FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, CALLS FOR VOTING REFORM ARE GAINING ATTENTION AT THE CAPITOL.

THE IMPACT THE PROPOSALS COULD HAVE ON TURNOUT AND VOTER INTEREST.

Maggie: THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON OUR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

WE KNOW THAT VOTING IS HABITUAL.

Gene: PLUS, A CANDID CONVERSATION ON TAXES.

HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE COULD PROPOSED TAX CUTS REALLY MAKE FOR NEW MEXICAN FAMILIES?

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

Gene: THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I’M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAM IS TAKING CONCRETE STEPS IN HER PLAN TO MAKE NEW MEXICO A HUB FOR HYDROGEN POWER.

WE’LL BREAK DOWN WHAT’S INSIDE THE NEW ‘HYDROGEN HUB DEVELOPMENT ACT’ AND THE CONCERNS FROM SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

AS OUR SECRETARY OF STATE WORKS TO EXPAND VOTING ACCESS AHEAD OF THE 2022 ELECTION, ATTORNEY GENERAL HECTOR BALDERAS IS FOLLOWING UP ON ALLEGED FRAUD IN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.

MR. BALDERAS SAYS HIS OFFICE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING STATE GOP OFFICIALS WHO SIGNED FORMAL ELECTORAL DOCUMENTS SAYING DONALD TRUMP WON NEW MEXICO IN 2020 DESPITE JOE BIDEN WINNING THE MAJORITY OF VOTES IN THE STATE.

AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE OFFICIALS SAYS HE WAS DIRECTED TO DO SO BY NEW MEXICO GOP CHAIR STEVE PEARCE.

MR. BALDERAS SAYS HE’S SENDING THE CASE TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.

THAT NEWS COMES AS LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE BIPARTISAN PROGRESS DURING THIS YEAR’S REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE’LL GET INSIGHT FROM OUR LINE OPINION PANELISTS ON WHAT COULD DEVELOP IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, AND ON SOME OF THE POLITICAL MANEUVERS BOTH PARTIES HAVE MADE AHEAD OF THE MIDTERMS.

BUT FIRST, CORRESPONDENT GWENYTH DOLAND SITS DOWN WITH SECRETARY OF STATE MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROPOSED VOTING CHANGES MEANT TO INCREASE ACCESS, AND PARTICIPATION IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

Gwyneth: THANK YOU TO NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER FOR MAKING TIME FOR US IN YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE.

Maggie: THANK YOU.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

Gwyneth: WELL, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE VOTING REFORMS THAT YOU AND GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAM HAVE PUT OUT.

BIG PICTURE, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SOLVE HERE?

Maggie: SO BIG PICTURE, WHAT THIS LEGISLATION IS TRYING TO DO IS TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT THERE ARE STILL BARRIERS TO THE BALLOT BOX EVEN HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WHERE WE HAVE WONDERFUL VOTING LAWS.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST ELECTION ADMINISTRATION PROCESSES IN THE NATION.

WE'RE IN THE TOP TEN.

WE DO FANTASTIC WORK HERE.

BUT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE AND PLACES WHERE IT IS HARD TO CAST A BALLOT.

SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO SAY, LOOK, IN THIS TIME WHERE WE ARE SEEING VOTING RIGHTS BEING ROLLED BACKWARD IN MANY PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IN THIS TIME WHERE WE'RE SEEING OUR CONGRESS UNABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND ADDRESS SOME OF THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD HERE IN NEW MEXICO TO MOVE THIS LEGISLATION, THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION FORWARD.

Gwyneth: SO TALKING ABOUT BARRIERS TO THE BALLOT BOX, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THOSE BARRIERS?

Maggie: YEAH, SURE.

IT'S REALLY HARD IN A LOT OF OUR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES TO GET YOUR MAIL TIMELY AT YOUR HOME ADDRESS, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE -- SO IF YOU'RE VOTING BY MAIL, TO GET THAT BALLOT TIMELY TO MAIL THAT BALLOT BACK AND MAKE SURE IT'S RECEIVED TIMELY.

WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT IN SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS.

IT IS HARD FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER TO VOTE WHO DON'T ALREADY HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR STATE I.D.

HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

AND I THINK IT'S A VERY POPULAR NOTION THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY HAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S AN OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE CITIZEN, BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE ELDERLY FOLKS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PEOPLE WHO JUST DO NOT, FOR WHATEVER OTHER REASON, HAVE AN I.D.

SO WE WANT TO REDUCE THAT BARRIER FOR THEM.

AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR A DEMOCRACY IS HAVING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, AND WHY THAT'S A CHALLENGE AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON OUR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

WE KNOW THAT VOTING IS HABITUAL.

THE YOUNGER FOLKS GET REGISTERED AND START PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO BE LIFELONG VOTERS AND CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS IN THAT WAY.

Gwyneth: SO ONE OF THE PERHAPS MOST CONTROVERSIAL ELEMENTS THAT YOU'VE GOT HERE IS LOWERING THE VOTING AGE TO 16 IN SOME CASES.

AND SO IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S LIKE A GATEWAY DRUG TO VOTING?

LIKE YOU WANT TO GET THEM WHILE THEY'RE TEENAGERS AND GET THEM HOOKED?

Maggie: YEAH, AND WHAT A GREAT GATEWAY, RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF NEGATIVE ONES.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND I THINK WE HAVE A GENERATION OF HIGH SCHOOL KIDS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE INCREDIBLY ENGAGED AND INCREDIBLY AWARE ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE INCREDIBLY AWARE OF IS THE FACT THAT SCHOOL BOARDS AND DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AT THAT LEVEL HAVE A REALLY MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THEIR TAIL LIVES.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT THEY WEAR MASKS TO SCHOOL, OR CAN EVEN PHYSICALLY GO TO SCHOOL OR NOT.

MEMBERS OF THE TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

FOLKS WHO ARE CONCERNED, KIDS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GUNS IN SCHOOLS AND VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS.

THESE ARE BIG DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THEM EVERY DAY.

MANY OF THEM HAVE JOBS, THEY'RE PAYING GROSS RECEIPTS TAX, THEY'RE HELPING SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, AND SO IT REALLY, I THINK, WOULD BE MEANINGFUL FOR THEM TO ALSO HAVE A SAY IN THESE KINDS OF ELECTIONS.

AND AGAIN, GET THEM TO, YOU KNOW, START BECOMING THESE HABITUAL VOTERS AND THESE PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AS THEY MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE.

Gwyneth: NOW, IN TERMS OF EXPANSIONS IN THIS WAY, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS HERE IS GIVING VOTING RIGHTS BACK TO FELONS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON.

WHAT'S THE ARGUMENT FOR THAT?

Maggie: WELL, IT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LAW ON THE BOOKS THAT SAYS ONCE YOU'VE COMPLETED THE TERMS OF YOUR SENTENCE, THAT YOU AUTOMATICALLY HAVE YOUR VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED.

THE PROBLEM IS, IT'S NOT WORKING AUTOMATICALLY.

THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS BETWEEN THE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLLS, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND THE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS, THAT INFORMATION IS NOT WORKING THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY HAVE THAT RIGHT RESTORED WHO ARE HAVING TO JUMP THROUGH ADDITIONAL HOOPS AFTER THEY COMPLETE THE TERMS OF THEIR SENTENCE.

SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, FOR MANY PEOPLE, TO COMPLETE THE TERMS OF YOUR SENTENCE, THERE ARE FINES AND FEES STILL TO BE PAID, AND IN THIS COUNTRY, WE CALL THAT A POLL TAX.

IF YOU HAVE TO GET OUT A CHECKBOOK AND MAKE A PAYMENT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO VOTE, THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT ONLY GET RID OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE, BUT STREAMLINE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.

IF YOU ARE INCARCERATED FOR A FELONY, YOU CAN'T -- YOU KNOW, YOU ARE LOSING YOUR RIGHTS.

YOU'RE ALSO INCARCERATED, RIGHT, SO YOU CAN'T MOVE FREELY ABOUT SOCIETY, ETC., ETC.

BUT IF YOU'RE OUT AND YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR LIFE BACK, GET BACK INTO SOCIETY AND HOPEFULLY -- YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THESE FOLKS TO RE-OFFEND AND GO BACK THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND THE MORE PART OF SOCIETY THEY FEEL, WE KNOW THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO DO THAT, AND BEING A VOTER IS PART OF THAT PROCESS.

Gwyneth: IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT WE KNOW FROM, SAY, SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, YOUNG PEOPLE SKEW DEMOCRATIC.

THEY LEAN MORE LIBERAL.

FELONS, NATIVE VOTERS, A LOT OF THE GROUPS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING ACCESS TO ARE PEOPLE WHO HISTORICALLY VOTE DEMOCRATIC.

AND PLUS, STRAIGHT PARTY TICKET VOTING WE KNOW IS -- I MEAN, WE CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD SAY, THIS IS AN OBVIOUS GIVEAWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP TO THESE DOWN BALLOT CANDIDATES THAT NOBODY'S EVER HEARD OF, ALL PEOPLE HAVE TO DO IS PUSH 'DEMOCRAT' AT THE TOP AND, BOOM, EVERYONE GETS ELECTED.

NO ONE ON THE CITY LEVEL OR COUNTY LEVEL IS EVER GOING TO GET ELECTED NO MATTER HOW INDEPENDENT OR MODERATE THEY ARE.

IS THIS JUST A BIG CHRISTMAS GIFT, POST CHRISTMAS GIFT TO DEMOCRATS?

Maggie: NO, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY CYNICAL WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, AND IT'S A HIGHLY POLITICIZED WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, BECAUSE REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GIVING OPTIONS TO FOLKS WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO CHOOSE TO VOTE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY IT'S WORKED OUT IN THIS COUNTRY IS THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE TENDED TO VOTE MORE DEMOCRATIC HAVE BEEN THE FOLKS WHO MAYBE ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE ECONOMIC SPECTRUM AND WHO HAVE MORE BARRIERS AND WHO HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY IN MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OR GETTING TO A POLLING PLACE OR, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN A PART OF THE STATE WHERE IT'S EASIER TO VOTE VERSUS NOT.

AND SO I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT THAT IS THE TRUTH.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S A REALLY POLITICAL LENS THAT'S BEING APPLIED TO THIS THAT BEGS THE QUESTION OF, WELL, IF YOU THINK ADDING PEOPLE TO OUR PROCESS AND EXPANDING OUR DEMOCRACY IS BAD FOR ONE PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY OR THE OTHER, I THINK THAT SAYS MORE ABOUT THE POLITICAL PARTY THAN IT DOES ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY.

I REALLY THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT VOTING, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE SMALL D. SMALL D DEMOCRACY.

WHO IS PARTICIPATING?

WHO IS BEING ALLOWED INTO THE PROCESS AND WHO ISN'T?

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOW THEY VOTE AT THE BALLOT BOX AND WHAT PARTY THEY ASSOCIATE WITH SHOULD BE THE LAST THING THAT WE'RE CONCERNED WITH.

Gwyneth: PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SECURITY OF ELECTIONS, YOU KNOW, BUT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT ANY OF THAT A MINUTE AGO IN YOUR PROPOSALS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT EXPANDING ACCESS.

ARE YOU PROPOSING ANYTHING IN TERMS OF ELECTION SECURITY?

Maggie: YEAH.

WELL, THE FUNNY THING IS THAT WE'VE BEEN WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME IN ELECTION SECURITY AND INTEGRITY HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

SINCE 2008, WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING POST-ELECTION AUDITS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE MOVED TO AN ALL PAPER BALLOT SYSTEM IN 2006.

WE HAVE TONS OF ROBUST SECURITY BUILT INTO THE PROCESS ALREADY.

ONE OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT'S MOVING THROUGH THE ELECTION PROCESS THIS YEAR, IT'S CALLED THE ELECTION SECURITY AND ADMINISTRATION BILL.

IT'S SENATE BILL 6.

IT DOES CONTINUE TO TWEAK OUR PROCESSES AND IMPROVE THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS IT'S GOING TO DO IS REQUIRE COUNTY CLERKS TO DO AN AUDIT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS AS THEY'RE COMING IN, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION THAT'S ON THE BALLOT IS ACCURATE AND CORRECT.

WE'RE ADDING TO OUR POST-ELECTION PROCESS EVERY SINGLE STATEWIDE ELECTION, NOT JUST THE GENERAL ELECTION HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

AND WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE THAT EVERY COUNTY HAS TO AUDIT AT LEAST ONE PRECINCT.

RIGHT NOW THE WAY IT WORKS IS THERE'S A RANDOM SAMPLE OF PRECINCTS AND MAYBE YOUR COUNTY GETS A PRECINCT SELECTED, MAYBE IT DOESN'T.

SO WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE THAT AT LEAST SOMEWHERE IN EVERY COUNTY GETS AUDITED SO THAT WE CAN JUST SORT OF ADD TO THAT PROCESS, THAT BACK-END PROCESS OF ENSURING THE ACCURACY AND INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION.

THERE'S A TON MORE.

I COULD TALK YOU AND I BOTH SICK.

BUT THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT BILL.

Gwyneth: WELL, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS UPDATE ON WHAT YOUR PROPOSALS ARE AND ON THE RESEARCH.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

Maggie: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

Gene: THANKS TO GWYNETH DOLAND AND SECRETARY OF STATE TOULOUSE OLIVER.

LET'S GET INTO SOME OF THOSE TOPICS WITH OUR LINE OPINION PANEL.

THIS WEEK WE'RE JOINED BY TWO FORMER STATE SENATORS, DEMOCRAT DEDE FELDMAN AND REPUBLICAN DIANE SNYDER.

WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALGERNON D’AMMASSA FROM THE LAS CRUCES SUN-NEWS BACK TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

ALL RIGHT, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MADE IT CLEAR THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THIS PACKAGE OF REFORMS ARE INCREASING ACCESS WHILE MAINTAINING INTEGRITY.

NOW, SENATOR FELDMAN, LET'S START WITH YOUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE PROPOSALS, AND WOULD THEY ACCOMPLISH THOSE OBJECTIVES?

Sen. Feldman: WELL, FIRST, JUST LET ME SAY IN FULL DISCLOSURE THAT I -- COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF MY CLIENTS, AND THEY ARE IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.

BUT MY OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

THIS IS GREAT TIMING FOR THIS BILL BECAUSE WITH THE ANNIVERSARY OF JANUARY 6th AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO CURTAIL VOTING RIGHTS AND OVERRIDE THE WILL OF THE ELECTORATE IN MANY STATES BY LEGISLATORS, THIS IS ANOTHER EXPANSION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOTING AND, IN FACT, THE FRANCHISE, AS WELL AS STRENGTHENING ELECTION INTEGRITY AND SECURITY.

SO IT HAS BEEN PARED DOWN FROM ITS ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, BUT IT STILL INCLUDES A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THAT FACILITATE VOTING FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE HAD BUREAUCRATIC HASSLES BEFORE, NAMELY FELONS AND PEOPLE WHO CAN'T QUITE COMPLETE THEIR VOTE BY MAIL THING OR CAN'T REGISTER AUTOMATICALLY AT A STATE AGENCY.

THIS FACILITATES THAT.

IT CREATES A PERMANENT -- AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I LIKE.

IT CREATES A PERMANENT LIST.

IF YOU WANT TO ALWAYS RECEIVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN GET IT BY REQUESTING ONCE RATHER THAN TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME, WHICH CREATES BUREAUCRATIC HASSLES AT THE CLERK'S OFFICES.

THEY USED TO HAVE THIS, I THINK, IN BERNALILLO COUNTY FOR ALL SENIOR CITIZENS OVER 65.

AND ANOTHER THING THAT'S IN THERE THAT I THINK IS REALLY GREAT FOR CANDIDATES IS ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE SUBMISSION.

THEY'RE DOING THIS NOW IN BERNALILLO COUNTY WHERE INSTEAD OF PAPER PETITIONS THAT HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY CLERK AND VERIFIED THROUGH THE CLERK'S OFFICE, YOU CAN SUBMIT IT ONLINE.

INDIVIDUALS CAN SUBMIT THEIR SIGNATURES ONLINE FOR CERTAIN CANDIDATES, AND THEN THEY CAN BE VERIFIED MUCH MORE EASILY WITH VOTER REGISTRATION.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY GOOD STREAMLINING THINGS HERE.

A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT.

THE STRAIGHT PARTY LINE VOTING HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT, AS HAVE SOME OF THE EARLY VOTING AND COUNTING ABSENTEE VOTES AFTER THE ELECTION, AND EXTENDING THE EARLY VOTING TO SUNDAYS WAS ALSO TAKEN OUT, WHICH I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THAT THEY CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE CONVENIENT.

AND THE IDEA HERE IS TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT, TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE SAFELY AND LEGITIMATELY.

AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY WORTHWHILE PATH.

Gene: LET'S TAKE A COUPLE OF CUTS AT THIS THAT ARE IN THE PROPOSAL.

ALGERNON, THE BIG TALKER, OF COURSE -- WE'VE BEEN HEARING THIS LOT -- IS LOWERING THE VOTING AGE TO AGE 16.

THERE'S SOME OBVIOUS QUESTIONS WHICH GWYNETH BROUGHT UP.

BUT DO YOU AGREE WITH THE SECRETARY AT ALL THAT MAKING THIS AN OPTION FOR OLDER TEENS IS A NATURAL PROGRESSION IN EXPANDING THOSE VOTING RIGHTS?

Algernon: WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE A POSITION ON WHETHER THIS PROPOSAL PASSES OR NOT, BUT I THINK IT RAISES SOME REALLY INTERESTING AND WORTHWHILE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS A CITIZEN.

WHAT ARE THE GROUNDS FOR GRANTING SOMEONE A VOICE.

16-YEAR-OLDS WORK.

IN FACT, PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN THAT CAN ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND THEY CAN PAY TAXES.

THEY ARE, OF COURSE, SUBJECT TO THE DECISIONS THAT GROWN-UPS MAKE, THE SO-CALLED GROWN-UPS.

16-YEAR-OLDS OF MY ACQUAINTANCE HAVE ENROLLED IN JUNIOR EMT PROGRAMS, THEY PARTICIPATE IN DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY STARTING COLLEGE WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I THINK THAT IT'S INTERESTING WHEN THESE CONVERSATIONS COME UP.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST IMAGES OF 16-YEAR-OLDS THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT?

DO PEOPLE BRING UP THE LAZY 16-YEAR-OLD STEREOTYPE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING AND CAN'T BE TRUSTED TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHO THEIR CITY COUNCILOR IS, OR DO YOU GET PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE 16-YEAR-OLDS THEY KNOW WHO ARE CAPABLE, FUNCTIONING, PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY WHO DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

Gene: LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION, ALGERNON, AND SENATOR SNYDER, YOU CAN PICK UP ON THIS, AS WELL, IS THERE NOT A DANGER, HOWEVER, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH THAT LITTLE LIFE EXPERIENCE UNDER THEIR BELT THAT THEY'RE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MANIPULATION, THEY'RE SUSCEPTIBLE TO, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF MANIPULATION THAT HAPPENS IN POLITICS?

YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW A LOT OF THINGS TO BE ABLE TO PARSE YOUR WAY THROUGH LIES AND THAT KIND OF THING?

I MEAN, HONESTLY, CAN YOU REALLY DO THAT AT 16 YEARS OLD?

Algernon: ARE THEY MORE OR LESS LIKELY TO STORM A CAPITOL BUILDING IF THEIR CANDIDATE LOSES?

I MEAN, MANIPULATION AND BELIEVING PROPAGANDA, WHAT IS THE MAGICAL THRESHOLD WHERE WE IMAGINE PEOPLE ARE IMPERVIOUS TO THESE INFLUENCES.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

Algernon: I THINK REALLY THE CONVERSATION ISN'T WHAT YEAR OF BIRTH IS PRINTED ON YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE, I THINK IT'S REALLY HOW DO WE PREPARE PEOPLE FROM CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADULTHOOD IN TERMS OF THE FOUNDATIONAL IDEAS OF HOW OUR SOCIETY IS SUPPOSED TO WORK, WHAT OUR VALUES ARE, WHAT OUR UNDERSTANDING IS OF CIVIC INSTITUTIONS AND PROCEDURES.

IS A 16-YEAR-OLD INCAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING ALL OF THAT?

SOME PROBABLY ARE NOT PREPARED OR INTERESTED OR CURIOUS, BUT IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO LOOK AROUND THEIR WORLD AND REPORT WHAT THEY SEE, AND PERHAPS TICK A BOX FOR A CANDIDATE, I DON'T KNOW THAT A 16-YEAR-OLD IS COGNITIVELY INCAPABLE OF PARTICIPATING IN THAT IF THEY WANT TO.

BUT HONESTLY, I THINK CIVIC PREPARATION AS WELL AS VOTER PARTICIPATION IS AN ISSUE THAT SPANS AGE.

Gene: INTERESTING POINTS THERE.

SENATOR SNYDER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE ALSO RELEASED A STUDY ON VOTER ATTITUDES AFTER THE 2020 GO.

SHE SAYS THE RHETORIC SURROUNDING SECURITY DID ADD TO CONCERNS AMONG VOTERS, BUT THAT TRUST IN THE SYSTEM IS STILL PRETTY HIGH.

IS THERE MORE TO BE DONE TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE SYSTEM, OR IS JUST WHO SHE IS AND THE PARTY SHE REPRESENTS JUST GOING TO HAVE A NATURAL LITTLE CONFLICT POINT THERE ON THESE THINGS?

Sen. Snyder: I THINK SEVERAL POINTS ALONG THOSE LINES.

I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PARTISAN CONFLICTS.

I THINK THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ANY TIME YOU CHANGE A LAW.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF STRUCK ME, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THE BILL, WE MENTIONED THE AGE.

AS YOU RECALL, THE REASON WE LOWERED THE AGE FROM 21 TO 18 WAS BECAUSE OF THE VIETNAM WAR, AND IF WE COULD SEND OUR YOUNG MEN, AT THAT TIME, OFF TO DIE IN THE SWAMPS OF VIETNAM, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

WELL, I DON'T EXACTLY SEE A COMPARISON OR A SIMILAR TIME DEMARCATION RIGHT NOW.

IT REALLY BRINGS UP, THOUGH, TO ME, HOW DO YOU, AS A CANDIDATE, HOW DO YOU REACH THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE?

AND ONE OF THE GREAT PROGRAMS WE HAVE, AND I HOPE THEY STILL DO IT, IN THE LEGISLATURE IS THEY HAVE A PROGRAM FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATORS WHERE YOU CAN GO INTO YOUR SCHOOLS AND TALK ABOUT OUR BILL PROCESS.

WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING IN AND DOING THAT, IS THAT NOT CAMPAIGNING?

AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO GO AWAY.

I THINK THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK THE CIVICS EDUCATION THAT ALGERNON MENTIONED IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

SO I'M KIND OF GOING, WELL, IF WE DO THE FIRST STEP FIRST, IF WE GO BACK AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE CIVICS CLASSES AND WE TEACH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROCESS -- IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE THEM, I THINK, BEFORE WE MOVE THE VOTE DOWN AND JUST THROW THEM OUT INTO IT.

I KNOW LOTS OF 16-YEAR-OLDS THAT I WOULD TRUST COMPLETELY, BUT I HAVE KNOWN A FEW WHO, AS MAGGIE SAID, A FEW OLDER, EVEN, THAT I WOULDN'T WANT VOTING AT 16.

THE OTHER THING IS THE FELONS.

IT SAYS, UNTIL THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR -- WHATEVER.

Gene: INCARCERATION.

Sen. Snyder: YES, INCARCERATION.

OR COMPLETED THEIR SERVICE, WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WHERE DO YOU THROW IN PAROLE?

A LOT OF FELONS STAY ON PAROLE FOR MANY YEARS -- OR NOT YEARS, BUT SOME TIME.

THERE'S ALSO THE ISSUE OF, WHAT ADDRESS DO THEY USE, YOU KNOW, WHILE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PAROLE PERIOD, IF THEY'RE IN A HALFWAY HOUSE OR SOMETHING.

SO I THINK THERE ARE JUST LITTLE THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH THIS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ANSWERED IN MY MIND.

I THINK THAT WE ALWAYS GO WITH THE BIG ITEMS WHEN WE'RE ADDRESSING A BILL, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE COVERED, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN SENATE BILL 6 -- AND THERE ARE TWO BIG ELECTION BILLS IN THE SENATE.

6 AND 8.

WELL, IN 6, IT DOES AWAY -- NO, LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

RIGHT NOW, THE MONITORS AND OVERSIGHT PEOPLE ARE APPOINTED, RECRUITED AND APPOINTED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE POLITICAL PARTY.

AND DEDE, IF I'M NOT USING THE RIGHT TERM FOR THAT, LET ME KNOW.

BUT THIS BILL WOULD TAKE IT OUT OF THEIR HANDS AND IT WOULD BECOME -- YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT OVERSIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S KIND OF DEFEATING THE PURPOSE OF WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

AND THEY'RE THERE, BOTH THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS, AND I THINK WE HAVE HAD SOME GREENS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE BIG BILLS WHERE THERE ARE BIG ISSUES, THERE ARE SO MANY LITTLE THINGS THAT WE MISS GOING ALONG.

I LEARNED -- Gene: SENATOR, CAN I ASK OUR OTHER SENATOR WITH US TO REACT TO THAT?

WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON, UNFORTUNATELY.

Sen. Snyder: SORRY.

Gene: THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

Sen. Feldman: I THINK WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE BILL, LET ME JUST CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT, IS THAT IT REQUIRES TRAINING BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THESE POLL WORKERS, AND IT REQUIRES DISQUALIFICATION OF POLL WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE OR PROBLEMATIC IN THE PAST.

Sen. Snyder: OKAY, THANK YOU.

Gene: INTERESTING POINT THERE.

GUYS, YOU CAN WATCH OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY OF STATE TOULOUSE OLIVER ON OUR WEBSITE AT NewMexicoInFocus.org.

OR STREAM ANY TIME ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

Richard: IF YOU'RE A TEENAGER, YOU KNOW, WITH A CREDIT CARD AND YOU WALK INTO A FOOD COURT, RIGHT, PIZZA LOOKS GOOD, THE GYROS LOOK GOOD, MAYBE SOME THAI OVER HERE.

IT ALL LOOKS GOOD, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN SELL IT ALL.

I CAN SPIN ANYTHING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION AND SAY, THIS IS A GOOD THING.

Gene: ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER HAS ALREADY GOTTEN SOME ATTENTION FROM THE PUBLIC.

IF PASSED, THE HYDROGEN HUB DEVELOPMENT ACT, AS IT'S CALLED, WOULD CREATE INCENTIVES FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION.

THE GOVERNOR IS TOUTING THIS AS A GREENER ALTERNATIVE TO FOSSIL FUELS, BUT A RECENT STUDY BY CORNELL AND STANFORD UNIVERSITIES FOUND THE PROCESS OF GENERATING SO-CALLED BLUE HYDROGEN CREATES 20% MORE CARBON EMISSIONS THAN BURNING NATURAL GAS OR COAL FOR HEAT.

NOW, PROTESTERS EVEN RALLIED AGAINST THE PLAN INSIDE THE CAPITOL DURING THE GOVERNOR’S STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS, YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT THAT.

HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE TO SELL THIS PLAN, DEDE FELDMAN, TO THE LEFT WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT HAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK BUILT UP SO FAR?

Sen. Feldman: WELL, WHEN YOU TAKE A REALLY COMPLEX MATTER LIKE THIS THAT I BELIEVE IS NOT REALLY READY FOR PRIME TIME ANYWAY, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES MORE STUDY, AND THEN YOU HAVE 30 ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS OPPOSED, IT LOOKS LIKE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE IS OPPOSED, OR FEELS AT LEAST THAT IT NEEDS MORE STUDY, THEN I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT WORTH STUDYING.

AND I WAS REALLY ENCOURAGED THAT THERE WAS AN MOU THAT WAS ISSUED BETWEEN LOS ALAMOS AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY AND MINERALS DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THIS.

BUT AT PRESENT, I THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY PROGRESSIVES THAT ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS IDEA OF HYDROGEN REALLY WILL PRODUCE MORE CARBON AT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL THAN IT WILL SAVE AND HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF GETTING TO A CARBON NEUTRAL STATE BY 2050.

IT'LL EXTEND THE TIME FOR NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION, AND I THINK THAT THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS COMPANIES ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A TRANSITION TO HELP THEM AS WE WORK TOWARD CARBON NEUTRAL.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE TECHNOLOGY FOR EITHER SEQUESTERING THE METHANE IN THE GROUND OR LIMITING EMISSIONS, IT'S JUST NOT THERE YET.

Gene: THERE'S A LOT TO CONSIDER.

AND ALGERNON, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ALREADY BEEN A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF A SHIFT TOWARDS HYDROGEN POWER.

IN FACT, I'M SURE YOU RECALL, ENERGY SECRETARY GRANHOLM WAS OUT HERE IN NEW MEXICO ON A TOUR ABOUT HYDROGEN NOT A FEW MONTHS AGO.

THEY SAY IT'S A PATHWAY TO REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS AS IT BECOMES MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE, AS DEDE JUST MENTIONED.

BUT THE KEY HERE IS, LOTS OF SCIENCE TO BE WORKED OUT TO MAKE HYDROGEN MORE EFFICIENT.

HOW DOES THAT NATURAL PRESSURE PLAY INTO THIS IDEA TO PASS THIS NOW AND FIGURE IT OUT LATER?

OR IS IT PRUDENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO JUST KIND OF WAIT ON THIS AND STUDY?

Algernon: YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS A CHARISMATIC GUY, BUT PHYSICS IS WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST AND PHYSICS IS NOT SUBJECT TO POLITICAL INFLUENCE OR LOBBYING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE ARE STUCK IN ARGUING ABOUT SOLUTIONS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR POLITICS, WHICH IS VERY, VERY MUCH TIED UP IN HOW OUR CAPITALIST SYSTEM INCENTIVIZES AND DISTRIBUTES REWARDS IN INVESTMENTS.

AND SO WE'RE KIND OF LIMITED IN OUR ABILITY TO GRAPPLE WITH THE REALITIES OF CLIMATE TRANSFORMATION AND WHAT OUR TRUE PREDICAMENT IS, AND THE CLICKING STOPWATCH IN TERMS OF SLOWING DOWN THE HEATING OF OUR PLANET.

HYDROGEN PRODUCTION, UNFORTUNATELY WHERE YOU GET INTO THE IMPLACABILITY OF PHYSICS IS THAT IT TAKES ENERGY TO CREATE ENERGY, AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A WAY OF PRODUCING HYDROGEN AS OF YET THAT DOESN'T PUT US BACK IN THE SITUATION WHERE WE'RE INJECTING CARBON INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE, OR EVEN SHOWING AN ABILITY TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT WE CAN DO AS FAR AS SEQUESTERING CARBON AND ASSURING THAT THE TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE TARGETS THAT ARE REQUIRED.

SO THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST IS A HARD TIME LIMIT AND JUST THE IMPLACABILITY OF PHYSICS.

Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, SENATOR SNYDER, LOS ALAMOS HAS BEEN IN THIS GAME FOR A LONG TIME OF HYDROGEN, ABOUT 40 YEARS, AND AS SENATOR FELDMAN JUST MENTIONED, SEVERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, HAVE ALL SIGNED THAT MEMO OF AGREEMENT WITH LOS ALAMOS AND SANDIA PROMISING CONTINUED RESEARCH FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING ZERO CARBON HYDROGEN.

SHOULDN'T THIS HAVE COME BEFORE WE ROLLED THIS IDEA OUT?

I MEAN, FOLKS HAVE BEEN ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

TO TASK THESE FOLKS TO DO IT NOW WOULD SEEM LIKE WE'RE A BIT BEHIND THE CURVE, UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING HERE.

Sen. Snyder: NO, I THINK YOU'RE ACCURATE.

I THINK SENATOR FELDMAN IS ACCURATE IN WHAT SHE SAID, AND I THINK ALGERNON IS ALSO ACCURATE.

THE THING THAT I SEE, AND THE REASON WE NEED TO DO IT NOW, IS WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST AT LEAST 48 OTHER STATES FOR THOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING FROM THE FEDS TO SET UP FOUR, JUST FOUR HYDROGEN CENTERS.

AND WE WANT NEW MEXICO TO BE ONE.

SO THERE'S THAT PUSH THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO THE LEGAL PART NOW.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR SOME TIME, BECAUSE RIGHT HERE WITH THE LABS, WE HAVE THE EXPERTISE.

WE COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND I'M AFRAID THAT PART OF IT HAS GOTTEN CAUGHT UP IN THAT OLD FIGHT BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY AND THE OIL AND GAS COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT ASIDE AND LOOKED AT HYDROGEN PRIOR TO COMING TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE REALLY IN A BIT OF A TIME CRUNCH TO HAVE THE MONEY, TO GET THE MONEY FROM THE FEDS TO MAKE ONE OF THE FOUR HYDROGEN CENTERS IN NEW MEXICO.

SO YEAH, WE'RE KIND OF PUTTING, AS THE OLD SAYING GOES, THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE HERE, BUT PART OF US, I LOOK AT, WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS IN THE BIG GAME, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE THE LEGAL PART IN PLACE.

BUT AS SENATOR FELDMAN SAID, WHEN YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN BOTH CHAMBERS EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT IT, I WOULDN'T SAY THIS IS GOING TO PASS.

I THINK THAT WE REALLY WILL PUT TOGETHER AN INTERIM COMMITTEE THAT WILL WORK ON IT AND FOCUS ON IT, OR A TASK FORCE, SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLOW THE PEOPLE FROM LOS ALAMOS AND SANDIA TO ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSIONS, NOT JUST LEGISLATORS.

Gene: THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT THERE.

JUST A BREAKAWAY GROUP WHERE FOLKS CAN PUT THEIR HEADS DOWN AND REALLY KIND OF GET AFTER THIS.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY INTERESTING IDEA.

SENATOR FELDMAN, PLEASE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?

Sen. Feldman: YES, I DO.

I THINK THAT WE ARE CAUGHT IN A BIND HERE IF WE WANT TO CAPTURE THE NATIONAL MOMENTUM ON THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF ESTABLISHING A LEGAL FRAMEWORK, IT'S A MATTER OF NINE DIFFERENT TAX BREAKS AND INCENTIVES AND CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN FOR MANY YEARS TO THE DEVELOPERS OF THESE FACILITIES AND THIS NEW UNPROVEN FUEL SOURCE.

SO THAT'S A BIND WE'RE ALWAYS IN, IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE GIVE ALL THESE TAX CUTS AND ALL THESE BREAKS, INCENTIVES AND BONDS AND SO ON TO COMPANIES.

WE'RE HUNGRY FOR THE JOB.

WE WANT THAT FACILITY AT ESCALANTE OUT NEAR PREWITT TO BE USED AGAIN AND JOBS THERE.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN BURNED SO MANY TIMES IN THE PAST BY THAT KIND OF ACTION.

Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

TWO WORDS, YELLOW CAKE, COME TO MIND.

EXACTLY RIGHT.

Sen. Snyder: SOMETIMES WE WIN.

LOOK AT ALL THE FIGHTS THAT WENT ON ABOUT THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AND THE TAX BREAKS AND STUFF, AND IT TOOK THEM A WHILE, BUT THEY'RE BECOMING SUCCESSFUL FOR NEW MEXICO.

Gene: GOOD POINT.

ALGERNON, A POINT HERE.

HOW BIG IS THIS HYDROGEN OPPORTUNITY?

THE ONE THING I'M MISSING AND I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION, OR ANYBODY ELSE, IS WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE IF WE INVEST, INVEST, INVEST?

IS THIS A SURE THING?

IS THIS GOING TO BE LEAPFROGGED BY SOMETHING ELSE DOWN THE ROAD?

I MEAN, HOW 'IN' SHOULD WE BE ON THIS?

IS IT HUGE?

IS IT GOING TO BE NEW MEXICO'S NUMBER ONE MONEYMAKER?

WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF IT?

Algernon: OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT, AND FOR WHOM?

IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS THAT ARE HEATING THE PLANET, THAT ARE PUTTING US ON AN UNTENABLE COURSE TO WHERE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR CIVILIZATIONS?

I DON'T KNOW.

IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME ACTORS TO MAKE MONEY?

YES, PROBABLY.

SO WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE FEEL THE GREATEST IMPERATIVE TO PURSUE, AND WHAT ARE WE WILLING TO -- HOW ARE WE WILLING TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE THAT?

IF IT'S ABOUT ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE SITUATION, IS THIS WHERE WE NEED TO BE LOOKING?

IS THIS WHAT WE NEED TO BE SPENDING OUR TIME ON RIGHT NOW?

THE PROBLEM WITH ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IS THAT THERE'S TRANSFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, AND I SUSPECT SOCIETAL CHANGES THAT ARE REQUIRED OF THAT, AND NOT ALL OF THAT IS SENSIBLE OR MEANINGFUL FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PROFIT.

Gene: WELL, I'LL REMIND YOU, SENATOR FELDMAN MENTIONED THAT OLD MINE AT ESCALANTE.

THAT'S NOW OWNED BY A TEXAN WHO GOT HIS FINANCING THROUGH BLACKSTONE.

WE'RE TALKING TONS OF MONEY.

SO NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THIS SPACE, IT'S GOING TO BE THE USUAL ACTORS, IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING MY TRAIL HERE.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING, TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS DEVELOPING ISSUE.

WE'LL BE TRACKING THIS HYDROGEN HUB DEVELOPMENT ACT AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

NOW, ANOTHER ISSUE SURE TO GET ATTENTION FROM LAWMAKERS AND VOTERS, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED TAX CUTS.

I SPOKE WITH TAX EXPERT RICHARD ANKLAM FROM THE NEW MEXICO TAX RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH AN IMPACT THOSE CUTS COULD HAVE FOR CITIZENS RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE.

Gene: HEY, FOLKS, THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US.

I'M TALKING WITH RICHARD ANKLAM.

HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW MEXICO TAX RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS BY THE GOVERNOR FOR TAX CUTS THIS YEAR DURING THE SESSION.

I WANTED TO CATCH UP WITH RICHARD ON A COUPLE OF THESE THINGS.

RICHARD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST QUESTION, THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR, AND IN HER STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS, AS WELL, THAT THE CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY ARE ON THE TABLE.

THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF A MIXED RESULT SO FAR.

I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU SEE THE PROPOSAL AND WHAT THE RESULTS MIGHT BE IF PASSED.

Richard: WELL, THERE'S FOUR OR FIVE PROPOSALS, AT LEAST, ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

SOME LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF INCOME THAT IS APPLIED.

AT LEAST ONE IS A TAX INCREASE ON CIGARETTES, I BELIEVE, TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE DEDUCTION.

IT'S A CURIOUS QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ANY TAX QUESTIONS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE WINNERS AND LOSER, OR IN THIS CASE IT'S WINNERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE EXCESS DOLLARS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, THREE OR FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING SOME WAY.

SO AS A TOOL TO HELP POOR FAMILIES, RETIRED FAMILIES, IT'S NOT VERY USEFUL, BECAUSE MOST POOR AND RETIRED FAMILIES DON'T PAY ANY TAX ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY.

AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL, IT'S MORE ATTRACTIVE.

IT CHECKS A BOX, YOU KNOW, WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT IT'S USUALLY NOT AS IMPACTFUL AS YOU MIGHT THINK IN TERMS OF DOLLARS TO AN AVERAGE FAMILY OR SOMEONE MOVING HERE.

Gene: SOMEONE LOOKING TO RETIRE HERE, SO TO SPEAK.

Richard: EXACTLY.

AND TO THE VERY WEALTHY, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL SECURITY IS LIMITED AND IT ONLY REPRESENTS SO MUCH INCOME.

SO IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER DECISION THAT THE LEGISLATORS HAVE TO MAKE.

IT'S POPULAR, IT FEELS GOOD, IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PROPOSALS THAT I MIGHT PERSONALLY BENEFIT FROM IN THE FUTURE SOMEHOW, HOPEFULLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE IN A POPULIST MODE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN AN ELECTION CYCLE, ALL THAT SORT OF THING, SO I DON'T THINK IT DELIVERS AS MUCH AS IT PROMISES.

Gene: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER ONE, THEN.

THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED A QUARTER OF ONE PERCENT DECREASE IN THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX HERE.

SAME AS WHAT YOU WERE JUST DESCRIBING ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY, NOT MUCH IMPACT, OR ARE WE OPPOSITE HERE?

IS THIS THE OPENING SALVO, PERHAPS, TO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE ABOUT REFORM ON GRT?

HOW DO YOU SEE THE PROPOSAL AS IT STANDS NOW?

Richard: WELL, YOU CHARACTERIZED IT FAIRLY WELL.

I BELIEVE REDUCING OUR GRT RATES IS A GOOD THING.

THEY'RE TOO HIGH.

THEY'VE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER MY CAREER.

AND EVERYTHING THAT'S BAD ABOUT OUR TAX SYSTEM, PYRAMIDING AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, IS EXACERBATED BY RATE INCREASES.

IT COMPOUNDS AS THESE KIND OF CASCADE THROUGH THE CHAIN OF COMMERCE DOWN TO THE CONSUMERS.

YOU KNOW, IT HELPS HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES, BUT BECAUSE IT'S BROADLY APPLICABLE, IT'S EXPENSIVE.

AND IF I'M A POLICYMAKER, AS WITH ALL DECISIONS, EVERYTHING -- IF YOU'RE A TEENAGER WITH A CREDIT CARD AND YOU WALK INTO A FOOD COURT, RIGHT, PIZZA LOOKS GOOD, THE GYROS LOOK GOOD, MAYBE SOME THAI OVER HERE.

IT ALL LOOKS GOOD, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN SELL IT ALL.

I CAN SPIN ANYTHING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION AND SAY, THIS IS A GOOD THING.

Gene: I LIKE THAT ANALOGY.

Richard: WE'VE ALL GOT A $20 BILL IN OUR POCKET.

Gene: RICHARD, IS THERE A NUMBER IN YOUR MIND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN -- AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING POLICY HERE, BUT HALF OF ONE PERCENT?

THREE-QUARTERS OF ONE PERCENT?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE GONE DEEPER HERE THAT WOULD HAVE PERHAPS GOT THIS OFF THE GROUND A LITTLE BIT MORE, OR IS ONE QUARTER OF ONE PERCENT A GOOD PLACE TO START?

Richard: WELL, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

AGAIN, WE HAVE TO REDUCE OUR RATES.

THERE WAS A CONCERN ON THE PART OF SOME THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO HAVE IMPOSITION AUTHORITY MIGHT BACKFILL THE CUT, BUT SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, YOU KNOW, ARE ALREADY AT THEIR MAXIMUMS, OR CLOSE, OR THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS, SOME DON'T.

AND SO WHETHER THAT WOULD HAPPEN OR NOT -- BUT THAT WAS A CONCERN.

THERE WAS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LIMITING THEIR ABILITY TO IMPOSE NEW TAXES, BUT THAT'S CONSTRAINING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY.

THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THIS, WHY ARE YOU GOING TO CONSTRAIN ME?

SO THAT'S NOT IN THE PROPOSAL, BUT THERE'S STILL A CONCERN THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME BACKFILL SO THAT THE BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WOULDN'T BENEFIT IF THAT OCCURRED.

Gene: LET ME ASK YOU, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THIS UNDER THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE A BIG SURPLUS.

DOES THIS CHANGE THE CONVERSATION SIGNIFICANTLY IN YOUR VIEW?

Richard: WELL, WITH THE SURPLUS, THERE'S A CONVERSATION AROUND RECURRING AND NONRECURRING REVENUE, AND WHAT THAT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO IS, HOW MUCH OF THE EXCESS MONEY THAT WE SEEM TO HAVE RIGHT NOW IS AVAILABLE TODAY, BUT HOW MUCH OF IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THAT'S RECURRING.

Gene: GOTCHA.

Richard: SO A LOT OF OUR, YOU KNOW, REVENUE IS OIL AND GAS DEPENDENT AND OTHER SOURCES THAT FLUCTUATE, YOU KNOW, DRAMATICALLY SOMETIMES.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE VERY STRONG RESERVES AND WE HAVE STRONG REVENUES AND REVENUE FORECASTS, AND OIL AND GAS PRICES ARE GOOD AND THEY APPEAR TO BE THAT WAY FOR SOME TIME, BUT THAT'S STILL WHAT WE'RE DEPENDENT ON.

SO WHENEVER YOU CREATE SOMETHING THAT'S PERMANENT, LIKE A RATE REDUCTION OR A SOCIAL SECURITY EXEMPTION, IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT TODAY, THAT'S GREAT, BUT CAN YOU AFFORD IT THREE YEARS FROM NOW IF THAT REVENUE DISAPPEARS?

Gene: THAT'S THE TOUGH PART FOR POLICYMAKERS, ISN'T IT?

THAT'S THE DIFFICULTY RIGHT THERE, BEING ABLE TO FORECAST DOWN THE ROAD.

RICHARD ANKLAM, NEW MEXICO TAX RESEARCH INSTITUTE, YOU'RE THE DIRECTOR.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS.

AS THESE BILLS MOVE ALONG, WE'LL TAP BACK WITH YOU AND KIND OF PICK UP WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND SEE WHERE THE FOLKS ARE HEADED ON THIS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY, THOUGH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Richard: THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

Gene: WE'RE A WEEK AND A HALF INTO THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND WE KNOW THE PACE IN THE EARLY DAYS IS NOT NEARLY AS FRANTIC AS IN THOSE LAST DAYS, THAT'S FOR SURE.

HOURS AND MINUTES OF ANY SESSION, THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT HOW GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAM MADE A PLEA TO LAWMAKERS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND AVOID DIVISION, AND ALGERNON, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN SO FAR?

IS ANYONE LISTENING IN THESE EARLY DAYS.

Algernon: WELL, THEY'RE LISTENING, BUT THERE'S A GRAVITATIONAL PULL TO SOME OF THE FAULT LINES THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR LAWMAKERS TO WORK TOGETHER ACROSS PARTY LINES.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO EXAMPLES, PERHAPS, THAT DON'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AS NOISY, OF LAWMAKERS COMING TOGETHER AND WORKING ON AN IDEA THAT SEEMS TO TRANSCEND THE BOUNDARIES, AND HONESTLY THE SOCIAL PRESSURES OF SOME OF THESE PARTISAN RIFTS.

Gene: SENATOR SNYDER, I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS.

THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEW MEXICO HAS FILED A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE VALIDITY OF THE STATE'S NEWLY REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL MAP.

YOU MIGHT ALSO RECALL LAWMAKERS VOTED ON THIS IN A SPECIAL SESSION JUST LAST MONTH AFTER HEARING ABOUT SUGGESTED MAPS FROM THAT NEW CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, AS YOU RECALL.

ALSO, BRINGING THE SUIT ARE SITTING SENATOR DAVE GALLEGOS AND FORMER SENATE PRO TEM TIM JENNINGS.

I KNOW YOU KNOW HIM, AS WELL.

THE LAWSUIT NAMES THE GOVERNOR, THE LT.

GOVERNOR SPECIFICALLY, AS WELL AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE, DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS ALL LEADS?

Sen. Snyder: WELL, I THINK IT LEADS TO, OBVIOUSLY, A COURT HEARING.

I THINK WHATEVER THE COURT SAYS -- AND BY THE WAY, IT'S FILED IN THE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO.

SO I'M WILLING TO, JUST SPECULATING, I'M WILLING TO GUESS THAT IT WILL BE -- THE BILL WILL BE APPROVED IN THE REQUEST FOR REDISTRICTING IN THE FIFTH JUDICIAL.

IT WILL THEN GO TO THE APPEALS COURT, AND THEN IT WILL GO TO THE SUPREME COURT REGARDLESS OF WHICH WAY THE APPEALS COURT COMES DOWN ON IT.

THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS, IF I'VE GOT MY DATE RIGHT, FILING FOR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES AND STATEWIDE CANDIDATES IS MARCH 15th.

THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO GET ALL THESE COURT HEARINGS DONE.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS UNUSUAL.

IN 2001, AND THEN TEN YEARS LATER -- OR NO, 20 YEARS LATER, WE HAD REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS THAT VETOED THE BILLS, LAWSUITS WERE FILED, MOSTLY BY THE DEMOCRATS, WE WENT TO COURT AND THEY WERE ALL WORKED OUT.

AND THE LAST ONE WAS 2011, WHERE THE COURTS ACTUALLY HAD SOMEONE DRAW THE NEW DISTRICTS.

I PARTICULARLY REMEMBER BECAUSE THEY CHANGED MY SENATE DISTRICT AND LITERALLY TOOK A LITTLE CURVE OUT AND TOOK ME OUT OF MY DISTRICT, SO I COULDN'T RUN AGAINST THE INCUMBENT.

WELL, ANYWAY, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE CHALLENGES.

ALL OVER THE COUNTRY YOU'RE SEEING CHALLENGES.

IN SOME STATES, THEY'RE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED, THE CONSERVATIVES, AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE FILING THE LAWSUITS.

SO I'M NOT DISTRESSED BY THIS HAPPENING, I JUST THINK THAT FOR SOME OF US -- FOR THE FIRST TIME, I ACTUALLY HAVE STRONG QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE, AS HARD AS I'VE TRIED, COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST BETWEEN HOBBS AND ROSWELL AND SANTA FE AND ALBUQUERQUE.

Gene: THAT'S RIGHT.

Sen. Snyder: AND THOSE DISTRICTS, IF YOU LOOK AT THEM, HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT GERRYMANDERED.

I JUST HAVE TROUBLE MAKING THAT WORK IN MY HEAD.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING REDISTRICTING ON, IS THE COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.

Gene: SENATOR FELDMAN, DO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, BUT I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

BUT I'M CURIOUS, YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT SENATOR SNYDER JUST MENTIONED.

Sen. Feldman: WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED EITHER THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE FILED SUIT, AS THE DEMOCRATS HAVE FILED SUITS AGAINST MAPS THEY DON'T LIKE IN OTHER STATES.

THE STATES ARE VERY HIGH WHEN IT COMES TO CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN PARTICULAR, AND THAT'S WHAT'S AT ISSUE HERE.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE REPUBLICAN CASE IS ASKING THE COURT, THE STATE COURT IN ROSWELL, NOT A FEDERAL COURT, BUT THE STATE COURT IN ROSWELL, TO ADOPT THE MAP THAT WAS PUT FORWARD BY THE CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

WELL, MY QUESTION IS, WHICH MAP DO THEY WANT THE COURT TO ADOPT?

BECAUSE THEY HAD THREE MAPS FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND ONE OF THEM WAS MUCH MORE DIVIDED WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST THAN THE MAP THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

SO I THINK THAT THEY'VE KIND OF -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PROBLEM THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT WILL BE SOLVED.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A GOOD ARGUMENT.

THE DEMOCRATS -- THE UNITED DEMOCRATS THIS TIME HAVE AN ARGUMENT THAT EACH DISTRICT IS BECOMING MORE COMPETITIVE IN THIS NEW MAP, AND THAT'S IN SPITE OF THE AMALGAM OF RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES WITHIN EACH DISTRICT.

IT'S MORE COMPETITIVE AND PEOPLE SAY MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW MEXICO AS A WHOLE.

Gene: WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER DEBATE ON THAT.

MY PERSONAL OPINION IS, IT MAKES IT ALL SO LESS APPEALING AS A CANDIDATE, THOSE KIND OF DISTRICTS.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S MUCH BALLYHOOED PROPOSAL TO CUT THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX HERE IN NEW MEXICO, SENATOR FELDMAN.

IS THIS MORE SHOW THAN SUBSTANCE?

YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR.

IT'S TAKEN A PRETTY GOOD WHACK AS IT'S GONE ALONG HERE.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE WITH THIS?

IS IT WORKING?

Sen. Feldman: IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS TAX REFORM, THERE ARE BETTER WAYS OF DOING IT THAN THIS.

THIS IS A SMALL DECREASE IN GROSS RECEIPTS TAX.

I WOULD RATHER SEE A MAJOR OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE DOUBLE TAXATION THAT SOME BUSINESSES FIND.

AND I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT THE SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUT THAT IS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNOR IS THAT MEANINGFUL FOR MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THAT IMPRESSED, AND THEY DO SEEM LIKE THEY'RE TARGETED MORE TO THE ELECTION THAN TO ACHIEVING REAL RESULTS.

Gene: ALGERNON, ON WEDNESDAY WE ALSO SAW REPUBLICANS HAMMER HOUSE DEMOCRATS FOR TABLING A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE PUT A VOTE TO MEASURE TO CLARIFY THE NOW CONTROVERSIAL BAIL FORM MEASURE THAT VOTERS PASSED IN 2016.

REPRESENTATIVE BILL REHM DROPPED A PRESS RELEASE, A MESSAGE OF BASICALLY, 'SO MUCH FOR THE GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRAT LEADERS' TALK OF CRACKING DOWN ON CRIME.

THAT'S JUST ONE BILL AND ONE ISSUE, BUT IS IT A SIGN OF SOMETHING?

Algernon: WELL, I THINK IT'S A SIGN THAT CRIME IS STILL A VERY POTENT POLITICAL ISSUE, IN PART BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC IS GENUINELY CONCERNED ABOUT.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN IMPORTANT MATTER, AND THERE ARE VERY CONFLICTING IDEAS ABOUT WHO SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN OF DECIDING WHETHER SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A VERY SERIOUS CRIME CAN GO FREE OR NOT.

AND THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, IS THAT THIS IS VERY EASILY DEMAGOGUED.

THERE ARE VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS IN TERMS OF THE LEGALITY AND THE CIVIL FREEDOMS PRINCIPLES, BUT THERE'S ALSO A TENSION BETWEEN THAT AND THE DESIRE TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE BEING SAFE FROM DANGEROUS PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT.

AND THAT MAKES IT VERY POTENT AND THERE'S A HIGH VULNERABILITY OF AN IMPORTANT ISSUE BEING WORKED OUT IN THE POLITICAL FRAMEWORK RATHER THAN IN A LEGAL FRAMEWORK.

Gene: SEE THE THEME WE GOT GOING HERE?

THERE'S A THEME HERE, ISN'T THERE, ON HOW THESE THINGS ARE HANDLED.

SENATOR SNYDER, WE'VE JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME HERE, BUT THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY SIGNED UP TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, AS YOU KNOW.

IT GOT A LOT OF PRESS OUT THERE AND NATIONAL COVERAGE AT SALAZAR ELEMENTARY IN SANTA FE, OF COURSE, A WAY OF SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO HELP WITH TEACHER SHORTAGES.

DID IT WORK?

Sen. Snyder: WELL, WE HAVE THAT TO SEE, WHETHER WE SUDDENLY WILL BE INUNDATED WITH VOLUNTEERS FOR SUBSTITUTE.

BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT CHUCKLE JUST A LITTLE BIT, TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT ALGERNON SAID.

SO MANY THINGS GET DONE FOR POLITICS IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

IN AN ELECTION YEAR, YOU SEE SO MANY THINGS.

AND I WAS THINKING BACK, I DON'T REMEMBER HER -- SHE DIDN'T SIGN UP AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, BUT GOVERNOR MARTINEZ FREQUENTLY WENT TO SCHOOLS AND VISITED AND TALKED WITH CHILDREN.

I COULDN'T THINK OF A SINGLE TIME WHEN GOVERNOR RICHARDSON DID, BUT I DO KNOW THAT ALICE KING USED TO GO AND DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

NOT GOVERNOR KING, BUT ALICE WOULD GO AND DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND I JUST THINK, FOR ME, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS, GREAT IDEAS MANY OF THEM, BUT IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK, EVERY BILL TO ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE ISSUE IN THE GOVERNOR'S PUBLIC SAFETY PACKAGE WAS INTRODUCED OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS BY REPRESENTATIVE BILL REHM, WHO IS A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.

Gene: YOU'VE GOT ABOUT TEN SECONDS.

Sen. Snyder: IF WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE PUBLIC SAFETY CHANGES, WE COULD HAVE DONE IT BY WORKING TOGETHER.

I'M AFRAID THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE JUST POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES.

Gene: I HEAR YOU.

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR LINE PANEL, AS ALWAYS.

THIS WEEK, BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS.

A LOT OF INTERESTING STUFF HERE THAT WE COVERED.

LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

Gene: CNBC RECENTLY RE-AIRED THEIR SHOW FROM LAST MAY ENTITLED 'RELOCATION NATION.'

A PRETTY FASCINATING LOOK AT HOW NEW TECH IS DRIVING SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF WORKERS ACROSS STATE LINES, PARTICULARLY FROM CALIFORNIA.

THE FOCUS OF THE SEGMENT WAS ARIZONA, TEXAS, AND NEW YORK CITY, BUT IT WAS THE ARIZONA BIT ON THEIR WORK ESTABLISHING HUBS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, KNOWN AS EV, SEMI-CONDUCTOR CHIP MANUFACTURING, AND SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES THAT REALLY GRABBED ME.

FOR PERSPECTIVE, BETWEEN 2015 AND 2020, ARIZONA CREATED 13,000 MANUFACTURING JOBS, AND MANY OF THOSE WORKERS OUT OF CALIFORNIA.

NOW, WE CAN CERTAINLY DEBATE THEIR APPROACH TO WATER, BUT WHAT I DO AGREE WITH IS THEIR APPROACH ALL-IN-OR-NOTHING ATTITUDE ABOUT IT.

SIMPLY PUT, IF YOU DON'T LAY DOWN AN EARLY AND LOUD MARKER THAT YOU INTEND TO DOMINATE THE CATEGORY, DON'T BOTHER, BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE WILL.

BUT HERE'S THE RUB.

A PATTERN IS TAKING SHAPE ON WHO IS GETTING IN EARLY, AND WITH THAT, THE FIRST MOVER ADVANTAGE.

IT'S THE STATES WILLING TO PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND FIRST AND LET TECH, GENEROUS REGULATION AND THE MARKETPLACE FIGURE OUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER IMPACTS LATER.

AND YES, THEY DO TREND RED.

NOW, WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE HYDROGEN OPPORTUNITY IS ANYBODY'S GUESS, BUT TO ME, IF WE DO THIS, LET'S COMMIT.

LET'S GET IN IT TO BE ABOUT IT AND NOTHING LESS.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK In FOCUS.

FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO In FOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.

AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.