Michael Della Rocca

LOCAL COLUMN The New Mexico State Capitol is shown in this file photo. . Once again, our state Legislature is taking up the question of whether New Mexico should pay its legislators a salary. It bears repeating: New Mexico is the only state in the nation that does not pay its legislators a salary. Instead, legislators receive a per diem; essentially a reimbursement for travel and daily expenses while in session or on official business. This is not a radical or controversial proposal.

As polarization and gridlock continue to grip national politics, Americans are increasingly looking to states to remedy the nation’s most significant challenges. The burden has fallen to states like New Mexico to address complex issues such as health care, infrastructure, education, crime, water policy, voting rights, energy, abortion and the environment.

As polarization and gridlock continue to grip national politics, Americans are increasingly looking to states to remedy the nation’s most significant challenges. The burden has fallen to states like New Mexico to address complex issues such as health care, infrastructure, education, crime, water policy, voting rights, energy, abortion, and the environment.