b'2021 Presidents Day Issue State Report NEW MEXICO Petroleum Marketers Association (NMPMA) ReportNM cheekis amended (and not vetoed) future There wont be much back slapping, pecking or bear hugs at the opening of todays 60-daystate Governors would have more legislative session. The pandemic has benched in-personrestraints on them and more input politicking, replacing it with virtual meetings that elimi- from the Legislature in dealing nate the personal touch. with health emergencies.The Senate will meet in person but minus the public andThe health order gives a Governor the lobbyists who have helped run the place for over awide discretion in closing downcentury. The House will be all Zoom all the time.society. But the Act did not foresee New Mexico Notes Meanwhile, there are three measures that New Mexicolockdowns and other pandemicRuben Baca Politics with Joe Monahan pegs as potentially the mostmeasures lasting nearly the yearNMPMAtransformative in the 2021 session.like the ones now in effect.Executive DirectorNUMBER ONEWithout a doubt the proposedThe issue is the concentration of so much power in the constitutional amendment to tap one percent of the $21executive for an unlimited time. Time limits and power billion Land Grant Permanent School Fund is potentiallysharing with the Legislature are being proposed to transformative. The amendment has been making thehave the Act provide more checks and balances. When Roundhouse rounds for nearly a decade. The differenceanother unfortunate time comes, whether ten years or a this year is that it will probably pass both chambers. Ithundred years from now, changes to the Act could trans-will again fly though the House and then the question isform government responsibility for the public health and whether the Senate waters it down.for the better.The amendment, if passed by the Legislature and ap- NUMBER THREEIts a drug and it has conse-proved by voters, would mean $180 million annuallyquences. What they would be if New Mexico legalizes would be withdrawn from the Fund for early childhoodrecreational marijuana is unknown and that hangs over educationages zero to five. Thats the time science saysthe chances of this bill winning approval. brain development is most crucial for future success.Legalization would be transformative with tens of thou-Advocate Stephen Spitz explains why labeling thesands of marijuana users bolstering state tax collections amendment transformative is not hyperbole: but also creating negative social consequences as was the case when the state legalized Indian gambling. Both The Legislative Finance Committees latest report on theimpacts need to be considered.states home visiting program that science says gets theThis is a fragile time for public healthespecially mental biggest investment bang for the buck (up to 13 times forhealthand that may impact the chances of legal pot each dollar invested) says the state contracted for 3,917from passing, along with the complexity of adminis-slots for this program for ages prenatal to three years.tering the law in a state not known for administrative There are approximately 25,000 births per year in Newexcellence. We put the chances at 50-50. Mexico; 82% are Medicaid qualified. 3,917 slots repre-sent only 4.5% coverage of prenatal to three babies forHONORABLE MENTION: How much funding will home visiting. Thus, this program shown to be most effec- there be to implement the Yazzie education lawsuit in tive in increasing educational attainment and executivewhich a judge ruled the state was violating the Constitu-function in children could hardly be less significant.tion by not providing adequate funding for at-risk stu-NUMBER TWOShould the Governors powerdents, mostly of color? The administration has dragged under the 2003 Public Health Emergency Response Actits feet but under increasing pressure seems to be warm-be amended? This is flying under the radar but if the Acting to its responsibility. continued on page 48Look to the 2021 WPMA News Fall Issue for highlights! US President #13 Millard FillmoreLet us remember amidst all our grief and disappointmentsthat there is an unerring Providence that governs this world, and that no man is indispensable to a nations life; and let us look hopefully for the rainbow of peace that will surely(50) succeed the storm if we do our own duty . PT:Source: Millard Fillmore Papers, January 1, 1907, page 108. 1850-1853WPMA News / Spring 202121'