Pre-K program allies eye permanent fund
Hundreds of children, parents and other supporters of early childhood programs filled the Roundhouse on Thursday to make their pitch for tapping into New Mexico’s land grant permanent fund.
They are backing a constitutional amendment that would provide about $150 million a year, mostly for prekindergarten, homevisiting programs and other early childhood services.
The money would be available by increasing the annual distribution from the land grant permanent fund by 1 percentage point, from 5 percent to 6 percent.
But the measure has repeatedly run aground in the Senate. It narrowly cleared the House last year and was rejected on a 6-5 vote in the Senate Rules Committee — where Republicans and conservative Democrats said diverting more money would damage the health of a fund that already provides hundreds of millions of dollars for education and other state services.
None of that dampened the enthusiasm of the crowd Thursday. Children in cowboy hats raised their right hand so they could be sworn in as the “Pre-K gang,” promising to study hard and change New Mexico for the better.
Allen Sánchez, president of the nonprofit group CHI St. Joseph’s Children, predicted the measure will clear the House quickly and move over to the Senate again this session.
“Our statistics are getting worse, and the fund is getting bigger,” he said.
New Mexico leads the nation with the most children under age 5 living in poverty — 36.2 percent — according to U.S. Census Bureau data released last year.
TWO-SECOND HUGS: All but three of New Mexico’s 112 legislators have attended mandatory anti-harassment training this week, according to legislative staff members.
Those who did go heard about the need to keep their hugs short (two-second rule!) and avoid off-color remarks.
The three who missed the Monday training — and haven’t yet watched a video of the training to make up for it — still must get it done.
They are Reps. Yvette Herrell, R-Alamogordo, and Sarah Maestas Barnes, R-Albuquerque, and Sen. Benny Shendo Jr., D-Jemez Pueblo.
Three other members missed Monday’s training but already have watched a video of the presentation.
The training came as capitols across the country have been rocked by allegations of sexual harassment. In New Mexico, women who work at the Roundhouse have described it as a minefield of inappropriate comments and questionable behavior.