Senator John Arthur Smith

Air Dates: February 14, 2010

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Senator John Arthur Smith (D- District 35,Hidalgo, Luna, and Sierra Counties), Chairman of the New Mexico Senate Finance Committee. During this difficult 30-Day Session of the Legislature, there is one central Senator who figures in almost all discussions about state finances, the budget, taxing and/or spending. That is Senator Smith, whose senate committee is the portal through which all legislation pertaining to money must pass. A fiscal conservative, Smith is dedicated to the fact that our state must (by law) operate with a balanced budget, and his pursuit of that necessity with its requisite cuts has earned him the nickname "Dr. No." Since through his years of warnings about our budget problems he has been proven right time and again, he also goes by the nickname "Dr. Know." This indepth interview helps us understand what is happening to our state's finances, how we got here, and what are the choices available to us. This will affect all New Mexicans. This is not an abstract theoretical discussion. This will affect how much money people have in their wallets after taxes and what state services may or may not be available to them.