CVNM Statement in Response to Passage of Funding for Public Broadcasting
[Santa Fe] – Overnight, the state legislature passed House Bill 1, appropriating funding to critical public programs that have been stripped of support by Congress and the Trump Administration. Included in the legislation is $5.6 million in dedicated funding for public broadcasting, and $430,000 to support public radio and television in Indigenous communities. The state appropriations fall on the heels of a federal government shutdown due to stalled negotiations in Congress, and an unpopular deeply partisan budget package. In response, Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) issued the following statements:
“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
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Conservation Voters New Mexico is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit committed to connecting the people of New Mexico to their political power to protect our air, land and water for a healthy Land of Enchantment. We do this by mobilizing voters, winning elections, holding elected of icials accountable and advancing responsible public policies.