Albuquerque Journal

NM needs strategic spending of record revenues

State lawmakers have the chance to address complex problems

- BY SEN. PETE CAMPOS LAS VEGAS DEMOCRAT

As the combinatio­n of record state revenues, a new administra­tion and momentum from the 2019 legislativ­e session continues, I believe that New Mexico is on the doorstep of prosperity undreamt of only a short time ago. As we better understand the magnitude of oil reserves in the Permian Basin and work with private industry and our research institutio­ns to expand the limits of those reserves, we can propel ourselves into this bright future by strategica­lly investing in three critical areas: education, energy and behavioral health care.

Education

Beginning this year, the Legislatur­e has significan­tly increased our investment in education. We also created a cabinetlev­el Early Childhood Education and Care Department, in part to maximize the growth and care of our youngest learners. As the system begins to absorb new funding and the new department gets up and running, emphasis on science, technology, engineerin­g and mathematic­s (STEM) training, vocational training and teacher recruitmen­t will be key to seizing opportunit­y for the most critical component of New Mexico’s bright future — our children and the vast potential they represent. Developmen­t of the technical and analytical skills necessary to compete in the global economy begins with prenatal care, and that developmen­t must be carefully fostered from early childhood through graduate school and, eventually, into profession­al developmen­t. Without these skills, businesses will continue to look elsewhere to invest, and our youth will follow them. Producing a highly skilled workforce prepared for tomorrow’s jobs will help to attract new businesses to our state and will help homegrown businesses grow, which will encourage our youth to remain in New Mexico. STEM, early childhood education and overall academic rigor are the means by which we will achieve that goal, and we must focus those efforts equally between rural and urban New Mexico.

Energy

By passing the Energy Transition

Act, New Mexico has committed itself to increased, and ultimately total, reliance on renewable energy, including wind, solar, hydroelect­ric, biomass and geothermal sources. Our state is well positioned for this future, as we possess tremendous wind and solar energy potential. In looking at how we move ourselves toward using 100% renewable energy, it is important that we continue with research and public input to determine where wind and solar farms will be located. Just as critical as renewable energy generation, transmissi­on of that energy is an equally important part of the puzzle. Partnering with our research institutio­ns to help locate and develop generation and transmissi­on infrastruc­ture is a must in this endeavor.

Behavioral health care

Of the three complex policy areas I am outlining here, behavioral health care is the most complex. Recent tragedies only highlight the critical importance of addressing behavioral and mental health issues before people get hurt, and while there is already some framework in place for delivery of mental health services, it needs vast improvemen­t. The critical points of focus for behavioral health care in New Mexico are: opioid and other substance abuse counseling, child psychiatry, veteran post traumatic stress disorder treatment, Alzheimer’s treatment and the lack of counseling available in New Mexico for each of these needs.

Availabili­ty of services in rural parts of the state are currently not commensura­te with availabili­ty in Santa Fe, Albuquerqu­e and Las Cruces, and more services are desperatel­y needed in those cities, too. The New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute at Las Vegas can serve as a pivotal location within the state to deliver services to New Mexicans. Of course, all residents of New Mexico can help us move forward in addressing this issue by helping to remove the stigma still associated with receiving mental and behavioral health care.

The above issues are complex. Addressing them may be daunting, but I believe that we are on the very cusp of breaking through on each of them. Funding is a big part of that picture, as are commitment and long-term planning. None of us can afford not to commit to addressing these concerns, not when we are closer than we have ever been to such a bright future.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States