Gov. Lujan Grisham unveils $7.7 billion spending plan (NM - Spend and Tax Radical Dem)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | January 6, 2020 at 12:01 p.m. | Dan Boyd

[CedarDave]

SANTA FE — New Mexico state spending would rise significantly for the second consecutive year under a budget proposal unveiled by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday that would boost state spending by $596.3 million — or roughly 8.4% — over current levels.

The nearly $7.7 billion spending plan includes a proposed 4% salary increase for New Mexico teachers and more money for school districts with a large number of “at risk” students, as the state continues to grapple with the fallout of a landmark legal ruling about its public education system.

It would also provide additional dollars to hire 60 additional State Police officers, create a New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship that would benefit an estimated 55,000 college students and expand funding for child-care assistance and pre-Kindergarten programs statewide.

“We recognize great opportunity necessitates both aggressive strategic action and fiscal responsibility,” she added.

New Mexico’s recent spending growth comes after several cash-lean years and is being fueled in large part by record-breaking oil production in the state’s southeast corner.

In addition, some of the state’s budgetary windfall would be spent on one-time expenditures, including $320 million to set up a new early childhood endowment fund.

[CedarDave]

Holy Crap!! What fiscal responsibility??

This year the NM legislative session is limited to 30 days and starts January 21. Lujan Grisham's budget is considered a blueprint for discussion, but as the legislature is entirely controlled by tax and spend Democrats, the budget will likely be increased even more with further spending on pork projects by individual members. Absolutely no talk of rebates to tax payers though some money will be put in "rainy day" funds. And, BTW, many of these same folks are trying to put restrictions on the oil and gas industry production to reduce fossil fuel use in the name of preventing global warming and climate change.

(A shorter than usual excerpt due to the short length of the Journal article)

[CedarDave]

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[mewzilla]

Has anyone informed this flaming lunatic that states can’t print money?!

[mewzilla]

Just checked. Education and Medicaid already take up 2/3 of NM’s budget now.

Does NM have a recall provision?

[headstamp 2]

Welcome to Democrat Rule.

1) Middle Class destruction
2) The Wealthy
3) The Poor
4) Out of Control Spending

[headstamp 2]

[[New Mexico’s recent spending growth comes after several cash-lean years and is being fueled in large part by record-breaking oil production in the state’s southeast corner.]]

Which the leftist idiots are trying to obliterate.

[mewzilla]

At the rate they’re going, it won’t take long.

[CPT Clay]

Goodies for Everybody.

[Seruzawa]

The more money the schools have, the worse they get.

[Maudeen]

Just stop and think of these people with a reprobate mindset that are in charge and so quick to spend the taxpayers’ hard earned money.

[lastchance]

From what I understand part of this is the state scrambling to meet the legal ruling about school spending. How this became a matter for a judge and not the legislature is alarming. This is not an isolated trend.

[VTenigma]

Hey I’ve got an idea. They should put a moratorium on oil exploration. That would really help the fiscal situation. And while they’re at it they should give sanctuary to as many illegals as possible, because the don’t cost the state anything to feed, clothe, house, and educate.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Its fine. When she gets the “rich” to pay their “fair share” of taxes, all the extra spending will be covered.

[hal ogen]

Lewftist nitwits vote for the strangest, befuddled, malignant losers who don’t have a clue. Good luck, New Mexicans. LOL

[hal ogen]

Leftist nitwits vote for the strangest, befuddled, malignant losers who don’t have a clue. Good luck, New Mexicans. LOL

[CedarDave]

Does NM have a recall provision?

Not by petition and popular vote. Impeachment and removal is by the same method as removal of the President, that is by impeachment by the House and trial by the state Senate. As both legislative houses in New Mexico are controlled by the Dems, a petition will go nowwhere (they started one last year to impeach her for removing National Guard troops from the border).

Also, there is no provision for petition and popular vote for state constitutional amendments. They can only be proposed for ballot consideration after approval by the legislature. That does essentially kill any popular (and usually detrimental) referendum movements like California has.

[CedarDave]

The more money the schools have, the worse they get.

And the teacher's unions fight like hell to oppose money for and creation of new charter schools, and of course no money or grants for private schools.
(See my tag line)

[DesertRhino]

“New Mexico’s recent spending growth comes after several cash-lean years and is being fueled in large part by record-breaking oil production in the state’s southeast corner.”

While they work feverishly to stop fracking and drilling.

[CedarDave]

From what I understand part of this is the state scrambling to meet the legal ruling about school spending. How this became a matter for a judge and not the legislature is alarming. This is not an isolated trend.

It comes about because counties with a rich tax base (e.g. Los Alamos) can afford good schools with all the latest classroom tools like computers. Much poorer counties, like Rio Arriba, struggle just to pay teachers who often have to buy their own classroom supplies. A distribution system to somewhat equalize the system statewide was shot down by a judge who directed the legislature to come up with a better one so that kids statewide have equal opportunities.

Of course, it won't work because it's up to the parents to manage and support their child's progress in school. In the poorer counties, they most often have single parent homes and the child may not be given guidance or help and often he/she becomes more disinterested in school as they get older.

Down here in the oil patch, where good jobs are plentiful, parents want the same for their children, even those where English is a second language (and many oilfield jobs are staffed by non-English speaking men). With the rich tax base from oil/gas drilling and production we are building new schools, new sports facilities and now a new vocational/technical facility is in development to train workers that don't need or want a college education. A family I'm friends with just had their daughter graduate from Junior College last May a week before her high school graduation. She is now in a four year college starting as an advanced sophomore or junior.

[Mastador1]

Why should teachers, or any other guberment employee get any more than the 1.6% increase social security recipients got? After all if the said the COLA only increased by 1.6% what’s their justification? And if the COLA increased by more than 1.6%(no shit!) why were senior reemed again?