Budget Balancing Act; Healthy Soil and Water in NM | Full Episode

Описание: This week on New Mexico in Focus, we zero in on the state's budget as lawmakers work to finalize the massive spending plan. Senate Finance Chair George Muñoz, a Gallup Democrat, talks to host Nash Jones about several contentious line items, including copays for universal childcare and billions set aside for public and higher education.

Then, politics correspondent Gwyneth Doland checks in with Sen. Steve Lanier, the second-ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee and a candidate for governor, to learn where the state GOP stands on the budget.

Later, Gwyneth speaks with five different lawmakers, each representing a different community of New Mexicans, to find out the one thing they're fighting for in this year's budget. An important note and an apology: We also spoke with Republican Reps. Jennifer Jones and Gail Armstrong for this segment. Unfortunately, those responses will not air due to technical difficulties.

The Clear Horizons Act, meant to set the governor’s carbon emission goals into law, died in the Senate this week as seven Democrats joined state Republicans to kill the bill. Capital and Main reporter Jerry Redfern sits down with Camilla Feibelman, director of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, to dig into the bill and consider how its failure will cost the state.

Last year, the Trump administration gutted the Clean Water Act, which protected millions of acres of wetlands, rivers and streams. That has prompted state officials and environmental groups to try and plug the proverbial dam and take charge of ensuring water quality. Correspondent Elizabeth Miller joins Tricia Snyder, Rivers and Waters program director for the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, on the banks of the Santa Fe River to learn more.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture offers a grant program to help improve soil conditions around the state. Nash speaks with program co-lead Katie Crayton, as well as Taos-based soil health coordinator Tyler Zander, about the "Healthy Soil Program" and how these grants are healing the state's scorched surface.

Host:
Nash Jones

Segments:

NM Sen. Muñoz on Balancing State Budget
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guest:
NM Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup; Senate Finance Chair

NM Sen. Lanier on Childcare Copays and Fixing Potholes
Correspondent:
Gwyneth Doland
Guest:
NM Sen. Steve Lanier, R-San Juan County

Budget Priorities Heard Around the Roundhouse
Correspondent:
Gwyneth Doland
Guests:
NM Rep. Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque; House Speaker
NM Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Española
NM Sen. Rex Wilson, R-Ancho
NM Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces
NM Rep. Marianna Anaya, D-Albuquerque

Clear Horizons Bill Dies in Senate
Correspondent:
Jerry Redfern
Guest:
Camilla Feibelman, Rio Grande Chapter Director, Sierra Club

Protecting NM Water Following Trump Cuts
Correspondent:
Elizabeth Miller
Guest:
Tricia Snyder, Rivers & Waters Program Director, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance

Healthy Soil Program Helps Bring Life Back to the Surface
Correspondent:
Nash Jones
Guests:
Katie Crayton, Healthy Soil Program Co-Lead, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
Tyler Zander, Soil Health Coordinator, Taos Soil and Water District
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00:00 Intro
02:25 NM Sen. Muñoz on Balancing State Budget
13:41 NM Sen. Lanier on Childcare Copays and Fixing Potholes
19:51 Budget Priorities Heard Around the Roundhouse
22:06 Apology
23:19 Clear Horizons Bill Dies in Senate
35:06 Protecting NM Water Following Trump Cuts
45:45 Healthy Soil Program Helps Bring Life Back to the Surface

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