Audience members listen to lawmakers at the Legislative Preview Jan. 5 at Fuller Lodge. The event was hosted by the Los Alamos Chapter of The American Association of University Women and League of Women Voters. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

By BONNIE GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com

The Los Alamos Chapter of The American Association of University Women and The League of Women Voters hosted a New Mexico Legislative Preview Jan. 5 at Fuller Lodge.

The two senators who represent Los Alamos, Leo Jaramillo and Roberto (Bobby) Gonzales and House Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler were joined by Think New Mexico’s Associate Director Kristina Fisher to discuss the upcoming Legislative Session. Los Alamos High School debate and speech teacher and coach Margo Batha served as moderator.

The 2023 Legislative Session begins Jan. 17 and ends March 18.

Rep. Chandler, who chairs the House Taxation and Revenue Committee said New Mexico had collected  $3.5 billion in 2022 over the previous year, mostly from oil and gas revenues.

The House Taxation and Revenue Committee works with house leadership to develop a tax package that stays within the budget, she explained.

Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler

“The surplus allows us to look at lowering the state GRT (gross receipts tax). Another round of rebates is also on the table,” Chandler said. “We’ll be looking at the tax brackets to make them more progressive. Currently, almost everyone is in the 4.7 percent bracket.”

Chandler is sponsoring HB 25, to boost the minimum wage to $16 per hour starting in 2024, while also establishing an indexing system that would mean yearly minimum wage increases tied to inflation every year starting in 2025, she said.

She also is sponsoring a bill that would end co-payments for diagnostic breast exams and a bill that would improve school ventilation. A third bill would end the requirement for publication of name changes.

Other House legislation of interest to Chandler includes the Student Loan Bill of Rights, a water bill to protect acequias and legislation on large scale storage of energy.

Dist. 5 State Sen. Leo Jaramillo

Sen. Jaramillo represents the Los Alamos Townsite.

“I was elected in 2021,” he said. “I still have my training wheels on.”

Jaramillo said he considers Los Alamos his “second home”. He works at Los Alamos National Laboratory and said one recent bonding experience with the community was playing “Mother Ginger” in the 2022 production of the Nutcracker.

Jaramillo chairs the Land Grant Committee and is vice chair of the Senate Rules Committee and a member of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee. He was recently moved to a seat near his fellow Los Alamos Senator, Bobby Gonzales, who represents White Rock as part of his district.

“Those side conversations really help,” Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo, Gonzales and Chandler stressed their good working relationship and respect for each other. All three are Democrats and said they share a general philosophy.

Jaramillo is carrying legislation supporting free school breakfast and lunch.

“This is close to my heart,” he said. “My mother was a school cook and she told me she knew that the meals she served were the only meals some students got regularly.”

Jaramillo is supporting legislation to help end catalytic converter theft from cars, a crime which is on the increase, he said. He is also supporting a bill to require a nationally certified educator on movie sets that employ children. He supports an acequia fund to allow the state to help with funds when there is a natural disaster. He is monitoring bills on affordable housing to combat homelessness.

Dist. 6 Sen. Roberto (Bobby) Gonzales

Sen. Gonzales has served 28 years in the legislature.

“My focus is finance and education,” Gonzales said. “I serve on the Senate Finance Committee and the Legislative Finance Committee.”

The increases in reserve funds of 33 percent will allow the legislature to fully fund programs that were getting only severely limited amounts before, but the state must be wary of ongoing expenses because revenues could fall, he said.

“We’ve never been in such a good position,” Gonzales said. “The floodgates are open and it’s hard to say no. Every agency has to go through the finance committee with their budgets so we can see how the money is spent.”

Turning to education, Gonzales said the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit, the purpose of which is to assure that all students meet their full potential regardless of race, ethnicity, income or background, has directed funding to make sure requirements are met.

“When I was in school, I wanted to be in school,” he said. “The high absentee rate in our schools is concerning.”

Gonzales wants the state to ensure that students are being engaged through programs like outdoor education and career-oriented learning. He said he wants to encourage students to remain in New Mexico for higher education, BA through doctorate.

When asked about the possibility of paying legislators, Gonzales said he couldn’t agree more with the concept.

“We want to have citizen legislators,” he said. “The current system discriminates against those who aren’t wealthy or retired. It’s expensive to be in Santa Fe during the session.”

This would require a constitutional amendment, Gonzales said.

“If legislators had staff, people who work would be able to serve,” Chandler pointed out.

“People are amazed we do everything on our own,” Jaramillo said. “I support paid staff and every session being a 60-day session, no 30-day sessions.”

Interim Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Guy asked whether there was support for increasing matching funds for capital outlay. Currently, Los Alamos must pay 90 percent of costs and it will increase to 94 percent in the future, she said.

Chandler said there has been conversation about increasing the state’s portion to 30 percent. Funding one-time activities is a good use of surplus funds that may not be available at a later date.

The three lawmakers expressed support for some type of fund to control legislation and reproductive rights.

“I stand with women,” Jaramillo said of his support for abortion rights. “I respect women’s decisions.”

League Co-President Barbara Calef asked about the possible creation of an independent redistricting committee for New Mexico.

The legislators were cautious. Jaramillo wanted to know who would appoint the commission. Chandler said “it’s scary” to think of the process becoming even less fair.

Think New Mexico Associate Director Kristina Fisher

Think New Mexico Associate Director Kristina Fisher outlined the organizations education agenda for the upcoming session.

Priorities include:

• • • • • • Optimize Time for Teaching & Learning
          • Improve Teacher Training
          • Revamp the Colleges of Education
          • Enhance Principal Pay & Training
          • Upgrade School Board Quality
          • Smaller Schools, Districts, & Classes
          • Maximize the Benefits of Charter Schools
          • Provide a Relevant & Rigorous Curriculum
          • Financial Literacy

For a full discussion of each priority and to learn more about Think New Mexico, visit thinknewmexico.org/education-reform/.