Pay raises for the Legislature, not for us

It is the height of irony that two of the biggest “issues” on the ballot so clearly reflect a fundamental problem in New Mexico politics. I highlighted that problem in a National Review piece called “Rich State, Poor People.” The issue is that New Mexico as a state is sitting on untold sums of money while New Mexicans as a whole are among the poorest in any state in the union.

Gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull has put together a realistic plan to return money to New Mexicans, but he faces opposition from Democrats including his opponent Deb Haaland and the Democrat chair of the Tax Committee, Derrick Lente. 

On the other hand, New Mexico’s Democrat-controlled Legislature is pushing along with numerous “progressive” groups, for Amendment 4 which would pay the Legislature a $68,000 salary annually in addition to per diem and a generous pension program. If adopted, New Mexico’s Legislature would be the best paid part time legislature in the nation. 

But, New Mexicans are “underpaid.” New Mexico has been awash in money for nearly a decade and the Legislature has been unwilling to give New Mexicans a raise.  It reminds one of a certain television character who jealously guarded his soup.