New Mexico In Focus
Governor & Cannabis & Earth Day Reflections | s14e43
Season 14 Episode 43 | 56m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
Governors on Cannabis Legalization, Earth Day & 2022 Gov’s Race
Governors Michelle Lujan Grisham and Gary Johnson discuss NM’s new recreational cannabis laws. The Line opinion panel examines some of the names now entering the race for the Republican nomination for governor. As the world celebrates Earth Day, environment correspondent Laura Paskus reflects on how we relate to the world that we inherited from our ancestors and borrowed from our descendants.
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New Mexico In Focus is a local public television program presented by NMPBS
New Mexico In Focus
Governor & Cannabis & Earth Day Reflections | s14e43
Season 14 Episode 43 | 56m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
Governors Michelle Lujan Grisham and Gary Johnson discuss NM’s new recreational cannabis laws. The Line opinion panel examines some of the names now entering the race for the Republican nomination for governor. As the world celebrates Earth Day, environment correspondent Laura Paskus reflects on how we relate to the world that we inherited from our ancestors and borrowed from our descendants.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM ON THE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS BILL SHE SIGNED AND WHAT IS NEXT.
>> Governor: WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE A MEANINGFUL PROGRAM THAT IS UNIQUE TO NEW MEXICO.
>> Gene: PLUS WE CELEBRATED EARTH DAY THIS WEEK.
LAURA PASKUS HAS A DIFFERENT LOOK AT HOW WE CONSIDER THE NATURAL WORLD.
NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.
THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.
I AM HOST, GENE GRANT.
DESPITE EVERYTHING HAPPENING AROUND US OUR STATE'S NEW RECREATIONAL CANNABIS LAW IS STILL ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLITICAL TALKERS.
WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO IMPORTANT PLAYERS WHO WE FEATURED ON OUR GROWING FORWARD POD CAST, GOVERNOR MICHELLE GRISHAM AND FORMER GOVERNOR GARY JOHNSON.
YOU CAN HEAR THOSE INTERVIEWS IN FULL BY LOOKING FOR GROWING FORWARD WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR POD CASTS.
THE LINE PANEL, OR GROUP OF OPINION MAKERS, WILL LOOK AT PROPOSED MERGER FOR THE STATE'S LARGEST ELECTRIC PROVIDER, PNM.
WE'LL ANALYZE BOTH THE LEGACY AND NEW THE LOOK FOR THE NEW MEXICO TRUE TOURISM BRAND, BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE 2022 GOVERNOR'S RACE, HERE IS THE LINE.
SANDOVAL COUNTY COMMISSIONER JAY BLOCK IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN IN AS THE NEW MEXICO GOP LOOKS TO UNSEAT GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM.
THE CONSERVATIVE AIR FORCE VETERAN AND NUCLEAR CONSULTANT ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY LAST WEEKEND.
NOW THAT A CABINET POST ISN'T APPARENTLY IN THE OFFING FOR OUR GOVERNOR, THE NEXT ELECTION IS A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AWAY.
THAT IS PRETTY QUICK.
HERE TO LOOK AT WHERE THINGS STAND FOR CANDIDATES AND THE PARTIES IS THE LINE OPINION PANEL.
FORMER STATE SENATOR AND LINE REGULAR, DIANE SNYDER, RETURNS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AS ALWAYS.
ANOTHER LINE REGULAR, UNM LAW PROFESSOR SERGE MARTINEZ IS BACK WITH US.
WELCOME TO YOU, SERGE, AND FOUNDER VOX OPTIMA PUBLIC RELATIONS, MERRITT ALLEN, OUR GOOD FRIEND FROM THE EAST MOUNTAINS, JOINS AS YOU WELL.
REPUBLICANS ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THIS ELECTION, DIANE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU, BUT THEY DON'T HOLD ANY STATE-WIDE OFFICES CURRENTLY AND IT IS NOT CLEAR THERE IS A BIG NAME ON THE BENCH CURRENTLY.
WHAT IS THE SMART STRATEGY FOR THE GOP GOING FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR-AND-A-HALF?
>> Diane: THE THING THAT YOU HIT RIGHT ON THE SECRET OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, THERE IS NO ONE ON THE BENCH WAITING.
WE HAVE A LITTLE DISTANCE BACK, WE HAVE LIKE, I BELIEVE, LIKE KELLY FAJARDO IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE CANDIDATE TO ME FOR THE FUTURE.
I AM NOT SURE IF SHE IS QUITE READY TO GO STATE-WIDE OR NOT.
SHE IS VERY WELL-KNOWN IN HER DISTRICT WHICH IS THE LOS LUNAS-BELEN AREA, BUT I AM NOT SURE -- AND REBECCA, HER NAME WENT RIGHT OUT OF MY HEAD.
>> Gene: REBECCA DOW.
>> Diane: REBECCA DOW.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LEGISLATORS, I BELIEVE, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS THAT I BELIEVE HAVE A VERY STRONG FUTURE BUT I THINK THERE HAS BEEN TOO MUCH FOCUS ON -- THIS IS TERRIBLE TO SAY -- ON THE HAS BEENS.
ON THE STEVE PEARCES AND JOHN SANCHEZES AND -- BUT THE THING WE HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE WE SAW IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE, WE SAW AN UNKNOWN POLITICAL FIGURE BUT A WELL-KNOWN INDIVIDUAL IN MARK RONCHETTI ALMOST DO VERY, VERY WELL IN THAT SENATE RACE AGAINST A DIFFICULT, VERY STRONG OPPONENT.
SO, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE QUITE LIKE THAT AT THIS POINT.
I THINK THAT [INAUDIBLE] MARTIN CD1 RACE BUT I THINK WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN, AT LEAST I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE.
>> Gene: MERRITT, I ASK YOU TO PICK UP ON THAT INTERESTING POINT MADE BY THE SENATOR THAT THE FRESH FACE THEORY IS A LITTLE LACKING FOR THE PARTY AND WHAT DOES THE PARTY DO WHEN A FRESH FACE ONLY HAS A YEAR-AND-A-HALF TO MERGE.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE CARDS THAT YOU HAVE, THE DECK YOU HAVE.
WHAT IS THE PLAY HERE?
>> Merritt: THE REAL QUESTION IS NOT [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT FOR SOME TIME AND I DON'T THINK WE WILL IN 2022.
THE ISSUES THAT FACE THE NEW MEXICO REPUBLICAN PARTY OR NEW MEXICO REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDIDATES REALLY REFLECTS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES EVERYWHERE IN 2022.
THERE ARE STRATA OR LAYERS OF CANDIDATES.
I THINK TRUMPISM DEFINITELY AFFECTS CANDIDATES.
I WOULD PUT JAY BLOCK SQUARELY IN WHAT I CALL TRUMP MID.
HE IS KIND OF WITH SENATORS HAWLEY AND CRUZ.
HE DIVIDED STEVE PEACE FOR SURE.
I DON'T THINK HE IS COUNTING ON A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE STATE PARTY.
HE IS QUITE RIGHT WING.
HE HAS ONLY WON LOCAL ELECTIONS, TWO OF THOSE.
SO HE IS FAIRLY NEW ON THE SCENE AND HE HAS GOT A PLATFORM AND A MINDSET THAT WOULD WIN A PRIMARY BUT I DON'T THINK A STATE-WIDE RACE.
SO, I THINK IT WOULD TAKE, JUST GIVEN THE TEMPO OF NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A MODERATE OR AT THE MOST CONSERVATIVE, A TRUMP LIKE.
THE WOULD BE STEVE PEARCE OR MORE CENTER.
DO THOSE CANDIDATES REALLY WANT TO WASTE THEIR SHOT IN 2022 OR WAIT UNTIL 2026.
THAT IS WHERE THE REBECCA DOW, I THINK, IS ABSOLUTELY THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE WE HAVE.
SHE HAS WON THREE ELECTIONS, SHE HAS TURNED TWO OTHER DISTRICTS RED IN A MAJORITY OF BLUE DISTRICTS, CRYSTAL DIAMOND, JOHN ARTHUR SMITH SEAT, LUIS TERRAZAS, PICKING UP HOUSE DISTRICT 39, WHICH HAS ALMOST NEVER BEEN REPUBLICAN.
THAT IS THE MINING DISTRICT.
THAT IS WHERE SALT OF THE EARTH WAS FILMED.
I MEAN COME ON, YOU DON'T GET MORE BLUE THAN THAT.
REBECCA DOW GETS THINGS DONE.
SHE WORKS ACROSS THE AISLE.
SHE HAS GOT EARLY CHILDHOOD SHOPS.
SHE MADE REDISTRICTING HAPPEN WHEN IT JUST WASN'T GOING TO.
SHE PULLED THAT OUT ALMOST SINGLE HANDEDLY.
SHE HAS THE JOB.
IS SHE GOING TO TRY WITH ALL THE MONEY THAT THE GOVERNOR IS PULLING IN 2022, IS SHE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL 2026?
THAT IS THE QUESTION.
THERE IS A LIST OF CANDIDATES AND I THINK THEY CAN EASILY BE PUT INTO KIND OF THE SPECTRUM OF THE MODERATES TO TRUMP MAX.
YOU HAVE KAREN BADONIE JUST DECLARED YESTERDAY.
SHE HAS A VIDEO OUT.
I THINK SHE IS FURTHER INTO TRUMPISM THAN JAY BLOCK.
SHE IS VERY, VERY, I WOULD SAY, IN THE LAURIE BOEBERT, MARJOIE TAYLOR GREEN CATEGORY.
I DON'T THINK SHE HAS OF A TERRIFIC CHANCE.
I THINK THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY AND THE QUESTION IS WHO WINS THE PRIMARY AND DO THEY GO SO FAR RIGHT THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING THE GENERAL ELECTION.
>> Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.
SERGE, WE SEE SPLITS IN PARTY POLITICS ALL THE TIME, DEMOCRATS HAVE THEIR OWN, PROGRESSIVES, REPUBLICANS, NATIONALLY, WE JUST HEARD FROM MERRITT ABOUT THE TRUMP FACTOR, BUT HERE IN NEW MEXICO THERE HAS LONG BEEN A MARTINEZ/PEARCE SPLIT WITH MR. PEARCE BEING THE MORE CONSERVATIVE AND NOW LOCKED UP WITH MR. TRUMP, AS WE JUST HEARD.
FROM AN OUTSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE, DO YOU SEE THIS AS A NORMAL POLITICAL EVOLUTION OR IS THERE A SIGN TROUBLE HERE FOR REPUBLICANS?
>> Serge: I THINK ANY TIME YOU'RE THE PARTY WHO IS OUT OF POWER, THERE IS THE RISK OF THIS, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF SQUAD SETUP THAT I AM SEEING THAT, YOU KNOW, I AM HEARING FROM MERRITT TALKING ABOUT FOLKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS THE MORE TRUMP, WHO IS THE LEAST TRUMP AND HOW ONE FITS IN THAT SORT OF VEIN AND TAKING SHOTS AT EACH OTHER, MAYBE, BUT I THINK THE PULL TOWARDS THE CENTER IS THE ONE THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR A GENERAL ELECTION.
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY SORT OF SMART STRATEGY THAT PUSHES FURTHER AWAY FROM THAT BUT I DO SEE THE PRIMARY -- THE PRIMARY POLL THAT TAKES FOLKS AWAY FROM THAT IS A REAL THING, AND AS WE SEE MORE AND MORE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK I DON'T REALLY KNOW THERE IS A SOLUTION BETWEEN WHAT MAKES SENSE, GENERALLY, WHAT MAKES SENSE AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL, BUT I DO FIND IT TO BE REALLY FASCINATING PHENOMENON.
>> Gene: LET ME ASK SENATOR ABOUT THAT.
IS THERE A MITT ROMNEY LIGHT ON THE HORIZON HERE IN NEW MEXICO.
SOMEONE THAT CAN ATTRACT VOTES FROM ACROSS THE AISLE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO THAT TO WIN IN THE STATE GIVEN VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBERS, ETC.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING?
>> Diane: I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT MERRITT SAID IS REBECCA DOW.
SHE HAS PROVEN THAT SHE CAN WORK ACROSS THE SOIL AND GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.
I DON'T SEE IT IN ANY OF THE LEADING CONTENDERS.
WINNING A LOCAL COUNTY RACE IS VERY IMPORTANT AT THE TIME FOR THE COUNTY, BUT THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE THAN TRYING TO WIN A STATE-WIDE RACE.
A STATE-WIDE RACE IS HARD AND I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER AS WAS SAID EARLIER BY MARY, IS WHETHER REBECCA IS WILLING TO GIVE UP HER SEAT NOW OR DOES SHE WANT TO PICK UP A FEW MORE CHOPS.
I SEE HER BEING GOVERNOR AT SOME POINT.
THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
>> Gene: MERRITT JUST HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.
THE IDEA FOR REPUBLICANS RAISING MONEY IS ANOTHER SPECTER OUT THERE.
CAN MONEY BE RAISED FOR THESE RACES?
>> Merritt: ABSOLUTELY.
REBECCA IS BRILLIANT AT THAT AND STEVE PEARCE IS TREASURER OF THE RNC.
HE HAS FUND RAISING CAPABILITY.
THE QUESTION IS WHO DOES HE CHOOSE TO GIVE THE MONEY TO?
>> Gene: HOW ABOUT OUR CURRENT GOVERNOR?
SERGE, WHAT DO YOU THINK.
TOOK IN A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS OVER ROUGHLY A SIX-MONTH PERIOD, MOST RECENT CHECKPOINT.
IS SHE GOING TO STEM THE TIDE FROM THE REPUBLICAN ASSAULT JUST THROUGH MONEY ALONE?
IS THAT ENOUGH?
>> Serge: I THINK SHE IS DEFINITELY RIDING HIGH AND I WOULD -- OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD WANT TO JUMP IN THAT RACE FACING THAT OPPOSITION.
I THINK THAT PROBABLY WOULD SCARE OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO.
>> Gene: WE HAVE TO LEAVE THAT THERE FOR NOW.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR, THOUGH, IN JUST A MOMENT.
THIS GROUP IS TALKING NEW MEXICO TRUE WHEN WE COME BACK.
>> Laura: ACROSS NEW MEXICO WE SEE THE IMPACTS OF MANY OF THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE MADE AS SOCIETIES, AS COMMUNITIES.
IN OUR CLIMATE CHANGED WORLD RIGHT NOW WE FACE DIEING RIVERS, DROPPING RESERVOIRS, FORESTS THAT ARE NO LONGER FORESTS.
>> Gene: NEW MEXICO WILL LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS AT THE END OF JUNE THOUGH SALES WON'T START UNTIL A YEAR FROM NOW.
THE PAIR OF BILLS THE GOVERNOR SIGNED FILL A HOLE IN THE MAP OF THE WESTERN U.S. WHERE RECREATIONAL USE IS LEGAL FROM COLORADO TO ARIZONA, NEVADA AND UP THE COAST OF WASHINGTON STATE.
OR GROWING FORWARD POD CAST HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE DEBATE AND NOW THE IMPLEMENTATION.
THEY HAVE SPOKEN TO KEY FIGURES IN THE DECADES LONG EFFORTS.
ON AN UPCOMING EPISODE OF GROWING FORWARD, THEY TALK TO GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM.
HERE IS A BIT OF THAT CONVERSATION.
>> Megan: GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM, YOU SIGNED THE CANNABIS REGULATION ACT EARLIER THIS MONTH.
IT GOES INTO EFFECT ON JUNE 29.
HOW HANDS ON DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CANNABIS REGULATION ACT?
>> Governor: EXCELLENT QUESTION.
I HAVE BEEN PRETTY HANDS ON GIVEN THAT I WAS PART OF THE EARLY NEGOTIATIONS IN LAYING OUT A FRAMEWORK AND MAKING SURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY, UNDER AGE, MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECTED THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM AND MARKET, THAT THE KIND OF THINGS THAT NEW MEXICANS EXPECT US TO GET RIGHT THAT WE GOT RIGHT AND WAS REALLY CLEAR, I WON'T SIGN JUST ANY LEGALIZATION BILL.
AND THE LAST PART OF THAT, IT HAS TO HAVE THE STRONG SOCIAL JUSTICE COMPONENT.
I DID, HOWEVER, AS YOU KNOW, STEP BACK UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAUSE THIS IS AN AREA THAT THE COUNTRIES WORKED TO GET RIGHT AND THE STATE WAS A LEADER IN IN TERMS OF HAVING THE COURAGE TO SAY, THIS NEEDS TO BE A BONA FIDE INDUSTRY AND WE HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE THE LEADERSHIP AND WORK OF FORMER GOVERNOR GARY JOHNSON WHO REALLY LEANED INTO THIS BEFORE ANY POLICY MAKER HAD THE COURAGE TO DO THAT ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
AND I GOT INVOLVED AGAIN AT THE END OF THE SESSION.
I WANT THE REGULATORS TO DO THEIR JOB AS OBJECTIVE INDEPENDENT REGULATORS.
I WANT THEM TO DO THAT WITH THE ENGAGEMENT, DIRECTION AND SUPPORT OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO WILL BE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH BY SEPTEMBER.
MY JOB IS GOING TO BE TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY ON TASK, ON TRACK, THAT IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY EARLY ON THAT ARE RAISED AS A RESULT, THAT I FIND VEHICLES TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE JUST KEEP THIS MOVING SO THAT WE ARE READY BY APRIL IN THE WAYS WE HAVE COMMITTED TO BEING READY.
SO, I THINK IT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON MY LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT BASED ON THAT EFFORT BUT I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF FAITH IN REGULATION AND LICENSING AND SUPERINTENDENT TRUJILLO AND THE INTERESTS SO FAR IN THE NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT COMMITTEE WORK.
>> Megan: THAT IS APRIL 2022, OF COURSE.
>> Governor: CORRECT.
NOT RIGHT NOW.
>> Megan: THE STATE'S REGULATION AND LICENSING DEPARTMENT JUST PUT THE CALL OUT TO FILL SPOTS ON THE CANNABIS REGULATORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ONE OF THE CAVEATS THERE IS THAT BY LAW NO ONE ON THAT COMMITTEE CAN BE PART OF A CANNABIS COMPANY.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT LIMITATION IS IMPORTANT?
>> Governor: WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH JUST THE CURRENT FOLKS ENGAGED IN CANNABIS PRODUCTION TO CREATE A MORE NARROW ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR BUSINESS ACTIVITIES AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT WE WANT THEIR BUSINESSES TO FLOURISH AS LONG AS THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AND RULES AND LICENSING ASPECTS OF OUR CANNABIS LAW, BUT, WE DON'T WANT TO LIMIT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT HAVE YET THOUGHT ABOUT OR HAVE HAD A FAIR SHOT AT GETTING INVOLVED IN CANNABIS.
ONE MORE THING TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE VERY EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CURRENT MEDICAL CANNABIS COMPANIES AND PRODUCERS AND WE KNOW FOLKS IN THE RECREATIONAL BUSINESS, OFTEN, IT IS THE SAME COMPANIES SO THEY ARE DOING ONE THING IN NEW MEXICO, AND, AS AN EXAMPLE, TWO THINGS IN COLORADO.
TWO THINGS IN ARIZONA.
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AREN'T GOING TO DIMINISH IN THIS PROCESS.
AND YOU CAN STILL GET US INFORMATION BY CALLING AND WRITING AND EMAILING.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH US, INCLUDING EVEN THROUGH THE INTERIM COMMITTEE PROCESS WITH THE LEGISLATURE, WITHOUT BEING PART OF THIS NEWLY FORMED COMMITTEE TO BE MUCH MORE BROAD BASED THAN THAT CURRENT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE.
WE DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE IT BUT WE DON'T WANT TO BE TOO HEAVILY RELIANT ON ONE SET OF EXPERTISE MOVING FORWARD.
>> Megan: LET ME ASK YOU A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.
ONE THING ANDY AND I FOUND IN TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY FOR THE POD CAST IS REGULATIONS ARE OFTEN CRAFTED WITHOUT THEIR INPUT.
THAT IS THE WAY THEY FELT ANYWAY.
OF COURSE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS, RIGHT?
BUT HOW CAN PEOPLE WITH THAT EXPERTISE THEY HAVE GAINED IN BEING IN THE INDUSTRY FOR YEARS MAKE SURE THEY GIVE THAT INPUT.
>> Governor: IT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION, MEGAN, AND PART OF IT CLEARLY, BEFORE WE FINALIZE ANY RULES WITH OR WITHOUT THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A STAKEHOLDER GROUP, WE HAVE TO PUBLISH THESE RULES, RIGHT?
WE ARE GOING TO DO ALL OF THAT.
AND, WE EXPECT A ROBUST RETURN ON INFORMATION AND ADVICE THAT WILL, I HAVE NO DOUBT, CORRECT AREAS THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T GET QUITE RIGHT IN OUR REGULATORY APPROACH ON THE FRONT END.
THAT WE'LL IDENTIFY THINGS WE DIDN'T THINK OF THAT ARE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'LL GET IN AND THEN PUT IT BACK OUT FOR FINAL REVIEW.
AND WE THINK THAT THAT IS FRANKLY HOW WE DO MOST OF OUR WORK IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
IT IS HOW WE GOT THE BEST METHANE RULE IN THE COUNTRY AND I HAVE NO DOUBT MORE RULES, SO I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR VIEWERS TODAY, THIS IS NOT TO DISCARD THAT EXPERTISE.
IF YOU DO THINGS IN A VACUUM, WE WON'T DO IT RIGHT.
I AM CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
I BELIEVE REGULATION AND LICENSING IS CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
WE WANT SOME DISTANCE FROM AN INDUSTRY WE WANT TO HAVE AN OBJECTIVE OVERSIGHT ROLE WITH, BUT WE WANT THEIR EXPERTISE IN MAKING SURE WE DON'T CREATE A STANDARD THAT MINIMIZES A ROBUST INDUSTRY FROM BEING HIGH QUALITY AND COMPLETELY ENGAGED AT ANY NUMBER OF LEVELS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.
>> Megan: SHIFTING GEARS JUST A LITTLE BIT, YOU ALSO SIGNED A BILL FOR EXPUNGEMENT FOR SOME MARIJUANA-RELATED CRIMES.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS STILL ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT EXPUNGEMENT LAW.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE SURE ALL THESE RECORDS ARE CLEARED?
>> Governor: AS YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE, BECAUSE I MENTIONED IT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATED IMMEDIATELY, IN FACT THEY WERE DOING THAT WORK DURING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, TO IDENTIFY HOW MANY RECORDS WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THE NEW LAW FOR EXPUNGEMENT, AND IT IS OVER 100,000 RECORDS.
SO NOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS IDENTIFY A PROCESS OF REVIEW AND FOR FOLKS WHO AREN'T LISTED IN THAT, MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW A VEHICLE TO GET OUR ATTENTION AND THEN AS YOU KNOW WE ARE REQUIRED TO SEND IT TO PARTIES OF INTEREST, RIGHT, TO THE DA, AS AN EXAMPLE, CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND IF NOBODY OBJECTS THEN, WE JUST THEN AUTOMATICALLY EXPUNGE THOSE RECORDS.
WE HAVE OUR OWN SORT OF SAFETY CHECK.
I EXPECT THEM TO PUBLISH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, HOW THEY DID THAT INITIAL REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THAT SO IT IS COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT.
I WOULD GUESS IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, THEY ARE HARD AT WORK GETTING THAT DONE AND, OF COURSE, I WANT IT DONE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE SOONER PEOPLE ARE CLEAR ABOUT WHO IS IN CHARGE, HOW THAT LOOKS, HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE BEFORE I COULD HAVE MY RECORD EXPUNGED, THE MORE FOLKS THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THAT REALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING FROM THE DEPARTMENT YET BUT THEY KNOW MY EXPECTATIONS ARE PRETTY IMMEDIATE.
>> Megan: ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE RESOURCES TO DO IT?
THAT IS A LOT OF RECORDS TO CLEAR.
>> Governor: THEY NEED A LOT OF PARTNERS.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THE SAME WAY WE DO WITH PUBLIC SAFETY WITH EVERYONE, WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE EVERY PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITY.
THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT IS, THE ENTIRE STATE IS CANNABIS DEPUTIZED FOR THE EXPUNGEMENT OF RECORDS.
IT IS GOING TO MEAN THAT WE -- AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF THEM EITHER -- PD, RIGHT, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, SHERIFFS AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THEN WHEN YOU MAKE IT LOCAL IN THAT REGARD, I THINK YOU INCENTIVIZE.
IF THERE ISN'T ENOUGH RESOURCES, LOOK, THIS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GET RIGHT.
IF SOMEHOW IT IS TAKING MORE WORK THAN WE ANTICIPATED OR THERE IS A DELAY, THIS IS THE KIND OF THING WE WILL FRONT FUND AND WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
AS YOU KNOW, IT IS PRIORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE, THIS ISSUE, AND, SO, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF WE HAVE A RESOURCE ISSUE IN TERMS OF HIRING MORE FOLKS TO HELP US, THAT WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
I HAVE OTHER FOLKS IN STATE GOVERNMENT.
AND AS WE ARE ENDING THE PANDEMIC IN INTENSITY THAT IT INITIALLY WAS, 4,000 CASES A DAY TO, I HOPE IT GETS TO THAT 150 LEVEL, 120 LEVEL AND STAYS THERE, BUT, ANYTHING THAT IS AT 2 OR 3% POSITIVITY RATE, I NOW HAVE SOME LUXURY TO MOVE STATE RESOURCES TO DO THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPONENTS AND TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS A PRIORITY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO US TO GET THIS DONE QUICKLY, EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
>> Andy: AFTER THE CANNABIS REGULATION ACT GOES INTO EFFECT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S ROLE IN MEDICAL CANNABIS WILL BE LIMITED TO JUST PATIENT REGISTRY.
I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GUESSED ALMOST 15 YEARS AGO HOW MUCH THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM WOULD GROW.
WITH WHAT WE KNOW NOW AND GIVEN YOUR EXPERIENCE LEADING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, LOOKING BACK AT THIS, SHOULD RLD OR REGULATION AND LICENSING HAVE HAD A ROLE IN THIS EARLIER?
>> Governor: YOU KNOW, 20/20 HINDSIGHT USUALLY GIVES YOU THAT EXACT LOOK BACK SO YOU CAN SAY THIS IS HOW I WOULD HAVE DONE IT.
I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK TIMING IS EVERYTHING AND GIVEN THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A PATIENT ACCESS ISSUE, AND THAT MEDICAL CANNABIS NOW WE KNOW HAS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION SUPPORT AS WELL AS OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NOT ONLY RISKS BUT DIAGNOSES, THAT IS PART OF A LARGER PUBLIC HEALTHY INITIATIVE AND I STILL SEE INCREDIBLE CONNECTIONS HERE EVEN THOUGH I AGREE THAT REGULATING IT UNDER ONE UMBRELLA, SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE SUCH DIFFERENT ASPECTS, I STILL HAVE THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT GOVERNMENT, STILL.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF RULES FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THEY FUND PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES IN CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES, HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
YOU LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE A CHILDREN'S CABINET THAT ARE WORKING ON CHILDREN'S ISSUES OR FAMILY ISSUES AND THEY ALL DO IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE YOU DO FOLLOW THE FRAMEWORK OF WHATEVER GRANT OR STATUTORY, STATE STATUTE OR FEDERAL INVESTMENT STRUCTURE IS.
IT MAKES IT ARDUOUS, EXPENSIVE, CONFUSING AND WE WANT GOVERNMENT TO BE STREAMLINED AND EASY.
SO, IN THAT REGARD, I AM VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO CHANGE IT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE WITHOUT THE BONA FIDE SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY, EVEN WITH 50,000 PLUS PATIENTS, THAT I DON'T THINK WE SAW, THAT WE WOULD SEE SUCH A BROAD IMPACT AND ASPECT TO USE MEDICAL CANNABIS SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THAT A DECADE AGO AND MADE SHIFTS BUT, NO, I THINK I WOULD HAVE MOVED ALONG PRETTY MUCH IN THE SAME DIRECTION WE HAVE.
>> Gene: THIS IS GARY JOHNSON'S, I TOLD YOU SO, MOMENT.
THE FORMER GOVERNOR TOOK IT ON THE CHIN FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM POLITICALLY WHEN AS A REPUBLICAN ANNOUNCED FAVORING LEGALIZING CANNABIS.
AS GOVERNOR JOHNSON HAS PROVEN IN THE PAST FEW DECADES SINCE, IT WASN'T JUST A PLAY FOR ATTENTION.
IN THIS EXCERPT, AND AGAIN, SEARCH GROWING FORWARD WHEREVER YOU GET POD CAST, THE FORMER GOVERNOR EXPLAINS HIS REASONING GOES BEYOND MAKING MONEY THROUGH TAXES TO SAVING MONEY AND RESTORING JUSTICE TO DRUG CONVICTIONS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT PEOPLE OF COLOR.
>> Andy: CAN YOU TELL US WHAT MADE YOU COME OUT PUBLICLY TO ADVOCATED FOR LEGALIZATION AND WHAT YOU HOPED THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT DO WITH THE MESSAGE?
>> Johnson: WELL, THE RECOGNITION THAT AT THAT TIME -- NOT THAT IT HAS CHANGED THAT MUCH, BUT HALF OF WHAT WE SPEND ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS AND PRISONS IS DRUG RELATED AND WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THAT?
AND THE RECOGNITION THAT THESE LAWS ARE TERRIBLY DISCRIMINATORY AND THEN THE NOTION THAT I BELIEVE THAT -- AND THIS IS WHAT I SAID IN 1999, THAT I BELIEVE LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WILL LEAD TO LESS OVERALL SUBSTANCE ABUSE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FIND MARIJUANA AS SUCH A SAFER ALTERNATIVE.
>> Andy: IT WAS A LONG SHOT AT THAT TIME BUT WAS THERE ANY PART OF YOU THAT HOPED MAYBE YOU COULD GET SOME REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, MAYBE EVEN DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT AT THAT TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY, MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THIS?
>> Johnson: THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO -- EVERYBODY WAS THROWING STONES, EVERYBODY.
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS TALK OF IMPEACHMENT.
GEE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET IMPEACHED FOR VOICING AN OPINION ON A TOPIC THAT YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO GET INTO OFFICE AND DO THE THINGS THAT YOU FIND OUT THAT NEED DOING AND DO THEM?
SO, NO, THERE WAS NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER THAT THIS WAS GOING TO GO ANYWHERE AT THE TIME.
AND I WASN'T NAIVE AT THE TIME AND -- BUT AT THE TIME I DID SAY THAT MARIJUANA WILL BE LEGALIZED.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
>> Megan: YOU PREVIOUSLY SAID YOU ARE AN OCCASIONAL CONSUMER OF CANNABIS.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE?
>> Johnson: YES.
AND ALSO MY WHOLE LIFE IS HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
THAT IS WHAT MY WHOLE LIFE IS ABOUT.
I HAVEN'T A DRINK IN 34 YEARS.
BUT I DO FIND MARIJUANA AS A MUCH SAFER ALTERNATIVE AND FOR ME MARIJUANA IS HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
I THINK ONE OF THE OFFSHOOTS OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IN A STATE WHERE IT HASN'T BEEN LEGAL IS I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND HAVE NEVER USED MARIJUANA BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ILLEGAL.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIG SURPRISES IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE IT IS LEGAL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRY IT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I THINK THE TAKE AWAY IS GOING TO BE, WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO THIS POINT BECAUSE THIS IS PLEASANT.
THIS IS A GOOD THING.
THIS ISN'T A BAD THING.
>> Megan: WHY DO YOU LIKE TO USE CANNABIS?
DO YOU USE IT FOR MEDICAL REASONS OR OTHER REASONS?
>> Johnson: FOR THE SAME REASON THAT SOMEONE WOULD HAVE A COCKTAIL IN THE EVENING OR A COUPLE OF COCKTAILS TO TAKE THE, I DON'T KNOW, THE EDGE OFF THE DAY.
I THINK I AM IN THAT CATEGORY WHEN IT COMES TO MARIJUANA AND I'LL ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STORIES ABOUND FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED MARIJUANA AND SAID THEY HAVE HAD A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
HOW MUCH OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL AND THAT YOU HAD TO BUY IT THROUGH THE BLACK-MARKET?
I THINK A LOT OF THOSE STORIES COME FROM BACK TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS -- IT WAS CRIMINAL AND BECAUSE OF THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T USE IT AND THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE.
I REALLY WANT TO APPLAUD THE GOVERNOR FOR CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION ON THIS AND GETTING IT DONE.
I THINK THAT THAT WAS -- I THINK THAT WAS TERRIFIC.
I APPLAUD THE FACT THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY CHEAP LICENSE TO PRODUCE OR ACTUALLY SELL.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE WARTS ON EVERYTHING.
THE WART ON THIS BILL SEEMS TO BE PUTTING A CAP ON PRODUCTION.
BOY, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BUT, HEY, THIS CAN BE REMEDIED, THIS CAN BE AMENDED IN THE FUTURE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ISSUE.
>> Andy: INTERESTING YOU BROUGHT UP THAT YOU PRAISED THE CURRENT GOVERNOR FOR DOING THAT.
AS A SELF-DESCRIBED FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, DOES IT SEEM TO YOU THAT THE COST OF THE SPECIAL SESSION IS NEGLIGIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE COST OF LEGALIZING THIS SUBSTANCE?
>> Johnson: I DO BELIEVE THAT, ANDY.
I ABSOLUTELY DO.
PEOPLE ASK ALL THE TIME, WELL, GEE, THERE IS ALL THIS REVENUE FROM THE TAXES.
WELL, FORGET ABOUT THE REVENUE.
JUST THINK OF THE SAVINGS WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS AND PRISONS.
IF THE POLICE CAN DEAL WITH REAL CRIME AND REAL CRIME DEFINITIONALLY SPEAKING, THAT IS WHEN YOU DO HARM TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
IF YOU'RE DOING ARGUABLY JUST HARM TO YOURSELF BY USING MARIJUANA, WHO CARES?
WHO REALLY CARES?
>> Andy: MEGAN BROUGHT THIS UP PART WAY AS FAR AS THE STIGMA OF USING CANNABIS VERSUS ALCOHOL.
YOU DON'T SEE THIS WITH ALCOHOL BUT THERE IS A LONG RUNNING STEREOTYPE THAT PEOPLE WHO USE CANNABIS ARE SPACEY, FORGETFUL OR HAVE NO FILTER.
IT SEEMS TO ME YOU'RE KIND OF UNFILTERED ANYWAY BY NATURE.
I HEAR PEOPLE RELATE CANNABIS USE TO YOUR COMMENTS IN THE NEWS AND INTERVIEWS.
DOES IT EVER BOTHER YOU WHEN THE CLIPS COME OUT PEOPLE SAY, OH, HE HAS JUST SMOKED TOO MUCH WEED.
>> Johnson: YOU KNOW, OKAY, SO THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE GOTTEN TO NOW?
LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO BE A HYPOCRITE AND I NEVER HAVE BEEN A HYPOCRITE.
WHEN I RAN FOR GOVERNOR THE FIRST TIME AND I ADMITTED MARIJUANA USE, THERE WAS SO MANY THAT WANTED TO KNOW IF I HAD BEEN IN DRUG REHAB AND WAS I REMORSEFUL FOR MY MARIJUANA USE?
COME ON.
AT THE TIME I SAID, LOOK, I AM ONE OF 100 MILLION AMERICANS WHO TRIED MARIJUANA OR USE IT, 10'S OF MILLIONS THAT USE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
YOU CAN CRITICIZE ME FOR USING IT BUT AM I CRIMINAL?
NO.
THEN THAT IS BACK TO THE DISCRIMINATORY NATURE OF THE LAW TO BEGIN WITH.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I AM CAUGHT WITH MARIJUANA AS A TEENAGER GROWING UP, I AM WHITE, I GOT A JOB, I AM GOING TO SCHOOL, I LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, GOOD CHANCE, JUST DRIVE ON DOWN THE ROAD AND DON'T DO IT AGAIN, AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE BLACK OR OF COLOR, HISPANIC, PULLED OVER, THE CAR SMELLS OF WEED, OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO PUT THIS GUY THROUGH THE RINGER AND THEY DO.
I DON'T WANT TO FAULT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ANY OF THIS EITHER.
THESE ARE LAWS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND, OF COURSE, THAT IS THE LAW THAT WE CHANGED.
I WAS TALKING TO A CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE THIS CYCLE AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT HER ENTIRE LIFE.
LOOK, YOU'RE NOT RUNNING FOR SHERIFF HERE.
YOU ARE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE PUT IN A POSITION TO CHANGE LAWS THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST.
NOT TO ENFORCE LAWS THAT ARE, IN FACT, DISCRIMINATORY AND DON'T DO ANY GOOD WHATSOEVER.
DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
>> Gene: SINCE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TWO GOVERNORS, LET ME POSE THIS QUESTION TO THE LINE PANEL.
IS THE NEW MEXICO TRUE TOURISM CAMPAIGN THE SIGNATURE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SUSANA MARTINEZ ADMINISTRATION?
SERGE, IT IS YOU FIRST.
CERTAINLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> Serge: I AM A BIG FAN.
I LIKE IT.
I DECLARED MYSELF TO BE NEW MEXICO TRUE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN I CHANGED MY PHONE NUMBER TO A 505 AREA CODE AND YOU KNOW THAT RESONATED WITH THE FOLKS.
I REALLY LIKE IT.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHT WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE UNIQUE AND SO SPECIAL.
I THINK THAT IT IS HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS, I SUPPOSE, SOMETIMES, BUT FOR ME, LIKE I SAID, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE OF NEW MEXICO, IT RESONATES WITH ME.
I LIKE IT A LOT.
>> Gene: SERGE MAKES AN INTERESTING POINT.
I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF FOLKS ADOPT THE NEW MEXICO TRUE STATEMENT.
IT MEANS SOMETHING TO SOME PEOPLE.
SINCE 2012.
IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO GET RID OF IT?
>> Merritt: ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IT IS PART OF THE COMMON SLANG.
NEW MEXICANS USE IT TO MAKE A REFERENCE TO SOMETHING THAT IS ONLY SO NEW MEXICO YOU HAVE TO SAY NM TRUE.
I SAW A FACEBOOK POST, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW MEXICO DEMOCRATIC STATE PARTY CHAIR PUT A VANITY PLATE ON HER TRUCK THAT IS TRUE BLUE.
>> Gene: THAT IS WHEN YOU KNOW IN PR WORLD WHEN THINGS START SPREADING ON THEIR OWN AND START BEING ADOPTED.
>> Merritt: IT HAS GONE VIRAL AND IT WORKS.
I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND MONEY TO REIGNITE TOURISM IN NEW MEXICO, OPENING MORE SITES, YOU KNOW, BEING MORE REASONABLE ABOUT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND RESTRICTIONS, THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEING MORE CLEAR.
YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT GREEN, YELLOW, RED THAT DIDN'T HELP.
WE WERE TOLD THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
I AM GOING TO PAUSE WHILE MY DOG SHUTS UP.
>> Gene: I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL QUESTION FOR SENATOR.
THE REASON THIS IS ON OUR RADAR IS GOVERNOR MARTINEZ' SUCCESSOR, GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO GIVE IT A REFRESH.
STATED GOAL IS TO MODERNIZE THE LOGO, ROLL OUT NEW STORIES.
THE FIRST ONE, THOUGH, I HAVE TO SAY LANDED WITH A BIT OF A THUD WITH QUOTES AND CLIPS FROM GEORGIA O'KEEFE LIKE IT BEING, MY LAND, AND WANTING TO KEEP IT TO HERSELF.
THE ARTIST'S MUSEUM SAID THOSE WORDS, I AM GOING TO READ IT IN A BIT AND IT SENT THE WRONG MESSAGE AND RECURRING GUEST ON THIS PROGRAM CASTRO OF THE THREE SISTERS COLLECTIVE BLASTED IT TO KRQE AS, ROMANTIC SETTLER VOYEURISM.
I AM CURIOUS YOUR SHOTS.
>> Diane: I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN YOU USE QUOTES OR WRITING OR DIRECT REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS.
WHEN YOU'RE FEATURING LANDSCAPE OR PARKS OR EVENTS LIKE THE BALLOON FIESTA, THAT IS SOMEWHAT MORE GENERIC AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT YOU ARE NOT PUTTING THE WRONG MESSAGE.
WE ARE NOT JUST NEW MEXICO TRUE.
WE ARE A VERY DIVERSE STATE.
AND I SAY THAT AND I LOVE THE PROGRAM.
I HAVE LOVED IT.
I THOUGHT THAT HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
I HAD RELATIVES IN TEXAS WHO SAW IT AND SAID, OH, THAT IS COOL.
SO, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL, THOUGH, ABOUT PUTTING OUT THE IDEA THAT WE ARE SO FAR BACK IN HISTORY THAT WE ARE BACK INTO COLONIAL DAYS.
WE ARE NOT.
WE ARE VERY MUCH PART OF THE FUTURE AND I THINK THAT IS THE MESSAGE WE NEED TO SEND.
>> Gene: SENATOR JUST HIT ON SOMETHING.
AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO CAST OUR EYES FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS IF WE WANT TO ATTRACT FORWARD LIKE PEOPLE.
I'LL READ YOU THE QUOTE FROM THE GEORGIA O'KEEFE MUSEUMS.
I AM SO BLOWN AWAY.
GEORGIA O'KEEFE MUSEUM DOES NOT SUPPORT THE USE OF GEORGIA O'KEEFE'S QUOTES DESCRIBING NEW MEXICO LANDSCAPE AS HER COUNTRY OR CLAIMING THAT WAS MINE.
WHILE THESE QUOTES ARE FROM THE ARTIST IT IS NOW CLEAR THIS IS LANGUAGE OF POSSESSION, COLONIZATION AND ERASURE.
SUCH LANGUAGE IS OFFENSIVE, INSULTING AND INSENSITIVE.
WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE THE USE OF THESE PROBLEMATIC PHRASES AS WELL AS, O'KEEFE COUNTRY, TO PROMOTE TOURISM OR REPRESENT NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.
MAN, YOU KNOW YOU'RE ON THE WRONG TRACK WHEN ONE OF OUR MOST FAMOUS MUSEUMS ARE SAYING, NO, WE DON'T THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO GO, DUDE.
WAS THIS JUST A FLAT OUT CLUNK HERE?
WAS THIS A PURE MISS OR CAN SOMETHING COME OF THIS, THAT WOULD BE BETTER.
>> Serge: I THINK IT WAS A STRAIGHT UP, LET'S GO AHEAD AND SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT OUT OF GATE.
I UNDERSTAND IT WAS A PR COMPANY OUT OF TEXAS, MAYBE IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THEY JUST DIDN'T GET THIS.
IT REALLY IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, NEW MEXICO IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN LAND OF, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES, WELL, FOR MANY YEARS, I SHOULD SAY, RIGHT, HAS BEEN A LAND OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND CELEBRATING THOSE AND CELEBRATING ALL OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT I THINK NEW MEXICO TRUE REALLY IS RATHER THAN THEM PRIORITIZING THE COLONIAL VOICES AND COLONIZE VOICES AND THE IDEA OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP FROM AWAY AND SAYING, THIS IS MY PLACE, THIS IS WHERE -- BUT REALLY, CELEBRATING THE VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT HISTORY, THAT IS WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT THIS PLACE AND THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WOULD RESONATE WITH PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, FROM THE FOLKS THAT WE WANT TO ATTRACT RATHER THAN SOME IDEA OF, OH, YEAH, THIS IS WHERE A FANCY ARTIST SHOWED UP AND DECLARED THIS TO BE HER PLACE, RIGHT?
I THINK IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MISSTEP BUT IT ALSO COMPLETELY MISSES THE POINT OF WHAT MAKES NEW MEXICO SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE, CULTURAL HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO SO, YOU KNOW, INTERESTING AND SHOULD BE ATTRACTIVE TO FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.
>> Gene: I MENTIONED THREE SISTERS COLLECTIVE.
IN FAIRNESS ONE OF THE SHORTER QUOTES IS, 2021 THIS CAMPAIGN IS UNACCEPTABLE.
CHANGES INCLUDE ADDING ZIA SYMBOL AND LAND OF ENCHANTMENT PHRASE.
WE TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME.
THEY ARE ON OUR LICENSE PLATES.
THE QUESTION SHOULD BE DID THIS EVEN NEED A REFRESH?
WAS THERE SOME MARKET PUSH OUT THERE, SAYING WE DON'T LIKE THIS, WE WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING BETTER?
I MEAN, ARE WE CHANGING SOMETHING THAT WASN'T A FAILURE AND WHY, IF WE ARE?
>> Merritt: AS A PR PERSON, NOTHING MAKES ME IRRITATED THAN MONEY BEING SPENT THE WRONG WAY.
A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE I DO PR FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
IF YOU GIVE ME A DOLLAR, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A VALUE FOR IT.
OR AS I SAY, DON'T MAKE ME POUND YOUR MONEY DOWN A RAT HOLE.
IF YOU WANT TO INVEST MONEY IN TOURISM, THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO DO IT.
>> Gene: BUT COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, I COULD SEE THE URGE TO DO SOMETHING.
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT, THAT MAYBE JUST AMPING UP SOMETHING, SPENDING MORE MONEY, JUST SOMETHING.
>> Merritt: RIGHT.
BUT THE CHALLENGE IS IF WE ARE GOING TO BRING MORE PEOPLE TO NEW MEXICO, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO AND WHAT CAN THEY DO?
WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD ANSWER THERE.
WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE SELLING?
>> Gene: THAT IS INTERESTING.
GO AHEAD.
>> Diane: I WANTED TO SAY, OPEN UP THE STATE.
IF YOU'RE INVITING PEOPLE TO COME IN AND VISIT AND SPEND MONEY AND BE HERE, YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE A PLACE, AS MERRITT SAID, FOR THEM TO STAY, FOR THEM TO EAT AND NATIONALLY WE ARE GREAT ON COVID VACCINATIONS BUT WE'RE STILL ONE OF THE STATES WITH THE TOUGHEST RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE AND THEIR PARTICIPATION.
>> Merritt: VACCINATION DISTRIBUTION IS NEW MEXICO TRUE.
THAT IS A GREAT STORY TO TELL.
>> Gene: HEY, I AM LAUGHING BUT NOT, BUT IT ACTUALLY SORT OF IS.
SERGE, LET ME GET YOU IN HERE TOO, YOU KNOW, TOURISM, THEY ARE WAITING TO GET BACK.
THEY TOOK A REAL HIT LAST YEAR, LET'S BE FAIR HERE.
2020 WAS LOUSY.
THE REPORTING IS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STILL NOT WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY.
THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO GOOSE THIS THING ALONG.
WAS THIS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT?
>> Serge: I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.
I DO LIKE THE MINIMALIST ETHOS OF THE NEW BRANDING.
THAT IS MY OWN ESTHETIC OF MINIMALISM, I LOVE THAT, RIGHT, BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, I DON'T THINK IT IS NEW.
IT IS NOT A BOOSTING OR REBRAND OR KICK STARTING THIS.
IT IS MUCH OF THE SAME THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.
WHICH, YOU KNOW, IF THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, GREAT, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT, HERE IS SOMETHING NEW, AND A NEW WAY TO APPROACH THIS.
A NEW LOGO.
I DOUBT ANYBODY NOTICES IT IS A NEW LOGO EXCEPT FOR US.
>> Gene: I HAVE TO SAY TO WRAP THIS UP, IF THE IDEA IS THESE ADS GO OUT TO THE REGION, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, COLORADO, THAT DRIVE-IN MARKETPLACE, DO THEY PLAY OUTSIDE THE REGION?
WHAT ARE WE SPENDING OUR MONEY ON?
THERE IS LOTS OF QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME ON THIS ONE BUT THERE IS NO DENYING THE POWER IN NEW MEXICO'S LANDSCAPES AND ITS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS MUCH MORE THAN A TOURIST DRAW AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WE ARE PROUD OF THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE MADE TO BRING YOU ENVIRONMENT NEWS WITH OUR OUR LAND INSTALLMENTS, OUR GROUNDWATER WAR INVESTIGATION AND OTHER WORK BY ENVIRONMENT REPORTER, LAURA PASKUS.
THIS WEEK WE ASKED HER TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE PLACE THAT FUELS HER PASSION.
>> Laura: THIS WEEK SOMETHING IMPORTANT IS HAPPENING.
THE LYRIDS METEOR SHOWER WILL PEAK.
YOU THOUGHT I WOULD SAY EARTH DAY, RIGHT?
NO.
YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN ALL THE EMAILS AND SEEN ALL THE REMINDERS.
YOU'LL DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH ALL THAT.
FOR THE METEOR SHOWER, THOUGH, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK AT THE SKY.
THERE IS A BIG MOON THIS WEEK AND MAYBE YOU LIVE SOME PLACE WHERE IT IS NOT QUITE DARK ENOUGH TO SEE A LOT OF THE METEORS, BUT THAT IS OKAY, YOU CAN JUST GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK UP.
AND WHILE YOU ARE OUT THERE, STARING AT THE SKY, IT IS EASY TO FEEL CONNECTED TO THE GENERATIONS BEFORE WHO LOOKED UP AT THESE METEORS, THE REMAINS OF A COMET.
THE FIRST RECORDED SIGHTING OF THE SAME METEOR SHOWER DATES BACK 2700 YEARS AND SO I THINK IT IS WORTH THINKING ABOUT THOSE PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.
ABOUT THE EARTH, THEY INHABITED.
AND THE CHOICES THEY MADE ALONG THE WAY.
ACROSS NEW MEXICO, WE SEE THE IMPACTS OF MANY OF THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE MADE AS SOCIETIES, AS COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR CLIMATE CHANGED WORLD RIGHT NOW, WE FACE DRYING RIVERS, DROPPING RESERVOIRS, FORESTS THAT ARE NO LONGER FORESTS.
THESE LANDSCAPES THEY CAN FEEL DISORIENTING WHEN WE SEE THEM.
WHEN WE SEE HOW MUCH OUR PLACES HAVE CHANGED, JUST IN A FEW DECADES.
BUT, WHAT HAPPENS HERE ISN'T A MYSTERY.
THESE PLACES ALL REFLECTS THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE MADE.
RECENTLY I INTERVIEWED ARTEMISIO ROMERO Y CARVER.
HE TALKED ABOUT HOW SCARED YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BE AS THEY SEE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACCELERATING ALL THE TIME.
SO MANY OF THEM WORRY THEY'LL NEVER LIVE THEIR LIVES AS FULLY AS YOU AND I HAVE.
SO, THIS WEEK, EVERY WEEK, REALLY, LET'S TAKE SOME TIME.
WE ALL FEEL OVERWHELMED IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE OR ANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WE COVER ON THIS SHOW.
BUT WHAT I AM ASKING YOU TO DO IS AS EASY AS GOING OUTSIDE TO SEE THE SKY AND THINKING ABOUT THE CHOICES ALL OF OUR VARIOUS ANCESTORS HAVE MADE TO BRING TO US THIS REMARKABLE MOMENT.
THIS REMARKABLE MOMENT WHEN WE STILL HAVE TIME, JUST A LITTLE, TO DECIDE WHAT THE GENERATIONS TO COME WILL THINK OF US, OF YOU AND ME WHEN THEY LOOK UP AND WHEN THEY SEE THE LYRIDS STREAK ACROSS THE APRIL SKY.
>> Gene: THE 4.3 BILLION-DOLLAR ACQUISITION OF PNM BY CONNECTICUT BASED AVANGRID, NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO PRONOUNCE THAT.
WE'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH.
THAT IS GOING BEFORE THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION NEXT MONTH.
THE COMPANY, A SUBSIDIARY OF A SPANISH ENERGY GIANT WOULD TAKE ON SOME FOUR BILLION DOLLARS IN PNM DEBTS.
THIS WEEK, THE TWO COMPANIES FILED AN AMENDED AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE MORE CREDITS TO THE PNM RATE PAYORS OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD AS WELL AS BOOST INVESTMENT IN SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE PRC AND BEFORE US TODAY IS WHETHER THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR NEW MEXICO?
MERRITT, JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION.
YOU HAVE A FEEL FOR THIS YET?
IS THIS A GOOD THING FOR US?
>> Merritt: I AM SURPRISED IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG.
I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THE SOUTHWEST IT IS KIND OF SURPRISING, YOU HAVE GOT EL PASO ELECTRIC THAT IS OF COURSE IS UNDER ACQUISITION RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS SOME HOLDUPS BUT THAT HAS BEEN -- THAT DEAL HAS BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR SOME TIME.
YOU HAVE ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE, PNM, BUT YOU KNOW THE STORY OF REGULATED PUBLIC UTILITIES IT HAS BEEN ONE OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS FOR 140 YEARS, EVER SINCE EDISON FIRST FLIPPED A SWITCH.
I AM SURPRISED IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG AND I ALMOST WANT TO SAY THE PRC MUST BE A REAL PAIN TO DEAL WITH, AND IT JUST TOOK THIS LONG, TO SAY, WE REALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
I THINK IT IS INEVITABLE.
I THINK IT IS A GLOBAL TREND.
I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING THING TODAY WE WERE SAYING.
LATEST PART OF THE DEAL WE WON'T SELL IT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS NOW.
THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST A CONTINUING VERTICAL INTEGRATION IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY UNTIL EITHER ON A GLOBAL LEVEL OR ON A NATIONAL LEVEL THERE IS A DECISION MADE TO INSTITUTE SOME ANTITRUST LEGISLATION AND BREAK UP SOME OF THESE MEGA FIRMS.
>> Gene: THAT IS INTERESTING, WE WON'T TAKE THAT ON IN THIS DISCUSSION.
SERGE, INTERESTING IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY, THE MERGER, BOTH BERNALILLO COUNTY AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE POKED AT THE ESTIMATE THAT THE MERGER WILL ADD 100 JOBS AS THE A COMPANY HAS CLAIMED.
THE COUNTY'S CONSULTANT SAYS IT LOOKS PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR.
HAS THIS BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH SCRUTINY?
THEY CAME BACK AND SORT OF ADDED TO THE JOBS THING, BUT I THINK I AGREE WITH THE COMMISSION, IT DID FEEL A LITTLE PULLED OUT OF THIN AIR THERE.
>> Serge: ABSOLUTELY.
TO ME THAT SOUNDS JUST AS MADE UP AS A LOT OF NUMBERS WE SEE.
THEY SAID, 100, THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
SO NOW WE'LL SAY 150, WHICH HAS THE SAME BASIS IN REALITY.
BUT IT DOES LEAD TO BIGGER NUMBERS.
I THINK THOSE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, READING TEA LEAVES TO FIGURE OUT HOW REAL OR NOT REAL THAT IS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THAT OTHER THAN IT IS CORPORATE TALK.
>> Gene: A LOT OF THE HEART BURN IS HOW MUCH SHAREHOLDERS ARE GOING TO MAKE OUT OF THIS DEAL.
THAT IS PROBABLY A BIGGER ISSUE -- WELL, IT IS A SIDE ISSUE TO RATE PAYORS.
WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF HOW THE SCORE IS COMING FOR SHAREHOLDERS.
>> Serge: THAT IS WHERE THE ACTION IS, IN MY ASSESSMENT OF THIS.
I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, AVANGRID, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT, THEY ARE PAYING 20% OVER THE ACTUAL VALUE OF PNM FOR THE VERY PURPOSE OF BUYING A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, AND, YOU KNOW, REAPING THE GUARANTEED RETURNS OF THAT.
SO, THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, THAT 20%, THAT PREMIUM, IT IS A REAL QUESTION WHO SHOULD THAT GO TO.
BUT, FOR ME THE ANSWER IS NOT THE SHAREHOLDERS, BUT RATHER THE RATE PAYORS, PEOPLE WHO ARE THE SOURCE OF THAT PREMIUM, THE SOURCE OF THAT VALUE THAT THEY SEE IN THIS COMPANY.
INVESTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, THEY ARE GOING TO GET PAID FOR THE MONEY THEY PUT IN, BUT THE EXTRA, THAT 20% VALUE, THAT IS CREATED BY REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING THE RATES AND MUCH MUCH MORE OF THIS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THAT THAN WHAT I AM HEARING.
>> Gene: INTERESTING POINT.
SENATOR, GOOD QUOTE FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL HECTOR BALDERAS.
HE SAID, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE TRANSITION OF THE STATE'S LARGEST UTILITY AVANGRID, A LEADER IN CLEAN ENERGY, BUT REMAIN CONCERNED THAT THE DEAL RESULTS IN OVERWHELMING PROFIT FOR PNM.
IS THIS WHERE THE SHAPE OF THE FIGHT IS SORT OF STEMMING, YOU KNOW -- THERE IS BIG DOUGH IN THE POCKETS OF SOME FOLKS HERE WHILE THE RATE PAYORS ARE SAYING, I GET 50 CENTS OFF MY BILL FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, NOT QUITE A GREAT TRADE FOR ME.
HOW DO WE SQUARE THAT?
>> Diane: I THINK THAT IS WHERE NEW MEXICANS (INAUDIBLE) PEOPLE LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THOSE IN THE KNOW AND THE RATE PAYOR GROUPS WHERE JOE CITIZEN IS GOING TO GET WHAT OFF MY BILL?
IT IS GOING TO COME OFF MY BILL.
BUT BOTH MERRITT (INAUDIBLE) WAS THE 10 YEARS BEFORE THEY SELL OFF.
I WOULD (INAUDIBLE) COMMITMENT THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEEK A RATE INCREASE FOR FIVE TO 10 YEARS RATHER THAN, OH, WE WON'T SELL THE COMPANY BECAUSE ULTIMATELY AFTER THE ORIGINAL NEGOTIATIONS ARE DONE, THE REST OF US JUST PAY OUR ELECTRIC BILL.
I AM MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GO ABOUT DOING IT.
I WILL SAY A COUPLE THINGS THAT THEY PUT IN THAT I THINK ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND THAT IS HARDWARE AND EXPANDING SERVICES OUT TO MORE RURAL AREAS PARTICULARLY ON INDIGENOUS LAND.
SO, A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY GOING UP TO SAN JUAN COUNTY IN THE FOUR CORNERS AREA AND INDIGENOUS LANDS.
AND OR AUDIENCE WILL KNOW AND RECALL THEY CLOSED THE COAL MINE AND SO THEY NEED SOME EFFORT PUT INTO IT AND SO I THINK THAT IS A VERY GOOD PIECE.
BUT THERE AGAIN, I AM JUST GOING, OKAY, THAT IS GREAT.
I GET A DOLLAR AND 38 CENTS A MONTH FOR THREE YEARS BUT TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO RAISE MY RATES AGAIN.
AND I THINK IF I SEE A COMPANY MAKE THAT KIND OF COMMITMENT AND I KNOW THINGS CHANGE.
LIKE A PANDEMIC.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER BUT THAT WOULD SHOW CERTAINLY A LOT MORE GOOD FAITH FOR ME INSTEAD OF GIVING ME A DOLLAR AND SOMETHING BACK.
TELL ME THAT YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP IT STEADY.
AND ALSO JUST ONE QUICK POINT ON DEVELOPMENT.
RATES AND UTILITIES ARE INCREDIBLE PIECE OF WHAT COMPANIES LOOK AT IF THEY ARE MOVING INTO THE STATE.
SO, SAY, PNM SAYS, OKAY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO RAISE YOUR RATES FOR FIVE YEARS.
THEN THAT MIGHT BE -- THEY MAY DO IT ONLY RESIDENTIAL BUT IF WE DID IT IN COMMERCIAL AREAS AS WELL, THEN THAT GIVES US ANOTHER PIECE IN OUR POCKET OF WHAT WE ARE OFFERING AS INCENTIVES TO OTHER COMPANIES TO RELOCATE.
>> Gene: I HEAR YOU.
MERRITT, INTERESTINGLY, THAT IS 2.62, I BELIEVE, 2.62 SPECIFICALLY.
IT WORKS OUTS I THINK JUST UNDER $100 OVER THE COURSE OF THAT TIME, MEANWHILE, 4.3 BILLION IS GOING TO SHAREHOLDERS AS A COUNTERPOINT THERE.
BUT LET ME ASK, PRC IS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING TO AN ELECTED BOARD OF FIVE TO ONE OF APPOINTED OF THREE AFTER YEARS OF HIGH VACANCY RATES FOR JOBS AT THE AGENCY AND SCANDAL AFTER SCANDAL.
VOTERS WENT ALONG WITH A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
ANY SENSE OF WHETHER THAT COMING CHANGE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE TIMING OF THIS MERGER?
>> Merritt: THAT IS SOMETHING I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF BEFORE BUT CERTAINLY WE HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYING, YES, IT IS A GOOD DEAL IF THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTS IT, AND SHE HAS GOT APPOINTEES ON THE PRC.
IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT HAS MORE LIKELIHOOD TO GO THROUGH RATHER THAN HAVING TO DEAL WITH FIVE DIFFERENT ZONES.
YES.
THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.
I ALSO THINK THE TIMING SEEMS RIGHT.
I CAN SEE, THOUGH, WHY OUR REGION WOULD BE A HOLDOUT FOR THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY ALONG WITH ARIZONA, ALONG WITH EL PASO ELECTRIC, WHICH IS ALSO SOME OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.
IT IS A CHALLENGING AREA TO MAINTAIN A POWER GRID IN JUST BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSE AND THE LARGE UNPOPULATED AREAS WHERE WE HAVE TO BE RUNNING LINES.
SO, I COULD ALSO SEE WHY IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME FOR A PROSPECTIVE BUYER TO WANT TO TAKE ON OUR NETWORK.
SO, I THINK THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE PRC WITH THIS MAJOR TRANSACTION CERTAINLY IT IS A MAJOR TEST AND -- >> Gene: FIRST ONE.
>> Merritt: WOULD IT STILL GO THROUGH BEFORE OR AFTER THE CHANGE IN PRC?
>> Gene: GOOD POINT.
OUT OF TIME.
THANKS FOR GOING FROM TOURISM TO ENERGY, TO GUBERNATORIAL POLITICS THIS WEEK.
STAY HEALTHY.
BACK IN A MOMENT WITH FINAL THOUGHTS.
WE HAD A TRIAL BOTH IN THAT COURTROOM IN MINNEAPOLIS AND IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.
WE HAVE A VERDICT, THREE OF THEM IN FACT, IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF DEREK CHAUVIN.
THE TRIAL ITSELF WILL GO DOWN AS A HISTORIC LONG FORM TELEVISION EVENT FOR THIS GENERATION, MUCH LIKE THE OJ SIMPSON TRIAL A GENERATION BACK WAS MUST-SEE TELEVISION.
BUT THE LEGACY OF THE TRIAL MAY BE, IN FACT, WHAT THE LIVE COVERAGE ENABLED, A DEEP EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL DIVE FOR SOME AMERICANS TO TRULY APPRECIATE THE PROBLEMS BLACK MEN ENCOUNTER ON THE STREET.
WHAT THE LONG ARK OF MYSTERY HAS TO SAY REGARDING THE IMPACT OF THE TELEVISED TRIAL OVER TIME REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT IT IS SAFE TO SAY SOMETHING HAS SHIFTED.
A SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING MAY HAVE BEEN ELEVATED FROM THAT DEEP DIVE, PERHAPS EVEN EMPATHY, WHO KNOWS?
TELEVISION CAN BE POWERFUL THAT WAY.
REST IN POWER, GEORGE FLOYD.
THANKS FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.
SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.
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