TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Gas prices swallow up federal rebates
On the eve of the Legislature's special session, there's much speculation about Gov. Richardson's proposed tax-rebate. Much of the push for a rebate rests on the pain that New Mexicans are feeling at the pump. An article in the Weekly Alibi this morning cites a New Mexico Public Interest Research Group report that finds since the Bush rebates that went into effect on Feb. 13, most of that money has gone directly back into gas purchases.
The article also states that Abq Ride recently announced that it had 10 million boardings between June 2007 and June 2008, "an increase of 10 percent over the previous year and the largest figure ever for Albuquerque’s public transit system."
Lobbyists for the insurance and health care industry will be out in full force for the coming special session in Santa Fe, which begins at noon tomorrow. One of the top items on the agenda is Gov. Richardson's effort to get all New Mexican children covered with health insurance. Richardson has received substantial campaign contributions from insurance and health care business interests. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, "Richardson has received more than $710,000 for his two gubernatorial races, according to the study. And that doesn't include more than $878,000 contributed to his unsuccessful presidential campaign by people in the health industry last year, according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics."
Not all lobbyists represent big business and the article notes that, "Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign — a coalition of dozens of medical associations, civil-rights groups, religious organizations and labor unions that advocate "single-payer" health insurance — has a registered lobbyist."
The National Association of Latino Independent Producers will be moving to New Mexico according to report by New Mexico Business Weekly. The non-profit organization, which helps to foster budding Latinos in the film business, will bring their NALIP Academy to the state which will foster above-the-line talent in New Mexico and around the nation.
According to the Farmington Daily News, New Mexico's Native population are attending the state's colleges and universities at an increasing rate. The New Mexico Higher Education Department study noted, however, that the retention level for four-year programs was poor. Secretary of Higher Education Reed Dasenbrock noted in the report that, "The percentage of bachelor's, graduate and professional degrees attained are roughly 40 percent of where they should be... at this rate of increase, we will reach proportionality in 2086". Matt Martinez, director of education noted that the increase was encouraging but a lot more needs to be done. The article states that one of the biggest reasons for the disparity between two- and- four-year degrees was geographic barriers. The proximity of community colleges in relation to reservations make them much more accessible.
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