Election 2000!
by Anna Crook
The election has come and gone, and we still do not know who our President-Elect will be. There will be new faces on both sides of the aisle in the New Mexico House of Representative and the Senate. House Republicans have two fewer members than the previous sessions. Senate Republicans picked up one seat.
There is much speculation as to who the leaders will be for both the Majority and the Minority Parties. I was in the Round House this week, and it was abuzz as to who will be the next Speaker of the House? It seemed many deals were being made.
As we enter the new millennium, it is a time of a new beginning. I hope we can continue to elect leaders who can reach across the aisle, and we can make our great State of New Mexico a place of Economic Opportunity. I also hope we can improve our Educational System to one that is second to none.
We have revenue projections indicating an appreciable surplus this year. This is due to surpluses of severance taxes generated by the oil and gas industry. Personal income and corporate income tax revenues have also increased this year. It is hoped some of these revenues can be returned to the taxpayers through a tax cut.
Also, we must be cautious with the spending of these surpluses. The extractive industries do not have an unlimited amount of resources--be it oil, gas coal or other extractives. Thus we must keep our reserves for times when revenues are not as plentiful.
I, personally, am excited and filled with hope that we can serve the people of New Mexico by improving education, creating a more business-friendly New Mexico and create more jobs and economic development for our entire state.
Anna Crook is a New Mexico State Representative, representing District 64. She is a member of the Taxation and Revenue and Transportation committees. She is also an Interim Member of the following committees: NM Finance Authority Oversight Committee, Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee, and the Water & Natural Resources Committee.
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