By Walt Rubel, Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative
Jan. 30, 2021

LAS CRUCES – As the lone voice against a constitutional amendment to increase funding for early childhood programs, Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, was badly outnumbered Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the New Mexico House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.

House Joint Resolution 1 would increase the annual distribution from the Land Grant Permanent Fund from 5 percent to 6 percent, adding millions of dollars to the state’s early childhood education and care programs. It was passed out of the committee on a 6-4 party-line vote.

Rep. Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, has introduced the joint resolution every year since 2013, and it has passed six times already in the House of Representatives. In past years, the bill could never advance out of the Senate Finance Committee.

Read more at krwg.org