New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session is less than two weeks away and the Legislative Finance Committee just released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027. The committee’s $11.1 billion spending plan is similar to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s but doesn’t fully fund the governor’s free universal child care initiative.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rep. Nathan Small, the LFC chair, joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the committee’s budget proposal. He delves into how the committee develops its budget recommendations, highlights its priorities, and talks about the key differences between the LFC’s plan and the governor’s.

Small, a Democrat from Las Cruces, also discusses his upbringing in El Cerro Mission, his connection with the outdoors, and how he views the responsibility of being the LFC chair. 

New Mexico&rsquo;s 30-day legislative session is less than two weeks away and the Legislative Finance Committee just released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027. The committee&rsquo;s $11.1 billion spending plan is similar to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham&rsquo;s but doesn&rsquo;t fully fund the governor&rsquo;s free universal child care initiative.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Rep. Nathan Small, the LFC chair, joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to discuss the committee&rsquo;s budget proposal. He delves into how the committee develops its budget recommendations, highlights its priorities, and talks about the key differences between the LFC&rsquo;s plan and the governor&rsquo;s.
Small, a Democrat from Las Cruces, also discusses his upbringing in El Cerro Mission, his connection with the outdoors, and how he views the responsibility of being the LFC chair.&nbsp;

The Santa Fe New Mexican’s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

Around the Roundhouse

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

LFC Chair Nathan Small discusses budget priorities, child care funding ahead of legislative session

The 2026 30-day legislative session came to a close Thursday with Democrats largely touting it as a success following an overhaul of the state's medical malpractice law, the funding of universal child care and more. 

One of the bigger news items to come out of the final full day of the session was an omnibus tax package with 1% raises for state employees. Rep. Derrick Lente and other House Democrats helped get the raises across the finish line after they had been previously removed from the budget in the Senate. 

In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Lente joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to talk about how it took a creative solution to reinstate the raises for state employees. Lente, who chairs the House Tax committee, also shares his thoughts on the power of the Senate Finance Committee, which had previously stripped the raises.

Chacón also asks Lente about his position on a measure that will go before voters to determine whether state legislators will receive a salary, how he feels about what lawmakers accomplished during the session, and how he decompresses at the end of a session.

The 2026 30-day legislative session came to a close Thursday with Democrats largely touting it as a success following an overhaul of the state's medical malpractice law, the funding of universal child care and more.&nbsp;
One of the bigger news items to come out of the final full day of the session was an omnibus tax package with 1% raises for state employees. Rep. Derrick Lente and other House Democrats helped get the raises across the finish line after they had been previously removed from the budget in the Senate.&nbsp;
In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Lente joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to talk about how it took a creative solution to reinstate the raises for state employees. Lente, who chairs the House Tax committee, also shares his thoughts on the power of the Senate Finance Committee, which had previously stripped the raises.
Chac&oacute;n also asks Lente about his position on a measure that will go before voters to determine whether state legislators will receive a salary, how he feels about what lawmakers accomplished during the session, and how he decompresses at the end of a session.

Rep. Derrick Lente discusses getting creative to fund raises for state employees at end of session

With just over a week left in New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session, a handful of bills have been passed and signed into law but there’s still a lot up in the air for lawmakers. Some of the bills passed so far have had bipartisan support, but others have faced strong opposition by the Republican minority in both chambers.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to offer her take on the good, the bad and the ugly of the session so far.

The Magdalena Republican starts with sharing her support for the interstate compacts for doctors and social workers, and the medical malpractice reform bill that is still working its way through the Legislature.

Armstrong also discusses her opposition to the passage of House Bill 9, a bill to ban local governments in New Mexico from contracting with the federal government to detain undocumented immigrants and others with pending civil immigration cases. She later talks about Senate Bill 17, a gun control bill Republicans have called unconstitutional.

Chacón asks Armstrong about Republicans’ hopes of picking up seats in the Legislature in the upcoming election. She discusses what it’s been like being in the minority party, saying “we’re really sick and tired of being pushed around” and that better balance is needed in the Roundhouse.

Armstrong ends the podcast by talking about her House district, which is the largest in the state and very rural. “I probably have more cows and elk than I do people. I kind of like it like that,” she says.

With just over a week left in New Mexico&rsquo;s 30-day legislative session, a handful of bills have been passed and signed into law but there&rsquo;s still a lot up in the air for lawmakers. Some of the bills passed so far have had bipartisan support, but others have faced strong opposition by the Republican minority in both chambers.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to offer her take on the good, the bad and the ugly of the session so far.
The Magdalena Republican starts with sharing her support for the interstate compacts for doctors and social workers, and the medical malpractice reform bill that is still working its way through the Legislature.
Armstrong also discusses her opposition to the passage of House Bill 9, a&nbsp;bill to ban local governments in New Mexico from contracting with the federal government to detain undocumented immigrants and others with pending civil immigration cases. She later talks about Senate Bill 17, a gun control bill Republicans have called unconstitutional.
Chac&oacute;n asks Armstrong about Republicans&rsquo; hopes of picking up seats in the Legislature in the upcoming election. She discusses what it&rsquo;s been like being in the minority party, saying &ldquo;we&rsquo;re really sick and tired of being pushed around&rdquo; and that better balance is needed in the Roundhouse.
Armstrong ends the podcast by talking about her House district, which is the largest in the state and very rural. &ldquo;I probably have more cows and elk than I do people. I kind of like it like that,&rdquo; she says.

Rep. Gail Armstrong shares a Republican’s view on the good, bad and ugly of the legislative session

New Mexico made national headlines last year with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announcement that it would be the first state in the country to offer child care to all families at no cost. Elizabeth Groginsky, secretary of the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department, was at the governor’s side during the news conference and has been a key figure in the landmark initiative.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Groginsky joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the progress of the program since the September announcement, the national recognition the initiative has received and the challenges ahead.

The governor’s push to remove all income limits to the child care assistance program is one of the most discussed issues during the current 30-day legislative session as lawmakers hash out a budget for the coming fiscal year. Groginsky speaks on her department’s desire for fully funding the program and on concerns regarding child care provider capacity.

To learn more about applying for universal child care and to access a child care finder, visit https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/.

New Mexico made national headlines last year with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham&rsquo;s announcement that it would be the first state in the country to offer child care to all families at no cost. Elizabeth Groginsky, secretary of the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department, was at the governor&rsquo;s side during the news conference and has been a key figure in the landmark initiative.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Groginsky joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to discuss the progress of the program since the September announcement, the national recognition the initiative has received and the challenges ahead.
The governor&rsquo;s push to remove all income limits to the child care assistance program is one of the most discussed issues during the current 30-day legislative session as lawmakers hash out a budget for the coming fiscal year. Groginsky speaks on her department&rsquo;s desire for fully funding the program and on concerns regarding child care provider capacity.
To learn more about applying for universal child care and to access a child care finder, visit https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/.

LFC Chair Nathan Small discusses budget priorities, child care funding ahead of legislative session

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