Morning Word: Governor Rolls Out 'Belt-Tightening' Budget Plan

State Spending
New Mexico's Republican Gov. Susana Martinez rolled our her proposed budget at a press conference Tuesday, noting that she wants the state to "tighten its belt." Meanwhile, leaders from Dem side say the plan cuts "to the bone." Of course the biggest paper in the state took a crack at it. You can read it straight from the government, too.

Among details, the governor wants to reduce pension matches for school teachers, lawmakers and other public employees, force school districts to use reserves and also dip in to whatever is left of the state reserves.

Nuh-Uh

Officials at Santa Fe Public Schools were annoyed with the governor even before the big reveal that she would propose more big changes for education professionals. Responding to a Sunday report and Martinez summary of it that "parents don't get informed" when their kids can't read, SFPS sent a long statement to its press list and other districts

. The talking point is part of the governor's opposition to "social promotion" of New Mexico third-graders even if they fail to reach reading proficiency.

The President and the People

President Barack Obama delivered his farewell speech last night (watch and read it

The New York Times

) to many a tearful watcher, and the march toward inauguration day for Donald Trump grows near.

Up to 400 New Mexicans are already planning to be at the nation's capital for a

in protest of his policies and at an event at our Roundhouse on Jan. 21 at noon. Even though she too has sparred with Trump, Martinez says

.

Not a Fond Farewell

In other goodbyes, Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg took a

at the Albuquerque Police Department in a letter to US District Attorney Damon Martinez. A highlight is the part where she compares cops to a "criminal enterprise."

A Twitter handle maintained by a Santa Fean is on a list of accounts that investors

, according to marketwatch.com. Michele "Mish" Schneider's publicist says she's a former floor trader on several New York Commodity Exchanges. Her handle is @marketminute. 

Southwest Airlines has a new president who replaces the man at the helm for the last 12 years.

says

comes after a period of rapid growth for the airline. 

Speaking of jobs, Albuquerque has been ranked 32nd of 100 metro areas on

, a stat helped by Sandia Laboratories and that complements an earlier rank by

 that one of the best-paying jobs in New Mexico is a nuclear engineer. Let's work on moving math teacher higher up the list. 

Santa Fe Reporter