Taxes, Our Land, Coronavirus

This week on New Mexico in Focus, tax season is upon us. Correspondent Megan Kamerick brings in three tax experts to discuss changes following last year’s signing of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as more changes to understand at the state and federal level. The group also discusses efforts by the United Way to provide tax assistance.

In this month’s installment of Our Land, correspondent Laura Paskus sits down with Eugene Herrera, tribal councilman and former governor of the Pueblo of Cochiti. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s bill to change Bandelier National Monument into Bandelier National Park has the support of many of the pueblos in New Mexico. But the Pueblo of Cochiti is against the change. Councilman Herrera tells why the people of Cochiti believe such a designation would damage spiritual and sacred sites.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel look the impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. New Mexico reported its first presumptive cases of COVID-19 this week. The Line looks at efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. The opinion panel also examines the economic impact of the oil collapse due to the worldwide spread of the virus, and what budgetary cuts Gov. Lujan Grisham made to adjust to the anticipated change in revenue. For the final topic, The Line discusses outcomes from both the Republican and Democratic pre-primary conventions held over the past weekend.

Host:
Gene Grant

Correspondents:
Megan Kamerick
Laura Paskus

Studio Guests:
Tax Update:
Richard Anklam, president, New Mexico Tax Research Institute
Tamara Beall, CPA, REDW
Jeffrey Ledbetter, director, Tax Help New Mexico

Our Land:
Eugene Herrera, tribal councilman, Pueblo of Cochiti

Line Panelists:
Merritt Allen, Vox Optima
Andy Lyman, reporter, New Mexico Political Report
Sophie Martin, attorney
Dan McKay, reporter, Albuquerque Journal