Senator Dede Feldman (D-Bernalillo) and Senator Rod Adair (R-Chaves & Lincoln), who discuss the challenges of this Budget Session of the Legislature, and the difficulty of balancing cuts and expenditures. Feldman is a member of the Better Choices Coalition whose goal is to be sure the budget cuts don't always fall on the backs of working middle class families. Adair looks at the budget crisis as an opportunity for the state to "downsize" the size of state government. Other topics include ethics reform, restructuring Medicaid, sin taxes, domestic violence prevention, the $5 million dollars per year the state pays for lawyers' fees in the 22 year old Jackson lawsuit concerning care for the developmentally disabled, and common sense solutions to the state's economic crisis. Watch Episode

Representative Brian Egolf ( D - Santa Fe), Representative Keith Gardner, ( R -Roswell), Minority Whip in the NM House, and Jerry Walker, Executive Director of the Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico. The two Representatives discuss the legislative session and Gardner and Egolf’s bills in support of webcasting, transparency, and ethics. They explore Egolf’s bill to take New Mexico’s $1.4 billion dollar appropriations account and move that money in a safe and responsible way from the large national banks and put it into community banks that are based here in New Mexico which would have a beneficial effect on the New Mexico economy and provide loans to New Mexico citizens and businesses. This is an extremely popular local application of the Move Your Money national movement, see www.MoveYourMoney.info. Then Jerry Walker, Executive Director of the Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico, describes the role of independent community banks and credit unions in driving local economies in New Mexico. Watch Episode

Representative Brian Egolf ( D - Santa Fe), Representative Keith Gardner, ( R -Roswell), Minority Whip in the NM House, and Jerry Walker, Executive Director of the Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico. The two Representatives discuss the legislative session and Gardner and Egolf's bills in support of webcasting, transparency, and ethics. They explore Egolf's bill to take New Mexico's $1.4 billion dollar appropriations account and move that money in a safe and responsible way from the large national banks and put it into community banks that are based here in New Mexico which would have a beneficial effect on the New Mexico economy and provide loans to New Mexico citizens and businesses. This is an extremely popular local application of the Move Your Money national movement, see www.MoveYourMoney.info. Then Jerry Walker, Executive Director of the Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico, describes the role of independent community banks and credit unions in driving local economies in New Mexico. Watch Episode

Representative Luciano "Lucky" Varela ( D - Santa Fe County), Chair of the Legislative Finance Committee and Deputy Chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, and Representative Tom Taylor, ( R - San Juan County) Republican Floor Leader, New Mexico House of Representatives. Rep.Varela shares his fiscal expertise in addressing the state’’s budget crisis, and suggests ways we can balance income and expenditures to deal with our budget shortfall. Rep.Taylor discusses the opportunity the budget crisis represents for the state to evaluate the necessity of programs and prioritize its expenditures. Taylor provides an in-depth analysis of the oil and gas situation in San Juan County, and how that effects the rest of the state. Varela and Taylor provide clear insights into the problems New Mexico faces and give us behind-the-scenes information to use in watching this crucial 30-Day Legislative Session as it unfurls. Watch Episode

Representative Luciano "Lucky" Varela ( D - Santa Fe County), Chair of the Legislative Finance Committee and Deputy Chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, and Representative Tom Taylor, ( R - San Juan County) Republican Floor Leader, New Mexico House of Representatives. Rep.Varela shares his fiscal expertise in addressing the state’’s budget crisis, and suggests ways we can balance income and expenditures to deal with our budget shortfall. Rep.Taylor discusses the opportunity the budget crisis represents for the state to evaluate the necessity of programs and prioritize its expenditures. Taylor provides an in-depth analysis of the oil and gas situation in San Juan County, and how that effects the rest of the state. Varela and Taylor provide clear insights into the problems New Mexico faces and give us behind-the-scenes information to use in watching this crucial 30-Day Legislative Session as it unfurls. Watch Episode

Diane Denish, Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, whose responsibilities include being the presiding officer of the New Mexico State Senate. From that unique perspective, Denish evaluates the upcoming Legislative Session, addressing budget issues, ethics reform and predatory lending initiatives, along with updating small business concerns gathered in her recent meetings around the state. The Lt. Governor tackles many of the hot topics facing the legislature, but points out the resiliency and strength of New Mexicans, saying, "I think people do realize we are in tough times, but we are tougher than the tough times we are in." Watch Episode

Greg Mortenson, author, "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones into Schools." "Three Cups of Tea" has sold over 3 million copies, and been on the New York Times best seller list for over 3 years. Mortenson and his Central Asia Institute have built 130 schools, mostly for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. His books are required reading for military personnel on the ground in these areas. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Mortenson is a rare and inspiring being. Watch Episode

Governor Garrey Carruthers, Dean of the College of Business at New Mexico State University, and Chair of the Governor's Committee on Government Efficiency. The former governor discusses the current state of affairs in New Mexico, addressing budget issues, health care, education and other hot topics. Watch Episode

Authors Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson,discussing their new books. Often called the Queen of Canadian Literature, Atwood has been writing for 50 years and has been awarded many literary prizes, including the Booker Prize for the Blind Assassin, The Prince of Asturias Prize, the Governor’s Award, as well as the Arthur C. Clark Award, among others.Best known for the Handmaid’s Tale, Moral Disorder, Oryx and Crake, Atwood presents her futuristic new book The Year of the Flood. Graeme Gibson wrote fiction for years, and has now branched out into nonfiction with his books The Bedside Book of Birds andThe Bedside Book of Beasts. Sumptuously illustrated and well researched, Gibson explores the roles of predators and birds andbeautifully explores what mankind learns frombirds and beasts. From Atwood's futuristic novels, to Gibson's keen awareness of the knowledge and power we derive from animals, both authors reveal possible futures and the choices we have to make to preserve our natural world, and provide rich and compelling interviews. More

Haleh Esfandiari author, My Prison, My Home, a distinguished American scholar held in Iran in solitary confinement. Watch Episode