The Albuquerque Tribune du lieu suivant : Albuquerque, New Mexico • 2

Editor: Nancy Baca 823-3641 nbacaabqtrlbcom Wednesday 041404 I Solar Tax cut might be a target fort foiled but Republicans fear it could be revived legislators wfll want the trigger back said Sen Sue Wilson Beffort an Albuquerque Republican who sits on the Legisla- dve Finance Committee could be forced to put that bade in" Lujan wasn't available for comment today House Majority Leader Danice Picraux an Albuquerque Democrat said reconsidering the trigger wasapossMity may have to reconsider if" Picraux said Tm sure it will be brought up It doesn't limit anything itjust slows down the tax cut until the economy picks up" The tax cut was sold by Richardson as a way to attract economic development Recently New Mexico has made national headlines for having an improved tax environment for citizens and has received slowing of local business representatives tax collections were an the rise state has saved $45 million in year from uncollected taxes" Richardson said "Those are taxes that are Picraux said die decisions going tobe easy for lawmakers when they convene to write the budget next year There are things we can look at to possibly make up (the Picraux said what you really hope is that you stay somewhat The governor's promise of greater economic development where businesses flock to a lower-tax New Mexico Picraux said will be watched dosely what we have to keep our eye on and not destroy attracting Picraux said The Associated Press contributed to this story praise from publications such as The Wall Street JoumaL That Beffort said is precisely why the tax cut needs to stay in place my opinion the most important tiling we can do to stimulate the econranyis keep these tax cuts Beffort said New lawmakers and its governor need to look harder at spending money wisely she said Legislature has to be put on notice that we've got tobe frugal with our money Beffort said "We've been spending like it's going out of style" New Mexico's budget for the 2005 fiscal year which begins July 1 is 6 percent higher than this spending plan The budget counts on $60 million in tax increases and improved tax collections to help balance the financial books next year Today Richardson toklagroup By Shea Andersen SANOERSENeABQTRBCOM8233621 Republicans fear the return of a budgetary bogeyman if anew fiscal forecast rings true A Legislative Finance Committee report says New Mexico could be short $170 million in fiscal year 2006 because spending is overtaking revenue forecasts One driver of the budget shortfall is the personal income tax cut enacted last year The cut was pushed hard by Gov Bill Richardson a Democrat and a bipartisan crew of lawmakers But it was a costly cut to the wallet: In 2006 the tax cut will cost die state $158 million in revenues By 2008 when the tax cuts are fully implemented New Mexico will be short $351 million Several Democrats including House Speaker Ben Lujan wanted to see a added to die tax cut to halt its effects if revenues started crashing That ef Landmark lodge InBrief Hearing set today on UNM racial slurs Apublfc discussion of an April 1 incident in which radal shin were hurled at American Indian students on the University of New Mens campus was scheduled for today on campus Witnesses said a student who said he was annoyed by a noontime roncert near the Dude Pond by a Navajo rap group unplugged their amplifier and used racial shirs UNM sanctions against die student could indude suspension or expulsion UNM President Louis Caldera said Bernalillo officials hail arrest Officials in die town of Bernalillo expect gang activity to wane thanks to the arrest of 25-year-okl Vicente Gutierrez Gutierrez charged in connection with gang-related violence that led officials to close CanoU Elementary School on March 11 and 12 was arrested Sunday by Border Patrol agents in El Paso said Les Swindle town administrator Gutierrez is charged in at least five Bernalillo drive-by shootings and is awaiting extradition from Texas no question that the streets are safer with him behind bars Swindle said WIPP watchdogs get pink slips A group that has acted as a watchdog for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Caiisbad since 1978 has issued layoff notices to its entire staff blaming Department of Energy funding cuts The Environmental Evaluation Group employing 16 scientists provides indqxndent analysis and -monitoring of the radioactive waste repository The DOE says the group is exceeding its budget which was set at $76 million over five years but the head Matthew Silva said that amount was an estimate and the contract is normally negotiated annually The group overspent its allocation last year in order to avoid layoffs Silva said hoping the DOE would come through with higher funding this year Unless the department increases its budget the staffwiQ be disbanded April 30 he said Guv senator seek disaster funds Gov Bill Richardson and Sen Jeff BingamanaSilverQty Democrat asked the White House on Tuesday forafederal declaration of disaster for New Mexico asaresult of storms and flooding last week State assistance million was not enough to address the damage which is now estimated to TTWt than $9 5 miTlinn Rin ga- man said a federal declaration would allow assistance to public gnririf familteanH irvtivwfnaU ammnwrvpons power coming By Dan Stringier DSHMGLERflABQnSLGOM 8233670 Solar power in commercial quantities is coming to northern New Mexico Gov Bill Richardson opening the North American Energy Summit in Albuquerque to-day announced that Spire solar panel manufacturing plant inTiaos Tbe electricity generated will be sold to the Kit Carson Electrical Cooperative already op-eratingmTaos for distribution The manufacturing plant and assembly operation will create about 30 jobs Richardson sakL The prospect for additional jobs is Richardson said as the New Mexico electricity industry moves toward compliance with state regulations passed in January requiring electricity distributors to attain 5 percent df their power from renewable energy sources by 2006 and 10 percent by 2011 The entire project calls for deployment of 100000 solar panels each approximately 15 to 24 square feet Spire will build and own the man ufacturing facility SoiarPort ofTaos a new company will buy die panels and build and operate the power plant New Energy Capital of Wellesley Hills Mass will Sdar electricity offers utili ties more renewable credits per energy unit than most other forms of renewables under the new regulations The energy summit opens today and continues through Friday in Albuquerque The summit plans a series of workshops Thursday on topics ranging fimn using resources more effidendy and the future of natural gas to the price of petroleum products and providing a reliable and efficient Western energy grid Parts of die energy summit are open to the public including an exhibit that opened at Civic Plaza at noon today On display will be several solar energy systems hybrid cars that incorporate nat-ural gas and electricity for power and several government and corporate energy conservation and technology booths Other displays and exhibits will be open to the public at the Hyatt Regency Hotel 330TgerasAve NW throughout the conference ENERGY DISPLAYS Wl ''What a display of alternative lowpollutlon ener devices and systems A When: CMc Plaza When Noon today to 530 pjn Thursday' 9 am to 7 pjrn £AWat: Blew WurT Expo exhfetts and Ubr-m matlon on 21st centuy C' anew technologies 45 Where: Hyatt Regency Ho-3 tel 330 Tjjeras Aw NW Where Noon today to si 730 pm Thursday 730 am to 730 Friday 7:30 am to 1 pjn r-? OPEN TODAY gans before dispersing This is a very good sign" Bingaman said Hush is One prominent Democrat who had supported another candidate was Attorney General Patricia Madrid who had chaired John Edwardrfs campaign in the state was slated to appear but did not Howard Dean supporter and former New Mexico Democratic Party Chairman Fred Harris said he was ready to rally the Dean troops for Kerry To a person they are wildly enthusiastic for the election of John Haris said I I i i 1 1 I I i I CraM RoMraanTTw Independent AP Firefighters hose down the historic Log Cabin Lodge In Gallup In an effort to save the landmark building Fire broke out overnight Monday at the alto and fire crewe worked through Tuesday morning to preeerve the old etructure Adjacent rooming buildings were allowed to bum One transient was saved by firefighters when she was found In a burning room officials say UNM tuition going up 128 percent students should be able to afford higher education in New said Ben Tucker who has received an undergraduate degree from UNM but is taking additional courses preparatory to graduate schooL "You need to be looking at tuition decreases rather than Regent Mel Eaves said states are reducing the proportion of funding allotted piiblic universities Eaves said the costs of Medicare and Medicaid are up the money" that states could otherwise allot to higher education UNM regents he added are sympathetic to the financial strain on students understand what he said not happy about By Frank Zoretich EtoRET1CHAaQmBCOM 8233623 The University of New Mexico Board of Regents has unanimously approved a 128 percent increase in tuition and fees for the coming academic year The increase proposed to the board by UNM President Louis Caldera will raise UNM undergraduate resident tuition by $425 per year to $3738 For most graduate students the increase will be $467 per year toHUO The tuition increase will be used by UNM to give faculty and staff an average pay increase of 5 percent In on-campus budget forums in recent weeks die administration had offered budget scenarios with tuition increases ranging from 45 percent to 22 percent Associated Students of UNM the undergraduate student government proposed a scenario with a 12 percent increase A group of more than two-dozen students opposed to the tuition increase were present at the beginning of the regents meeting Tuesday in the ballroom at the Student Union Building Two of them carried bullhorns which they were asked to leave outside Several others carried signs including: Tuition Free University" UNM Arms Research" and the War" Eleven uniformed UNM police officers were stationed around the edges of the room Regent President Jamie Koch turned downarequest by Regent Sandra Begay-Campbell to change the agenda toallow pub Griego who has taken a visible role in Kerry's campaign Nonetheless Kerry campaigners said they would make up for the absence of a campaign staff with an enthusiastic set of proxies in New Mexico Monday night several prominent Democrats assembled at La Posada hotel Downtown to rally around the Kerry cause Kerry has a better vision for what America can said US Sen Jeff Bingaman a Silver City Democrat who serves with Kerry on the Senate Finance Committee When it comes to and tax relief Bingaman lic input at the beginning of the meeting rather than at the end Kbchsakl anyone could address the board tm agenda items at die time theywere being considered More than an hour later when the tuition increase was up for discussion most of the protest group had departed Only four people spoke against the increase The student government is not die only student said Trey Smith a UNM senior do not support the tuition said Smith adding that he works at a job 30 hours a week and has no scholarship support He blamed the need for a increase on underfunding of UNM by the Legislature beef is not with you" he told the board said Kerry is on die right side of aU those Bingaman addressed an enthusiastic crowd that filledaballrootn at La Posada to hear speeches by him Lt Gov Diane Denish who chaffs campaign in New Mexico and other elected officials Billed as a event the gathering was meant tohighlight those who had been affiliated with other Democratic presidential candidates before Kerry swept the early primaries including New nominating caucus Feb 3 State Senate President Richard Romero said heUbeen aligned Democrats rally to unite Kerry office opens in June CORRECTION A list Saturday of US servicemen and women who have died in Iraq should have identified one of them as Army Pvt David Evans Jr TheAtouquerqueTrtoune seeks to correct factual errors and clarify misleading information as promptly as possB)le To report an error or need for a clarification you can contact staff reporters at the phone numbers or emafl addresses Included with their bylines You can call our Corrections Hot Line at 823-3606 WINNINGNUMBERS New Mexico 17 32 33 Bonus bail: 4 7bdtgft estimated apprise $20000 Mit Pkk 3: 8 90 Satanhy's Pmaffcal: 2 48 30 9 47 Powerball: 40 Power Play: 2 TodasestimatedjackpoC $65 million Ml omM2 13 14 22 26 41 Bonus ball: 28 Colorado Mac 12 16 20 24 3041 TrasMoc 7 11 15 16 40 b6nus Ball: 43 with Dick Gephardt before mov- ingtothe Wesley Clark campaign hoping my support for John Kerry doesn't mean going down Romero joked Before she spoke Denish looked out at the crowd in the ballroom and seemed to do a quick mental head count sure changed a lot since there were 15 of us sitting in a Denish said One thing that has changed is Kerry events now draw protesters About 10 pro-Bush people some from the University ofNew Mexico College Republicans stood on a street comer and hcffleredslo- BySheaAndanan SANOERSENOABQTRBCOM8233621 John campaign will open its office in New Mexico sometime in June the campaign's New Mexico leaders said be playing cateh-up for awhile President re-election campaign has haH in office open in New Mexico for more thanamonth but Keny boosters said they be able to match the well-moneyed campaign in New Mexico quite yet got die uipped City Councilor Eric I.