOP PORTAL FOR BUSINESSES DEALING WITH STATE AGENCY,
50 MILLION BOOST FOR RURAL BROADBAND, I LOVE THAT ONE,
AND LETTING VOTERS DECIDE WHETHER STATE INVESTMENT
COUNCIL CAN INVEST MORE MONEY IN INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES,
BUT ONE POLICY AREA THAT COULD FALL INTO BOTH LOSS AND WIN
CATEGORIES HAD TO DO WITH INDIGENT CARE IN HOSPITALS.
STATE LEGISLATURE DID PASS A BILL THAT PROVIDES A WAY FOR
COUNTIES TO FUND CARE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T OR WON'T PAY
FOR THEIR CARE, BUT IT LEAVES INDIGENT CARE FUNDS SHORT OF
MILLIONS FOR HOSPITALS TO GET THE FULL MATCH IN FEDERAL
FUNDS. >> RACHEL, WHAT A CLASSIC NEW
MEXICO DILEMMA THIS IS. WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY TO RUN THINGS AND YOU NEED A FEDERAL MATCH AND ALL
THAT KIND OF THING, WHERE DO LEGISLATORS LEAVE THIS ONE
OFF? SOMETHING DIDN'T QUITE CLICK
HERE AS FAR AS THE HOSPITALS ARE CONCERNED.
WHAT WAS YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON THAT?
>> UH-HUH. I THINK THIS WAS REALLY
POSITIONED BY THE HOSPITAL INDUSTRY AS A MUST WIN.
JIM HINTON FROM PRESBYTERIAN CAME OUT IN AN ECONOMIC FORUM
A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SAID WE COULD HAVE SEVEN HOSPITALS
AROUND THE STATE, AROUND RURAL AREAS IN THE STATE, CLOSED
WITHOUT THIS FUNDING. SO, STAVED OFF THE MOST
IMMEDIATE CRISIS BUT RURAL HOSPITALS ARE STILL REALLY
SHORT OF THE FUNDING THEY SAY THEY NEED TO CARE FOR THESE
PATIENTS AND THEN THERE IS ALSO THIS WRINKLE OF NOT BEING
ABLE TO COLLECT DEBT FROM LOW INCOME PATIENTS.
THAT IS GOING TO REALLY BE A TOUGH ONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. SHERRY, YOU HAVE COVERED RURAL
ISSUES FOR A BIT NOW, OF COURSE.
YOUR SENSE OF WHERE THIS BILL EITHER CAME UP SHORT OR WHERE
DO HOSPITALS GO FROM HERE, IS THE BETTER QUESTION.
THIS IS A TOUGH DILEMMA. >> THEY ARE GOING TO NEED
HELP. IT IS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN
SAYING, THERE ARE SEVEN OR EIGHT HOSPITALS HANGING BY A
THREAD. ONE OF THEM IS ONE THAT I HAVE
WRITTEN A LOT ABOUT IN GALLUP AND THEY NEEDED THAT 1/8 GROSS
RECEIPTS TAX. THEY ABSOLUTELY NEEDED IT
WHICH IS WHY YOU SAW SENATOR GEORGE MUNOS OF GALLUP GET SO
ANGRY ON THE SENATE FLOOR WHEN THE OTHER ONE PASSED.
IT TURNED OUT -- AND THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED
EITHER. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A TANGLE
BETWEEN THE COUNTIES AND THE HOSPITALS AND I AM NOT SURE
WHY SOMEBODY DIDN'T ATTEMPT A FIX BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION, BUT WHEN YOU GO INTO THE SESSION AT LOGGERHEADS,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE WHAT HAPPENS.
I MEAN, THAT IS JUST A RULE. >> THAT IS A GOOD POINT.
REAL QUICK, ESPECIALLY WITH RURAL DYNAMICS IN THE MOST
PURE SENSE, RURAL HOSPITALS, WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE
LEGISLATURE? WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE
PROBLEM HERE? TO NOT ALLOW IT TO PASS?
>> THEY DIDN'T GIVE THEM ENOUGH MONEY.
AND FOR WHATEVER REASONS, THAT JUST WASN'T PART OF THE BUDGET
OR WHATEVER. THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO COME
BACK AGAIN. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT MORE
ABOUT THIS NEXT YEAR AND IN THE INTERIM.
>> RACHEL, WE TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEW SIC THING
THAT DID PASS. BEING PART OF THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY IS JUST A NO BRAINER AT THIS POINT FOR ANY PART OF
THE STATE. IS THERE A NUMBER OUT THERE,
HOWEVER, 100 MILLION POTENTIALLY COMING IN THE
DOOR. I WONDER IF THAT IS A LITTLE
AGGRESSIVE. WAS THIS A SELL JOB, WHO KNOWS
HOW MUCH WE GET OUT OF THIS ACTUALLY.
>> RIGHT, IT IS HARD TO SAY, BUT CERTAINLY WITH SOME OF THE
GAINS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE STOCK MARKET AND ESPECIALLY
SOME OF THE ACTION IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, YOU CAN
SEE HOW PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO DO EVERYTHING THEY COULD DO TO
CAPITALIZE. >> ISN'T THAT A RISK.
ISN'T IT A LITTLE BIT RISKY FOR OUR TASTE.
>> IT IS INTERESTING ONE TO PUT BEFORE VOTERS.
IF THEY SEE THAT JOGS THEIR MIND TO THINK, OH, THAT MIGHT
NOT BE A ROAD WE WANT TO GO DOWN.
>> WOULD YOU AGREE VOTERS A DIFFICULT ONE.
>> THE FACT IS WE'RE ALREADY UP 15% SO IT ISN'T LIKE WE
AREN'T INVESTING INTERNATIONALLY.
THEY FEEL LIKE GETTING THE SHACKLES OFF AND GAINING MORE
LEEWAY, I AGREE IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE TO CONVEY TO
VOTERS. >> I DENOTES A NEED FOR
TRANSPARENCY, IT SEEMS TO ME, IF YOU DO FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
AND IT IS A LITTLE BYZANTINE AND PEOPLE ARE NOT QUITE SURE
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP WITH A
SURPRISE TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
SO, TRANSPARENCY, I WOULD IMAGINE, THAT HAS GOT TO BE A
BIG PART OF THIS. >> I THINK SO AND THE SIC HAS
BEEN MADE OVER AND A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS AND REDONE THEIR
WHOLE STOCK PORTFOLIO, SO I THINK THEY HAVE BECOME MORE
TRANSPARENT BUT THOSE AREN'T HIGHLY ATTENDED MEETINGS,
CONCERNING THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
>> NOBODY KNOWS THE BASIS OR THE NAMES.
IT IS ALL MYSTERIOUS UNLESS YOUR CLOSE TO THE GAME.
>> JUST WAIT, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, GOD FORBID, LIKE 2008
AGAIN, THERE BILL BE REPERCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS, I
TOLD YOU, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE INVESTED IN THESE FOREIGNERS.
>> YOU CAN ALMOST SEE IT COMING.
>> INVESTED IN SOME JACKALOPE FARM IN --
>> THERE WAS A MOMENT IN A FEW SESSIONS AGO AND I FORGET
WHICH ONE. I RAN INTO STEVE MOISE, WHO IS
NOW OUR STATE INVESTMENT OFFICER, AND HE WAS EVEN THEN
WORKING ON GETTING THIS PASSED.
AND, IT MADE SENSE TO ME AND TOLD ME AT THE TIME, WE ARE
THE ONLY STATE WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS RESTRICTION.
AND WE COULD BE DOING SO MUCH BETTER, WHICH TOTALLY MADE
SENSE TO ME, SO IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME THAT IT POPPED UP.
WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT IT TOOK SO LONG AND THE THING --
MOST OF US THIS ENDS UP BEING A TRUST ISSUE.
I AM NOT AN INVESTMENT EXPERT, NEITHER ARE MOST PEOPLE, BUT I
DO TRUST STEVE MOISE. I HAVE KNOWN HIM A LONG TIME,
I KNEW HIM BEFORE HE WAS THE STATE INVESTMENT OFFICER AND
IF HE SAYS WE CAN DO WELL WITH THIS AND THEY HAVE PLENTY OF
SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, I THINK IT IS WORTH IT.
>> WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES. TIME TO PUT THESE GUYS ON THE
CLOCK. GIVE PANELISTS ONE MINUTE AS A
GROUP TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES.
FIRST ONE, MANY STATE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE ANNOUNCED
THEY WON'T RUN FOR REELECTION. HOW MAJORITY LEADER RICK
MIERA, FARMINGTON REPUBLICAN, TAYLOR, GOP REP COOK,
ALBUQUERQUE DEMOCRATIC REP, KIKI SAAVEDRA; TOO MANY TO
MENTION A MINUTE. I GUESS, THE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION, WHICH ONE -- OF THE NAMES WE HAVE OUT THERE NOW,
WHICH IS MOST IMPACTFUL ON THE DYNAMICS OF THE LEGISLATURE
WITH THE REMOVAL OF THAT PERSON.
>> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE MAJORITY LEADER, RICK MIERA
AND ALSO ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING TO ME.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING AT ALL.
SOME OF THE OLDER REPRESENTATIVES, I COULD SEE,
ESPECIALLY, WHAT HAPPENED WITH, YOU KNOW, TWO ILLNESSES
REALLY AFFECTING THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, BUT
RICK AIN'T THAT OLD. >> EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> FOR DYNAMICS OF PEOPLE LEAVING, THIS HAPPENS ALL THE
TIME IN POLITICS, BUT IMPACTFUL FOLKS, WHICH IS YOUR
PICK? >> TO ME IT WOULD BE TOM
TAYLOR. I THINK I INTERVIEWED HIM FOR
THE FIRST TIME WHEN HE WAS MAYOR OF FARMINGTON AND HE
COULD HAVE BEEN MAYOR FOR LIFE.
PEOPLE LIKED HIM SO MUCH UP THERE.
THE THING ABOUT TAYLOR IS THAT HE IS A CONSERVATIVE BUT A
CONSERVATIVE WITHOUT THE SHARP EDGES.
AND HE HAS A WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOR AND, I DON'T KNOW,
THAT IS A MISSING QUALITY UP THERE.
>> SURE. I'LL HOLD YOU GUYS ON THAT
ONE. THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED
WITHOUT A FUNDING PLAN TO KEEP AMTRAK SOUTHWEST CHIEF GOING
THROUGH THE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AREA BEYOND 2015.
IF A DEAL IS NOT REACHED, THE TRAIN WILL BE REROUTED AND
BYPASS LAMY, LAS VEGAS AND RATON.
SHERRY, START WITH YOU AGAIN, IT IS ALMOST A CLICHE IN OUR
PART OF THE WORLD, THE TRAIN IS A BIG DEAL AND IF THE TRAIN
MISSES LAMY, WHAT HAPPENS THERE?
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN AUTOMATICALLY PLUG IN SOME
OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THING AND MAKE UP.
>> THAT WOULD BE A HUGE, HUGE LOSS FOR NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.
NOT ONLY AMTRAK BUT PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING THAT A CHUNK OF
THAT TRACK CARRIES THE RAIL RUNNER.
AND, SO, YOU KNOW, THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED IT WAS
REASONABLE FOR NEW MEXICO TO, YOU KNOW, TO GET IN FOR
10 MILLION A YEAR TO KEEP THAT ALIVE AND TWO OTHER STATES ARE
WILLING TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
AMTRAK ITSELF AND THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
BIG IMPACT IF THAT TRAIN, THAT LINE, SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED.
>> I THINK YOU MAKE A REALLY GOOD POINT.
IT IS KEY FACTOR IN PLACES THAT WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF
ECONOMIC DIVERSITY, SO, MOVING THAT WOULD REALLY BE A BLOW TO
THE PEOPLE. >> A BLOW TO INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE
AND TRAVEL CHOICES. >> RIGHT, THAT TOO, YEAH, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO DRAW YOU TO LAMY, A GREAT
PLACE -- >> I LOVE THAT SOUTHWEST
CHIEF, I LOVE THAT TRAIN, SO FUN.
>> SOON AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED, A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $10
AN HOUR FAILED. GOVERNOR MARTINEZ TOLD
REPORTERS SHE WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED A MINIMUM WAGE RAISE
TO $8 AN HOUR. SHE SAYS SHE MADE HER POSITION
CLEAR, BUT MANY LEGISLATORS SAY THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS
UNTIL AFTER THE SESSION ENDED. DAN.
I DON'T KNOW IT WAS A CLOSE VOTE ON MINIMUM WAGE AS IT
STOOD. IN YOUR MIND, WOULD $8 HAVE
CLEARED EVERYTHING AND WE WOULD BE HAVING THIS LAW?
>> I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THAT SOME DEMOCRATS
PROBABLY THOUGHT THAT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH BUT IT WOULD BE
HIGHER THAN THE 7.50 IT IS NOW.
I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT EVEN ENGLE, SENATE
REPUBLICAN LEADER, SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S
POSITION ON THAT, SO IF IT WAS HER POSITION, IT WASN'T
ARTICULATED TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
>> 7.50 ISN'T THAT BIG A DEAL.
$10 HALTED THE WHOLE DEAL ALTOGETHER.
>> RIGHT. >> YOU THINK THIS WOULD HAVE
BEEN OKAY, OR WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN THE CRACK IN THE WALL, SO
TO SPEAK, $8 AN HOUR? >> I THINK $8 AN HOUR, THAT
.50 DIFFERENCE IS JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM LOOKING AT A $10 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE.
I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN LESS PUSH BACK.
>> LESSONS LEARNED FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO HAVE MINIMUM WAGE
IN THE STATE. LOOKING BACK, COULD THERE HAVE
BEEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH PERHAPS?
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD HEARTBURN WITH THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROCESS.
AND, THAT WAS THE WAY TO GET AROUND THE GOVERNOR'S VETOING
IT, SO, I DON'T KNOW, I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I HEARD THE
GOVERNOR SAY SHE SUPPORTED $8. >> THAT IS INTERESTING.
ALL RIGHT. IN HER SPEECH CONCLUDING THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ AVOIDED DISCUSSION ON
A FAILED BILL THAT WOULD HAVE REPEALED THE LAW ALLOWING
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO RECEIVE DRIVERS' LICENSES.
HER RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN HOWEVER POSTED A MESSAGE
REMINDING VOTERS OF HER DESIRE TO REPEAL THIS LAW A DAY AFTER
THE SESSION ENDED. RACHEL, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ
HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS DONE IN THE LEGISLATURE.
IS IT STILL A VIABLE CAMPAIGN ISSUE FOR HER IN YOUR MIND'S
EYE? >> IT IS CHALLENGING.
SHE HAS MADE THIS SUCH A SIGNATURE ISSUE AND TO HAVE
HAD NO MOVEMENT ON IT FOR MULTIPLE SESSIONS NOW, THAT IS
TOUGH. >> THERE IS SOME MEAT ON THE
BONE SOMEWHERE. THERE IS POLLING OUT THERE OF
COURSE THAT SUPPORTS THE IDEA, WHY SHOULDN'T SHE STAY ON IT?
>> SHE SAID SHE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE HER MIND BUT I DID
THINK THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO BLAST IT OUT OF THE HOUSE AS
IN PREVIOUS YEARS. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY
TAKEN THE VOTES PRETTY CLEAR WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON THE ISSUE
SO WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME ON IT, BUT I
THINK WE WILL SEE IT IN THE ELECTION YEAR.
>> IT CAME AND WENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SESSION,
INTERESTING TO WATCH THAT HAPPEN.
>> I WAS SURPRISED THERE WAS NO BLAST EFFORT.
OF PAUL PACHECO WAS CORRECT, IT WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED THE
SENATE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WASTE OF TIME.
IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED TENSIONS TO RISE AND THE WHOLE BIT.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS, SHERRY, 10 SECONDS.
>> WELL, THE POLLING, I THINK, IS THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN,
YES, IT IS A CONCERN, BUT IT IS NOT A BIG CONCERN AND I
WOULD GO BACK TO THAT, YOU KNOW, ORIGINAL, IT IS THE
ECONOMY STUPID. I MEAN THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE
REALLY CARE ABOUT. >> YEAH.
NEW MEXICO LEGISLATORS PASSED A BUDGET BILL THIS YEAR THAT
LOOKS GREAT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS WILL GET A RAISE, CLASSROOM SIZES WILL DECREASE
AND THERE IS MONEY TO HELP KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD
GRADE STUDENTS IMPROVE READING SKILLS.
GOVERNOR MARTINEZ, HOWEVER, SAID SHE HAS PLANS TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF HER LINE ITEM VETO POWER WHILE PASSING THIS
BUDGET. LAST YEAR THE GOVERNOR VETOED
SIMILAR LANGUAGE THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED PAY FOR TEACHERS.
STEVE, IT IS FUNNY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO GUESS HOW MUCH OF
THIS BUDGET IS GOING TO PASS THROUGH HER DESK AND MAKE IT.
WE CAN'T SIT AND THINK ABOUT THIS, BUT ON THIS ISSUE, WHAT
IS YOUR THOUGHT HERE? THE GOVERNOR IS IN KIND OF A
STRONG POSITION HERE, IT SEEMS TO ME.
>> SHE HAS VETO PEN. THAT IS PRETTY STRONG.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'LL VETO THAT PART OF THE BILL.
SHE MADE NO INDICATION THAT SHE WOULD AND SHE HAS CALLED
FOR RAISES FOR TEACHERS, SO -- >> RAISES WERE A BIG DEAL
GOING IN, JUDGES WERE GETTING RAISES, CYFD FOLKS WERE CALLED
ON TO HAVE RAISES AS WELL. YOUR SENSE OF HOW THIS RAISE
THING IS SETTLING OUT? >> WELL, THEY DID MAKE AN
HONEST TO GOD COMPROMISE AND IT WENT BACK AND FORTH AND IT
WENT BACK AND FORTH IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
AND, EVERYONE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ULTIMATE BUDGET
COMPROMISE, AND, SO, I THINK BECAUSE EVERYBODY GOT
SOMETHING OF WHAT THEY WANTED, THAT SHE WILL LEAVE IT ALONE
AND PROBABLY IT IS IN HER BEST INTEREST TO NOT INFURIATE A
LOT OF PEOPLE GOING INTO AN ELECTION.
>> RIGHT. HOLD YOU GUYS THERE ON TIME.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, THESE ARE ALWAYS FUN, THESE
WRAP UP SHOWS. PLEASE COME AND SEE US.
LOVE TO HAVE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL.
>> AS ALWAYS, ALL OF US HERE AT "NEW MEXICO INFOCUS"
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND
ENGAGED. CATCH UP WITH US ON SOCIAL
MEDIA BY SEARCHING NEW MEXICO INFOCUS AND YOU CAN FIND
ARCHIVED INTERVIEWS AND LOTS OF BONUS MATERIAL FROM THE
SHOWS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG.
I AM GENE GRANT. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.