SANTA FE, N.M. – There are a lot of regional differences in the Roundhouse. Different communities have different problems that require different solutions, but one thing just about every lawmaker agrees on is life is getting more expensive.

“New Mexicans have seen a rise of cost in utilities, groceries and everything is more expensive,” said state Rep. Rebecca Dow. 

“Affordability for me has been paramount this entire legislative session,” said Speaker of the House Javier Martinez. 

It seems both sides believe there are extra savings hidden inside New Mexico’s tax laws.

“We have billions of dollars of surplus. Solutions exist,” said Dow. 

For House Republican leaders, that means getting rid of the state’s personal income taxes, even though legislative analysts predict that would cost the state more than $5 billion in revenue over the next two years.

“We’ve got reforms on Social Security and veterans tax. We’ve got reforms on GRT,” Dow said. 

But it appears Democratic leaders are more interested in increasing certain tax credits.

“We’ve got an expansion of what we’re calling the Earned Income Tax Credit, which was the old working Family Tax Credit,” said Martinez. 

Martinez says the proposal would essentially exempt even more low-income New Mexicans from the state’s income taxes, putting more money in their pockets.

“We hope that families are able to take advantage of that tax program for them to be able to afford, like I said, the high cost of milk, eggs, bread, you know, everyday staples that the federal administration has yet to address, but I know are impacting people here in New Mexico,” said Martinez. 

House Democrat leaders are expected to unveil their tax package in the coming days, and we’ll see what other cost-cutting measures they have in store this year, and what compromises they make with Republicans.

A bill nearing passage in the New Mexico Senate would introduce a speed limit differential for cars and trucks.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association believes roadways are safest when all vehicles are allowed to travel at the same rate of speed. The Association does not advocate for a specific speed limit.

New Mexico has 75 mph speed limits for all vehicles traveling on the state’s largest highways. Trucks traveling on multi-lane highways outside of municipalities are required to stay in the right-hand lane. Exceptions include overtaking and passing another vehicle.

Senate Bill 226

One bill, SB226, would slow down trucks to 65 mph on affected roadways. Violators would face $250 fines.

Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, told the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee that despite the left-lane rule, traveling on Interstate 40 with trucks is frustrating.

“If you ever drive I-40, you will enjoy the semi-truck traffic that tries to pass one another going up a hill at 55 mph. Traffic lines up for 10 miles. It’s a real safety factor,” Munoz testified.

His solution is implementing a speed limit differential.

“Senate Bill 226 just requires trucks to drive 65 mph,” Munoz told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “A few years ago, we did semis in the right-hand lane. That still didn’t fix the problem. This bill now just requires semi tractors in the right-hand lane at 65.”

Prior to the committee vote, Sen. Joshua Sanchez, R-Bosque, drew attention to the source of the problem.

“The issue is with the big corporate trucks that are governed at like 62, 65. Independent truckers run 75. (Big corporate trucks) are the guys who clog it up. It is a mess. I don’t know how to solve it … That’s why I wrote a no – for the independent truckers,” Sanchez said.

“They will get caught speeding. That’s how you solve it,” Munoz retorted.

A bill analysis from the New Mexico Department of Transportation, however, states that “this legislation could potentially result in at least a 10-mph speed limit differential between truck tractors and other vehicles on interstates, leading potentially to speed differential-related crashes as well as additional congestion.”

OOIDA challenges bill sponsor’s thinking

OOIDA believes different speed limits are counterproductive to safety. Specifically, speed differentials create more interactions between cars and trucks, which leads to dangerous passing, aggressive driving and an increase in the number of accidents.

Doug Morris, OOIDA director of state government affairs, said it is apparent Munoz views trucks as a nuisance.

Morris added that the bill sponsor must not be aware that motorists are responsible for more accidents than trucks.

“Many states who had split speed limits have gone back to standardized speeds for all vehicles,” Morris said. “What happens is that while trucks are going slower, there are more interactions with passing cars, causing a higher likelihood of an accident.”

The bill has advanced from the Senate Transportation Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. The next stop is the Senate floor.

If approved there, SB226 would head to the House. Time is running out. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn for the year on March 22. LL

More Land Line coverage of New Mexico news is available.

LAS VEGAS – We over me.

No. 4 San Diego State coach Stacie Terry-Hutson has the phrase on a wristband and in the lexicon of her players. In the third quarter of the Aztecs’ quarterfinal game of the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Basketball Championship against No. 5 New Mexico, the philosophy was on full display.

The Lobos got out to a quick start and led by as many as eight points in the second quarter, but through a slew of midrange jumpers and layups, the Aztecs managed to tie the game at halftime.

Then the real defensive show started. In the third quarter, San Diego State ran away with the game offensively while holding New Mexico to just five points in the frame. The Lobos’ first field goal wasn’t until 3:06 remained in the quarter. And the Aztecs did it with a lot of minutes being occupied by their reserves.

Some of it was New Mexico simply not being able to knock shots down, but the Aztecs showed fire and pace that wasn’t there to begin the game.

“I wear the bracelet — I got it for the team and everybody who’s associated with our program, … On the inside it says, ‘Sometimes you, sometimes me, always us,’” Terry-Hutson said. “That’s really the mantra we’ve had this year because we’re so gifted. We’re really deep and we had kids coming off the bench who could be starting, so I’m not surprised.”

Cali Clark led the way with 12 points off the bench on 5-for-8 from the field. She also added nine rebounds.

She was the spark plug to the third-quarter run, along with Jazlen Green, who spearheaded the second-quarter comeback and contributed four more points in the third.

“I think we just had to focus on getting the ball inside so we could play out, so just getting big and kind of taking what they were giving me,” Clark said. “They were giving me the lob, so just being able to push them up and get my position to get the over-the-top pass, that was really successful for us today.”

Tuesday’s first semifinal will feature a rematch of last season’s championship game between the Aztecs and No. 1 UNLV. Both teams have undergone some change between last year and this campaign — UNLV lost its star in Desi-Rae Young and San Diego State added certain pieces that helped on Monday.

But San Diego State feels it’s a bit more equipped for the challenge than last year. Most of all, grateful to be playing in a third straight semifinal.

“That’s what we talked about after the game: lucky to be here, grateful to be here,” Terry-Huston said. “UNLV is such a good team. We’ve seen them do amazing things for our conference, so we’re just excited to compete at a high level and see where it takes us.”

–mw–