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>> THE VOTE IS SOON TO COME.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS GATHERED THIS WEEKEND TO CHOOSE THEIR
LEADERSHIP. HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE
ALREADY DONE SO. THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S THE
SENATE. SO DAN, LET ME TALK WITH YOU
ABOUT THIS FIRST, JUST TO GET THAT OUT THERE.
SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM TIM JENNINGS IS OUT, AND THIS IS
THE BIG FIGHT HERE. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THEY
GENERALLY DO. THEY STAND IN FOR THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THAT'S NOT SO EXCITING, BUT THEY
ALSO DO THIS OTHER HUGE THING, AND THAT'S ON THE
COMMITTEE OF COMMITTEES. I'D LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN THAT
IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS, WHY THAT IS SO CRITICAL IN THAT
POSITION. >> THE COMMITTEE OF
COMMITTEES DECIDES WHO IS ON WHAT COMMITTEES AND WHERE
LEGISLATION IS GOING. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE PROCESS IN THE SENATE,
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE WORK IS DONE.
SO IF YOU'RE THE GUY THAT'S DECIDING WHO'S GOING TO BE
ON WHAT COMMITTEES, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT CAN DECIDE, YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO STACK JUDICIARY, FOR INSTANCE, AND
THAT WAY ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH LAW CHANGES IS
GOING TO EVENTUALLY MAKE IT THERE, AND I'VE GOT IT
FAVORED MY WAY, WHETHER IT'S LESS GOVERNMENT, OR MORE
GOVERNMENT, WHATEVER THAT IS.
SO IT'S AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT DEAL.
BUT DON'T COUNT OUT THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
REMEMBER, WHEN MANNY MADE THE SWITCH -- YOU KNOW, WHEN
MANNY WAS THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM
HAD UNBELIEVABLE POWER. THEN HE GOT BOOTED OUT OF
PRESIDENT PRO TEM AND BECAME LEADER, AND THE LEADER GOT
ALL THE POWER. SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM COULD MAKE A MOVE, DEPENDING ON
WHO IT IS, TO SAY MAYBE I SHOULD GET A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT POWER BACK THAT WE USED TO HAVE ON DECIDING
LEGISLATION AND WHAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE HEARD.
SO IT'S BILLED AS A LARGELY CEREMONIAL POSITION, BUT IT
HAS MUCH MORE POWER THAN PEOPLE THINK.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING. I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING
THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE TOM, IT SEEMS TO ME THESE PEOPLE
CANNOT BE STRANGERS TO YOU. YOU MAY HAVE TO KNOW THESE
OTHER LEGISLATORS INTIMATELY, WHERE THEY'RE
COMING FROM, LIKE DAN JUST SAID, AND THEN MAKE YOUR
CHOICES. SO CONVERSELY, THEY HAVE TO
KNOW YOU, AS WELL, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE BEEN WORKING
THIS THING FOR A LITTLE BIT TO HAVE A CHANCE AT THIS.
SO WE CAN GET INTO SOME OF THAT, TOO.
>> YEAH, AND RIGHT NOW ANYBODY WHO SAYS, I KNOW WHO
IS THE FRONT RUNNER, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, ON SUNDAY MORNING NOBODY IS GOING TO KNOW
REALLY WHO THE FRONT RUNNER IS.
AND EVEN UNTIL THE VOTE IS TAKEN THE FIRST DAY OF THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, NOBODY IS REALLY GOING TO KNOW.
THERE WILL BE A FRONT RUNNER, PERHAPS, SOMEBODY
WHO MAKES IT OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, BUT FOR
THE MOST PART, YOU KNOW, AS WE SAW LAST TIME FOUR YEARS
AGO, THAT SWITCHED IN A HEARTBEAT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. LET ME STAY WITH YOU ON
SOMETHING DAN ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT SENATE LEADERSHIP.
WHAT WE DO HAVE CLARITY ON IS IT SEEMS LIKE MAJORITY
LEADER SANCHEZ IS NOT LOOKING -- I'M NOT SURE ON
THIS, BUT NOT LOOKING TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND WHAT HE IS
NOW. >> CORRECT.
>> AND THAT CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF A VOID FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE IT SEEMS LIKE, RIGHT?
>> WELL, I THINK IT PROVIDES -- YOU KNOW, IF
THERE'S A STABILITY IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS, I THINK
THAT'S AS CLOSE AS WE'RE GOING TO SEE.
OBVIOUSLY I THINK ONE OF THE KEY THINGS TO LOOK AT IS,
WHO IS GOING TO BE THE MAJORITY WHIP, BECAUSE THAT
WILL REALLY, I THINK, PUT INTO PLAY A LOT OF OTHER
TYPES OF SCENARIOS, ESPECIALLY OF THE SENATE
DEMOCRATS. >> INTERESTING.
LET'S GO THERE ON THAT ONE. >> AND THE COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS.
I MEAN, PEOPLE CAN'T DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE
OF ANY COMMITTEE, AT ALL, RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE THROWING AROUND NAMES, BUT A LOT OF THOSE
NAMES ARE BEING MENTIONED FOR WHIP OR PRO TEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH DAN, THE PRO TEM POSITION IS
VERY IMPORTANT. AS SOMEBODY WHO'S HAD
LEGISLATION THAT PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE IN THE SENATE, YOU
KNOW, YOU GET THAT THREE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT, AND
YOU GO TO, YOU KNOW, THE MOST CONSERVATIVE COMMITTEE
THERE, AND YOUR BILL IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
I MEAN, THEY REALLY CONTROL IT.
>> THAT'S FROM THE GROUND. I APPRECIATE YOUR ANGLE ON
THAT. GO AHEAD.
>> ALSO, REMEMBER, YOU HAVE TO THROW IN THE MIX HERE
THAT THE SENATE IS VERY CEREMONIAL ABOUT SENIORITY.
YOU'VE GOT SOME YOUNG FOLKS, PETER WIRTH, WHO I THINK
COULD BE -- IF THE D'S WERE GOING TO RALLY AROUND
SOMEBODY THAT THE R'S WOULD FIND PALATABLE, THAT COULD
GET THINGS DONE, IT'S PETER WIRTH.
BUT HE'S ONE OF THE MOST JUNIOR GUYS THERE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STEP OVER -- UNLIKE THE HOUSE,
WHERE THE HOUSE CAN BE A FREE-FOR-ALL, THE SENATE IS
VERY RIGID ON, WE'RE GOING TO SIT AROUND THIS TABLE AND
WE'RE GOING TO SAY, OKAY, YOU MIGHT BE GREAT, YOUNG
LADY, BUT WAIT TEN YEARS, BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN HERE TEN
YEARS LONGER AND IT'S HER TURN.
>> THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING POINT THAT YOU
BRING UP. WE SAW THIS, AGAIN, ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, WHERE
THEY CAME OUT WITH ALL OF THESE GENTLEMEN, AND ONE OF
THE THINGS -- >> JUST WHAT WE NEED.
>> -- IS COMMITTEE CHAIRS, AND ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT
WE GOT BACK WAS, WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON
SENIORITY. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT CAN REALLY TRIP YOU UP. YES, IT'S AMAZING THAT
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CARRYING WATER FOR YOUR PARTY FOR
YEARS, BUT IT CAN LOCK YOU INTO A LACK OF DIVERSITY,
THAT ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY ON TOP OF.
THEY'RE REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ETHNIC
MAKE-UP OF LEADERSHIP, THE GENDER MAKE-UP OF
LEADERSHIP. >> PERHAPS WHERE THEY'RE
FROM. >> ABSOLUTELY.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR CHANGE, AND FRESH IDEAS, AND
LIKES THINGS THAT. >> AND THEY WANT PEOPLE
THAT REPRESENT THEM. THEY WANT PEOPLE THAT LOOK
LIKE THEM. >> RIGHT, AND IF YOU COME
BACK WITH THE SAME-OLD SAME-OLD, YOU RUN THE RISK
OF PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
>> LET ME TOSS SOME NAMES OUT THERE, AND TOM I'LL
START WITH YOU -- >> BEFORE YOU DO THAT, LET
ME TALK ABOUT THIS. WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE
SENATE LEADERSHIP RACE IN TWO AREAS.
THE FIRST ONE IS, WILL THE DEMOCRATS BE ABLE TO BRING
SOMEONE OUT OF CAUCUS THAT CAN KEEP ALL THE DEMOCRATS
AND THEY GET THEIR PERSON? IF THAT HAPPENS, THEY DON'T
NEED A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE.
OR, WILL THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SOMEBODY THAT FITS ONE SIDE
OR THE OTHER, WHETHER IT'S PROGRESSIVE OR CONSERVATIVE,
WHETHER IT'S RURAL OR URBAN, WILL THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT
FITS THAT, AND THEN SOMEONE CAN PEEL OFF AND MAKE A DEAL
WITH REPUBLICANS, AND NOW YOU'VE GOT THE VOTES TO GET
THAT DONE. FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM
PEOPLE THAT I'M TALKING TO IN THE STATE SENATE, IS THAT
THE PUSH RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS COME TOGETHER
AND SAY, WE'VE GOT TO PICK SOMEONE OURSELVES, NO MORE
OF THIS COALITION STUFF. >> WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT
THE REPUBLICANS ARE DOING, CHOOSING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WITH TIM JENNINGS, THE
THOUGHT WAS, THE REPUBLICANS CHOSE THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY FIGHTING TO SAY, WE DON'T
WANT THAT, IT'S TIME FOR US TO RALLY AROUND HAVING A
DEMOCRAT SINCE WE'RE IN CHARGE.
THE PROBLEM IS, AS I CAN TELL YOU FROM WHEN I WAS IN
CAUCUS, EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS ON BOARD UNTIL THEY GET
SOMETHING GIVEN TO THEM, AND THEN MIRACULOUSLY
EVERYBODY'S LIKE, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, THAT'S GOOD FOR
ME, WE'LL DO YOUR FIGHT NEXT YEAR.
>> WE HAVE A LONG TIME UNTIL JANUARY.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. SO I THINK THE BIG
DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE, CAN THE DEMOCRATS RALLY TO GET
SOMEONE THAT'S A DEMOCRAT THAT THEIR CAUCUS COMES OUT
UNIFIED BEHIND, UNITED BEHIND, OR ARE THE
REPUBLICANS GOING TO HAVE INPUT.
>> IS MARY KAY PAPEN ONE OF THOSE VOICES?
>> HER NAME IS DEFINITELY SURFACING.
I THINK WITH MARY JANE GARCIA NO LONGER THERE, SHE
HAS A CHANCE TO FLOURISH. IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO
THIS: FIVE. FIVE VOTES.
THAT'S ALL THE REPUBLICANS REALLY NEED.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S ALL THEY NEED IN ORDER TO GET WHOEVER
IT IS THAT THEY WANT AS THE PRO TEM.
IN ESSENCE, THIS IS THE GOVERNOR'S LAST CHANCE.
YOU KNOW, SHE FAILED TO GET MICHAEL SANCHEZ OUSTED, SO
NOW THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
HAS TO KIND OF GO IN AND TRY AND MANIPULATE THINGS.
>> IF YOU THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS ANY INPUT, ANY
GOVERNOR, WHEN YOU WERE WORKING THERE, WHEN I WAS
THERE, HAS ANY INPUT IN THE SENATE ON EITHER SIDE --
>> POINT TAKEN. BUT IT'S A VOICE, AND IT'S A
VERY POWERFUL VOICE. >> WELL, WITH MARY KAY
PAPEN RIGHT NOW, YOU HEAR HER NAME, AND I THINK SHE'S
PROBABLY PALATABLE TO REPUBLICANS, AND SHE
PROBABLY BRINGS TWO OTHER VOTES WITH HER BY HERSELF.
YOU'VE GOT JOHN ARTHUR SMITH OUT OF DEMING, AND YOU'VE
GOT JOSEPH CERVANTES, WHO I THINK THAT'S HIS GODMOTHER.
THAT'S THREE. SO NOW -- YOU JUST GOT TO
VOTE FIVE. YOU LOOK AT ANYBODY THAT'S
STARTING OFF -- I THINK MARY KAY PAPEN IS REALLY STARTING
OFF WITH A LEG UP IN THIS DEAL WITH THREE VOTES ON HER
SIDE. >> BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE
TRYING TO SAY, WHO IS THE REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNER A
YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THERE IS A LOT OF TIME.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF TIME, AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER
BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT, IS LOOKING AT THAT.
YOU KNOW, AFTER SEEING THESE RACES AND SEEING PEOPLE
WHO -- FOR EXAMPLE, REPRESENTATIVE ANDY NUNEZ,
WHO WORKED WITH THE GOVERNOR, CARRIED HER BILLS,
AND THEN WE SAW HOW THAT WORKED OUT FOR HIM.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT -- I'M HEARING A LOT OF
DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY THE MORE CONSERVATIVE ONES WHO
HAVE JOINED COALITIONS IN THE PAST SAYING, HEY, I JUST
WATCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE GET BURNED BY CROSSING THESE
LINES, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN ABOUT THIS IDEA.
>> LET'S SWITCH TO THE HOUSE HERE FOR JUST ONE
SECOND SO WE CAN FINISH UP. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY, REAL
QUICK, IT'S NOT ONLY THE LENGTH OF TIME, NOT ONLY DO
YOU HAVE TO GET SOMEONE, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO KEEP THEM HAPPY. ALL YOU NEED IS SOMEONE
COMING OUT OF THE CAUCUS UNIFIED THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW,
I REALLY THINK ALBUQUERQUE NEEDS MORE LIKE ME, AND ALL
OF A SUDDEN YOU'VE GOT FIVE OR SIX RURAL SENATORS
SAYING, HEY, WE HAD A DEAL. FORGET IT, WE'RE GOING TO
CUT ANOTHER DEAL ON OPENING DAY, AND THAT COULD BE A BIG
PROBLEM. >> INTERESTING.
GOOD POINT. I'M GLAD YOU THREW THAT IN.
KENNY MARTINEZ ON THE HOUSE SIDE, HE'S LOOKING VERY GOOD
FOR REPLACING BEN LUJAN. >> DONE DEAL.
>> HE ABSOLUTELY IS. >> NOBODY SEEMS TO ARGUE
WITH THIS, AT ALL, AS THE MAJORITY LEADER, OF COURSE.
NOW, WHO TAKES HIS PLACE? THAT'S THE MORE INTERESTING
STORY. AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR
THOUGHT ON THAT, THE ANGLE THERE.
>> I THINK AS DAN MENTIONED EARLIER, THINGS AREN'T SO
RIGID IN THE HOUSE, SO WE CAN SEE SOME OF THE YOUNGER
FOLKS, SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE GAIL CHASEYS,
POSSIBLY, WE COULD SEE THE MOE MAESTAS -- I MEAN, YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT WE
COULD SEE COME OVER ON THAT SIDE.
I MEAN, I WISH THAT IT WAS THAT WAY IN THE SENATE,
BECAUSE I AGREE WITH DAN, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE SOMEBODY
LIKE PETER WIRTH, OR TO GET EVEN YOUNGER THAN THAT, HOW
ABOUT A TIM KELLER, WHO REALLY WORKED HARD FOR HIS
DISTRICT, WORKS VERY WELL WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE. AND SO I THINK WE'VE GOT A
LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO GO -- BUT
THAT'S STILL A POINT. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M
DEFINITELY HEARING. ESPECIALLY, FOR EXAMPLE,
HOUSE JUDICIARY. I MEAN, THAT'S A HUGE -- I
MEAN, WE'VE HEARD ALL KINDS. WE'VE HEARD EVERYTHING FROM
BRIAN EGOLF TO GAIL CHASEY TO MOE MAESTAS OVER THERE.
>> AL PARK'S OLD COMMITTEE. >> AL PARK'S OLD COMMITTEE,
JOSEPH CERVANTES' OLD COMMITTEE.
>> AND IN THE HOUSE, KEEP IN MIND -- YOU KNOW, I THINK
IN THE HOUSE, I'VE FOUND BOTH R AND D SIDES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICAN AND THE
DEMOCRAT PARTIES, AND I WOULD SAY ALMOST CLOSELY
ALIGNED WITH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT PARTIES IS
RURAL AND URBAN LEGISLATURES.
SO THE WAY YOU SEE THINGS LINE UP THAT I'M SEEING
RIGHT NOW IS, YOU'VE GOT DEBBIE RODELLA WHO IS
WANTING TO BE A LEADER, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THREE OR
FOUR ALBUQUERQUE FOLKS. YOU KEEP THREE OR FOUR
ALBUQUERQUE FOLKS AND DEBBIE RODELLA, DEBBIE RODELLA IS
GOING TO THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE SHE'S
GOING TO GET THE RURAL NEW MEXICO VOTE.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENS. I THINK KENNY MARTINEZ IS
GOING TO BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST SPEAKERS THAT THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH.
THERE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE A SMARTER GUY THERE
THAT KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. HE'S GOING TO DO THINGS THE
RIGHT WAY. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO RUN OUT LIKE I DID WHEN I WAS THERE AND SAY, OH, LOOK,
HE'S BREAKING THE RULES. HE'S GOING TO DO IT THE
RIGHT WAY. AND I THINK THE REASON KENNY
IS GOING TO HAVE SOME STAYING POWER IS, I DON'T
KENNY WEIGHTS HIS POLITICAL CAPITAL ON ALL OF THIS OTHER
STUFF. HE'S GOING TO LET THAT FIGHT
HAPPEN BELOW HIM. >> HE'S VERY STRATEGIC.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. AND HE'S GOING TO WORK WITH
WHOEVER IS THE MAJORITY LEADER.
BUT MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT, WHOEVER THE MAJORITY LEADER
IS, KENNY MARTINEZ IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THE
HOUSE. >> AND ALL OF THE ONES THAT
YOU JUST MENTIONED LOOK UP TO KENNY MARTINEZ, SO HE'S
GOT THEIR RESPECT ALREADY. >> THERE YOU GO.
WE'RE "ON THE CLOCK" NOW WITH A HOT MINUTE TO GET
THROUGH EACH TOPIC WE CHOOSE.
LET'S GET STARTED. CHANGES ARE IN STORE FOR THE
LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS USING
THE SCHOLARSHIP IS OUTSTRIPPING THE FUNDING.
VIKI, THIS WAS AN OLD ARGUMENT.
PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHEN THINGS ARE HUMMING, THIS LOOKS
GOOD, BUT IF EVER TAKE A DIP HERE, THIS IS GOING TO BE
PROBLEMATIC. WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO
CHOOSE A SCHOLARSHIP NOW? IS IT FINANCIAL NEED, OR IS
IT YOUR GRADE POTENTIAL, YOUR GRADUATION POTENTIAL?
>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION.
AND I AM SOMEBODY -- YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, AND I GOT SCHOLARSHIPS.
I GOT ACADEMIC ONES, I GOT PELL GRANTS AT CNM, AND I'M
SOMEBODY WHO WAS IN SCHOOL WHEN THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
PASSED, AND I THOUGHT, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, 2.5?
WAIT A MINUTE PEOPLE. I MEAN, I'M KILLING MYSELF.
I HAD TO HAVE A 4.0 ON SOME OF MY SCHOLARSHIPS.
I MEAN, THE MINIMUM I HAD TO HAVE WAS A 3.0.
>> I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH A 2.0 IN COLLEGE.
>> CLEARLY THE SOLUTION IS WE ALL NEED TO PLAY THE
POWERBALL MORE OFTEN. >> MY WIFE IS TRYING TO
HELP OUT AS MUCH AS SHE CAN. >> I AGREE THAT IT NEEDS TO
BE A COMBINATION OF AN INCREASE IN THE GPA, AND I
ALSO DO SEE -- THIS IS PURELY ANECDOTAL, BUT I HAVE
CERTAINLY MET MANY PARENTS WHO HAVE SAID, I CAN AFFORD
TO PAY FOR UNM, BUT I'M GOING TO LET THE LOTTERY
SCHOLARSHIP PICK IT UP AND I'M GOING TO PAY FOR
SOMETHING ELSE. >> IT SHOULD NOT BE
FINANCIALLY BOUND. THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY OUT
THERE FINANCIALLY GIVEN. THERE ARE KIDS OUT THERE
THAT DON'T MEET THAT THRESHOLD NOW THAT COULD USE
THIS LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP. I THINK GRADES IS A GOOD WAY
TO GO. >> I HAVE TO HOLD YOU
THERE, TOM; MY FAULT. NOW, ESTIMATES ARE THAT MORE
THAN A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO USE ON BUDGETS NEXT YEAR.
MUCH WILL GO TO MEDICAID AND EDUCATION, OF COURSE, TOM,
BUT WHERE ELSE SHOULD THE LEADERSHIP IN SANTA FE AND
THE ROUNDHOUSE BE THINKING OF PUTTING SOME OF THIS
DOUGH? >> WELL, HERE'S A RADICAL
IDEA. THEY SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING --
I MEAN, IF THERE'S STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE COVERED, IT
SHOULD, BUT ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME TO CONTINUE PULLING
BACK A LITTLE BIT? I MEAN, WITH EVERYTHING
GOING ON IN WASHINGTON WITH THE POTENTIAL FISCAL CLIFF,
YOU KNOW, SEQUESTRATION, WHY NOT LOOK AT TRYING TO CUT
BUDGETS? I KNOW IT'S VERY UNPOPULAR.
IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. I MEAN, IT'S GOVERNMENT,
AFTER ALL. BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S A
WISE WAY TO GO. YOU HAVE FAMILIES THROUGHOUT
NEW MEXICO, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, THAT ARE
CUTTING BACK THEIR BUDGETS. GOVERNMENTS SHOULDN'T BE ANY
DIFFERENT. >> BRIDGES AND ROADS?
JOBS? >> LISTEN, DE BACA COUNTY,
I JUST DROVE THROUGH THERE THE OTHER DAY, WHERE ARE THE
ROADS? SOME OF OUR RURAL AREAS NEED
SOME HELP. SOME OF OUR RURAL AREAS,
I MEAN, DEFINITELY NEED SOME HELP.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN SOCORRO COUNTY, AND IT'S
JUST -- YOU KNOW, YOU GET USED TO IT, BUT WE'RE
TALKING NO LIGHTS, YOU KNOW. >> WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH
THE CANYON, THE ROADS CHANGE AT THE COUNTY LINE.
IT'S AMAZING HOW THAT HAPPENS.
>> AND LISTEN, THE FOLKS WHO BUILD ROADS ARE SOME OF
THE MOST HARD HIT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE
RECESSION. I THINK THAT -- AND I'VE
SAID THIS SO MANY TIMES AT THIS TABLE -- THAT MONEY HAS
GOT TO GO INTO THE POCKETS OF NEW MEXICO TAXPAYERS, AND
THAT GROUP IS THE ONE -- >> GOVERNOR RICHARDSON
DECIMATED THE MAINTENANCE FUND ON THE ROADS AND
BRIDGES HERE, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM
IN THIS STATE WHEN IT COMES TO ROADS AND BRIDGES.
AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AN
IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LET SOMEONE
LAND AND TRY TO DRIVE 30 MINUTES OUT OF TOWN ON A
CRAPPY ROAD, THEY MAY NOT WANT TO COME AND PUT A
BUSINESS HERE. >> GOOD POINT.
WE HAVE MORE "ON THE CLOCK" ONLINE.
FIND IT AT NewMexicoInFocus.org.
IN A MOMENT, AN AMERICAN GRADUATE DISCUSSION WITH
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS.