NMiF looks at the state's budget balancing act; Healthy Soil and Water in NM

This week, New Mexico in Focus zeroes in on the state's budget as lawmakers work to finalize the massive spending plan. Senate Finance Chair George Muñoz, a Gallup Democrat, talks to host Nash Jones about several contentious line items, including copays for universal childcare and billions set aside for public and higher education.

Then, politics correspondent Gwyneth Doland checks in with Sen. Steve Lanier, the second-ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee and a candidate for governor, to learn where the state GOP stands on the budget.

Later, Gwyneth speaks with five different lawmakers, each representing a different community of New Mexicans, to find out the one thing they're fighting for in this year's budget. An important note and an apology: We also spoke with Republican Reps. Jennifer Jones and Gail Armstrong for this segment. Unfortunately, those responses will not air due to technical difficulties.

The Clear Horizons Act, meant to set the governor's carbon emission goals into law, died in the Senate this week as seven Democrats joined state Republicans to kill the bill. Capital and Main reporter Jerry Redfern sits down with Camilla Feibelman, director of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, to dig into the bill and consider how its failure will cost the state.

Last year, the Trump administration gutted the Clean Water Act, which protected millions of acres of wetlands, rivers and streams. That has prompted state officials and environmental groups to try and plug the proverbial dam and take charge of ensuring water quality. Correspondent Elizabeth Miller joins Tricia Snyder, Rivers and Waters program director for the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, on the banks of the Santa Fe River to learn more.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture offers a grant program to help improve soil conditions around the state. Nash speaks with program co-lead Katie Crayton, as well as Taos-based soil health coordinator Tyler Zander, about the "Healthy Soil Program" and how these grants are healing the state's scorched surface.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 7 a.m. and streaming on the PBS video app. Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Host
Nash Jones

Segments
Sen. Muñoz on Balancing State Budget
Correspondent
Nash Jones

Guest
Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup; Senate Finance Chair

Sen. Lanier on Childcare Copays and Fixing Potholes
Correspondent
Gwyneth Doland

Guest
Sen. Steve Lanier, R-San Juan County

Budget Priorities Heard Around the Roundhouse
Correspondent
Gwyneth Doland

Guests
Rep. Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque; House Speaker
Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Española
Sen. Rex Wilson, R-Lincoln County
Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces
Rep. Marianna Anaya, D-Albuquerque

Clear Horizons Bill Dies in Senate
Correspondent
Jerry Redfern

Guest
Camilla Feibelman, Rio Grande Chapter director, Sierra Club

Protecting NM Water Following Trump Cuts
Correspondent
Elizabeth Miller

Guest
Tricia Snyder, Rivers & Waters Program director, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance

Healthy Soil Program Helps Bring Life Back to the Surface
Correspondent
Nash Jones

Guests
Katie Crayton, Healthy Soil Program co-lead, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
Tyler Zander, soil health coordinator, Taos Soil and Water District

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, educational, and art issues, exploring them in depth with a critical eye to provide context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. Host and producer of New Mexico in Focus is Nash Jones. Producer is Antonio Sanchez. Multimedia journalist is Cailley Chella.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You. Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming.