Senators John Arthur Smith (D) & Stuart Ingle (R)
Air Dates: February 25-27, 2017
This Week: Senators JOHN ARTHUR SMITH (D-Deming) &STUART INGLE (R-Portales)
Topics:N.M. Legislative Session &The Crisis In Funding State Government
QUOTES -- Regarding The Budget Process:“We are going to have to make some tough decisions this session and see the best way we can to make New Mexico look like a forward looking state that is not afraid to put its money where its mouth is...” - Sen. Ingle
“Everybody has to be on board participating, rather than protecting their own back side. I understand trying to do that,but we are all going to have to either share in the wealth or share in the pain...” -- Sen. Smith
February 22, 2017 -- This week's guests on REPORT FROM SANTA FE are Senators John Arthur Smith (D-Deming) Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Stuart Ingle (R-Portales) Minority Floor Leader in the NM Senate, discussing the New Mexico Legislative Session and the crisis in the funding of state government.
Together, Ingle and Smith have served for 60 years in the Senate. It is said that they are the two lawmakers who “know where ALL the bodies are buried,” metaphorically speaking.
Taped 5 weeks into the 2017 60-Day Legislative Session, Smith and Ingle give a frank analysis of the crisis in the funding of state government, providing a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on the budget-making process and the search for new solutions for New Mexico's fiscal challenges.
Senator Stuart Ingle, is a Republican from Portales representing District 27, an area encompassing 5 counties (Chaves. Curry, De Baca, Lea and Roosevelt). He was elected in 1985 and has served for 32 years in the New Mexico State Senate, He is the Minority Floor Leader of the Senate.
Senator John Arthur Smith is a Democrat from Deming representing District 35, an area encompassing 4 counties (Dona Ana, Hidalgo, Luna and Sierra). He was elected in 1989 and has served for 28 years in the NM State Senate. He is the Chair of Senate Finance Committee.