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February 5, 2013
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
The dueling gun control bills introduced this legislative session have officially been taken off the table, for now. Last week, House Bill 77, which aimed to tighten restrictions on gun sales, was held up in the House Judiciary Committee by an 8-8 tie vote. HB 114, which aimed to make enforcement of federal gun laws in New Mexico a thirddegree felony, was defeated by a 3-2 vote last week in the House Public Affairs Committee. Both bills could be revived and resubmitted for voting if lawmakers could agree on amendments that would address both bills’ questionable provisions. For HB 77, this includes re-examining the strictness of required background checks. To bring back HB 114, lawmakers would have to iron out the
A number of UNM-related bills are making their way through the Senate. These four bills passed through the Senate Education Committee today and are scheduled next for the Senate Finance Committee, hearing dates to be determined: “UNM Architecture School Community Outreach,” aims to expand the school’s outreach program by channeling $100,000 to the school of architecture’s Design and Planning Assistance Center to aid in economic development in rural and low-income areas of the state.
SB 55
Health Center Project Echo,” would appropriate $1.6 million to fund Project ECHO, an iniSB 56 “UNM tiative to strengthen health care and health infrastructure in rural areas. Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort (R-Sandia Park) sponsored both bills.
Family-Friendly Workplace Taskforce” sponsored by Sen. Sander Rue (R-Albuquerque) SB 78 “UNM was also passed. The bill aims to fund a “Family-Friendly Workplace Task Force and Awards Program” through UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
“State University Educational Television” sponsored by Sen. Stuart Ingle (R-Portales), SB 243 passed as well. The bill seeks funding to sustain educational television, such as KNME at
HB 26
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constitutional conflicts the bill creates between federal and state government. Friday also saw debate intensify on UNMrelated bills in the House Education Committee. The committee released fiscal impact reports and Legislative Education Study Committee analyses for six bills covering topics such as expanding UNM’s dental sciences program and creating an initiative to jumpstart spaceflight technology and business development at UNM. On Monday, five of these six bills passed through the House Education Committee, and are headed to the next round of House committee voting, hearing dates to be determined. HB 320, “UNM We the People Program,” was not put to a vote at that time. Rep. Rick Miera (DAlbuquerque) sponsored the bill, which seeks $15,000 for the continued operation of the “We the People, the Citizen and the Constitution” (see box) program at the University.
to a vote yet. Here are some salient points brought up by those reports.
UNM Land Grant Studies: The fiscal impact report for the bill notes that HB 26 duplicates an already existing appropriation for UNM’s land grant studies program in the General Appropriation Act for fiscal year 2014. Furthermore, the Legislative Education Study Committee analysis states there is a specific process for bills that earmark budget requests for specific higher education institution programs, and
HB 26 did not go through those channels. UNM College of Public Health: The fiscal impact report released for this bill expresses concern that the bill duplicates sections of several other bills that relate to public health college initiatives at other universities around the state, citing the need to have a single centralized public health infrastructure. However, the report acknowl-
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edges the importance of the initiative. UNM Dental Science Program: The fiscal impact report and Legislative Education Study Committee analysis expressed support for this bill, which would create a BS/ DDS program at UNM to enhance existing efforts to expand dental coverage to “un-
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Lawmakers halt gun bills
These six UNM-related bills received comprehensive analysis in the House Education Committee. All but HB 320 passed Monday; HB 320 has not been put up
insured, high-risk New Mexicans” in rural areas. UNM Minority Math, Science and Engineering Program: The fiscal impact report and Legislative Education Study Committee analysis support the bill’s move to appropriate $150,000 to ensure the Mathematics, Science and Engineering Achievement Program continues to help underrepresented minorities work toward college degrees in those fields. UNM Venture Space Incubator: The fiscal impact report and the Legislative Education Study Committee analysis support UNM’s LoboSpace Small Business Incubator program, and they both acknowledge UNM did not request additional funding for its program. The LESC analysis notes that such an earmarked request needs to go through
the proper request channels. UNM We the People Program: The fiscal impact report released for this bill supports the appropriation of $15,000 to ensure the continued operation of “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution.” This local program connects New Mexico to a national agency, the Center for Democracy and Civic Education, which focuses on U.S.
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UNM, at state universities.
NM budget surplus poised to be smaller than expected by Ross Kelbley
news@dailylobo.com The state hasn’t properly balanced its checkbook for more than six years, according to the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration. DFA Public Information Officer Tim Korte said the DFA warned lawmakers that New Mexico’s cash surplus in fiscal year 2014 could be $70 million to $460 million less than expected. He said it is unclear exactly how large the cash discrepancy is. Nonetheless, the state has allotted $70 million in the FY 2014 budget to accommodate the potential liability, although it could take as long as a year before the exact shortfall is established, Korte said. According to a DFA document titled “Cash Reconciliation Briefing,” the problem began in 2006 with the implementation of a new computer accounting system called Statewide Human Resource Accounting and Managerial Reporting System, or SHARE. According to the document, SHARE had problems converting the previously separate accounting systems used by various agencies into one centralized system. Because of this, individual agencies have reported amounts that are higher than what is reflected in bank accounts managed by the treasurer’s office. Korte said that because many agencies have recorded their transactions improperly, it is impossible to determine the exact amount of the discrepancy without further research. Korte said the amount of the liability was based on the department’s most recent estimates, which are from the last fiscal year. Because the amount that DFA confirmed is not final, it is unclear if funding for academic programs in UNM or in the UNM Hospital will be affected.
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“At this point, the only financial impact we have confirmed is the $70 million liability, which would come from general funds,” he said. “I don’t know if this will actually directly affect the Higher Education Department or any of the universities specifically.” Korte said that despite how long it has been a problem, the budget discrepancy did not come to light until October 2011. “The problem wasn’t identified until state controller Ricky Bejarano was appointed by Gov. Martinez,” Korte said. “The people who were appointed to these types of positions by Gov. Martinez were not aware of the situation until they came into office. ... As to why it wasn’t detected or why it wasn’t publicized before Gov. Martinez, that’s a question for Gov. Richardson or (former state controller) Anthony Armijo,” said Korte. The Daily Lobo could not find Armijo’s contact information, and Richardson was not immediately available for comment as of press time. According to a DFA document titled “Book to Bank Reconciliation and Remediation Efforts,” the DFA is taking comprehensive measures to ensure proper cash reconciliation in the future. According to the document, state agencies will be required “to participate in interactive training sessions.” The document also stated that “customizations that were made to SHARE to accommodate outdated business processes” will be eliminated. According to the “Cash Reconciliation Briefing,” consultants who are experienced with SHARE software have already determined what changes officials need to make. According to the document, these officials have started to implement changes across various state agencies, and the DFA expects the changes to be fully implemented by July.
Mark Lennihan / AP photo In this Jan. 15 photo, “Antony” left his graffiti on a steel column on the 102nd floor of One World Trade Center in New York. Workers finishing New York’s tallest building at the World Trade Center are leaving their personal marks on the concrete and steel in the form of graffiti.
WTC workers leave legacy
World Trade Center graffiti reflects spirit of rebuilding ground zero by Verena Dobnik The Associated Press
NEW YORK — On most construction projects, workers are discouraged from signing or otherwise scrawling on the iron and concrete. At the skyscraper rising at ground zero, though, they’re being invited to leave messages for the ages. “Freedom Forever. WTC 9/11” is scrawled on a beam near the top of the gleaming, 104-story One World Trade Center. “Change is from with-
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in” is on a beam on the roof. Another reads: “God Bless the workers & inhabitants of this bldg.” One of the last pieces of steel hoisted up last year sits near a precarious edge. The message on it reads: “We remember. We rebuild. We come back stronger!” It is signed by a visitor to the site last year — President Barack Obama. The words on beams, walls and stairwells of the skyscraper that replaces the twin towers lost on Sept. 11,
2001, form the graffiti of defiance and rebirth, what ironworker supervisor Kevin Murphy calls “things from the heart.” They’re remembrances of the 2,700 people who died, and testaments to the hope that rose from a shattered morning. “This is not just any construction site, this is a special place for these guys,” says Murphy of the 1,000 men and some women who work in the building at any given time, 24
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