This week on NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, the Line opinion panel convenes to examine the implications of Gary King’s decision on same sex marriage. After months of research, the attorney general and his staff determined New Mexico law doesn’t allow marriage between partners of the same gender. The attorney general and many others believe a decision on the matter could come from the judicial system, but will the definitive word come from the courts or from lawmakers and ultimately voters, in the form of a constitutional amendment?<\/p>\n
NMIF begins a series of interviews on water and the crisis of drought in New Mexico, as author William deBuys sits down to discuss the state of water and climate change in the Southwest. The New Mexican authored the book “A Great Aridness” and keeps close track of the policies and politics that go alongside the changing climate in the American Southwest.<\/p>\n
The Line returns to examine the recent report on Heather Wilson’s contracts with New Mexico’s national labs. The Department of Energy’s Office of the Inspector General examined the matter and says neither the labs nor the former congresswoman followed proper protocol in proving the government was getting its money’s worth, while paying Wilson nearly half a million dollars in consulting fees.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s more news out of Washington, D.C. as New Mexico may be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in funding for special education. The issue bubbled up during the legislative session, with the Martinez administration assuring lawmakers that the federal government would be more likely to grant a waiver of special education spending requirements than it would to force the state to make up millions of dollars in underfunded programs. The Line examines the federal response.<\/p>\n
GUESTS:
\nWilliam deBuys, Author, “A Great Aridness\u201d<\/p>\n
LINE PANELISTS:
\nDede Feldman, Former New Mexico State Senator
\nDan Foley, Former New Mexico House Republican Whip
\nTom Garrity, The Garrity Group PR
\nLaura Sanchez, CEO, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce<\/p>\n
CORRESPONDENT:
\nMatt Grubs<\/p>\n
HOST\/COMMENTATOR:
\nGene Grant<\/p>\n
The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Matt Grubs.\u00a0Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this\u00a0program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation.\u00a0Subscribe to the\u00a0New Mexico in Focus Podcast on iTunes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Episode 650 for air June 14, 2013<\/p>\n