“Senate passes $9.57 million budget amid accusations of backroom shenanigans”
by Daniel J. Chacón, The Santa Fe New Mexican; reposted in NM Political Report
March 13, 2023
The passage of the proposed budget, which would increase year–over–year spending by almost 14 percent, or more than $1 billion, came with a warning from the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee: The level of spending is unsustainable. Republicans, who to a person voted against passage, complained about “pet project earmarks” inserted at the last minute.
Click on the above link to read this free-access article.
I guess it’s become the new “normal”. If Republicans are in the minority, regardless of the opportunities for their inclusion in the process of government, they will simply oppose the outcome. In other words, if they can’t be the boss, they won’t even play. This does not bode well for a democracy.
I agree with Republican Diamond and Democrat Munoz. Flawed, nontransparent process. Who’s making or not making legislators follow the rules? I’d like to know who put in for the $1 million telescope anonymously.
I just checked out the article and the journalist who wrote it- Daniel Chacon. He’s pretty spot on- he was covering the state senate on saturday and clipped this, posted it on twitter. i expect he’ll write further about it- this is unreal. this is how our elected officials are behaving- i see this same attitude at the local level. these doctors are, from my understanding, at this event by invitation. the senate is talking about medical malpractice laws- a senator thanks the doctors in a moment of personal privilege, the doctors politely clap, and then the sergeant at arms goes ballistic on them. This is unreal- i can’t believe our elected public servants speak like this to the public. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAB91UWoJTs