By Shea Andersen
Tribune Reporter

Today's the day to start voting early on one of Gov. Bill Richardson's most prized priorities, and one of the least understood.

Two constitutional amendments are on a statewide ballot, one to create a Cabinet-level secretary of education appointed by the governor, the other to increase education funding by taking a bigger bite from the interest proceeds generated by a state permanent fund.

Voters can mail absentee ballots or cast early ballots in person at county clerk offices today across the state.

Today is also the last day to register to vote in the Sept. 23 election on the two amendments.

The first, the education secretary measure, is Amendment No. 1. It has the backing of Richardson, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, former Gov. Garrey Carruthers, and the New Mexico Republican Party.

Amendment No. 2 would authorize higher rates of withdrawal from the value of the Land Grant Permanent Fund, which includes the Permanent Schools Fund. Doing so would mean an additional $78 million in 2005 for New Mexico schools.

That amendment, however, is hotly challenged by the New Mexico GOP and State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons, all of whom refer to the measure as a "raid" on the state's insurance fund against future revenue gaps. Today the Green Party of New Mexico also came out in opposition to the amendment, agreeing with Lyons that "the move is risky" and would ultimately impose greater tax burdens on the state's middle class and poor.

The Land Grant Permanent Fund is valued at about $6.8 billion.

"This is an investment for kids, for education," Richardson said Monday. "If we don't invest in that, what are we going to wait for?"

The funding measure, Richardson said, would direct more than $600 million over the next nine years toward education spending. It's the only way so far identified to pay for a series of education reforms passed by the New Mexico Legislature.

But the suspicion that the permanent fund will lose value because of the new distribution rate drives New Mexico Republican Party chair Ramsay Gorham to oppose the measure.

"There's a smarter, better way to do this," Gorham said. "We can find this money in the budget without killing the golden goose."

As for Amendment Two, Richardson said the current state board of education and the state superintendent of education, Mike Davis, are ineffective at managing the state's schools. He said he's frustrated at not being able to have any control over New Mexico's school system.

"Accountability does not exist in our schools," Richardson said. "You've got a state board of education that is unresponsive, that doesn't act. All it does is fight."

In that he's got agreement from Republicans, who wanted former Gov. Gary Johnson to have his own secretary of education years ago.

Information on absentee and early voting is available by calling the Bernalillo County Clerks Office at 768-4126.

THE CHANGES

Amendment 1:

Public education department headed by Cabinet-level education secretary

Secretary must be "qualified, experienced educator"

Secretary appointed by governor, confirmed by Senate

Secretary has administrative, financial responsibility

Current 15-member school board abolished

Ten-member public education commission created

Commission members elected for four years from districts

Current elected board members serve out terms on commission

Commission's duties to be determined by law

Amendment 2:

Increases the amount of interest that can be used from the State Land Grant Permanent Fund from 4.7 to 5.0 percent of the five-year average balance of the fund, increasing to 5.8 percent from 2005 through 2012, then decreasing to 5.5 percent from 2013 through 2016.

Additional distributions will stop if the value of the fund drops below $5.8 billion or if three-fifths of the Legislature votes to stop them.

Source: The Associated Press, New Mexico Legislative Council Service

ON THE NET: The amendments and arguments for and against them: Click here

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