Judy Chicago, NM Government Reform & the Legislature

Over the new three weeks (March 1, 8, & 15), NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS speaks with three special women in NEW MEXICO MAKERS – Judy Chicago, LaDonna Harris & Gov. Susana Martinez. These New Mexico stories tie-in with the national PBS special, MAKERS: WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA, the first film to tell comprehensive story of how women have transformed America over the last half-century. These interviews focus on what led these women to be groundbreakers in their fields. What makes a “MAKER?”

This week: Judy Chicago – Artist, author, feminist, educator, creator of the multimedia project, The Dinner Party. She now lives in Belen and runs a nonprofit feminist organization, Through the Flower.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS also takes a closer look at government reform & the legislature:

Efforts are underway at the Legislature to reform the beleaguered New Mexico Finance Authority. Is broad reform needed or was NMFA’s filing of a fraudulent audit merely another embarrassing episode for a New Mexico agency?

After voters overwhelmingly demanded some new qualifications for Public Regulation Commissioners, lawmakers are trying to balance accessibility to the PRC for potential candidates with standards that will help ensure a more professional commission.

The Line opinion panel also examines a pair of legislative measures that recently met their end. A bill to ban coyote-hunting contests was shelved by a House panel, as was a proposed constitutional amendment to recognize marriage between same-sex couples. What do the decisions say about the sometimes liberal, sometimes conservative culture in New Mexico?

Plus, more high profile problems at the Albuquerque Police Department. Have APD officers splashed across the front pages for less-than-heroic actions? What’s ahead for the chief of police in the Duke City? The Line offers perspective.

Amidst calls for more spending on early childhood education, a line in the sand has been drawn between proponents of a constitutional amendment that would dip into the state’s permanent funds to pay for new programs, and those who say more spending from the funds will endanger their contributions to future generations. NMIF heads to the Capitol to hear from those pleading their case.

GUESTS:
Judy Chicago, Artist, Author, Feminist, Educator, Creator of The Dinner Party
Allen Sanchez, President/CEO, St. Joseph Community Health
Senator Steven Neville, R-Aztec

LINE GUESTS:
Javier Benavidez, Center for Civic Policy
Margaret Wright, New Mexico Compass

LINE PANELISTS:
Jamie Estrada, Former U.S. Commerce Department Official
Sophie Martin, Editor in Chief, New Mexico Law Review

CORRESPONDENT:
Matt Grubs, NMiF Producer
Sarah Gustavus, Executive Producer, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation

HOST/COMMENTATOR: Gene Grant

The Producer of NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS is Matt Grubs. Associate Producer is Kathy Wimmer. Funding for this program was provided in part by the McCune Foundation. Subscribe to the New Mexico in Focus Podcast on iTunes.

Episode 635 for air March 1, 2013