Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future
Environmental Legislation in the 2019 Session
Season 2 Episode 6 | 17m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
A preview of environmental-related legislation in the upcoming legislative session.
Correspondent Laura Paskus sits down with Senator Peter Wirth and Representative Gail Armstrong to talk about proposed bills related to water and the environment that will be presented in the upcoming legislative session. They also look at how non-partisan issues, such as clean and accessible water, can be de-politicized.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future is a local public television program presented by NMPBS
Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future
Environmental Legislation in the 2019 Session
Season 2 Episode 6 | 17m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Correspondent Laura Paskus sits down with Senator Peter Wirth and Representative Gail Armstrong to talk about proposed bills related to water and the environment that will be presented in the upcoming legislative session. They also look at how non-partisan issues, such as clean and accessible water, can be de-politicized.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSENATOR PETER WIRTH, REPRESENTATIVE GAIL ARMSTRONG, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
SO, WITH THE 2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ABOUT TO KICK OFF LATER THIS MONTH, WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING SOME BILLS ON THE ENVIRONMENT THIS YEAR, RIGHT?
NO QUESTION.
LOTS OF THINGS IN THE PIPELINE AND WITH THE EXTRAORDINARY ENERGY REVOLUTION HAPPENING IN OUR STATE ON SO MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS AND OBVIOUSLY THE NEED TO ADDRESS LOTS OF OVERSIGHT REGULATORY ISSUES, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES, A NEW GOVERNOR LEADING THE WAY.
SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOP ISSUES ON THE ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU SEE WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR?
A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE FOR SURE IS ENERGY AND RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS, SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM RAN ON.
I THINK SHE IS THINKING 30% -- EXCUSE ME 50% BY 2030 AND THEN POTENTIALLY UP TO 80% AT A CERTAIN DATE.
AND SO HOW THAT WORKS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WILL BE IN THE MIX.
ON THE WATER FRONT, THE BIG NEED TO HAVE POLICY DIRECTION.
OBVIOUSLY TEXAS VERSUS NEW MEXICO, THE LAWSUIT THAT HAS US IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, IS A VERY SCARY THING THAT EVERYONE OUT THERE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.
LOTS OF RISK TO OUR STATE BUT I THINK IT IS TIME TO BE PROACTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING, TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS OUT THERE IN TERMS OF THE WATER RESOURCES WE HAVE AND THEN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION IS TASKED WITH DOING.
I AM GOING TO AGAIN CARRY A BILL THIS SESSION TO RESTRUCTURE THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION TO BROADEN THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD AND TO TRY AND HAVE THE LEGISLATURE BE INVOLVED IN APPOINTMENTS.
ONE THING WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IS WATER POLICY CHANGING WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT COMES IN AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD PLACE.
IT SHOULD NOT BE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS STEADY AND FOCUSED AND DOESN'T DEPEND ON THE POLITICAL POSITION OF THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.
WE'LL WORK ON THAT FOR SURE.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG, ARE THERE A FEW BILLS THAT YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON FOR THIS SESSION RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT?
WELL, THERE IS A COUPLE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES COMING FORTH EXACTLY LIKE SENATOR WIRTH SAID WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL, WHOLE RENEWABLE ENERGY MOVEMENT IN NEW MEXICO THAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT.
ALSO, A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE.
THERE IS A HAPPY MEDIUM WE CAN MEET WHERE EVERYONE CAN HOPEFULLY GET ON BOARD AND WITH OIL AND GAS AND RENEWABLES WE CAN FIND THAT HAPPY MEDIUM.
WHEN IT COMES TO RENEWABLE ENERGY, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS OR WHAT IS THE BALANCE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
THE BALANCE FOR ME IS, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN RURAL NEW MEXICO.
THE WIND TURBINES THAT COME THROUGH, THE WHOLE LINE WILL BE ON RANCHERS PRIVATE LAND AND SOME OF IT ON STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS, BUT THE RANCHERS LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE FOR A REASON.
AND WHEN THEY ARE APPROACHED TO GET THE TURBINES, SOME ARE HAPPY AND SOME GIVE SOME PUSHBACK SO THERE IS A HAPPY MEDIUM WE NEED TO MEET THERE AND I AM ENCOURAGED TO BE PART OF TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN IN A REASONABLE WAY.
SO, OIL AND GAS IS A HUGE PART OF OR ECONOMY BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH PROBLEMS.
A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WAS A PUSH TO, IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO LEVY FINES AGAINST COMPANIES AND HOLD COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE.
DO YOU SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE SESSION THIS YEAR?
ARE THERE ANY OIL AND GAS RELATED BILLS SPECIFICALLY?
DO YOU WANT TO START?
I AM HAPPY TO AND I THINK THAT IS PENALTY STRUCTURE HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE 30'S.
I CARRIED THAT BILL IN THE GOVERNOR RICHARDSON ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGED TO GET ONE VOTE IN THE SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE IN 2009 OR '10 WHEN WE DID THAT.
THIS PAST SESSION, OR 2017, SANDRA MARTINEZ BROUGHT THE BILL BACK.
IT DID PASS THROUGH THE SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE AND MOVED FORWARD.
AGAIN, IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ISSUE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE OIL AND GAS AT THE TABLE AND WE NEED TO REALLY SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT A REASONABLE FEE AND PENALTY STRUCTURE BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE PENALTIES FROM 1935.
THAT IS CRAZY.
AND I THINK THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH OIL AND GAS AT THE TABLE AND LOOK AT A WIDE RANGE OF REGULATORY OVERSIGHT, COMMON SENSE REASONABLE OVERSIGHT.
METHANE IS A HUGE ISSUE.
OIL AND GAS IS AT THE TABLE IN COLORADO WHEN THAT WAS FIGURED OUT, ALSO IN WYOMING THEY ARE AT THE TABLE TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT.
AND SO I JUST THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH AN AMAZING RESOURCE, WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, HYDRAULIC FRACTURING, BUT WHEN YOU USE THAT TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SO I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE FLARING, TO WATER THAT IS USED IN THE OIL AND GAS, THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE YOU DO NEED TO HAVE OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION AND TO SOME EXTENT THIS HAS HAPPENED SO FAST IN THAT AREA, THAT THE REGULATIONS DIDN'T CATCH UP.
ALSO YOU HAD A PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE ROLE OF REGULATIONS, SO, AGAIN, I THINK YOU WILL SEE CHANGES ON THAT.
I AM HOPING AS REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG SAID THAT THERE IS COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SO MANY ENERGY RESOURCES WITH OIL AND GAS, THE WIND RESOURCE IN NEW MEXICO.
THERE IS ONE COMPANY, PATTERN ENERGY, PUTTING IN A 3,000 MEGAWATT-WIND PLANT AND THAT IS MORE ELECTRICITY THAN PNM PRODUCES FROM ALL SOURCES.
IT SHOWS THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND SOLAR IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE YOU WILL SEE SOLAR TAX CREDITS AND A REAL PUSH BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THE PRICE OF RENEWABLES HAS COME DOWN SO MUCH THAT THAT ALSO HAS CHANGED THE WHOLE DISCUSSION.
RIGHT.
SO, YOU REPRESENT A RURAL COMMUNITY, BY AND LARGE.
FOR THE PAST DECADE OR MORE THAT COMMUNITY HAS FACED A REALLY INTERESTING WATER CHALLENGE.
THAT MAYBE SORT OF A CITY DWELLERS DON'T ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SAN AGUSTIN PLAINS AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE AND NOW AND WHY WATER IS SO IMPORTANT TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS THERE IS A LARGE PRIVATE RANCH THAT WAS PURCHASED AND THEY WANTED TO DRILL 53 WELLS, 2500 FEET DEEP, AND PIPE THE WATER FROM THERE ON THE SAN AGUSTIN PLAINS TO WHOEVER WOULD BUY IT.
THE END USER IS THE REASON THAT IT KEEPS GETTING DENIED BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO END USER.
IT IS GOING ACTUALLY FEBRUARY 13 AT 11:30 IN RESERVE NEW MEXICO IN THE COURTHOUSE.
JUDGE REYNOLDS WILL HEAR THE APPEAL.
IT WAS DENIED, DENIED SEVERAL TIMES, WENT TO APPEAL, JUDGE REYNOLDS WILL HEAR THIS APPEAL THIS TIME.
IT HAS BEEN A REAL ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS PRIVATE WATER RIGHTS.
THEY OWN THE WATER RIGHTS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE FEEL IN OUR COMMUNITY, MY CONSTITUENTS FEEL THAT IT WOULD DECIMATE OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN IF WE ARE NOT UTILIZING THAT WATER RIGHT NOW, WE LIVE IN THE DESERT.
AND THE AQUIFER THERE -- THERE IS NO TELLING -- THERE IS NO REAL DATA ON IF IT IS A CLOSED AQUIFER.
THERE IS DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THE JUDGE DENIES THAT AGAIN.
RIGHT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEED FOR INFORMATION AND SORT OF WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT OUR WATER?
SURE.
I WOULD LOVE TO.
SO, I WORK A LOT WITH STACEY TIMMONS FROM NEW MEXICO TECH WHO ACTUALLY ON OUR RANCH THAT IS IN THE SAN AGUSTIN PLAINS, OR BORDERS IT, THEY MEASURE WELLS OUT THERE AND THEY HAVE GONE DOWN.
THE FOOTAGE OF WATER HAS GONE DOWN IN THAT AREA.
THEY MEASURE IT ALL THE TIME SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS DATA DRIVEN INFORMATION ON A NONPARTISAN -- BY A NONPARTISAN ENTITY WHERE IT DOESN'T CHANGE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
IT'S LIKE SENATOR WIRTH SAID, EVERY GOVERNOR CHANGE, THE STATE ENGINEER CHANGES, THE FOCUS CHANGES AND IT IS LIKE STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN.
IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
THERE IS SOME TRUE PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER IN NEW MEXICO AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE DATA DRIVEN INFORMATION.
RIGHT.
I THINK BOTH OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN WITH ME OVER THE YEARS ABOUT A NEED FOR REFORM AT THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER AND THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?
SO, THAT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIG APPOINTMENTS WE ARE WAITING FOR FROM GOVERNOR MARTINEZ.
THE STATE ENGINEER APPOINTMENT.
THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SET THE WATER POLICY AND WE MADE A DECISION AT THE LEGISLATURE IN EARLIER 2000'S TO ADD WATER PLANNING AND LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE AND WATER THE INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION MANDATED.
AND OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, WE JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE RESOURCES, REALLY, TO GIVE THEM THE MONEY THEY NEED TO DO THAT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND THE RIGHT WAY OF HAVING COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND YOU BUILD THIS FROM THE COMMUNITY UP.
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT BUY-IN YOU'RE JUST NEVER GOING TO GET CHANGE IN THE WATER ARENA.
AND I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH, JUST OVER THE YEARS, AS I HAVE CHAIRED THE WATER COMMITTEE AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, CHANGE IS A REALLY HARD THING FOR EVERYONE TO GET THEIR HANDS AROUND AND WHEN YOU ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO SIT AROUND A TABLE AND FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTION THEMSELVES RATHER THAN HAVE US COME AND DICTATE FROM THE TOP DOWN, THAT IS WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO, AGAIN, I THINK IT IS A SUPER INTERESTING AREA BECAUSE IT IS NOT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, RURAL OR URBAN.
I SUPPORTED REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG'S EFFORTS ON THE AGUSTIN PLAINS AND THERE ARE MEMBERS OF MY CAUCUS IN THE SENATE AND DEMOCRATIC SIDE THAT DON'T SUPPORT THAT.
AND THERE IS REPUBLICANS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT DON'T EITHER, SO, THIS IS A DISCUSSION REALLY ABOUT OUR FUTURE AND IT IS ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND SET ASIDE THOSE DIFFERENCES.
I AM FROM SANTA FE, NOT A RURAL DISTRICT BUT I GET COMPLETELY HOW SCARY IT IS TO THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO PUMP GROUNDWATER AND USE THAT FOR RECURRING GROWTH IN SOME OTHER LOCATION.
THAT CAUSES ME LOTS OF HEARTBURN.
ALSO, WATER TRANSFERS, OF COURSE, THE GILA IS ANOTHER BIG WATER ISSUE OUT THERE THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON.
SO, THIS IS A SCARCE RESOURCE, IT IS CRITICAL TO OUR FUTURE AND IT GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON THE LEGISLATURE TO WORK WITH THE NEW LEADERS AS THEY COME IN AND BE PROACTIVE MOVING FORWARD.
IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WATER WILL BE A PRIORITY ISSUE THIS SESSION?
CERTAINLY A PRIORITY ISSUE FOR ME.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T LET IT KIND OF DISAPPEAR.
SOMETIMES IN THE TWO ADMINISTRATIONS THAT I HAVE SERVED IN, EACH YEAR DURING THE TERMS THERE HAS BEEN A YEAR OF WATER.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR AND WHEN IT DOESN'T RAIN AND THE DROUGHT IS EXTREME, EVERYONE IS FOCUSED AND THEN IT RAINS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PRESSURE IS OFF.
WE CANNOT STOP LOOKING AND THINKING ABOUT WATER.
AGAIN, THE LAWSUIT IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS REAL RISKS AND IMPACTS BOTH TO WATER AND TO MONETARY POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES AND SO IT HAS GOT TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND I AM REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE FAR MORE PROACTIVE IN WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND TOGETHER WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP THIS FRONT AND CENTER.
RIGHT.
HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
HOW DO RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS -- HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WATER IS A TOP PRIORITY?
I THINK HOLD YOUR LEGISLATORS ACCOUNTABLE.
MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP WITH THE WATER SITUATION IN NEW MEXICO.
PART OF THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE USE IT OR LOSE IT ASPECT OF THE WHOLE WATER ISSUE.
PEOPLE ARE USING WATER NOT BECAUSE THEY NEED IT BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEIR WATER RIGHTS.
IT IS AN ISSUE AND I THINK THE CONSTITUENCY NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED, COMMUNITIES NEED TO BE INVOLVED AND I THINK RUNNING OUT OF THE WATER IN THE RIO GRANDE FOR A LOT OF MY FARMERS DOWN IN SOCORRO, SAN ANTONIO, LEMITAR AREA, THAT WAS AN ISSUE.
SO, I THINK THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CONSERVANCY, EVERYONE IS FRONT AND CENTER RIGHT NOW, INTERSTATE STREAM COMMISSION, SEVERAL PEOPLE.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO UTILIZE FEDERAL MONEY MATCH WHEN WE CAN GET IT.
RIGHT.
WHETHER IN THE MEDIA OR IN ARGUMENT SOMETIMES, THE ENVIRONMENT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE A PARTISAN ISSUE BUT IT IS REALLY NOT.
LIKE EVERYBODY WANTS CLEAN WATER, ACCESSIBLE WATER AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TWO OF YOU COMING HERE TODAY.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE WORK TOGETHER ON THESE ISSUES INSTEAD OF FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER?
THE MAIN THING THAT I THINK SENATOR WIRTH AND MYSELF ARE WILLING TO DO IS REACH ACROSS THE AISLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S SIT DOWN.
EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID.
LET'S GET OIL AND GAS AT THE TABLE AND EVERYONE THAT NEEDS TO BE AT THE TABLE AT THE TABLE AND LISTEN RESPECTFULLY AND YOU CAN DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY.
BUT I THINK THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET ANYTHING DONE WITH WATER OR ANYTHING ELSE.
IS WE HAVE GOT TO.
AND WE NEED TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM THAT REACHES ACROSS.
RIGHT.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING?
I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT OUR NEW GOVERNOR.
WE HAVE MET WITH HER IN LEADERSHIP, BOTH DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, HOUSE AND SENATE, AND SHE HAS STRESSED EXACTLY WHAT REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG IS SAYING.
SHE WANTS TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES.
SHE WANTS TO PUT PEOPLE IN CABINET ROOM, SHUT THE DOORS AND FIGURE IT OUT.
SO, THAT IS JUST A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD FOR A LONG TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE.
AND I DO THINK CERTAINLY IN THE SENATE WE HAVE WORKED VERY WELL IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION.
IT HASN'T GOTTEN SUPER HEATED.
AND I KNOW THAT SPEAKER EGOFF IS REALLY EMPHASIZING THAT IN THE HOUSE AND AGAIN WHEN YOU HAVE MEMBERS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT SOLUTIONS IN NEW MEXICO ARE PARTISAN SOLUTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ARENA, I THINK THAT YOU CAN GET THOSE KIND OF RESULTS AND THE BUY-IN THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE, AGAIN, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH, IT IS NOT JUST US REACHING AGREEMENT, THERE HAS TO BE BUY-IN WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE DISTRICTS AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE ARE DOING.
SO, IT IS EXCITING TIME.
THAT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
AND WHETHER IT IS BETWEEN THE CABINET AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN DECISION MAKING.
WELL, I THINK CERTAINLY GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM HAS RUN WITH THAT AS A PLATFORM.
I THINK AS WE HAVE SEEN, THAT IS OFTEN WHAT IS STATED AT THE OUTSET.
I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN HAVING THE PROCESS BE OPEN.
I WOULD TELL EVERYONE OUT THERE WATCHING THAT THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS ONE OF THE MOST OPEN IN THE COUNTRY.
I TELL ALL MY CONSTITUENTS, YOU CAN WALK RIGHT ON TO THE SENATE FLOOR BEFORE WE GAVEL IN AND COME SEE ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
I ASSURE THEM THAT ALL THE LOBBYISTS ARE THERE AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE MY CONSTITUENTS AND CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE COMING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE NEEDS TO PARTICIPATE.
WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT AND OPEN.
WITH THE WEB CASTING AND ARCHIVING IT HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE 15 YEARS I HAVE BEEN THERE.
AND SO IT IS SOMETHING I AM CERTAINLY COMMITTED TO BECAUSE AGAIN PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT, GET THEIR HANDS AROUND IT, BE PART OF IT AND SO TRANSPARENCY IS A BIG PIECE OF THAT.
RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?
JUST, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE OPEN DOOR POLICIES.
SO, PLEASE COME AND SEE US AND GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS, EMAIL US, CALL US, COME TO THE SESSION.
AND SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO WHAT IS GOING ON AND HOW IT ALL REALLY WORKS.
IT IS A GREAT PROCESS AND PROCEDURE AND HONORED AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE SESSION AND HONORED TO BE HERE AND HONORED TO REPRESENT RURAL NEW MEXICO AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.

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Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future is a local public television program presented by NMPBS