Ariana Marmolejo Regional Communications Strategist (West) | Conservation Voters New Mexico
The New Mexico state legislature has passed House Bill 1, which allocates funding to public programs affected by recent federal cuts. The bill includes $5.6 million for public broadcasting and an additional $430,000 aimed at supporting public radio and television in Indigenous communities. This legislative action comes after a federal government shutdown caused by stalled negotiations in Congress and the passage of a controversial budget package.
In response to the legislation, Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) issued statements emphasizing the importance of public broadcasting for the state's residents.
"CVNM stands in strong support of continued funding for public broadcasting. Equitable access to fact-based information is critical to a resilient and functional democracy. In this day and age of biased social media algorithms and dangerous political division, public broadcasting remains one of the primary ways New Mexicans can access information free of disinformation and misinformation. The recent national rhetoric villainizing public media is simply unfounded and harmful to our democracy. According to recent polling, a vast majority of voters believe that public media should remain free of change, and feel it is a critical lifeline for rural and underserved communities. We applaud the legislature for uplifting these values, and prioritizing funding for this vital service. We urge the Governor to sign HB 1 as quickly as possible." – John Martinez, CVNM Political Director
"We applaud the state legislature and Governor Lujan Grisham for responding to the federal and inhumane gutting of public programs. The special session funds allocated to critical health, community, and emergency response programs will save the lives of New Mexicans. For rural communities, public radio and television serve as critical information lifelines in emergency situations, like the historic flooding and wildfires the state has witnessed in recent years. As weather extremes continue to become more commonplace, it is essential that communities have the vital information provided through public broadcasting, and access to adequate healthcare services. Thank you to our state leaders for protecting the wellbeing of our families and communities, and we urge decision-makers to do all they can to protect our state from the harms of the Trump Administration." – Demis Foster, CVNM Chief Executive Officer
Conservation Voters New Mexico describes itself as a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit focused on connecting residents with their political power to safeguard natural resources such as air, land, and water.
