Many in the Legislature failed to do their jobs this session. They actually squandered 60 days and cowed to special interest groups. It was reckless and it was irresponsible, and now we are staring down the path of a government shutdown. – Governor Susana Martinez, in remarks to reporters Saturday at the conclusion of the sixty day session
The Crib Sheet is a collection of stories, events, and ideas that are shaping the conversation in New Mexico and D.C. politics.
[New Mexico]
- Governor Martinez is not satisfied with the budget sent to her by lawmakers; she is expected to call them back to Santa Fe for a special session in the near future.
- Steve Terrell at The Santa Fe New Mexican has an analysis of the “winners and losers of the 2017 session”.
- In a small win for government watchdogs, voters next year will decide whether to create a “seven-member body to investigate ethics violations and apply sanctions.”
- The Santa Fe New Mexican has a long read on the FBI’s investigation into Governor Martinez’s top political adviser Jay McCleskey.
- President Trump’s proposed budget for 2018 does not contain funding for the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project.
- The price of oil dropped last week with domestic production in the U.S. “showing no signs of slowing down.” The slide in oil prices undermines “the potential for even an extended OPEC output-reduction deal to rebalance the market.”
- Democrat Ray Powell announced he is running to get his job back as New Mexico Commissioner of State Lands. Powell lost to Republican Aubrey Dunn in 2014.
[D.C.]
- Capitol Hill has a very busy week including the first hearing for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, the first public hearing into allegations into Russia’s interfering in the 2016 election, and a scheduled floor vote in the House on the GOP’s healthcare plan to replace Obamacare.
- Before the first hearing into Russia’s alleged actions in the 2016 presidential elections President Trump wrote on Twitter that the Russia allegations are “‘fake news”.
- The former head of the CIA Leon Panetta said this morning that Trump “probably should apologize to the president” for blaming Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower without proof.
- The latest Gallup poll shows Trump with a job approval rating of 37%, a new low for the young presidency.
[Tech & Strategy]
- The most memorable SXSW marketing efforts this year were presentations by “large tech and media companies”, replacing startups who have historically been the attention grabbers at the Austin festival.
- A six figure digital campaign by an establishment GOP advocacy group is pressuring 29 Republicans in the House to support the GOP plan to replace Obamacare.
[Culture]
- Ever wonder how New Mexico chile became “legendary”? The story of New Mexico’s world-famous chile industry began over 100 years ago.
- The official state tree of New Mexico, the pinon pine, “is under threat from the region’s warming and drying climate”.
