State Reps. Susan Herrera and Kristina Ortez set priorities
Before she wandered the halls of the Roundhouse annex in Santa Fe this week looking for her new office, first time New Mexico House Rep. Kristina Ortez and her Democratic colleague Rep. Susan Herrera laid out their priorities during a virtual town hall held Wednesday (Jan. 13). Herrera, D-Embudo, and Ortez, D-Taos, discussed their policy positions in advance of the twomonth-long legislative session that began Jan. 19.
“The name of the game for the Democratic caucus is recovery,” said Ortez in her opening remarks. “There will be bills on infrastructure, especially in rural communities, especially on broadband. If you guys were in some of my earlier Zoom calls, you know the struggles that I have with broadband,” she joked.
The online event was attended by nearly 100 residents, and was hosted by Taos United/ Taoseños Unidos, the Taos County Democratic Party, local residents and others. Questions were gathered in advance, and were put to the representatives by moderators Jay Levine and Cristy Holden.
Tax and Revenue policies
Analysts and economists have predicted a collapse in the fossil fuel industry within the next five years due to lower costs of renewable energy, higher costs for fossil fuel extraction, growing climate concerns and electrification of transportation.
New Mexico will need to
adapt its economy in order to survive these changes, given that nearly one-third of the state’s general fund relies on revenues derived from oil and gas.
“What are your plans to work towards economic diversification in the upcoming legislative session?” asked Levine.
“It is about water, electricity, broadband — it is really about infrastructure,” said Herrera. “All of these things are so basic, but we don’t have it.”
“You can’t have a healthy economy unless you have a healthy community,” said Ortez. “So, investments in public health, in mental and behavioral health, that’s infrastructure. And that’s critical for economic development and economic diversity.”
The state gave tax breaks to corporations in exchange for new businesses and higher revenues. “These corporate tax breaks have been shown over time to have had no benefits in terms of attracting new businesses, creating new jobs or bringing new money into the state,” said Levine. “Will you support their repeal, and have these corporations pay their fair share?”
“Corporations should pay their fair share, period,” said Ortez.
A recent proposal to raise revenue would eliminate tax exemptions for food and prescription drugs, and then refund that revenue to low-income residents. “Will you pledge to oppose a food tax in any form?” asked Levine.
“We can’t tax food and medicine. It has a huge impact on our lowerincome families,” said Ortez “We’ve got to find a better way.”
“I don’t think anybody’s going to put tax on food again at the Capitol,” said Herrera. “But I do think we need to find new ways of revenue to support services in the state. If anybody has any ideas, let me know.”
Considering cannabis
Recreational cannabis would bring in an estimated $58 million of revenue in its first year, and 70 percent of New Mexicans support it, according to Levine. “Last year, the New Mexico Legislature received a bill to legalize recreational cannabis. Will you vote in favor of this bill?” he asked.
“You need to do it in a way that doesn’t kill the medical marijuana program,” said Ortez. “And we’ve got to ensure that racial equity is a part of this — mostly people of color have been put in jail for marijuana. So let’s make sure that those folks are released, and are allowed to work in the industry going forward.”
Ortez also stressed the need for taxes and regulations of the system. “There’s a cannabis control board that is being proposed, the taxes are somewhere between 16 and 20 percent,” she said.
“I’m in favor. But it’s going to be really hard to protect small producers,” said Herrera. “That’s a really important part of this legislation. You have these huge companies come in and do these huge things.” “And low-water-usage methods, like no flooding,” added Levine. “They should have high-tech irrigation.”
Public bank
Asked if they would join State Sen. Jeff Steinborn and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales in backing the creation of a state bank, Ortez and Herrera said they would. “I think it has a real chance this year,” said Herrera.
The working families tax credit could provide help to working lowincome families who’ve been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasing the tax credit could help local economies recover. Both Ortez and Herrera said they support it.
Social policies
In 2020, the state Legislature advanced a study on a health security plan, and this year, seeks funding for a three-year rollout. “Are you in support of the New Mexico Health Security Act to guarantee health insurance to all New Mexicans?” asked Holden.
“I voted for the study, and I’m in favor of this bill,” said Herrera.
“Yes, I support it,” said Ortez. “It is a priority of the Democratic House Caucus — to ensure that there’s affordable health insurance, lower prescription drugs, and an expansion of Medicaid, Medicare for all. We need it.”
Early childhood education programs can increase children’s success, lower dropout rates and lead to better paying jobs in the long term. “Will you vote to allow the public to decide on an amendment to the New Mexico constitution to allow a one-percent increase in distribution of Land Grant Permanent Funds for early childhood programs?” asked Holden.
“It pays for itself — like 15 times over. I forget the number, but it’s huge. It is always a good investment,” said Herrera. “And I would vote gladly to pay more out of that Permanent Fund for early development.”
“Yes, I will not only vote for that, but I will be on the front lines, getting voters to vote for that as well,” said Ortez. “The storm is here. This rainy-day fund, we’ve got to use it right now.”
Energy and the environment
Both legislators said they support the so-called Green Amendment, which secures citizens’ rights to pure water, clean air, a healthy ecosystem and a stable climate.
And both Ortez and Herrera agreed to an increase in bonding rules for future oil and gas wells, designed to protect the public from having to pay the cleanup costs from irresponsible extractors.
An amendment to last year’s Produced Water Act would prohibit the use of freshwater in oil and gas well drilling, and prohibit the use of fracking waste on roads and agricultural land. “Will you support this bill to restrict toxic wastewater?” asked Levine.
“Yep,” said Ortez. “Produced water is gross. We don’t know what’s in that?
Levine said that’s because of a federal loophole that restricts communities from knowing what is in fracking wastewater. “That’s insanity,” replied Ortez.
Lightning round
In a lighting round of questions, Holden asked the legislators if they would support Sen. Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, with her proposed fracking moratorium. “That’s a maybe,” replied Ortez.
“I’m going to see if it gets to the House. I don’t think she’s going to get it to the Senate,” said Herrera.
“Ban private prisons?” asked Holden.
“Yes, I’m definitely for that. We made big, big mistakes years ago,” said Herrera.
“And local communities are always on the hook and pay way more than they ever intended,” added Ortez.
Both Ortez and Herrera said they supported the decriminalization of abortion, paid sick leave and a crackdown on predatory lending.
They also said they supported paying legislators — New Mexico is one of a handful of states that does not pay legislators an annual salary.
Informal polls
Informal polls on policy questions were conducted during the town hall event. The results, shown as a percentage of support by audience participants, are as follows:
• Increase Working Family Tax Credit: 70 percent
• Health Security Plan to ensure near universal coverage: 74 percent
• Development of a statewide plan to ensure food security: 67 percent
• Use 1 percent per year distribution from the Permanent Fund for Early Childhood programs: 76 percent
• A Green Amendment to guarantee clean air and water, a stable climate and the preservation of the natural environment: 73 percent
• Regulations to prohibit methane pollution from oil and gas operations: 75 percent
• Regulate fracking to prohibit use of freshwater, discharges and spills of fracking wastewater and its use on roads or agricultural land: 73 percent
• Allow local communities to pool their electricity needs in a local utility and decide their energy provider: 46 percent
• Allocate state funds for acequia repairs: 66 percent
• Increased bonds for all new oil and gas wells to pay for clean up: 64 percent
• Repeal criminalization of abortion laws in New Mexico: 85 percent
• Make paid sick leave for workers mandatory: 82 percent
• Pay New Mexico state legislators a salary for their service: 91 percent
• Lower the maximum interest rate on small installment loan interest rates from 175 percent to 36 percent: 89 percent
• Ban private prisons in New Mexico: 78 percent
• Allow terminally ill patients to be released from pain and suffering following a medical review and with the care of a physician: 83 percent
A safe session
The state Legislature met Dec. 14 to discuss COVID-19 safety protocols for the 60-day session, and made allowances for staff to work from home.
In response to challenging new work conditions, the Legislature has instituted a five-bill limit for members of the House of Representatives during the session. The limit would not apply to bills introduced in the Senate or to bills originating from the governor’s office.