Toney Anaya

Who is MLG's Toney Anaya? She needs one. When the state last faced a fiscal emergency in 2009 then Gov. Bill Richardson tapped former Gov. Toney Anaya to head up an Office of Recovery and Reinvestment to oversee an estimated $5 billion in federal money--including loans--that Washington sent to the state to ease that era's economic crash.

The crash was indeed eased for a time but later in the decade an oil price plunge brought back the bad news and the state was again thrown into recession/stagnation. But Anaya and Richardson ably stewarded the funds to avoid the worst during their time and they even avoided any charges of corruption. How about that?

Today New Mexico is back in crash land, with the coronavirus shutting down the economy and the plunge in oil prices delivering a double whammy. Again, the state will see billions in federal aid, including to directly patch up the state's $7.6 billion general fund budget.

The $2 trillion relief bill recently approved by Congress was mostly aimed at minimizing the wreckage from the forced economic shutdown that has crashed business income and sparked massive unemployment. The next big relief bill reportedly could involve more economic stimulus . . .

while also extending the benefits in the latest legislation and addressing the gaps it left — most notably, more aid to state and local governments whose budgets are sure to face massive shortfalls due to lost tax revenues and emergency spending needs.

Direct budget aid could mean no layoffs, hiring freezes or rescinding of recent educator pay raises, at least in the intermediate term. Add in the $1.9 billion in reserves the state already has to plug the developing budget hole and things still look serious, but not calamitous.

It was encouraging to hear Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith exude some cautious optimism when asked this week about the state budget. Instead of waving the axe and calling for massive cuts he pointed to the huge reserves as softening the blow. He didn't mention the federal funds that will probably come our way to help in that task, but he's aware of them.

Governor Lujan Grisham is necessarily laser-focused on the coronavirus outbreak, but her administration must soon move to manage the immense flood of federal money headed here. Toney Anaya is alive and well but will be 79 this month and is unavailable. But there are graybeards she can pull together now for her own Office of Recovery. It may be a tough for her to give up a bit of control but the job of ushering the federal money through the system is now too big for one man or woman. Hey, Big Bill, are you available?

A PEAK COMING?

One widely followed model, including by the White House, is currently predicting the coronavirus outbreak in New Mexico will peak April 22, with daily deaths reaching 17.

The model is frequently updated based on new data. An April 22 peak would be before the state's stay at home order expires April 30. If so, officials may ponder opening some things up, "some" being the key word.

EXTENDED HOURS

We urged the state this week to extended the hours that the tens of thousands newly jobless could file for unemployment at the Workforce Solutions Department call-in center. The weekday hours were 8 AM to 4:30 PM but now they are 7 AM to 7 PM per this announcement:

Starting Wednesday, April 8, the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center will implement extended hours, opening at 7 AM and taking calls until 7 PM. Anyone with internet access is strongly encouraged to first apply online at www.jobs.state.nm.us. NMDWS is also waiving the “waiting week” for claimants who have applied for benefits since March 15th. By waiving the waiting week, claimants will receive an extra week of benefit payments to their accounts while allowing for new applicants to receive their benefits faster.

That should help.

CRACKDOWN DEBATE

The latest crackdown on business that MLG announced included closing the liquor stores, payday loan stores and car dealerships. That was enough for the state GOP to break ranks with her:

The governor's decision to shut down non-essential businesses is having a devastating impact on New Mexico's families and the economy. Just yesterday she ordered liquor stores, car dealerships and payday lenders to close. While we all want everyone to be healthy and safe, closing everything down isn't the answer. Walmarts and Targets are open, but people inside are not always practicing social distancing. You could still take precautions inside and outside other businesses in New Mexico's communities. We need a common sense approach here.

CANDY'S CORNER

Rep. Ezzell (Ruidoso News)

Meanwhile, a tirade against the latest shutdowns from Roswell GOP State Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell and published on the Tuesday blog drew this response from reader Ken Tabish:

Joe, MLG is not "out of control" as stated by Rep, Ezzell. These are necessary measures to keep people from contracting the virus. I also applaud her for minimizing the number of customers going into the big box stores to 20% of capacity. Social distancing is still the only way we will flatten the curve. I too would love to go to Lowe's or Home Depot but don't because of the likelihood of being around people who have the virus, are asymptomatic and do not practice social distancing in these environments. . . Again, it's Republicans who are complaining as they care more about money and businesses over the lives of everyday people. Yes, many New Mexicans are suffering financially but do any of us want to have a loved one die all alone due to Covid 19? I don't think so

Even in times of national crisis, we're dedicated to the free and open expression of differing ideas.

Always.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. 

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020