New Mexico in Focus; 1031; Budget, Taxes and Transparency, and Young Dem and GOP Leaders

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE NELITTA E. WALKER FUND FOR KNME-TV, THE KNME-TV ENDOWMENT FUND AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU. >> THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, WILL THE WOMEN'S MARCH ON WASHINGTON HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON POLICY, THE ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION, HUMAN RIGHTS, EDUCATION. THOSE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT MATTER TO WOMEN. >> AND A YOUNG DEMOCRAT AND A YOUNG REPUBLICAN TALK ABOUT STAYING ENGAGED IN LOCAL POLITICS. >> NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. IN A FEW MINUTES, THE LINE WILL LOOK BACK AT THE WOMEN'S MARCHES IN NEW MEXICO AND WASHINGTON AND WHAT MIGHT BE AHEAD. BUT, FIRST, LAWMAKERS IN SANTA FE WRANGLED WITH THE ONGOING BUDGET DEFICIT THIS WEEK. AS THEY CONTINUE TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL TAX INCREASES AND CUTS, WE WANTED TO KNOW HOW

TRANSPARENT THE PROCESS IS FOR THOSE OF US OUTSIDE THE ROUNDHOUSE. OUR CORRESPONDENT, GWYNETH DOLAND SAT DOWN WITH TWO BUDGET AND TAX EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE STATE BUDGETING PROCESS. THIS SEGMENT IS PART OF THE PEOPLE, POWER AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT. >> RICHARD ANKLAM IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW MEXICO TAX RESEARCH INSTITUTE. RICHARD THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> FRED NATHAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THINK NEW MEXICO. THANKS FOR COMING IN. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AS WELL. >> RICHARD, I WANT TO START WITH YOU. THE LEGISLATURE MOVED SURPRISINGLY QUICKLY IN THE HOLE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR, THAT IS, IN JUNE. WHAT DID THEY DO THERE? >> WELL, THEY BASICALLY JUST WENT INTO A SECOND SPECIAL SESSION. PROBLEM IN THE LAST SPECIAL SESSION WE HAD IN NOVEMBER. THINGS GOT WORSE. PERHAPS THEY DIDN'T DO ENOUGH GIVEN THE ELECTION CYCLE, BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY GOT DOWN TO THE BUSINESS OF WHEN CONVENED THIS YEAR WAS FIXING THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGE CRISIS AND

THEY APPEAR TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THAT, I THINK. >> WITH A BUNCH OF LITTLE NIPS AND TUCKS AND CUTS? >> SWAPS AND DEFERRALS, YES. >> NOW, THEY HAVE AN EVEN HARDER JOB BECAUSE WE HAVE THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT STARTS IN JULY AND WE HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER HOLE THERE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THEY ARE LOOKING AT FIXING NEXT YEAR. >> NEXT YEAR, I THINK ANYTHING IS ON THE TABLE. WE STILL HAVE A DEFICIT. IT IS WORSE THAN WHAT THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS YEAR. TAXES ARE SORT OF ON THE TABLE. GOVERNOR DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT TAXES, BUT, CERTAINLY, IT IS SIMPLE ARITHMETIC. EITHER DECREASE COSTS OR INCREASE REVENUE OR A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH, TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM. WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. >> IT IS A BIG CRISIS, A LOT OF MONEY. PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT IS THE WORST THEY CAN REMEMBER. DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? >> THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE THE GREAT BACK THEN, WE JUST HAD PROPERTY TAXES AND PROPERTY TAXES PLUMMETED. SO I THINK WE HAVE SEEN WORSE

BUT IN RECENT MEMORY, YOU'RE RIGHT, I DON'T THINK I CAN REMEMBER ANYTHING QUITE THIS SEVERE. >> NOW, YOU KNOW, I WAS IN A COMMITTEE HEARING YESTERDAY AND I UNDERSTOOD, I THINK, ABOUT 8% OF WHAT THEY SAID. I HAVE BEEN AROUND A WHILE. HOW TRANSPARENT IS IT WHEN THEY MAKE ALL THESE TINY CUTS FROM FUNDS WE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF? >> IT IS NOT VERY TRANSPARENT AT ALL TO THE REGULAR PERSON, EVEN TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU, WHO IS AROUND THE LEGISLATURE ALL THE TIME. AND THAT MAY BE AN ISSUE THAT BUBBLES UP THIS SESSION, BECAUSE MORE AND MORE GROUPS, GROUPS LIKE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT, ARE SAYING, WE SHOULD MAKE THIS BUDGETING PROCESS MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT. AND THERE IS TOO MUCH OF A TENDENCY TO GO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT AND THEN COME OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND RATIFY THAT DECISION. SO, THAT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH THIS SESSION. >> RICHARD, MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE TOO DEPENDENT ON OIL AND GAS REVENUE AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THESE CRAZY CRISES. HOW COULD WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM WILD SWINGS IN A MARKET WE CAN'T CONTROL? >> WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF

BUDGETING AND SHOWING RESTRAINT. WHAT WE TEND TO DO IS WE GO THROUGH THESE BOOM AND BUST CYCLES WITH THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY. WHEN PRICES ARE GOOD, ALL SINS ARE FORGIVEN. WE CAN DO ALL KINDS OF STUFF, SOME NOT SO SMART, OTHERS GOOD STUFF TOO. AND WE FORGET ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE PRICE WILL DROP AGAIN AND THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS IN OUR GENERAL FUND. GIVE OR TAKE A THIRD COMES FROM OIL AND GAS, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, AND THAT IS A BIG CHUNK. AND, SO, THERE IS MECHANISMS YOU CAN BUILD WITH GOOD RESERVES AND BUT IT REQUIRES DISCIPLINE AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IT IS HARD FOR POLITICIANS TO HAVE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS A VERY SHORT TERM FOCUS TYPICALLY. >> WE'RE ALWAYS -- I THINK, THIS HAPPENS TOO OFTEN, THERE IS TOO MUCH OF AN EMPHASIS OR RECENCY BIAS WHERE WE OVER-EMPHASIZE WHAT JUST HAPPENS. SO WHEN PRICES ARE GOOD, WE TEND TO BE OVERLY BULLISH. WHEN PRICES ARE BAD, WE TEND TO BE OVERLY BEARISH. I AM SORT OF SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS A

300 TO 500 MILLION DEFICIT, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO OVERLOOK SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. FOR EXAMPLE, A FEW WEEKS AGO, EXXON, ANOTHER MAJOR OIL COMPANY, SPENT 10 BILLION TO BUY UP THE LAND IN THE PERMIAN BASIN WHICH IS NOW CONSIDERED THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OIL PLACE IN THE COUNTRY. AND, SO, THAT MEANS MORE RIGS. I MEAN, EXXON IS NOT SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY FOR THE LANDSCAPE. THEY ARE SPENDING IT BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO DRILL. THAT CREATES JOBS, THAT IS GOING TO CREATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. AT SOME POINT THERE IS A REVERSING TO THE MEAN AND I JUST WONDER WHETHER THINGS AREN'T QUITE AS DIRE AS THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. >> WE WON'T KNOW FOR A LITTLE BIT. YOU'RE BIG ISSUE LAST SESSION WAS INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND THE PROCESS WE USE TO DO THAT. THE REFORMS YOU WANTED DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST YEAR. SO, YOU'RE STILL ON THAT TOPIC NOW. YOU ARGUE THE WAY WE DO CAPITAL OUTLAY IS WASTEFUL AND INEFFICIENT. HOW WOULD FIXING THAT SYSTEM HELP OUR ECONOMY?

>> WELL, I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS DEBATE AS TO WHETHER TO RAISE TAXES OR CUT SPENDING AND WE ARE ARGUING THERE IS A THIRD WAY WHICH IS TO ADOPT POLICIES THAT WILL CREATE JOBS. RIGHT NOW WE SPEND A LOT OF THAT MONEY ON THINGS LIKE WRESTLING MATS, FOOTBALL HELMETS, SILVERWARE FOR SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS. WE SHOULD BE SPENDING THAT ON INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS AND WATER SYSTEMS. THOSE CREATE JOBS. IN A NORMAL YEAR WE SPEND ABOUT 300 MILLION ON CAPITAL OUTLAY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT SHOULD GENERATE ABOUT 8100 JOBS A YEAR. BUT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLAN, THERE IS NO OBJECTIVE CRITERIA, A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS NEVER HAPPEN AND MONEY SITS IDLE ON THE SIDELINE. SO, IF WE CREATE A BETTER PROCESS, WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS BILL THAT WILL BE INTRODUCED ON FRIDAY, WE THINK THERE WILL BE A PLAN. THERE WILL BE OBJECTIVE CRITERIA AND THAT MONEY WILL GET SPENT AND THAT WILL LEAD TO MORE JOB DEVELOPMENT. >> NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT COULD START AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR IF WE PASS THE BILL THIS YEAR AND CREATE JOBS FOR NEXT YEAR. >> LAWMAKERS ARE UNDER A TON OF PRESSURE TO CUT, CUT, CUT EVERYWHERE THEY CAN. OTHERS ARE SAYING, WE CUT AS FAR AS WE CAN GO AND WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE MONEY COMING IN. THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE RAISING OR INSTITUTING TAXES ON GAS, LIQUOR, TOBACCO, THINGS WE BUY FROM AMAZON AND OTHER PLACES ONLINE. AND ON NEW AND USED CARS. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAID THAT THERE IS WIGGLE ROOM HERE. THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO FOR A LITTLE SOMETHING BUT GOVERNOR HAS NOT YET SAID THAT SHE COULD BUDGE FROM HER NO NEW TAXES PLEDGE. HOW CAN LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR FIND SOME COMPROMISE HERE WHERE EVERYONE CAN SAVE FACE? >> WELL THAT IS EASY, WE JUST CLOSE LOOPHOLES. EVERYTHING IS FAIR. >> CLOSE TAX LOOPHOLES. >> IT IS SEMANTICS, IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER. NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE T WORD,

RIGHT? REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS. >> IF YOU CALL IT CLOSING A TAX LOOPHOLE, IT IS NOT A NEW TAX BUT YOU ARE RAISING REVENUES? >> YES. >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LOOPHOLES WE MIGHT LOOK AT? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE REMOTE SALES ISSUE. INTERNET COMMERCE. YOU COULD BRAND THAT AS A LOOPHOLE IF YOU WANTED TO, I THINK. THERE IS FAIRNESS ISSUES AND ISSUES OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT YOU CAN ALSO CALL IT A TAX INCREASE. >> IF I BUY A BOOK AT A LOCAL BOOK STORE, I PAY SALES TAX ON IT, BUT IF I BUY AT AMAZON, I DON'T. >> CORRECT AND THAT IS NOT VERY GOOD FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESS, EITHER, SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE WILL BE PROPOSALS ON THAT SUBJECT. GOVERNOR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE VERY WARM ON THAT IDEA. IF YOU WANTED TO SAY IT IS MORE ABOUT FAIRNESS AND NOT SO MUCH A TAX INCREASE, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING IT WOULD BE EASIER TO PAINT THAT PICTURE. >> AND BUSINESSES COULD GET BEHIND THINGS LIKE THAT? >> YES. >> MOST BUSINESSES ARE BEHIND THAT. IT AFFECTS RETAILERS, AND, YOU KNOW, AND A FEW PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE STATE BUT CONSUMERS DON'T -- NONE OF US -- WE ARE ALL FOR TAXES AS LONG AS WE

DON'T HAVE TO PAY THEM. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. SO, NONE OF US WANT TO PAY TAX ON AMAZON BUT DON'T WANT LOCAL BUSINESSES TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS AS A RESULT. AND WE NEED MONEY, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT A LEAKY SYSTEM. LEAKY TAX SYSTEMS ARE DUMB AND INVARIABLY IMPLODE. IF WE DON'T FIX IT, IT WILL FIX ITSELF OVER TIME. THAT JUST WON'T HELP US BALANCE THE BUDGET IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER LOOPHOLES THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE DEBATED IN COMING WEEKS? >> LOTS OF THINGS THAT YOU CALL LOOPHOLES OR PEOPLE WILL. ANYONE'S PROJECT WILL BE A LOOPHOLE. IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE TOBACCO TAXES, WE'LL SAY IT IS A LOOPHOLE. IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE PERSONAL INCOME TAXES, WE'LL CALL IT A LOOPHOLE. I AM BEING FACETIOUS. WE WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THE SEMANTICS AND THE DEMAGOGUERY. WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. WE HAVE A FISCAL SYSTEM AND A TAX SYSTEM THAT FUNDS IT AND IT IS ALL ABOUT THAT SYSTEM. IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT DID WE RAISE A PENNY HERE AND CUT A PENNY THERE. THAT IS GETTING INTO THE WEEDS. THAT IS POLITICIANS. >> YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING

ABOUT THESE TAXES ON ALCOHOL AND GAS AND CARS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT SAY WE NEED TO BRING BACK THE TAX WE USED TO HAVE ON FOOD. YOU THINK THAT IS A BAD IDEA? >> YES, I DO. BUT I WANT TO SAY, I AGREE WITH RICHARD. I DO THINK WE DESPERATELY NEED TAX REFORM AND THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN BY THE DROP IN OIL AND GAS TAXES. I WOULD JUST ARGUE THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO TAX REFORM, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BROADEN THE BASE BY CLOSING LEGITIMATE LOOPHOLES, AND DIVERSIFYING OUR REVENUE BASE. BUT, I DON'T THINK THAT TAXING FOOD OR MEDICINE OR PHYSICIANS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. ONE THING THAT RICHARD SAYS, WHICH I TOTALLY AGREE WITH, IS WE NEED A TAX SYSTEM THAT LOOKS LIKE OTHER STATES. AND WHEN I LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY, 34 STATES EXEMPT FOOD FROM TAX. INCLUDING ALL OF OUR SURROUNDING STATES. SO THAT IS PART OF OUR SYSTEM I DON'T THINK IS BROKEN, BUT, THERE IS LOTS OF AREAS WHERE I THINK WE CAN CREATE REVENUE

NEUTRAL REFORMS THAT BROADEN THE BASE AND LOWER THE RATES. >> SPEAKING OF SURROUNDING STATES THAT TAX THINGS, MARIJUANA, RICHARD. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROPOSALS UP THERE THIS YEAR THAT WOULD LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND THERE ARE PROPOSALS TO THEN TAX THE HECK OUT OF IT. IF WE DID THAT, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOW MUCH HELP WOULD THAT BE. >> THAT IS A FUNCTION OF QUANTITY AND PRICE. YOU KNOW, OR TAX RATE, RIGHT? SO, I THINK THE TAX FOUNDATION DID A 50 STATE STUDY ON THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION USING, 15, 20, 25 TAX RATES AND WE RANGED ANYWHERE FROM 25 MILLION TO OVER 50 IN THEIR STUDY. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT NUMBERS MYSELF. COLORADO HAS SEEN BETTER NUMBERS THAN THAT BUT THEY HAVE THREE TIMES THE POPULATION WE HAVE. AND THEY HAD A BUMP, YOU KNOW, IN TOURISM AND THRILL SEEKERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE EFFECTS GO AWAY OVER TIME AS OTHER STATES ADOPT SIMILAR LAWS. NEW MEXICO WOULDN'T SEE THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT COLORADO DID, BUT IT WOULD STILL RAISE

POTENTIALLY MONEY, BUT IT WOULDN'T RAISE IT TODAY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO IMPLEMENT ENTIRELY NEW TAX REGIME AND PROGRAM, REGULATORY SCHEME LIKE COLORADO DID. THERE WOULD BE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND IT WOULD TAKE TIME. >> 50 MILLION IS A BIG PART OF THE BUDGET HOLE THAT WE JUST HAD TO PATCH FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> SO, WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT IS GOING TO GO? >> WELL, I DON'T BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR IS A FAN. I DON'T THINK SHE CALLS IT A REGRESSIVE TAX INCREASE. I SAY THAT AS A JOKE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE, BUT, I THINK HER REASONS ARE CRIME RELATED, YOU KNOW. THERE IS WORKFORCE SAFETY ISSUES. THERE IS A LOT OF LEGITIMATE DEBATES TO BE HAD AROUND THE SUBJECT OF MARIJUANA. I DON'T LIKE TO START THE CONVERSATION BY ASSUMING THAT NO ONE SMOKES IT NOW BECAUSE THERE IS A TAX BASE THAT WE DON'T TAX. BUT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO ENCOURAGE UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS EITHER. THERE IS A GOOD LEGITIMATE DEBATE TO BE HAD BUT THERE IS MONEY ON THE TABLE AS WELL. >> WE WOULD HAVE THOSE EXACT SAME DEBATES ON A WHOLE HOST OF SIMILAR AND VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS FOR THE REST OF THE

SESSION. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. PANEL. THE WOMEN'S MARCH ON WASHINGTON DREW HUNDREDS OF TURNOUT AT RALLIES HERE IN NEW MEXICO WERE LARGER THAN SOME EXPECTED. NOW WILL THESE RALLIES AND MARCHES HAVE A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON PUBLIC POLICY OR PRIORITIES OF THE NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? I AM JOINED THIS WEEK BY DANIEL FOLEY, FORMER NEW MEXICO HOUSE MINORITY WHIP, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JANICE ARNOLD-JONES IS HERE, LAURA SANCHEZ-RIVET, AN ATTORNEY WITH CUDDY & MCCARTHY, LLP, AND MARSHA GARCIA BACK FROM STRATEGIES 360. MARSHA, YOU ATTENDED THE RALLY HERE. I AM GOING TO CALL IT THE INFAMOUS PICTURE TAKEN FROM THE CITY COUNTY BUILDING DOWN BELOW ON CIVIC PLAZA. NEW MEXICO SHOWED UP. THAT WAS AMAZING. >> IT WAS AMAZING. >> WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING THERE? >> THERE WAS SO MUCH ENERGY TO FOLKS ABOUT, WORKING IN POLITICS AND BEING CIVICALLY ENGAGED, YOU GO TO SO MANY MARCHES AND PROTESTS AND THIS WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ENERGY. PEOPLE WERE HAPPY, EXCITED AND

THINGS OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T GO OUR WAY ON ELECTION DAY, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER, TO START SAYING, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE THINGS MATTER, ALL OF THESE THINGS INTERSECT, ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION, HUMAN RIGHTS, EDUCATION. THOSE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT MATTER TO WOMEN SO IT IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS. THIS IS TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITIES, THAT AFFECTS OUR FAMILIES. IT WAS JUST A GREAT DAY TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE, CHILDREN AND A LOT OF MEN TOO. IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY. >> WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE SITUATION? >> I DIDN'T GET TO ATTEND AND A SHOUT OUT TO RONNIE POWDRELL, ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING BASKETBALL PLAYER FROM ALBUQUERQUE HIGH SCHOOL SO, ONE, LOOKING AT THE ORGANIZATION, YOU CANNOT FAULT THIS GROUP FOR THE LEVEL AND DEGREE OF ORGANIZATION, THE FACT THAT THIS APPARENTLY TOOK PLACE FROM NOVEMBER 9 FORWARD. THIS IS A MONUMENTAL TASK, KUDOS ON THEM. IF I WERE TO STATE PURPOSE,

BEYOND WE DON'T LIKE TRUMP AND WE'RE MAD, THE PURPOSE WAS MUDDLED. HOWEVER, MANY OF MY FRIENDS WENT AND THE GOOD FEELINGS THAT CAME ACROSS, CAME OUT OF THAT EVENT. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CAMARADERIE. AND YET, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO DID NOT GO WHO DID NOT FEEL WELCOME AT ALL. >> WAS THERE A CONSERVATIVE PART TO THAT ABOUT NOT FEELING WELCOME? WAS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, IN PARTICULAR? >> I THINK THE MESSAGE STARTED COMING THROUGH THAT IF YOU WERE NOT PRO CHOICE, YOU WERE NOT WELCOME. AND THE WOMEN'S ISSUES GO SO FAR BEYOND THAT ISSUE. MANY THINGS, I MEAN, EQUAL PAY, ACCESS, ACCESS JUST TO AN INTERVIEW. THESE ARE BIGGER THINGS THAN JUST THAT ONE ISSUE. SO, THEY DID NOT FEEL WELCOME, SO THEY DIDN'T GO. THERE IS THAT. >> SEE HOW THAT ROLLS OUT. >> DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO? >> I DIDN'T, NO. I HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY THAT

DAY AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP FOR THAT. MANY PEOPLE REALLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE TO THE STREETS AND STAND BEHIND THEIR CONVICTIONS AND ALL OF THAT. IT WAS SURPRISING TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. I THINK TWICE AS MUCH, ALMOST THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS IN SANTA FE. WE HAD PEOPLE FROM TAOS AND QUESTA AND OTHER PLACES THAT CAME TO THE SANTA FE ONE, BUT, I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE. I TALKED TO A PARTNER FROM MY LAW FIRM WHO WENT TO DC. SHE CAME BACK WITH AMAZING STORIES AND GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THAT, BUT IT SHOWS THE BIGGER PICTURE OF PEOPLE BEING VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, AND, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, I THINK, THAT HE SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN, AND THINGS THAT HE CONTINUES TO STAND BEHIND AND HIS MISTREATING, I THINK IN TERMS OF COMMENTS, SO MANY GROUPS OF PEOPLE. SO IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT

MANY PEOPLE COME OUT AND REALLY STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN AND TO SHOW THAT IS NOT OKAY. >> DAN, THERE WERE EVENTS AND FASCINATING PARTS OF OUR STATE, FORT SUMNER, GUITERREZ FROM THE JOURNAL DID A COLUMN ABOUT THIS EARLIER IN THE WEEK. FORT SUMNER AND THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO DECIDED TO DO IT AT NO SMALL RISK TO HERSELF AND FAMILY. SHE WAS AFRAID AND SHE DID IT AND PEOPLE SHOWED UP. AMAZING THING. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF EVENTS WHERE TWO WOMEN WALKING IN A SMALL, SMALL, SMALL TOWN. TO YOU, AND THE TWO MEN HERE AT THE TABLE, IT RESONATES WITH ME AND I AM CURIOUS, HAVING TWO DAUGHTERS, HOW DOES IT RESONATE WITH YOU WHEN YOU SEE WOMEN SO FORCEFULLY ASKING FOR SOMETHING IN OUR COUNTRY? >> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YOUR SETUP IS GREAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, MEN, DOESN'T MATTER, WHENEVER THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO STAND FOR SOMETHING, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR THAT. AND I THINK CLEARLY WOMEN ARE RALLYING AND IT IS AN

IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET THEIR VOICE OUT. I LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS DEAL AND I DON'T THINK -- I THINK THAT IT IS VERY HYPOCRITICAL. THE REASON I SAY HYPOCRITICAL IS BECAUSE HAD A BUNCH OF NRA, PRO LIFE PEOPLE DONE THIS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A CONSERVATIVE WOMEN'S MARCH. BUT, NO, THIS IS A WOMEN'S MARCH AND YET THERE ARE REPORTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHEN THE PRO LIFE PEOPLE APPROACHED THEM TO BE PART OF IT, THEY WERE TOLD, NO. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS REALLY -- THIS REALLY, TO ME, IN MY OPINION, EVEN THOUGH I AM GLAD FOLKS GOT OUT AND HAD THEIR VOICE, THIS WASN'T A WOMEN'S MARCH. THIS WAS A POLITICAL RALLY. THIS WAS PEOPLE GETTING OUT SAYING ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE LOST THE ELECTION, WE ARE MAD AND WE ARE GOING TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT IT. I JUST THINK IT IS TIME -- I THINK THIS TYPE OF STUFF IS WHEN PEOPLE SAY HOW DID DONALD TRUMP WIN? WHY? THIS IS WHY. WHEN THE MEDIA COMES OUT AND SAYS WE HAVE THIS HUGE WOMEN'S MARCH ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS,

WHEN THE REALITY IT IS REALLY POLITICAL AGENDA WITH A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, WITH A POLITICAL SLANT. >> DOES THAT LESSEN IT? >> IT LESSENS IT WHEN YOU ALLOW IT TO BE LESSENED. IF YOU GET OUT AND SAY, LISTEN, WE ARE A PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH A POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE OTHER SIDE, I THINK PEOPLE, OKAY, I AM FOR THAT. WHEN YOU TRY TO BRAND YOURSELF IN MY OPINION AND MISLEAD PEOPLE AND SAY WE ARE ALL WELCOMING AND ALL ABOUT WOMEN, IN GENERAL, THESE SAME FOLKS, HERE IS THE DEAL, THESE VERY SAME FOLKS THAT ARE UP IN ARMS ABOUT THE COMMENTS BY DONALD TRUMP, WHERE WERE THEY WHEN THE COMMENTS WERE BEING MADE ABOUT SARAH PALIN? WHERE WERE THEY WHEN THEY WERE CALLING HER AN IDIOT, TOO PRETTY TO BE VICE PRESIDENT. THE COMMENTS, MOST EGREGIOUS SEXIST COMMENTS, AND NONE OF THESE PEOPLE RALLY AND SAID WE GOT TO FIX THAT. >> THAT IS FAIR ENOUGH. >> THAT LEADS TO WHY PEOPLE LIKE TRUMP GET ELECTED. >> I HAVE A QUESTION, ONE OF THE INTERESTING BUBBLES OF THIS SITUATION THAT I FIND

FASCINATING, THERE IS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN WOMEN OF COLOR AND WHITE WOMEN ABOUT HOW THIS ALL WORKS, MEANING, PRIVILEGE FOR WHITE WOMEN VERSUS, YOU KNOW, WHERE WOMEN OF COLOR SORT OF FIT INTO THIS GIANT MILIEU OF WOMEN'S ISSUES. HEALTHY CONVERSATION IN YOUR VIEW? SOME OF IT CAN BE PRETTY TOUGH SOMETIMES, WHEN I AM READING IT. >> NOT ONLY IT IS HEALTHY, IT IS A NEEDED CONVERSATION AND IT ISN'T COMFORTABLE SOMETIMES BECAUSE OFTEN PEOPLE LIKE THE STATUS QUO AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO THINK, OH, WE AS WOMEN ARE OSTRACIZING OTHER WOMEN. IT IS HAPPENING AND REAL. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT ALBUQUERQUE'S RALLY WAS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF WOMEN IN COLOR IN THE FOREFRONT. MOST OF THE SPEAKERS WERE WOMEN OF COLOR. SO IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING TO SEE BUT IT STILL IS HAPPENING. I MEAN I AM PART OF A LOT OF GROUPS AND YOU DO SEE THAT MOST OF THE SPOKESPEOPLE ARE WHITE WOMEN AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS, TALKING ABOUT EQUAL REPRESENTATION, WHICH IS A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, DAN, WE NEED TO

ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE REPRESENTING THEMSELVES, RIGHT? SO, IF WE HAVE CERTAIN AREAS OF NEW MEXICO, CERTAIN AREAS OF TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK WHERE THERE IS PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC PEOPLE, IT SHOULD BE WOMEN OF COLOR IN THE FOREFRONT. THEY SHOULD BE EMPOWERED ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT IS THEIRS. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND NOWHERE NEAR BEING DONE AND HAS TO KEEP GOING AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES. SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE. >> SAME SUBJECT, WOMEN OF COLOR AND HOW IT ALL FITS INTO THIS MOSAIC. >> I THINK WE SAW PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND RELIGIONS BUT THERE IS STILL A DIFFERENCE THERE. THERE IS STILL SOME OPPRESSION GOING ON AND UNWILLINGNESS TO IN SOME WAY SPEAK UP. JUST IN MY OWN, MY OWN PROFESSION, MY OWN LIFE, THERE IS TIMES WHEN I MEAN I WOULD

RATHER SIT BACK AND LISTEN RATHER -- JUST CULTURALLY THERE IS A TENDENCY FOR OTHERS TO SPEAK UP RIGHT AWAY AND THERE IS CULTURAL ISSUES THERE. NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL ISSUES WHERE BEING THE FIRST ONE TO SPEAK IS NOT ALWAYS -- PEOPLE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THERE IS DIFFERENT MODES OF COMMUNICATION. THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS IS I DO THINK THERE WASN'T EXCLUSION IN TERMS OF ONLY BEING WHITE WOMEN OR PERSON OF COLOR OR EVEN BEING NATIVE. THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUND AND PEOPLE HAD DIFFERENT REASONS FOR WHY THEY SHOWED UP TO THE RALLIES AND I THINK ALL OF THEM ARE VALID. >> HATS WILL BE GREAT KEEPSAKES 20 YEARS FROM NOW, TO GIVE TO YOUR DAUGHTER, GRANDDAUGHTER. END IT THERE. COMING UP, OUR NATION SEEMS DIVIDED, CERTAINLY, MORE DEEPLY THAN EVER. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUNG LEADERS IN BOTH PARTIES? THIS MONTH SARAH GUSTAVUS SAT DOWN WITH A YOUNG REPUBLICAN AND A YOUNG DEMOCRAT AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT DREW EACH OF THEM TO POLITICS AND WHAT MAKES THEM HOPEFUL ABOUT THE

FUTURE. WE HEAR FROM SAMUEL LEDOUX AND >> SAMUEL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. US, WHERE DO YOU STAND POLITICALLY? HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS REPUBLICAN TO OTHERS. >> I AM MAINSTREAM SIMILAR TO JOHN MCCAIN. >> YOU WORKED FOR JOHN MCCAIN LAST YEAR. WHAT DREW YOU TO HIS CAMPAIGN AND ISSUES HE WAS TALKING ABOUT? >> I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED JOHN MCCAIN. I THINK HE IS A POWERFUL VOICE IN THE SENATE. I THINK ESPECIALLY IN FOREIGN POLICY, SENATORS LIKE HIM ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER WITH HACKINGS, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYONE AS KNOWLEDGEABLE AS JOHN MCCAIN IN THE SENATE TO TACKLE THESE ISSUES. >> WHAT ABOUT ISSUES HERE IN NEW MEXICO, DID HE SPEAK TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS REGIONALLY AS WELL? >> JOHN MCCAIN FOCUSED ON NATIVE AMERICANS DURING THE CAMPAIGN AND TRYING TO HELP

THEM WITH A LOT OF THEIR PRESSING ISSUES, SUCH AS WATER THAT WE ALSO DEAL WITH HERE IN NEW MEXICO AND THAT ALSO REALLY INSPIRED ME. I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS WALKING IN A PARADE WITH JOHN MCCAIN AT THE NAVAJO NATION AND WE HAD JOHN MCCAIN AND CODE TALKERS AND WE WERE WALKING THE PARADE AND THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ASPECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. >> WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THAT EXPERIENCE? DID THAT CHANGE HOW YOU SEE POLITICS? >> I USED TO BE A BIT FURTHER TO THE RIGHT THAN SENATOR MCCAIN, BUT AS I GOT MORE INVOLVED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN, I ACTUALLY STARTED AGREEING WITH HIM UPON MORE AND MORE THINGS. I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY, I AM PRETTY SIMILAR TO HIM NOW. >> YOU ALSO WORKED ON GOVERNOR MARTINEZ' REELECTION CAMPAIGN. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT EXPERIENCE? >> GOVERNOR MARTINEZ IS THE ONE GOT ME INVOLVED IN POLITICS TO BEGIN WITH. I REALLY WAS IMPRESSED WITH HER AND STAFF IN THE 2010 CAMPAIGN. SOME OF HER STAFF ACTUALLY WENT DOWN TO MY HIGH SCHOOL AND SPOKE TO US ON POLITICAL DAY.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE ONLY REPUBLICANS THERE THAT HAD STAFF THERE, AND WE HEARD FROM THE STAFF AND I WAS REALLY INSPIRED, ACTUALLY, INSPIRED ME TO GO AND REGISTER TO VOTE AND I REGISTERED AS A REPUBLICAN SO I COULD VOTE FOR HER IN THE PRIMARY AND THEN IT CULMINATED IN ACTUALLY CASTING VOTES WITH HER AT THE CONVENTION AT RNC IN 2016. >> YOU COME FROM A FAMILY OF REPUBLICANS? >> I COME FROM A FAMILY OF MIX, HALF AND HALF. >> YOU GREW UP IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. >> I GREW UP IN ESPANOLA AND RIGHT NOW I AM LIVING IN NAMBE. >> YOU WROTE A COLUMN FOR THE ONLINE NEWS SITE POLITICS.NET OF THE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SEND TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW? >> PEOPLE NEED TO JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER. A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING, I THINK, THAT COMES FROM POLITICS IS THE FACT THAT NONE OTHER ANYMORE. SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALLOWED US TO KIND OF SURROUND OURSELVES IN OUR OWN POLITICAL CIRCLES WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK EXACTLY LIKE US AND I HAVE CAUGHT MYSELF

DOING THIS TOO, WHERE I ONLY FOLLOW POLITICS THAT KIND OF THINK LIKE ME. I UNFOLLOW LIBERAL PEOPLE. WE ALL GET STUCK IN THIS TRAP WHERE WE JUST WANT TO HEAR EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK. I THINK IT IS DANGEROUS TO DEMOCRACY A LITTLE BIT. BECAUSE WITHOUT KNOWING THINGS ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE, WE TEND TO BASICALLY DEHUMANIZE THEM AND WHEN THE ELECTIONS COME, YOU OFTEN SEE, YOU KNOW, VERY STRONG REACTIONS IF YOU LOSE. I SAW THIS ON MY SIDE IN 2012. I WORKED REALLY HARD ON THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN, AND I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN HE LOST. I KNOW WHERE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY FEEL WHEN DONALD TRUMP WON. AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN A BIG DEAL. WE HAD A DEMOCRAT IN THE PRESIDENCY FOR EIGHT YEARS, SO, IT IS GOING TO BE A RADICAL CHANGE THAT A LOT OF THEM AREN'T USED TO AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM.

I ALSO REMEMBER WHEN GLENN BECK AND ALL THESE PEOPLE ON TV ARE TALKING LIKE IT WAS THE END OF THE WORLD WHEN OBAMA WAS ELECTED AND THAT IS JUST NOT THE CASE AND THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WITH TRUMP THAT IS NOT THE CASE. >> ARE YOU REACHING OUT TO FOLKS IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR YOUR FAMILY WHO HAVE DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWS? >> I AM AND REACHING OUT TO FELLOW REPUBLICANS TO TRY TO CALM DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THEM HAVE, YOU KNOW, STARTED BRAGGING ABOUT HOW THEY WOULD BEAT THE OTHER SIDE AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT. IT IS TIME FOR US TO BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING, WE ARE GOING TO BE CRITICIZED. SO, WE SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND TRY OUR BEST TO LEAD THE NATION FOR ALL AMERICANS. WE'RE NO LONGER THE OPPOSITION PARTY. >> THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF DIVISION HERE IN NEW MEXICO BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE THAT MESSAGE LOCALLY TO BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN THE LEGISLATURE? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.

>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I THINK THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE DIVISIONS NATIONALLY HAVE TRICKLED DUNN LOCALLY AND I THINK GOVERNOR MARTINEZ HAS TRIED HER ABSOLUTE BEST TO TRY TO COMPROMISE WITH DEMOCRATS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECIPROCATED ON THEIR SIDE AND SANTA FE IS LOOKING A LOT MORE LIKE WASHINGTON. >> YOU HAVE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND YOUNG REPUBLICANS. WHAT DO YOU SEE AHEAD FOR YOURSELF, ARE YOU HOPEFUL OF WHERE THE PARTY IS HEADED? >> I AM HOPEFUL. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PARTY HAS ALWAYS HAD A LOT OF POSITIONS IN IT. IT IS TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO INCORPORATE A LOT OF DIFFERING OPINIONS ON THINGS. A LOT PEOPLE DON'T AGREE WITH NOW THAT WE ARE IN CHARGE, WE CAN USE THE DIVERSITY OF IDEAS WITHIN OUR PARTY TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTRY AND SHOW THERE IS A SPECTRUM OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL BELIEFS. I DON'T THINK LIKE THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THAT MUCH DIVERSITY WITHIN THEIR PARTY,

SO, NOW THAT WE ARE IN CHARGE, WE CAN COMPROMISE AND GO WITH EACH OTHER ON THINGS AND REACH OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE. I THINK DIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS WHAT LED IT TO BASICALLY TAKE ALMOST ALL OF THE MIDDLE AMERICA. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTION BREAKDOWN, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE DEMOCRATS ONLY CONTROL THE COASTS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THIS HUGE COUNTRY IN BETWEEN. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE IN NEW YORK AND YOU WANTED TO TRAVEL TO THE NEXT PLACE THAT IS A CLINTON VOTING PLACE, YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO OR CHICAGO. >> DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS IN NEW MEXICO ARE WILLING TO REACH OUT TO THE RURAL COMMUNITY? YOU GREW UP IN A RURAL COMMUNITY YOURSELF. >> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT BOTH PARTIES NEED TO REACH OUT TO RURAL COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH. THERE IS THE PRESENT ISSUE OF THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC JUST STRUCK NEW MEXICO HARD AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT GETTING AS MUCH PRESS AS PLACES LIKE OHIO AND NEW

HAMPSHIRE. A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH A FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. IF YOU SAW THE CDC, HEROIN OVERDOSES HAVE PASSED GUN HOMICIDES AND PASSED REGULAR OPIATES, AND IT IS BECOMING MORE OF A PRESSING ISSUE AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BECOME DESENSITIZED TO IT ESPECIALLY IN ESPANOLA. I REMEMBER POSTING SOMETHING ON FACEBOOK ON IT AND PEOPLE GETTING ANGRY AND SAYING IT IS NOT THAT BAD. AND IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP OF HOW BAD THE OVERDOSES ARE, WE ARE THE WORST IN THE NATION. >> YOU'RE A YOUNG REPUBLICAN HERE IN NEW MEXICO. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES TALKING ABOUT IN 2017? >> I DO THINK THAT HEROIN EPIDEMIC, I REALLY WANT SOMEONE TO TALK ABOUT. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST RADIO SILENCE. YOU HEAR ABOUT IT ONCE A YEAR ON MAJOR NEWS NETWORKS, MAYBE AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW,

PEOPLE EITHER SEE IT AS A TOXIC ISSUE OR SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT. I ALSO WANT TO SEE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE REFORM. I THINK NOW DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ALWAYS BRING UP. WHEN IT COMES FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY PUT OUT A PLAN, THERE IS NEVER REALLY A PLAN. LIKE A LOT OF THE BILLS BEING FILED RIGHT NOW FOCUS ON ELECTION ISSUES. SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE RELEASE TAX -- I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, SO THAT MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. OF COURSE, BUT I MEAN, THERE IS NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET, YOU KNOW, NEW BUSINESSES IN THE STATE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, FASTER INTERNET, BETTER ROADS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT BRING BUSINESSES TO A STATE AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY IDEAS. AND NOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE A LOT THEM LIKE UBER AND THEY LIKE A LOT OF THESE SILICON VALLEY TYPE REFORMS

THAT ARE COMING, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE REACHING OUT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS CAN AGREE WITH THEM ON, PRO BUSINESS STUFF ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS LIKE UBER. WE NEED TO PAVE A FUTURE FOR NEW MEXICO ESPECIALLY HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, THAT COULD USE THESE RESOURCES. >> NICE TO SPEAK WITH YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON POLITICS RIGHT NOW IN NEW MEXICO AND >> DANILA CRESPIN ZIDOVSKY, THANKS FOR SITTING DOWN WITH ME THIS WEEK. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> FIRST, START US OFF WHERE HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN YOUR POLITICS TO OTHER PEOPLE? >> I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT I AM A PROGRESSIVE WOMAN. VALUES THAT I HOLD CLOSE HAVE TO DO WITH REALLY ENACTING AND GOING TO POSITIVELY AFFECT NEW MEXICAN FAMILIES AND I THINK YOU CAN DO THAT IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS, ONE OF WHICH IS ATTRACTING STRONG JOBS THAT WILL POSITIVELY AFFECT NEW MEXICANS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY CAN GO TO WORK AND AT THE END OF THE DAY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE DAY THEY JUST PUT IN, HAVE

STRONG WORKERS RIGHTS THAT WILL HELP TO GUARANTEE THEY HAVE SICK LEAVE AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF. ALSO, ENSURING THAT THERE IS HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD AND K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION FOR EVERY NEW MEXICAN. THAT ALSO INCLUDES HOME VISITING ACCESS, CHILD CARE, HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE AND ACCESS TO OUR STATE PRE-K PROGRAM. LASTLY, HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR EVERY NEW MEXICAN AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE VALUES THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HOLD CLOSE ARE CERTAINLY THE ONES THAT I HOLD CLOSE TO MY HEART. THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WE HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR AFTER NOVEMBER AND I KNOW THAT NOVEMBER 8 WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE STATE BUT I THINK THE SHINING LIGHT WAS ON NOVEMBER 9 DEMOCRATIC NEW MEXICANS WOKE UP IN A BLUE STATE. WE WON THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BACK, EXPANDED OUR MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AND WE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS A STRONG AND CAPABLE LEADER IN MAGGIE

TOULOUSE OLIVER AS SECRETARY OF STATE. SO, I THINK THE VALUES THAT NEW MEXICANS HOLD CLOSE WERE SHOWN HOW WE CAME OUT IN NOVEMBER AND NOT ONLY IN SUPPORT OF SECRETARY CLINTON BUT REALLY IN OPPOSITION OF DONALD TRUMP'S RHETORIC AND WHAT HE WAS SAYING ABOUT THE PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THAT A GREAT DEAL OF WHICH MAKE UP NEW MEXICO. AND, SO, I AM PROUD OF THE WAY THAT WE CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF NEW MEXICANS. >> YOU WERE INVOLVED IN SECRETARY CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN, A FELLOW IN THE CAMPAIGN. WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU. >> I GOT A CALL FROM A MENTOR OF MINE IN SANTA FE AND SHE HAD CALLED ME AND ASKED IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. MY FIRST REACTION WAS, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I HAVE SO MUCH ON MY PLATE. WITH MY JOB AND DOING SOME FREE-LANCE WRITING AT THE TIME AND I AM A MOM AND A WIFE AND I HAD ALL THESE EXCUSES. AND THEN I REALLY STOPPED AND PAUSED AND THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THAT CAMPAIGN MEANT TO MY

FAMILY AND WHAT IT MEANT TO MYSELF AND MY CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND REALLY WHAT IT MEANT TO MY YOUNG DAUGHTER. AND I KNEW AND I FELT A GREAT SENSE OF OBLIGATION TO GET INVOLVED IN ANY WAY THAT I COULD. SO, WHAT I DID WAS I BUILT EVENTS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS MELENNIALS AND YOUNG VOTERS, SO WE DID HOUSE PARTIES AT YOUNG PROFESSIONAL HOMES AND WE HAD A PARENTS FOR HILLARY EVENT AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT. WE FILLED THE BACK PATIO OF A PIZZERIA IN SANTA FE CALLED BACK ROAD PIZZA, AND EVERY DAY I GOT TO MEET INSPIRING PEOPLE, THOUGHTFUL AND ENGAGED SANTAFEANS, WHO JUST CONTINUED TO INSPIRE ME TO STAY CONNECTED AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I TOOK THAT CALL AND THAT I SAID YES. IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY AND I AM REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF SANTAFEANS THAT HELPED OUT WITH THAT INITIATIVE ARE NOW HELPING OUT WITH MAYOR GONZALES' PRE K FOR SANTA FE INITIATIVE. I THINK WE'LL SEE THIS

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, LOCAL LEADERS STEPPING UP AND SAYING, NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON, WE ARE STILL GOING TO DO RIGHT BY OUR CITIZENS AND MAYOR GONZALES IS MAKING RIGHT ON A PROMISE THAT HE MADE DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, EXPANDING PRE-K FOR EVERY THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLD IN SANTA FE. THAT IS ABOUT 1000 THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS. WE KNOW THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND KNOW GREAT BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SO INCREASED GRADUATION RATES, DECREASED RATES OF UNNECESSARY SPECIAL EDUCATION PLACEMENT. DECREASE RATES IN INCARCERATION. SO, WHILE I THINK THAT THOSE REASONS ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH RATIONALE FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS INITIATIVE, THE EVEN BETTER PART, NOT EVEN BETTER PART, BUT ANOTHER WONDERFUL PART OF THE PROGRAM IS THAT WE WILL PAY FOR THE INITIATIVE BY ATTACKING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, AND THAT IS REALLY THE ACCESS TO SUGARY SWEETENED BEVERAGES FOR CHILDREN. >> YOU ALSO WROTE ABOUT YOUR

EXPERIENCE AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON POLITICS IN THE HUFFINGTON POST AND YOU ARE ENGAGED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. DOES THAT CHANGE HOW YOU SEE NATIONAL POLITICS? >> SURE. I THINK SECRETARY CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN WAS SUCH AN EYE OPENER IN POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE WAYS. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO SEE THE ISSUES THAT WE WERE FACING IN DISCRIMINATION AND RACE RELATIONS AND SO CERTAINLY, THAT WAS EYE OPENING. AND FOR MY OWN PERSPECTIVE AS A WOMAN OF COLOR, SO, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE IN NEW MEXICO AND THE VALUE THAT NEW MEXICANS HOLD CLOSE AND HOW LOCAL LEADERS ARE TRYING TO CHANGE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES HERE LOCALLY. BUT, CERTAINLY, FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THOSE ISSUES ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO TACKLE. >> BACK HERE IN NEW MEXICO, AS MANY STATES, THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE STATES AND COUNTRY BEING VERY DIVIDED. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF REACHING OUT TO FOLKS, REPUBLICANS, TO TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND THIS

YEAR. >> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. AFTER THE ELECTION, I GOT A LOT OF CALLS SAYING, YOU KNOW, GOOD EFFORT TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED. I THINK THAT IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER, TO STAY UNIFIED. THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, SECRETARY CLINTON WAS A POPULAR VOTE BY MORE THAN THREE MILLION VOTES. SO I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO FEEL UPSET AND ARE ALSO WANTING TO FIND A WAY TO CHANNEL THAT ENERGY INTO SOMETHING GOOD AND THERE IS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES NOW TO REALLY DO SOMETHING. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS TO VOTE AT EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'RE GIVEN. WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS COMING UP FEBRUARY 7. SO, REALLY, FOCUSING ON GETTING GOOD STRONG CANDIDATES FOR THAT ELECTION. WE HAVE A MAYORAL RACE IN ALBUQUERQUE THIS YEAR, GUBERNATORIAL RACE NEXT YEAR, A LOT OF RACES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED. ALSO PEOPLE CAN THINK JUST FOR A MOMENT ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM,

WHETHER IT IS EDUCATION OR THE ENVIRONMENT OR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND THEN TO FIND AN ORGANIZATION THAT THEY THINK IS DOING RIGHT IN THOSE ISSUES. YOU CAN TRY TO VOLUNTEER, WHETHER IT IS DATA ENTRY OR GET ON THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DONATE MONEY, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND, LASTLY, JUST ANOTHER IDEA IS TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, TO YOUR LOCAL PUBLICATION. IF THEY ARE ABLE TO PUBLISH IT, THEN TO SHARE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK, THERE IS LOTS OF WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO STAY ENGAGED. >> WHAT MAKES YOU HOPEFUL ABOUT WHAT IS AHEAD? >> WELL, I LIVE IN SANTA FE NOW. I AM BORN AND RAISED IN ALBUQUERQUE AND SO BEING IN SANTA FE HAS JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY TAP INTO LOCAL POLITICS AND TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY, I THINK, THAT IS INCREDIBLE ENGAGED AND INCREDIBLY THOUGHTFUL AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT PRE-K FOR SANTA FE, EXCITED ABOUT PUSHING INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT LOCAL FAMILIES AND JUST DOING RIGHT BY THE CITIZENS OF NEW MEXICO.

>> WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU? >> SO, I WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. MY WORK AT UNITED WAY OF SANTA FE COUNTY WILL TRY TO CONTINUE EXPANDING BOTH PROGRAMMING AND FUNDING FOR ALL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. I'LL BE WORKING WITH PRE-K FOR SANTA FE IN SANTA FE AND CONTINUE WRITING FOR HUFFINGTON POST AND A FEW OTHER PUBLICATIONS. >> WHAT IS IT LIKE TO GET YOUR VOICE OUT FOR NEW MEXICO? DO YOU FIND SOME PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE FROM OUR STATE? >> I HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TELL ME THAT I WROTE IN ENGLISH VERY WELL. SO THAT IS FUN, BUT REALLY, I THIS IS MY HOME TOWN. I AM EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT IT AND GIVE A PERSPECTIVE, MAYBE, THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PERSPECTIVES THAT OTHER NEW MEXICANS HAVE GIVEN. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR POLITICS AND WHERE WE STAND TODAY NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE CITY OF SANTA FE NEEDS TO CLOSE A 15 MILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET GAP SO THEY ARE LOOKING

TO COLLECT OUTSTANDING DEBTS FROM SEVERAL NON-PROFITS. ALBUQUERQUE FACES A POTENTIAL BUDGET DEFICIT OF 24 MILLION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH STARTS JULY 1. SHORTFALL IN FIVE YEARS. SOME CITY COUNCILORS FEEL TAXES HAVE TO BE RAISED. JANICE, MY FIRST FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION, BACK TO THE SANTA FE STORY, AND CHARGING NONPROFITS FOR POLICE PROTECTION AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE TO GO WITH CROWD CONTROL. ONE OF THE NONPROFITS HAD ALMOST A 60,000 DOLLAR BILL DROPPED ON THEM. I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU MAKE OF THAT. IS THERE A FAIRNESS IN TRYING TO CURE THE BUDGET GAP ON THE BACKS OF NONPROFITS? >> LET'S BE CLEAR. NONPROFIT IS A TAX STATUS, NOT A GROUP. ADMINISTRATION, EVERYONE WAS NOTIFIED. THEY MAY NOT HAVE TAKEN IT SERIOUSLY. SO, YOU KNOW, SO, THEY MAY HAVE TO WORK OUT PAYMENTS BUT -- >> THEY MAY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BUT MY CURIOSITY IS WERE THEY NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL COSTS OR WAS THIS A BILL JUST DROPPED ON THEM AFTER THE

FACT? >> NO. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. BUT HERE IS THE SITUATION. NEW MEXICO IS FACING ALONG WITH ALL CITIES, AT THIS MOMENT, THERE IS NO MONEY HONEY. AND, SO, YOU GOT TO FIND IT. YOU CANNOT TAX YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS BECAUSE THE BILL IS DUE NOW AND THAT IS REALLY AWFUL POSITION TO BE IN. AND THUS THEY ARE GOING AFTER EVERYTHING. >> RIGHT. PRETTY MUCH FEES, EVERYTHING. >> EVERYTHING. >> SAME QUESTION, THOUGH, I MEAN, DOES IT NOT -- I HEAR JANICE' POINT. WE ALL DO. BUT IS THERE NOT A DIFFERENCE WHO YOU CHARGE AND HOW AND WHY DEPENDING WHO YOU ARE? A NONPROFIT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A GREAT LINE IN THE ARTICLE IN THE SANTA FE PAPER THAT, LOOK, WE CAN MOVE THESE EVENTS SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? HOW DOES THAT WORK. THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE TO THESE THINGS. >> I THINK A LOT OF THE BIGGEST ISSUE, AT LEAST FOR SOME OF THE NON-PROFITS, FROM THE ARTICLES WAS THAT SOME FOLKS JUST DIDN'T THINK THESE CHARGES WOULD START NOW. THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD START

NEXT YEAR SO THEY WERE PREPARING THAT BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. SO, I MEAN, I THINK IT IS A QUESTION OF WHAT INFORMATION WENT OUT, WHEN PEOPLE THOUGHT THESE CHARGES WERE GOING TO HIT. >> A LOT OF CONFUSION. >> THERE IS A LOT. >> REALLY SOMETHING. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THIS? YOUR FIRST GUT REACTION WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THIS AND WE'LL GET TO THE OTHER STUFF, SANTA FE PARTICULARLY. >> I THINK SANTA FE IS IN A REALLY TOUGH POSITION. I THINK IF YOU'RE ANY CITY, ANY GOVERNMENT, IF YOU'RE YOU NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW THE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED AND MAKE SURE THE PERSON YOU'RE CONTRACTING WITH UNDERSTANDS THOSE COSTS. AND I THINK SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS CAME BACK THEY DIDN'T SEE POLICE THAT OFTEN. YOU START TO GET INTO THE DETAILS AND IT BECOMES DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? ARE YOU GOING TO TRACK WHERE THE COPS ARE THE WHOLE TIME? ADMINISTRATIVELY IT IS DIFFICULT. AS AN ATTORNEY, I HAVE TO KIND OF CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT WHAT JANICE SAID. NONPROFITS TECHNICALLY ISN'T A TAX STATUS. 501C3 IS A TAX STATUS. IN NEW MEXICO IT IS ACTUALLY A NONPROFIT CORPORATION

DESIGNATION THROUGH THE STATE. SO, IN SOME CASES A NONPROFIT COULD BE LIKE A UNION. A UNION COULD BE A NONPROFIT. A BUSINESS ALLIANCE COULD BE A NONPROFIT. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAXING NONPROFITS, YOU COULD BE TAXING -- NOT TAXING -- I AM SORRY -- CHARGING NONPROFITS FOR SERVICE. YOU COULD BE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF GROUPS BESIDES THOSE DELIVERING COMMUNITY SERVICES. YOU COULD TALK ABOUT BUSINESS ALLIANCE GROUPS OR UNIONS. IN FAIRNESS IF YOU CHARGE A PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION FOR A SERVICE, YOU KNOW, IT IS TIME TO START LOOKING AT EVERYBODY WHO GETS SERVICES, INCLUDING LIKE, BALLOON FIESTA AND ANYBODY ELSE. CHARGE THEM AS YOU WOULD ANYBODY ELSE, BECAUSE, THESE ARE COSTS NOT COMING FROM ANYWHERE ELSE. SO, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE -- AGAIN, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CITIES AND GOVERNMENTS TO BE REAL CLEAR ABOUT HOW MUCH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND THAT THEY ACCEPT THAT AND THEY KNOW AHEAD OF TIME. I THINK IF THEY HAD MAYBE A CHOICE, THEN THEY MAY HAVE MADE DIFFERENT DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO STRUCTURE THEIR WHOLE EVENT.

>> ESPECIALLY THE BUDGETING PART. IF YOU HAVE 60,000 BILL DROPPED ON YOU AND THAT YOU HAVE A BUDGET FOR, THERE IS SOME THINGS TO TALK ABOUT. >> IF YOU'RE A NONPROFIT, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. MOST OF THESE NONPROFITS, IN A DISCLAIMER, IN MY PRIVATE LIFE, IN MY BUSINESS, WE DO A INSURE A LOT OF NONPROFITS. YOU SEE WHEN THEY DO AN EVENT, THE EVENT PAYS FOR ITSELF AND THEY MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY AND IT IS ABOUT GETTING THEIR NAME OUT THERE AND GETTING PEOPLE EXCITED. AND USUALLY THOSE EVENTS ARE GEARED AROUND HITTING A BUDGET. WE'LL DO THREE BIG EVENTS TO MAKE 100,000, BECAUSE OUR BUDGET IS 100. IF YOU HIT THEM WITH A 50,000 BILL, THERE IS NOWHERE FOR THAT TO COME FROM OTHER THAN GETTING RID OF PEOPLE. SANTA FE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, MAYOR GONZALES HAS TO LOOK AT THIS DEEPLY, BECAUSE HE'S RATTLED THE CAGE EVERY DAY ABOUT THE SANCTUARY CITY STUFF AND PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID WE ARE GOING TO CUT FUNDING OFF FOR PEOPLE THAT PROMOTE THAT. >> LET'S GO THERE. I WANT TO BRING THAT INTO THE

CONVERSATION AND STAY WITH YOU. WE HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF MAYORS AND A NUMBER OF CITIES SAYING, OVER MY DEAD BODY. MAYOR WALSH IN BOSTON IS SAYING IF WE HAVE TO HIDE PEOPLE IN CITY HALL THAT IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. IS THIS A WINNABLE FIGHT FOR MR. TRUMP IN THE LONG RUN. >> YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE SEEING IT RIGHT NOW. LET ME RESTATE, IS IT WINNABLE? IF HE CRAFTS THE MESSAGE CAREFULLY AND KEEPS IT TO THE MESSAGE HE WANTS IT TO BE, HE CAN WIN. IF HE TAKES IT TO TWITTER AND SAYS 750 DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE MESSAGE NOW BECOMES 750 DIFFERENT THINGS, NO, WAY. BUT, YOU HAVE GOT JUST IN NEW MEXICO ALONE YOU HAVE GOT SANTA FE TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS AND THAT HASN'T AFFECTED IT YET. SO, I AM GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL SAY, HEY, WE ARE IN FAVOR OF SANCTUARY CITIES AND THIS IS A GREAT THING. WHEN YOU TELL THEM WE ARE GOING TO CUT POLICE, THESE SERVICES, CUT ALL THAT, PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO STAY, HOLD ON A MINUTE, MAYBE I AM NOT FOR SANCTUARY CITIES.

>> JANICE, PICK UP ON THAT IF YOU WILL. >> EXACTLY, AND IT IS GOING TO -- THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, WHICH IS WE ARE A NATION OF STATES THAT SUBSCRIBE TO A SET OF FEDERAL LAWS. ARE WE, AS A STATE, OR A CITY, ALLOWED AND SHOULD WE EXEMPT OURSELVES FROM LAWS THAT WE ALL SAY WE SUPPORT. AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE DISCUSSION AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS GOING TO BE DECIDED BY THE SUPREME COURT. AT SOME POINT. >> WOW. >> YOU KNOW, WHILE, YES, WE ARE ALL PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND HAVE LAWS AT FEDERAL LEVEL, THIS CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY ABOUT HIDING PEOPLE AT CITY HALL, JUST THIS WEEKEND I WATCHED AN INTERESTING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SHOW ON PIUS VERSUS HITLER AND THAT WHOLE THING HAPPENING DURING WORLD WAR II AND THE CHURCH ACTUALLY HIDING JEWS IN THE CATACOMBS IN THE VATICAN. YOU KNOW, AT WHAT POINT ARE WE

GOING TO STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS EXTREME, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO SAY, TRUMP AND HITLER, SAME PERSON. I AM NOT SAYING THAT. BUT IF WE START HEADING DOWN A ROAD WHERE WE SAY US VERSUS THEM AND NOT LOOKING AT PEOPLE AS PEOPLE AND THE VALUE THEY BRING TO A COMMUNITY. IN THIS SITUATION, MAYORS HAVE BEEN ELECTED. THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT IS BEST FOR THEIR CITY AND VALUES THAT AFFECT THAT CITY. SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE SUPREME COURT ENDS UP DEALING WITH IT. >> IT IS A VALUES ISSUE AND LOCAL ISSUE, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT KNOW THEIR OWN VALUES. >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK EVEN COINING THE PHRASE SANCTUARY CITY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FAMILY, TALKING ABOUT MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. I MEAN, HOW MANY FOLKS DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOSING, RIGHT? MAYBE YOUR HOUSEKEEPER, MAYBE YOUR BABY SITTER, THE PERSON THAT TAKES CARE OF YOUR ELDERLY PARENTS. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF OUR LIVES. A LOT OF THEM ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY. WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS AT SCHOOL? THIS MIGHT BE AFFECTING THEM.

SO, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOUR CHILD GOES TO SCHOOL AND HE SAYS, THE LITTLE GIRL NEXT TO ME CAN'T STOP CRYING BECAUSE SHE IS AFRAID THEY ARE GOING TO COME FOR HER AT NIGHT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES. THIS IS WHAT WE TALK ABOUT AT THE END OF THE DAY. FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE SEPARATED. SO MANY THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RAISING OF THE BERLIN WALL AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AND PEOPLE ARE STANDING UP SAYING, NO WALL SHOULD BE BUILT TO SEPARATE FAMILIES. AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS THAT FEEL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT FOR ME AND MY BACKGROUND AND MY FAMILY, THIS IS PERSONAL AND ABOUT FAMILY. >> WE'LL END IT THERE. WE GOT TO ROLL THERE. THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE ON THAT ONE. JUST A MOMENT WE'LL LOOK AT THE APPOINTMENT OF FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW MEXICO TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. >> YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US ANY TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND JOIN WE ARE AT NMINFOCUS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND FIND EPISODES AND WEB EXTRAS AT OUR >> BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S LINE

OPINION PANELISTS. OUR FINAL TOPIC, FORMER NEW MEXICO CONGRESSWOMAN HEATHER WILSON IS DONALD TRUMP'S PICK TO HEAD THE U.S. AIR FORCE. MS. WILSON IS AN AIR FORCE VETERAN, OF COURSE. FIRST TERM. DANIEL, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS, AND, JANICE, YOU WERE ALL AROUND AT THE SAME TIME BACK IN 1998. AND, DAN, START WITH YOU, WHAT AN AMAZING SITUATION FOR MS. WILSON. WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THIS? >> I MEAN, I DON'T THINK HE COULD HAVE PICKED A BETTER PERSON TO RUN THE AIR FORCE. WHEN YOU KNOW HEATHER AND GET ACADEMY, ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN TO GRADUATE, I THINK THE FIRST WOMAN TO GRADUATE, HER TIME WITH NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, TIME IN CONGRESS, SHE GETS IT. I THINK KUDOS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR PICKING HER; A GREAT MOVE FOR THE AIR FORCE. SHE PROBABLY WANTED TO DO THE MARINES, BUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN IN THE AIR FORCE, SHE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE A MARINE. SO -- BUT, I THINK IT IS PHENOMENAL FOR HER AND I THINK IT IS GREAT FOR NEW MEXICO. WHAT A GREAT -- YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF AIR FORCE BASES

WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO, TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF NEW MEXICO NOW BEING THE HEAD OF U.S. AIR FORCE, I THINK THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO IS GOING TO FARE WELL WITH HEATHER WILSON. >> JANICE, YOU KNOW HER WELL. >> YOU KNOW, SAME THOUGHT. SHE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE PRESENCE FOR THE SCHOOL OF PLACEMENT OF THOSE ENGINEERS IS OUTSTANDING. GO LOOK. BUT, NONETHELESS, I BELIEVE YOU KNOW, I REALLY NEED SUPPORT ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY, SOMEBODY WITH BROAD PERSPECTIVE, WHETHER IT IS THE LABS, WHETHER IT IS THE OPERATION OF THE SPACE COMMAND, WHICH IS HER BABY, TO JUST GENERAL CYBER THREATS, HER ACUMEN IN THIS AREA IS UNMATCHED. WHAT A GREAT CHOICE. >> INTERESTING, LAURA, THE IRONY TO ME IS THIS WAS THE QUIETEST MOST COHERENT PICK BY MR. TRUMP SO FAR, OF ALL THE THINGS HE HAS DONE. FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.

WE DO HAVE -- SHE HAS TO BE CONFIRMED. IT IS NOT AS IF YOU SKATE THIS THING. MS. WILSON HAS IN HER PAST ACCUSATIONS OF, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS ON THE PRIVATE SIDE OF DEALINGS WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES, HAVING ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. ME HAD TO GIVE BACK MONEY AT ONE POINT. NO ONE IS PERFECT. >> YOU KNOW, TO WHAT YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING, I MEAN, HE HAS APPOINTED, THIS IS AN AMAZING PICK, YOU KNOW, VERY WELL QUALIFIED. I THINK SHE DEFINITELY HAS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HAS A LONG HISTORY, HAVING GRADUATED FROM THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, A GOOD PICK IN TERMS OF QUALIFICATIONS. >> SHE HAS SUCH A LONG LIST. >> WAY OUT OF MY REALM. >> FOR NEW MEXICO IT IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN THAT ROLE WHO IS FROM NEW MEXICO AND UNDERSTANDING NEW MEXICO ISSUES AND BASES HERE. I DO THINK THAT IT IS NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTION TO DAVID IGLESIAS AND ALLEGATIONS SHE WAS PUSHING ON HIM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INDICTMENT OF MANNY ARAGON BACK IN THE DAY. ALSO, THE SANDIA CONTRACT AND

THE ISSUES ABOUT TRYING TO GET LOCKHEED A CONTRACT FOR THAT. >> ALL THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT BUT THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND SHE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES, SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH IS ON THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE. SHE RAN AGAINST HIM FOR THAT POSITION AND ALSO IN THE RUNNING AT ONE POINT, ALTHOUGH DIDN'T MAKE IT PAST GOP PRIMARY AGAINST UDALL. TWO OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VYING FOR THE SAME POSITION ARE NOW IN A POSITION TO CONFIRM HER. I AM SURE THAT SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS WILL COME UP, BUT, ULTIMATELY, YOU HAVE TO WEIGH, I WOULD THINK IN THAT SENATE POSITION, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH VALUE THAT SOMEBODY FROM NEW MEXICO WHO IS QUALIFIED AND UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF THE BASES HERE, IN THAT POSITION AND WHAT VALUE IT WILL BRING TO NEW MEXICO. >> SHE STILL HAS WARM FEELINGS FOR NEW MEXICO. EVEN ON HER FACEBOOK PAGE. SHE IS NOT GOING TO FORGET US, I WOULD HOPE. >> I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL. MS. WILSON PERSONALLY KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MISSIONS OF ALL THE AIR FORCE BASES IN

AND, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE FUTURE OF OUR MILITARY, WE DON'T WANT ANY OF THE BASES ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK AND I AM SURE THAT WHEN SHE WAS IN CONGRESS SHE HAD TO FACE THOSE BATTLES TOO. SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING IF SHE IS CONFIRMED. WE KNOW THAT THE AIR FORCE IS FIGHTING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BATTLE THAN ANY OTHER BRANCH. SHE KNOWS THAT WELL AND PERSONALLY AND AGAIN IT IS GOOD FOR OUR LABS, OUR WORKERS THAT ARE IN ALL THE BASES AND LABS, SO I THINK THAT IF SHE DOES GET CONFIRMED, IT COULDN'T BE A BETTER THING FOR NEW MEXICO. >> MARSHA, DAN MENTIONED HER BEING FIRST WOMAN OUT OF THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY, BUT THE FIRST WOMAN TO RUN THIS BRANCH OF THE MILITARY IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? >> SHE WOULD BE -- I BELIEVE, SHE WOULD BE THE SECOND WOMAN TO BE RUNNING THE AIR FORCE BRANCH, WHICH WOULD BE AMAZING. YOU KNOW, I AM A MARINE AND IT IS ONLY A DREAM AT SOME POINT THAT WE COULD HAVE A WOMAN IN THAT SAME POSITION FOR THE MARINE CORPS, BUT THIS IS A

GREAT THING FOR WOMEN AND TO PIGGY BACK WHAT LAURA WAS SAYING, THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST SENSIBLE THING THAT CAME UP SO FAR. >> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ABOUT YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE APPRECIATE THAT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK YOU SEE PLAY OUT IS WE MAY ALL RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE AND SOMEBODY WINS, SOMEBODY LOSES. IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT WHEN YOU RUN HARD AGAINST SOMEBODY, YOU GAIN RESPECT FOR THEM AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE RESPECT COME FROM SENATOR UDALL AND HEINRICH BECAUSE SHE WAS TOUGH. SHE WAS TOUGH AND SHE IS COMPETENT AND YOU'LL SEE THAT. >> I'LL BET UDALL CO-SPONSORS HER. I BET UDALL IS INVOLVED IN HER CONFIRMATION AS CO-SPONSOR. >> THAT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME. TELL YOU WHAT, USED TO REALLY BE A FRUSTRATION SHE HAD ABOUT KIRTLAND, THE SITUATION AT KIRTLAND, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. NOW THAT SHE IS IN A POSITION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AS THEY SAY. >> YOU KNOW BETTER THAN ANYTHING, HER AND CONGRESSMAN UDALL WORKED WELL TOGETHER SO I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF CONGRESSMAN UDALL WAS SOMEONE THAT SPOKE ON HER BEHALF. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE

CONGRESSWOMAN AND HER HUSBAND, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. >> I AM GENE GRANT. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, INFOCUS. >> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO >> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE NELITTA E. WALKER FUND FOR KNME-TV, KNME-TV ENDOWMENT FUND AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.