Dear West Side Neighbor:

I hope this letter finds you and your family well.  Allow me to update you with regards to the goings on of this historic thirty day legislative session.

It was my honor, along with other west side legislators, to host over eighty(80) students from West Mesa High School for “West Side Day” at the Roundhouse.  Special thanks to James Palacios, WMHS Athletics Director, for spearheading the effort.  I was very impressed with the questions and knowledgeable dialogue our community’s students had with our legislators.

The House fulfilled its constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget last week. The budget cut proposals and tax proposals are now being debated in the state Senate.  Despite implemented drastic cuts to all aspects of state Government to overcome a $500 million shortfall we still needed to supplement these with a handful of temporary tax increases.  I can assure you that I will continue to protect funding for education, our courts, DA’s offices and necessary healthcare programs.

I have struggled for more accountability and transparency in state government.  You can now enjoy the House debates with audio and video web-casting.  As a member of the Judiciary committee I had the privilege to help write several ethics bills -- like the ethics commission bill and the bill prohibiting campaign contributions from registered lobbyists and state contractors (pay-to-play).  I am a strong supporter of these initiatives and hope we get them passed before the clock runs out.

I have also introduced a bill (HB 178) that would allow treatment as opposed to incarceration for those who have been charged with simple drug possession. This bill would save approximately $20 million annually and would help alleviate the overcrowding of our jails and prisons. 

Please familiarize yourself with our web-site: www.legis.state.nm.us. Thank you for your phone calls and e-mails which have helped me represent you better.  You can always call me at 505-242-2279 or e-mail me at anytime. Gracias

Sincerely,    

Antonio “Moe” Maestas