Uranium, The LFC and Environmentalists

Within ten years, uranium mining and milling activity in the Grants Mineral Belt of Cibola and McKinley counties could employ 3,400 annually. The projection comes from a new economic and fiscal analysis of uranium industry impacts. An outline of a coming 100-page report was presented to the Legislative Finance Committee in Chama yesterday.
A bit of drama came first. An environmentalist group sought a place on the agenda, presumably to counter the industry briefing in some way.
Without even generally identifying the group, LFC Chairman Sen. John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat, said: If you want to play, you must play nice and play by the rules. You haven;t done that, so today you don; get to play. Rules for appearing before the LFC, which Smith pointed out is a budget preparation group, include no advocacy, and requesting an appearance before the committee by contacting the chair, namely Smith, and contacting him in a timely manner. "There is a process," he said.
Being a committee chair, especially during the interim, has much to do with herding cats. Smith's was statement was extraordinary.
Smith is becoming more and more known for speaking his mind. The previous day, in reaction to a revenue forecast that high oil prices will bring the state an extra $400 million during the current fiscal year, Smith suggested a tax rebate. Gov. Bill Richardson, claiming, according to the Associated Press, that "New Mexico's economy is performing well" wants to spend the one-time money on a major recurring expense, expanded health care.
The industry presentation was led by Jon Indall, a Santa Fe attorney who works with the uranium industry. Bill Brancard, director of the Mining and Minerals Division of the Energy, Minerals and natural resources Department, gave a regulatory perspective. Dr. Anthony Popp, economics professor at New Mexico State University, presented the economic report. which was prepared under a contract with The Arrowhead Center Office of Policy Analysis at NMSU.
A new perspective on being a citizen legislator came from the LFC meeting place in Chama. The restrooms were maybe 50 yards away across the parking lot. This is dedication.