Morning Word: State House Speaker Set to Resign

Moving On

Andrew Oxford reports that after Republicans lost control of the state House of Representatives, outgoing Speaker Don Tripp is

before it resumes Jan. 17.

Rehm Wants to Eliminate Golden Parachutes 
As University of New Mexico President Bob Frank prepares to move out of his campus president’s house this week, Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, thinks it’s time to eliminate “golden parachute” provisions in university president and coach contracts.
A different proposal aims to do the same for public school superintendents. Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Luis Valentino took a $100,000 buyout when the school board pushed him out after a few weeks on the job. 
“All of us have been with a job, resigned from that job, moved on and never received a dime. That is exactly the way that it works,” Rehm said. “But for some reason, this group has thought they are elite and they have to be paid to go away.”
Proposal Aims to Double Minimum Wage 
Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Albuquerque, is proposing a measure to make the minimum wage $15 an hour for workers around the state.
Another bill pre-filed by Sen. Bill Soules is a little more modest. It would increase it to $8.45 an hour.

Earlier this year, a measure to ban local minimum wage laws died in the legislature. That bill is likely to be introduced again in 2017 despite business groups being opposed to it.
New DWI Ad Campaign Rolls Out
Just in time for New Year’s Eve, state officials are rolling out yet another a new advertising campaign to curb drunk driving.
The $240,000 campaign, unveiled Tuesday by Gov. Susana Martinez, is dovetailing with the release of a new top 10 list of the worst of the worst repeat DWI offenders – some of them with seven DWI arrests and “who have skipped out on probation or parole,” Martinez said.
Tribes See Green
The head of the firm that manages the state’s largest medical cannabis group says he thinks the demand for marijuana could eventually boost tribal economies if tribes legally get into the business and surpass the financial benefits they already get from casino operations.

Crime and Budget Woes Tops 2016 Stories
The Albuquerque Journal is out with a look at their top 2016 stories, which focuses on the violent murders of children and the state’s worsening budget crisis.

Picture Perfect
We already know how photogenic the Land of Enchantment is, but now KRQE reports, “The beauty of New Mexico will soon be recognized by National Geographic. A photo of El Salto Mountain near Arroyo Seco will be featured in the 2017 National Geographic engagement calendar.”
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