Stateline New Mexico; 104; Tim Jennings, Former NM State Senate Majority Leader

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>> A FIRST PERSON TALE OF JENNINGS TAKES YOUR CALLS LIVE >> DAN: WELCOME TO STATE LINE VOICE HEARD BY THE FOLKS IN CHARGE.

TELEPHONE. 1-866-337-5172. CALL. YOUR CALLS IN MOMENT BUT FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC TELEVISION FOLKS IN LAS CRUCES WITH US TONIGHT FROM THE CAPITAL IN SANTA FE IS ROSWELL STATE >> TIM: HIGH, DAN, HOW ARE YOU >> DAN: WELL THE SESSION THE SENATE. BEHAVING? >> TIM: YOU KNOW, THE FIREWORKS WILL CONTINUE THAT. OF, IT WAS 33 TO 8, SO THE FIREWORKS JUST NEVER

GOES THROUGH. YOU KNOW, THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE >> DAN: NOW, SENATOR, WHEN I LOOKED FOR YOU IN YOUR NORMAL BACK. AFTER MANNY ARAGON, IN HIS RETURN FROM ELBA WAS VOTED FELLOW FOR YEARS. HOW DID THAT FEEL? >> TIM: IT WASN'T PLEASANT. DEAL. I BELIEVE IN BEING UP FRONT WITH PEOPLE, AND I FEEL SOMEWHAT KNOW, IN THIS, AS WELL, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, I

DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE AND RIGHT. SHOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE ISSUES AND TO DISCUSS IT AND NOT BE KIND OF BLIND-SIDED. PEOPLE. DECISION. I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULDN'T WITH THEIR DECISIONS, I LIVE >> DAN: FAIR ENOUGH, SENATOR JENNINGS, REPRESENTING ROSWELL, AND DUSTING HIMSELF OFF AND IN ROSWELL, I'M SORRY KS GLEN IN

>> HI >> DAN: , SENATOR. DON'T HARDLY EVER SEEN TO RAISE ALCOHOL BY 10% WE COULD GENERATE 40 MILLION DOLLARS, AND I'M WONDERING WHY THERE ISN'T MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS SACRAD >> TIM: ALCOHOL IS NOT REALLY IN ABOUT '92 AND '93 WHEN WE PASSED THE DWIREFORM LAWS, WE RAISED OUR ALCOHOL TAX RATES TO SHOWED THAT WE HAD AN AWFUL LOT THEY HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY. INCOME TAX OR, EXCUSE ME, ON OUR ALCOHOL TAXES. ALWAYS RAISE TAXES AND GENERATE

KNOW, WE TRY TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, ALL LEVELS OF BUSINESS AFLOAT IN THIS STATE AND NOT TO -- TO LEAD EITHER, I DON'T THINK. >> DAN: WELL, SENATOR, AS FAR GETTING A TAX INCREASE WITH THIS AM I CORRECT? >> TIM: THAT IS MY INCREASE IN HIS 10 YOUR IN >> DAN: SO, GLEN, HOLD ON TO RITA, FIRE AWAY. >> YES. PROGRAM TO OPEN UP YUCCA DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW, NUCLEAR TERRORISM AND EVERYTHING,

OF MY FEELINGS. SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO FOR THE >> TIM: YOU KNOW, MY POSITION RIGHT OFF WOULD BE THAT WE REPOSITORY NOW, AND WE HAVE NEGOTIATED THAT POSITION, AND THOSE LEVELS OF TRANCE URANIC OUT. MATERIALS IN THAT THEN I THINK AGAIN IN THAT MANNER. THINK A THAT EVERY BIT OF ALL THE NUCLEAR WASTES THAT WE HAVE COUNTRY THAT CAN BE USED AS WELL.

GENERATED THAT MIGHT FIT VERY BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD TAKE EVERYTHING NOW OFF THE -- FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY INTO CARLSBAD WITHOUT ANY KIND OF DISCUSSIONS OR RE-NEGOTIATING IT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS >> DAN: SENATOR, DO YOU SEE ANY LIKELIHOOD THAT ANY OTHER WAS TALKING ABOUT, IN SOUTHEAST >> TIM: THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. LOOKING AT GOING IN NOW TO DO NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN CHAVEZ COUNTY, THAT THEY'RE IN THE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT WE'RE TO LOOK AT THAT.

NEVADA AND SOME AREAS THAT SOME OF THAT OTHER REAL HIGH-LEVEL WASTE COULD BE STORED IN A SAFER >> DAN: FAIR ENOUGH. HE CALLS US FROM ALBUQUERQUE. WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION FOR THE >> YES, DAN. YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE SENATOR IS NOW AS YOU SAID AN >> DAN: I THINK THAT WAS A ROUND HOUSE >> OKAY. SENATOR JENNINGS WHO'S NOT IN MORE, HOW IS HE ALONG WITH AGENDA? >> DAN: HE'S TALKING ABOUT I TO MINIMIZE OR DID HE-MANNY-OO?IS THE NEW REJEEM TO FROM THE DIRECT OR UNILATERAL

UP THAT TASK. YOU'RE NOT IN THE LEADERSHIP, >> TIM: THIS WAS AN ARRANGEMENT BOTH SIDES TOGETHER, THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMS I THINK TOGETHER AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO ELIMINATE ANY KIND OF PROBLEMS, WHERE PEOPLE SAY FAVORITISMS MOST IMPORTANT BILLS IN THE ATTEMPT IS, TO GIVE SOME SAY FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AS TO WHAT ORDER SO EVERYONE HAS A FAIR CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR BILLS THEY HAVE TWO INDIVIDUAL OPPOSED TO ONE FOR THE REPUBLICANS ON MAKING THE

>> DAN: SENATOR, FORMER DOESN'T LIKE THIS IDEA, THAT THE THAT POSITION. >> TIM: YEAH, BILLY SAID THAT THE OTHER DAY IN THE PAPER, AND COURSE BILLY AND MANNY WERE >> DAN: NEXT ON THE LINE WE SENATOR, MARK? >> I WAS JUST WONDERING, THAT SINCE GOVERNOR JOHNSON HAS BEEN PERK LEGISLATION WHAT'S HAPPENED DOLLARS THAT HAVEN'T APPARENTLY >> GOOD QUESTION, SENATOR? >> A LOT OF THE MONEY THAT THE P KA TAL OUTLAY HAS BEEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SOLVE NEEDS

AND WITH MONEYS THAT HAVEN'T IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE GOVERNOR ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WHEN BEST TIME FOR US TO BE BUILDING AND PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK WHEN SIDE, I GUESS, OR ON THE -- IN THE DOLL DRUMS. >> DAN: ALL RIGHT. ECONOMY IT MAKES SENSE THAT YOU GO ALONG? COME OUT OF THE SESSION FOR BRICKS AND MORTAR SPENDING? >> TIM: YOU KNOW, THERE WAS OF THE SEVERANCE TAX FUNDS FOR DISCUSSION WE HAD THE OTHER DAY, NEGOTIATED.

WE HAVE. ARE, WHAT OUR EXPENDITURE LEVELS WITH THE GENERAL FUND AND HOW THAT WORKS OUT. EXPENDITURES THAT IT'S NOT ALL THAT, SOME MONEY, AVAILABLE, IN BUT OUR ONGOING REVENUES THAT TRY TO EXCEED TO KEEP YOUR >> DAN: NEXT ON LINE IS >> YES, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. DO TWO CASES ON CHILD SUPPORT. WELL, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY

THE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT RAISES, AND THEY GET MONEY GIVEN TO THEM TO TRY TO FIX IT, AND IT NEW MEXICO. >> DAN: MARGARET YOU RAISE A WHOLE SERIES OF REPORTS ON CHILD SUPPORT AND IT WAS THE SINGLE SENATOR >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT BEEN ABLE PROBABLY HALF OF EVERY WHO HAVE EITHER HAD THEIR INAPPROPRIATE MANNER WHEN THEY KNOW, I'VE GOT ONE INDIVIDUAL

SYSTEM, AND THEY CAN'T GET THE HE'S BEEN PAYING SUPPORT FOR THE AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR DONE. >> DAN: WELL, SENATOR, LET'S WHAT CAN THE LEGISLATURE DO MESSAGE? >> TIM: YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SENT JUST ONE AREA THAT THIS IF WE GO CUT THEIR BUDGET WHICH IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST HAMMERS AND IT'S -- THIS IS JUST A REAL AND THE GOVERNOR REALLY NEEDS TO SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT BACK ON THE

SURE THAT THOSE CHILDREN ARE >> DAN: WELL, I CAN TELL YOU GUY IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT WAS POSSIBLE. FROM BELEN. >> YES, SENATOR. FLOOR LEADER. MY QUESTION FOR YOU: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S >> TIM: I'M NOT REALLY IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNOR'S DRUG POLICIES. I TURN AROUND AND I WATCH HIM AND IF YOU MAKE MORE DRUGS TO INCREASE THE PROBLEMS THAT

KNOW, WE HAVE TOLD THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN OUR PRISONS AND HAVE TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO GET IN THOSE PROGRAMS WE HAVE TOLD TO BRAG ABOUT HOW THEY WEREN'T PROGRAMS WHEN THEY WENT INTO THE DID WORK, AND WE NEED THEM. AND WE'VE GOT TO -- THIS PROGRAM OPINION, AND I WISH THEY WOULD >> DAN: WELL, SENATOR, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO AN ARGUMENT THAT I WITH WHEEM WHEN THE GOVERNOR DOING IS FILLING UP OUR PRISONS >> WELL, I THINK, I WOULD MUCH RATHER COME UP WITH AN ORGANIZED

MAKE SURE IT'S FUNDED ADEQUATELY HAVE TO DO. GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOW ALCOHOL OR ALLOW HARD DRUGS TO BE GIVEN TO ANYBODY OR -- AND JUST TO TOTALLY REMOVE THAT FROM THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY'RE WE HAVE A TON OF VICTIMLESS ALL THE SPEEDERS JUST DRIVE THEY GET IN A WRECK AND ADDICTS DON'T CAUSE A PROBLEM UNLESS THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS, THINK I SOCIETY WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO THAT. >> DAN: THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE A WHOLE MINI SERIES HERE ON KNME AND PUBLIC

BRIAN IS FROM ALBUQUERQUE. >> YES, SIR. CALLED. OUR GOVERNOR HAS CHOSEN TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR AN EDUCATION AND NEW MEXICO RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM IN TERMS OF RATES OF GRADUATION AND JUST SCORING IN SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM IS THE YDIPROGRAM WHICH HELPS PREVENT ENCOURAGE THEM TO PASS. GREAT DISSERVICE TO THOSE

STUDENTS AND TO THE TEACHERS WHO ARE HELPING THEM ALONG BECAUSE >> DAN: THAT'S A PRETTY TOUGH FUNDING FROM PROGRAMS THAT WORK, SENATOR? >> TIM: YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED BELOW THE SHOWN A GREAT DEAL OF PROMISE. AND THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE YEAR WAS THE CHALLENGE PROGRAM IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. WITH 90 STUDENTS THAT HAD 53 AND THIS BRINGS THEM UP. IT'S A GRADS PROGRAM OR ANY OF

THOSE PROGRAMS THAT CAN KEEP THAT WE CAN SPEND A LITTLE MONEY AND SOME OF OUR GRADUATION DROPOUTS. AND HOBBS HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT DENT IN THEIR DROPOUT RATE WITH NOW THEY DID IT WITH SOME WHOLE SYSTEM AROUND. LIKE THEY HAVE IN HOBBS THAT DEAL WITH INCREASING OR REDUCING PROGRAM. >> DAN: SO THERE ARE MODELS OUT

WE HAVE TIME FOR A FEW MORE CALLS. >> HELLO. WHAT YOU THINK THE CHANCES ARE OF HAVING THE DEATH PENALTY >> TIM: YOU KNOW, WE VOTED ON AND IT WAS A REAL CLOSED VOTE, AND IT DID NOT PASS, AND I WOULD SAY THAT IT WOULD NOT BE PASSED ISSUES THAT'S RIGHT DOWN THERE, >> DAN: FAIR ENOUGH. CALL. BORDER CROSSING AND IS IT KEN OR HELLO? >> MY QUESTION IS THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT INCOME FOR THE STATE TO FUND DIFFERENT PROGRAMS

PEOPLES' TAXES. HACHITA, IT'S CALLED ANTELOPE WELLS AND MIRANDA NEW MEXICO, AND COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC HAS BEEN THROUGH THERE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH >> DAN: KEN, YOU RAISE A GOOD SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AROUND THE VARIOUS BORDER CROSSINGS BETWEEN >> TIM: WELL, WE HAVE PRETTY WELL TRIED TO CONSOLIDATE OUR ON FROM THERE. OUR HIGHWAYS BECAUSE OF OUR WASHINGTON LEVEL OR

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE HOPEFULLY START SEEING SOME MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE BORDERS >> DAN: FAIR ENOUGH, SENATOR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT MONTH WHEN WE HAVE U.S. SENATOR I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOENGS IN LAS CRUCES AND PORTALES FOR IN THE MEANTIME, STAY TUNED. I'M DAN VUKELICH.