Democratic New Mexico Legislature pushes for new spending

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Democratic New Mexico Legislature sent a $7 billion spending plan to an allied governor that hikes spending on low-income students, teacher pay and infrastructure as the annual legislative session entered its final hours.

Gov. Michelle Lujan and legislators are confronting a mid-April deadline to provide a district court judge with a plan to turn the state's troubled public education system around or possibly concede authority over public school resources to the judiciary.

A general fund budget for the fiscal year starting in July would increase annual spending on public education by 16 percent to $3.2 billion. New Mexico schools rely almost entirely on state dollars.

A booming oil sector in the Permian Basin that straddles the state line between Texas and New Mexico is providing a financial windfall to state government at the same time Democrats have consolidated power over the House and every statewide elected office.

"What we've done is provide resources to improve our education system, to improve our infrastructure, to make sure that new initiative gets off the ground, like outdoor recreation programs," said Rep. Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup, chairwoman of the lead House budget committee. "We've done more to help with health care. There's just a heck of a lot."

State economists have warned that surpluses could evaporate suddenly with a shift in oil markets, and lawmakers spent the final hours of the session in negotiations over a tax bill that might provide limited new sources of income to sustain teacher pay and government services.

In the early morning hours Friday, the Legislature passed a bill that would set in motion an independent state ethics commission for complaints about the conduct of public officials. The seven-member...