Barela lays out his plans for the session
January 19, 2010
Rep. Elias Barela said today he plans to spend his time at the state legislature’s 30-day session focused on finding a solution to the state’s budget deficit while advocating several bills, including one that would establish a new ethics commission.
Barela said he wants to reverse the deficit in a way that won’t “punish working people or the most vulnerable New Mexicans” and doesn’t “impede our ability to attract quality jobs to our state.” He said he would “resist” cuts to education.
The state needs a long-term solution, Barela said, to avoid ending up in the same situation it’s in now just a few years down the road.
“Many public servants, in times like these, are tempted to look for the easy or most politically expedient solution to the problem, but we cannot make that mistake,” he said.
He expressed opposition to tax hikes for middle class New Mexicans, including raising taxes on food or income. He also opposes budget cuts that will result in laying off state employees.
“These are the people that make our state run at the most basic level, and eliminating their jobs is not an answer to budget problems that are essentially caused by structural revenue shortfalls,” he said.
Barela said deficit-reducing solutions could include encouraging stronger businesses, making government more efficient and closing corporate tax loophole that allow some companies to “cheat” New Mexico out of tax revenue.
He also wants to eliminate double dipping, when a government employee receives both a salary and retirement check.
“This practice costs the state millions of dollars every year,” he said.
He would like to see the governor cut back on exempt employees, too. Exempt employees are typically political appointments, varying in how necessary they are to the everyday functions of state government.
Beyond the budget, Barela wants to establish a new ethics commission that can investigate ethics complaints against state and local elected officials.
“Real, meaningful ethics reform is key to building a government the people can trust again,” he said.
He said he will also continue to work to fund an overpass on Jarales Road, where busy Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains sometimes block the roadway, and additional training for firefighters, police and healthcare professionals.
A search of the state legislature’s website shows Barela hasn’t yet introduced any bills during the current session, which convened today but had a prefiling period.
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