>>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

I'M DELIGHTED TO SAY THAT OUR GUEST TODAY IS SENATOR STUART INGLE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>STUART: LORENE, IT'S ALWAYS MY PLEASURE, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS A DAY OR TWO HAVEN'T WE?

>>LORENE: WE HAVE INDEED AND THAT'S WHY IT'S MEANINGFUL TO ME TO HAVE YOU COME BACK BECAUSE YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN FROM DISTRICT 27 WHICH SERVES FIVE COUNTIES, BUT YOU FIRST CAME UP HERE IN 1985, YOU HAVE SERVED IN THE NEW MEXICO SENATE FOR 36 YEARS AND YOU LIVE IN PORTALES, YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.

YOUR COMMITTEES, YOU'RE THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE AND YOU ALSO SERVE ON THE HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED, YOU ALSO ARE ON TWO INTERIM COMMITTEES THAT HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT, THE CAPITAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE.

WE ARE IN THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FENCING AND STATE POLICE EVERYWHERE, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU ALL HAD TIME TO, DID YOU GET TO TALK ABOUT IT, THE INSURRECTION IN DC WAS JANUARY 6TH, THE SESSION STARTED TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT.

DID YOU ALL MEET AND TALK ABOUT THE THREATS, DID YOU EVER GET TO TALK ABOUT THE THREATS IN OUR CAPITOL.

>>STUART: I REALLY NEVER DID VISIT TOO MUCH WITH RAUL ABOUT IT, HE WOULD CALL ME AND TELL ME WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO AS FAR AS TO PUT THE FENCE AROUND THE CAPITOL AND THEN THE STATE POLICE WOULD HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU WENT THROUGH TWO TO THREE DIFFERENT CHECKPOINTS.

WHEN IT FIRST STARTED IT WAS THREE, NOW IT'S JUST TWO, BUT WE'RE STILL DOING THAT.

YOU HAVE TO SHOW IDENTIFICATION WITH YOUR PICTURE ON IT AND THEN WE HAVE AN ENTRANCE TO THE CAPITAL, THAT'S THE ENTRANCE AND THE EXIT BOTH, SAME PLACE.

SO IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD HERE AS FAR AS WHAT IT IS AND OF COURSE NO ONE'S ALLOWED IN THE CAPITAL EXCEPT BASICALLY THE LEGISLATURE AND STAFF.

>>LORENE: AND A FEW MEDIA PEOPLE.

>>STUART: A FEW MEDIA PEOPLE, YES.

VERY FEW, YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW THAT IS.

>>LORENE: WELL, I'M HAPPY, THIS IS MY SECOND HOME.

SO BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROTOCOLS OF THE PANDEMIC, SO, HOW HAVE YOU ADJUSTED, WE'RE DOING NOW AN INTERVIEW ON ZOOM.

>>STUART: WELL, IT'S NICE TO NOT HAVE A MASK ON, IT'S VERY NICE NOT TO HAVE TO WEAR A MASK BECAUSE I AM REALLY TIRED OF THAT AND I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS ARE BUT IT'S SERVING A GOOD PURPOSE AND ALL THE STATES BASICALLY HAVE DONE THE SAME THING.

THERE'S SOME STATES THAT ARE MOVING A LITTLE AHEAD ON OPENING THINGS UP FASTER THAN WE ARE, BUT IT'S A DECISION THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE BY THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE STILL TESTING POSITIVE.

WE'VE HAD A SENATOR THAT ONE OF HIS STAFF PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE AND HE'S NOW GOING TO BE QUARANTINED FOR, OH, I DON'T KNOW A WEEK OR SO.

SENATOR NEVILLE FROM FARMINGTON, SO HE'S STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE SENATE AND COMMITTEE WORK VIA HIS LAPTOP COMPUTER AS WE'RE DOING NOW, WHICH IS, THIS IS ONE OF THE PARTS OF IT I'M NOT REALLY FOND OF, I'D RATHER SIT ACROSS FROM YOU AND TALK TO YOU AND I KNOW YOU WOULD ME TOO.

BUT ANYWAY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND THIS IS HOW WE HAVE TO DO IT.

SO WE'LL GET IT DONE.

>>LORENE: THE OTHER ELEMENT THAT'S HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I LOVE THE CAPITAL SO MUCH IS THAT THE PUBLIC ISN'T ALLOWED IN.

>>STUART: RIGHT, I AGREE.

>>LORENE: SO FOR ME AS A MEDIA PERSON AND FOR ALL THE STAFF WE HAVE TO HAVE THE NASAL COVID TESTS EVERY FIVE DAYS AND SO FAR WE'RE ALL NEGATIVE AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

BUT I USED TO LOVE TO SIT IN THE GALLERY WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND INTERESTED PARTIES AND PEOPLE WOULD WALK AROUND THE HALLS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL AND ADMIRE THE ART AND TAKE PICTURES.

I KNOW WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

YOU AND SENATOR SMITH, WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE FAMOUS SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, TOGETHER YOU HAD 66 YEARS TOGETHER IN THE SENATE.

>>STUART: I DON'T LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THAT LENGTH OF TIME, BUT WE WERE BOTH, HE CAME FOUR YEARS AFTER I DID.

>>LORENE: AND TO ME YOU WERE KIND OF LIKE THE ELDER STATESMEN OF THE SENATE.

YOU WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE, YOU WORKED FOR THE GOOD OF NEW MEXICO AND YOU WERE MASTERS OF STATE FINANCES, I ALWAYS LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU.

BUT WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HIM ABOUT THE SESSION AND HOW IT'S WORKING FOR YOU.

>>STUART: WELL, HE IS MISSED MORE THAN HE EVER KNOWS AND REALIZES, HIS KNOWLEDGE AND HE AND I USED TO VISIT EVERY MORNING ABOUT THINGS IN THE BILLS THAT WERE GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

AND THEN WHERE WE WERE GOING TO GO AND END UP HOPEFULLY WITH THE FINANCES OF THE STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET THAT'S NOT IN DEBT AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SOME YEARS IT'S PRETTY EASY TO DO AND THEN OTHER YEARS IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO AND THERE'S A LOT OF HARD DECISIONS THAT COME.

BUT HE IS MISSED MORE THAN HE'LL EVER REALIZE AND HE DID SOME GREAT THINGS FOR THIS STATE AND REALLY KEPT US IN A GOOD FISCAL SITUATION FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AND YOU KNOW PEOPLE LIKE HIM SERVE SO WELL HERE AND HE IS MISSED MORE THAN HE KNOWS.

>>LORENE: SO I INTERVIEWED HIM BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED AND PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HIS ADVICE TO US SINCE HE COULDN'T BE HERE GO TO WWW.REPORTFROMSANTAFE.COM TYPE IN SENATOR SMITH AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

BUT I WENT THROUGH WITHDRAWAL BECAUSE I'VE COUNTED ON YOU TWO TOGETHER TO HELP ME, TO EDUCATE ME IN STATE FINANCES.

>>STUART: IT WAS ALWAYS ENJOYABLE OUR INTERVIEW WITH YOU.

>>LORENE: YES FOR ME TOO AND YOU WERE ALWAYS RIGHT, I HATE TO SAY THAT, SO I'M STILL LEARNING FROM YOU.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT YOUR OWN BILLS, BUT YOU'VE BEEN ADDRESSING SOME BILLS AND RECENTLY PRESIDENT PRO TEM, MIMI STEWART HAD A BILL THAT WAS FIXING THE RETIREMENT FUND FOR EDUCATORS AND YOU HAPPEN TO MENTION AND I DIDN'T KNOW THIS, THAT THE LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT THAT PAYS OUR LAWMAKERS, IS PAID FOR BY OIL AND GAS.

YOU HAD FOUND THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF FUNDS THAT WE WEREN'T COLLECTING AND YOU STARTED COLLECTING IT AND USING IT FOR THE LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT WHICH IS A SIZEABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND YOU SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE EVEN THE TEACHERS COULD USE IT TOO, TELL US WHEN YOU DID THAT AND HOW YOU FIGURED THAT OUT.

>>STUART: WELL, I LOOKED AT LOTS OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF REVENUE AND I LOOKED AT A BILL AND I'D HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH SOME OTHER STATES ON SOME TAXES ON SOME VERY SMALL MINERAL INTERESTS THAT MY GRANDFATHER WON IN POKER GAMES IN OKLAHOMA BACK IN THE 20S, AND THEY STARTED TAXING, I PAID TAXES ON MY OKLAHOMA ROYALTY INTEREST WHICH YOU KNOW IN SOME CASES THEY BRING IN FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH AND SOME CASES $30 A MONTH NOTHING BIG, BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS IS I TALKED TO TOM CLIFFORD WHO WAS IN THE HEAD OF THE TAX DEPARTMENT THEN.

I SAID DO WE GET REVENUE FROM OUT OF STATE OWNERSHIP OF OIL AND GAS AND HE SAID WELL, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE DID SOME 1099 WORK ONE YEAR AND WE MANAGED TO GET ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS, BUT THE WORK TO GET THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

AND SO I THOUGHT WELL, I'LL JUST PASS A LAW THAT THE PRODUCERS OF THOSE WELLS HAVE TO TAX THE OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS AT THE SAME RATE THAT OUR IN-STATE OWNERS ARE BEING TAXED.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS, BUT WHEN I PASSED THAT LAW IF YOU WERE AN OUT-OF-STATE OWNER THEN YOUR PRODUCERS TOOK THAT TAX OUT AND SEND IT TO THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

THE LEAST IT'S EVER BROUGHT IN I THINK IS AROUND 18 MILLION TO 23 MILLION AND IT'S BROUGHT IN AS MUCH AS 75 OR 80 MILLION OR MAYBE IT WAS A HUNDRED AND FORTY MILLION THAT WE WEREN'T GETTING.

IT IS ONE OF THE FEW TAXES THAT COST THE TAX DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO NOTHING.

IT IS SENT BY THOSE PRODUCERS FROM OUT OF STATE OWNERSHIP AND SINCE THEN FIVE OTHER STATES HAVE DONE THE SAME THING BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T GETTING THE TAX DOLLARS FROM THE OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS ON PETROLEUM SALES.

AND IT'S BROUGHT IN I THINK SINCE I PASSED IT CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS THAT THE STATE DIDN'T HAVE AND WE WERE ENTITLED TO IT, THAT'S THE LAW BUT NOBODY WAS COLLECTING IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S HARD TO DO ON OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS.

ANYWAY IT WORKS AND THE LEGISLATORS RETIREMENT TAKES TWO MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OUT OF THAT.

AND NOW THAT MONEY, WHAT DOESN'T GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND IS GOING TO THE MAGISTRATE JUDGES AND DISTRICT JUDGES AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S RETIREMENT FUND TO SHORE THEIR FUND UP WHEN IT GETS DONE, WELL WE WILL MOVE IT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND BASICALLY DO GOOD FOR EVERYBODY IN NEW MEXICO.

BUT THE NEAT THING ABOUT IT, IT WAS VERY SIMPLE TO DO.

>>LORENE: YES, BUT SOMEBODY HAD TO THINK OF IT.

>>STUART: IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WHEN YOU BEEN AROUND A WHILE YOU SEE THINGS SOMETIMES THAT YOU KNOW LAWS ARE PASSED BUT HOW THEY ARE ENFORCED AND HOW THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER TO PASS THEM THAN IT IS TO DO THE LEGWORK TO ENFORCE THEM.

AND IT'S NOT ANYBODY'S FAULT IN OUR TAX DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE WAY I DID THAT IT MADE IT VERY SIMPLE FOR THE STATE TO GET THE MONEY THAT IT IS ENTITLED TO.

>>LORENE: WELL PASSING A LAW MADE THEM RESPONSIBLE.

>>STUART: THEY HAVE TO OBEY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND IF ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST SAY, WHERE'S YOUR OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS TAX HERE.

AND NOW THEY COLLECTED FOR US AND SEND IT IN AND THEY DO THAT EVERY QUARTER, IT'S NOT DONE MONTHLY.

SO THEY GET TO HOLD THAT MONEY AND I'M SURE MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST OR SOMETHING ON IT, THE COMPANY DOES, AND THEN THEY SEND IT IN QUARTERLY.

AND I ALSO PASSED A BILL A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER TO KEEP IT SEPARATE, WHERE WE WOULD KNOW HOW MUCH WAS COMING IN, THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP UP WITH IT, IT'S NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT GETS LOST.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

>>STUART: SO EVERY YEAR I ASK AND MAKE SURE I KNOW THE INFORMATION ON HOW MUCH HAS COME IN.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH SENATOR STUART INGLE RECOUNTING HIS ADVENTURES IN FOUND MONEY IN EFFECT AND BRINGING IT IN TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR LAWMAKERS AND JUDGES.

THERE'S ANOTHER STORY I HEARD YOU TELLING ABOUT WHEN SJR9 THE ANTI-DONATION CLAUSE CAME UP AND I HAVE TO ADMIT YOU HAVE A WAY OF TALKING, SENATOR, THAT IS SO ENGAGING.

SO YOU HAD ASKED A DIRECT QUESTION OF THE SPONSOR AND HE WENT ON FOR 10 MINUTES AND YOU SAID YOUR ANSWER, CHASE THE DOG, WENT UP THE TREE, WENT AROUND THE CORNER, BUT DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION.

AND THEN OF COURSE HE SAID YES OR NO, BUT IT'S JUST THAT CHARMING ENGAGING WAY THAT MADE US ALWAYS HAPPY TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY WHEN YOU SIT UP TO SPEAK.

BUT YOU POINTED OUT, SO THERE'S A MOVEMENT TO GET RID OF THE ANTI-DONATIONS CLAUSE.

YOU CAN PROBABLY SUM IT UP BETTER THAN I CAN, BUT YOU TOLD A STORY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAD HAPPENED IN TEXAS WITH THE WALMART AND WHY WE HAD TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW IT IS APPLIED IF WE DO CHANGE IT AND TO WHOM IT IS APPLIED.

COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE ANTI-DONATION CLAUSE.

>>STUART: YEAH, I CAN BECAUSE THERE IS A HUGE, HUGE BUILDING IN, I BELIEVE ITS PLAINVIEW, TEXAS, THAT WAS WHERE IT'S A WALMART, BASICALLY, SHIPPING POINT.

THEY SHIP THINGS IN AND THEN THEY SHIP THEM OUT TO THE VARIOUS WALMARTS AND THE SAM'S STORE THAT ARE LOCATED IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO.

I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY THOUSAND SQUARE FEET ARE UNDER ROOF THERE, BUT IT'S A HUGE, HUGE BUILDING AND THE FOLKS IN THAT COUNTY BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS WHETHER IT WAS A COUNTY COMMISSION OR A CITY COMMISSION TYPE THING, BASICALLY FORGAVE THE PROPERTY TAX ON THAT BUILDING FOR THOSE FOLKS FOR THE WALMART FOLKS TO LOCATE THERE.

WHICH I'M SURE THERE'S A NUMBER OF JOBS THAT ARE CREATED THERE AND A LOT OF MONEY THAT HAS COME IN THERE, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN THAT'S HOW TEXAS FUNDS THEIR SCHOOLS IS THROUGH PROPERTY TAX.

AND I KNOW I'VE HEARD COMMENTS FROM FOLKS IN THOSE AREAS THAT THEIR PROPERTY TAX IN TEXAS IS HIGH, OUR PROPERTY TAXES HERE IN NEW MEXICO CERTAIN PLACES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN OTHERS IN SANTA FE OF COURSE THEY'RE HIGHER THAN PROBABLY ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.

BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN THE FOLKS IN TEXAS THAT'S HOW THEY FUND THEIR SCHOOLS AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A LITTLE, THEY DIDN'T REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT WALMART DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY THOSE TAXES FOR I THINK ITS 25 OR 30 YEARS.

AND THEN YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN, THAT WILL BE SOMEONE'S DECISION THERE, BUT ALL THOSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE NOT OR NOT BEING PAID, BUT THAT WAS THE DEAL FOR THEM TO LOCATE THERE.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU DO THINGS LIKE THAT, LET'S TRY TO BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY AND YOU CAN MAYBE GIVE THEM A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OFF, BUT IF I WERE IN THAT SITUATION AND I WERE A LANDOWNER THERE, I MIGHT BE A LITTLE QUESTIONING THERE OF THE LOGIC OF DOING ALL OF THAT JUST TO GET ONE BUILDING IN THERE, WHICH IS HUGE AND EMPLOYS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE PROPERTY TAX WHEN WE'RE ALL REQUIRED TO FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO THE ANTI-DONATION THING, I DON'T MIND LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS TO HELP NEW MEXICO AND MAKE US GROW, BUT LET'S BE FAIR ABOUT IT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN DO BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE THAT ARE PAYING FOR THINGS.

>>LORENE: SO, HOW DOES THE ANTI-DONATION CLAUSE AS IT EXISTS NOW AFFECT US, SO WHO CAN'T DO WHAT, DIDN'T IT START WITH THE RAILROADS.

>>STUART: IT STARTED WITH THAT I THINK BUT BASICALLY CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN'T JUST GIVE AWAY THINGS LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW IN NEW MEXICO, THAT CAN'T BE DONE IN NEW MEXICO.

YOU CAN'T TOTALLY FORGIVE PROPERTY TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THINGS LIKE THAT TO OCCUR.

EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW THE INTEL FOLKS THERE IN THAT COUNTY THEY GOT SOME BREAKS ON SOME THINGS AND OVER THE YEARS YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS TOO.

SO THE ANTI-DONATION CLAUSE IT JUST DEPENDS ON YOU KNOW, HOW THE BILL FINISHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT DOES OPEN SOME THINGS UP WHERE COUNTIES AND CITIES CAN MAKE SOME DECISIONS TO GET BUSINESS IN AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS FOR THE MOVIE INDUSTRY THAT'S COME IN HERE AND DONE LOTS OF MOVIES AND THERE'S PEOPLE THAT THINK MAYBE THERE WE'VE BEEN A LITTLE TOO GENEROUS THERE TOO.

ALL STATES ARE TRYING TO GET AS MUCH BUSINESS AS THEY CAN IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUPPORT THEIR ECONOMIES AND GET PEOPLE JOBS AND NEW MEXICO IS NO DIFFERENT, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE'RE GIVING AWAY BECAUSE THE MONEY IS STILL NEEDED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION, SO LET'S BE FAIR AS WE CAN TO ALL CONCERNED.

>>LORENE: SO LAST SESSION YOU AND SENATOR SMITH AND MANY OTHER LAWMAKERS ACTUALLY RAISED THE VEHICLE EXCISE TAX TAX TO HAVE MONEY GOING INTO THE ROAD FUND.

AND OUR OLD FRIEND, OUR MUCH ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, LUCKY VARELA HAD KEPT SAYING IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP MILKING THAT COW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FEED IT.

AND THIS WAS A WAY TO FEED THE ROAD FUND, BECAUSE OUR ROADS NEED IT SO MUCH BUT IS THERE MUCH IMPETUS NOW BECAUSE WE'RE IN SUCH A CRUNCH ECONOMICALLY TO RAISE ANY TAXES?

>>STUART: I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD OF ANYTHING TO AMOUNT TO ANYTHING THIS YEAR.

WE'VE STILL GOT A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OF MONEY IN RESERVES, BUT THE EXCISE TAX FOR THE ROAD FUND WAS NEEDED AND WE'RE STILL VERY MUCH BELOW ALL OUR NEIGHBORING STATES ON THE EXCISE TAX OF AUTOMOBILES.

WE'RE AT FOUR PERCENT NOW, MOST PLACES IN TEXAS ARE SEVEN TO EIGHT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU'RE IN, IT CAN BE MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT IN AREAS IN DALLAS AND PLACES LIKE THAT, SOMETIMES IT'S 11 AND 12 PERCENT.

BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR HIGHWAYS, WE'RE THE FIFTH LARGEST STATE GEOGRAPHICALLY AND WE HAVE A LOWER POPULATION THAN LOTS OF STATES AND WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES OF HIGHWAY TO KEEP UP.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN BEHIND ON IT, WE JUST HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY MILES OF IT AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE SOMETIMES THE REVENUE FLOWING IN THERE THAT WE USED TO HAVE.

OVER THE YEARS THE ETHANOL BUSINESS USED TO TAKE OUT 13 TO 17 MILLION A YEAR OUT OF THE ROAD TAX FUND BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TAX THE FUEL THAT HAD ETHANOL IN IT TO HELP THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY GROW.

IT GOT STARTED AND RAN FOR A WHILE AND THEN THE DEDUCTION WENT AWAY ON IT, BUT THEY'RE STILL MAKING ETHANOL BUT THEY'RE NOT MAKING IT IN NEW MEXICO ANYMORE.

WE ARE A GRAIN SHORT STATE TO MAKE ETHANOL.

>>LORENE: ONE OTHER TAX ISSUE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF SENIORS, NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT TAXES OF RETIREE'S SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME, IS THAT GOING TO BE REPEALED OR REDUCED THIS SESSION OR NOT THIS YEAR.

>>STUART: YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT'S LOCATED RIGHT NOW AND WHETHER IT'LL BE THERE.

IT'S MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN PHASE IN FOR A WHILE BUT I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF IT'S COMPLETELY DONE AWAY WITH.

THAT'S A HUGE SOURCE OF MONEY AND ALL STATES HAVE REVENUES THAT THEY GET, WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT TAXES IT, BUT ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER TAXES WE HAVE, WE'RE MUCH LOWER THAN OTHER STATES.

SO YOU HAVE TO BALANCE AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT WHEN YOU COMPARE US WITH OTHER STATES WHERE WE TAX WHERE OUR TAXES ARE MUCH LOWER.

NOBODY BEATS OUR PROPERTY TAXES, OUR INCOME TAX HAS BEEN ADJUSTED OVER THE YEARS BUT WE STILL LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY, WE ARE ONE OF THE STATES THAT DOES TAX THAT BUT MANY STATES DON'T.

BUT MAYBE THAT STATE TAXES PROPERTY TAXES A WHOLE LOT HIGHER THAN OURS AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT LIVES IN DALLAS AND THEIR HOUSE IS TAXED IT'S DOUBLE WHAT I PAY ON MY 3,000 ACRES OF FARM AND RANCH LAND AND ALL THE REST OF MY STUFF AND THEIR HOUSE IS TAXED AT 8000 DOLLARS A YEAR AND I PAY FOUR FOR ALL OF MINE, HOUSE, FARMS AND EVERYTHING.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE, BUT ALL STATES HAVE TO HAVE REVENUE.

>>LORENE: SO QUICKLY, I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT ONE OF YOUR BILLS THAT YOU'RE SPONSORING, SB 375, OFFICER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION.

IT IS SUCH A TIMELY BILL BECAUSE IT ADDS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT, RACIAL SENSITIVITY.

THIS IS A TIME WHEN POLICE ARE REALLY BEING EXAMINED AND THIS PROVIDES A LOT OF THINGS THAT WILL MAKE EVERYBODY'S LIFE BETTER, POLICE, CRIMINALS AND CITIZENS.

>>STUART: WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO, YOU KNOW, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE OUR FIRST LINE OUT THERE AND THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN THE BEST TRAINING THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM.

WE HAD SOME THINGS HAPPEN THIS SUMMER THAT CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN SOME OF OUR CITIES AND COST A PERSON THEIR LIFE AND IT WAS JUST SIMPLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED THAT DID.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR POLICE RECEIVE THE ADEQUATE TRAINING WHERE THEY DON'T MAKE MISTAKES.

BECAUSE THE THING ABOUT IT IS THOSE THINGS JUST HAVE A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE FOLKS I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO THEM FOR DOING THAT JOB, BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO BE REALLY A DEDICATED PERSON SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY THINGS TO YOU AND TALK ABOUT YOU AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WITHOUT THEM THIS COUNTRY JUST DOESN'T HAVE ORDER AND WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON THEM, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TRAINED THE VERY BEST WAY THEY CAN BECAUSE THE SITUATIONS THAT THEY'RE SUBJECT TO ARE SOMETHING THAT THE REST OF US ARE NOT ARE NOT, WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>STUART: I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THIS WILL HELP AND I KNOW ONE THING, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND GIVE OUR POLICE THAT BETTER TRAINING THAT WE NEED TO DO, OUR LIABILITY RATES FOR WHAT CAN HAPPEN ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

IF WE DO THIS, I THINK IT'LL HELP EVERYBODY'S SITUATION AND THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR THIS STATE IS TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICE GET THE BEST TRAINING THEY CAN AND IT'S UP TO US TO HELP AND PAY FOR THEM.

>>LORENE: WELL, THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THIS BILL.

WE'VE ONLY GOT A MINUTE, TWO MINUTES LEFT.

WE'RE FILMING, THIS WILL AIR WHEN THERE ARE STILL TWO WEEKS TO GO IN THE SESSION, SO WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE LOOK FOR JUST IN BRIEF.

>>STUART: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO GETTING SOME OF THE THINGS DONE AS FAR AS WORK AND OUR RETIREMENT PACKAGES WITH SOME THINGS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET A BUDGET THAT WILL GET US THROUGH THE YEAR AND HOPEFULLY GIVE US SOME DIRECTIONS TO GET OUR SCHOOLS OPEN BACK UP.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE REALLY VALUABLE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND WE NEED TO GET EVERYBODY BACK IN SCHOOL AS SOON AS WE CAN.

WE NEED TO GET OUR TEACHERS BACK WITH THOSE STUDENTS, MOMS AND DADS LOVE THEIR KIDS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, I WOULD NOT BE A GOOD TEACHER OF MY CHILDREN.

MINE ARE ALL GRADUATED AND GROWN UP AND EVERYTHING BUT I'VE GOT TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE'S IN CALIFORNIA AND ONE'S IN TEXAS.

THE ONES IN TEXAS HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL SINCE LABOR DAY, ONES IN CALIFORNIA HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

AND YOU KNOW THEIR MOM'S A DOCTOR AND SHE DOES THE BEST SHE CAN AND HER HUSBAND'S A DOCTOR AND THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION, BUT THEY NEED TO GET THOSE KIDDOS BACK IN SCHOOL.

AND WE NEED TO GET OUR ALL OUR BUSINESSES BACK OPEN WHERE THEY'RE FUNCTIONING BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH TIME FOR ALL OF US IN NEW MEXICO AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WHIP THIS COVID THING.

I THINK THE INJECTIONS ARE BEING, I'VE GOTTEN BOTH OF MINE AND OUR HOSPITALS AND OUR SITUATION THERE HAS BEEN, I THINK EXTREMELY GOOD IN NEW MEXICO AND I THINK WE'RE DOING THE VERY BEST WE CAN TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE SHOTS THAT WE CAN GET IT DONE.

>>LORENE: AND ON THAT OPTIMISTIC NOTE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO YOU SENATOR INGLE FOR COMING AND SPENDING THE TIME WITH US.

OUR GUEST TODAY HAS BEEN SENATOR STUART INGLE, REPUBLICAN AND LIVES IN PORTALES.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR 36 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW AGAIN.

>>STUART: LORENE YOU AND I WERE YOUNG KIDS WHEN I STARTED WEREN'T WE?

>>LORENE: WE WERE, WE WERE, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE ON.

THANK YOU SENATOR INGLE.

>>STUART: WE WILL, YOU TAKE CARE, BYE BYE, LOVE YOU.

>>LORENE: OKAY, YOU TOO.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

>>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM