In the coming weeks, we’ll all get our fill of state budgets, tax proposals, and spending cuts. No doubt this will be one of the most stressful legislative sessions in recent memory. And, because it’s only a 30-day session, many other important issues may fall by the wayside this year. Let’s hope not, though. Brain drain is a serious problem for New Mexico. That’s not big news to most people in the state, but a new report from UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Development Committee illustrates just how big the problem has become. As we mentioned in the show, nearly 60-percent of people born in this state will leave after completing their schooling. And, only 2-percent will ever come back. A few other notes from the study:

*People with higher degrees are four times more likely to leave New Mexico than other folks born
here.

*More than half of native-born New Mexicans are likely to live in poverty, compared to people who
were born elsewhere and migrated to New Mexico, regardless of educational attainment.

*Native-born New Mexicans who leave the state tend to fare better economically than those who
remain, regardless of age, ethnicity or education.

*New Mexico brings in more people with advanced degrees than the advanced degreed residents
the state loses, indicating there are plenty of jobs for well educated, native-born New Mexicans.

Head to newmexicoinfocus.org to watch our interview with Senator Tim Keller, and Venture Capitalists Tom Stephenson and Kim Sanchez Rael. We ran out of time for our last question, which had to do with the potential impact of green jobs on the brain drain problem. Here what our guests had to say, below:

Also on the show this week, we talked a lot about that looming legislative session.  NMiF will be working hard over the next four weeks to bring you insight and perspective on the Roundhouse process.  And, that starts with next Tuesday’s State of the State address.  Be sure to tune in to KNME for pre-and post-speech coverage, along with a live broadcast of the speech itself.  It all starts at 1 o’clock, or when the Governor starts talking, whichever comes first. At work and can’t watch?  We’ll archive our livestreaming coverage right here at newmexicoinfocus.org.  And, be sure to tune in to NMiF next Friday night for lots of reaction and analysis.

And, the coverage doesn’t end there.  NMiF is teaming up with the New Mexico Independent for a weekly gathering with lawmakers, aides and lobbyists.  And, you’re invited too!  Just head on over to the Rio Chama near the Roundhouse every Wednesday from 5-8pm.  If you can’t make it, look for updates here on the site, and a weekly recap during the broadcast Friday nights at 7pm.

We ran out of time on this week’s show, but luckily there’s always time on the internet.  We asked our LINE panelists to weigh in on several topics in our On the Clock segment.  Click below to find out what they had to say:

The organizers of the Tricklock Revolutions are also on the clock, from now, until the end of the month.  This week, we also took you inside the group’s 10th annual International Theater Festival, which runs through January 30th, and features groups from Philadelphia, Edmonton, New York City, even Krakow Poland.  If you didn’t get to see the piece, make sure you go back and watch.  It’s the very last 7 minutes or so of the most recent episode.  And, if you want more information about the festival, just head to tricklock.com

And, we would be remiss not to mention the terrible tragedy this week in Haiti, where a magnitude 7 earthquake caused massive destruction and claimed thousand upon thousands of lives.  There are so many ways to help provide aid the victims and their families.  In fact, it can often be overwhelming.  Here are a few verified charities that can help you turn your cash into potentially lifesaving food and supplies:

American Red Cross

Catholic Churches Relief Services

Center for International Disaster Information

International Rescue Committee

You can also donate via text, and the donation will be added to your next phone bill.  Here are a few numbers you can use.

• SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
• SMS text “YELE” to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts
• SMS text “GIVE10″ to 20222 to donate $10 to Direct Relief

This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 5:22 pm and is filed under New Mexico inFocus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.