Energy Policy, Paul Ryan and Medicaid on the Next New Mexico in Focus

This week on New Mex­ico in Focus, United States Sen­a­tor Jeff Binga­man checks in dur­ing the August recess for Con­gress. As chair of the Sen­ate Energy and Nat­ural Resources Com­mit­tee, Binga­man has been at the fore­front of the bat­tle to write a com­pre­hen­sive energy pol­icy for the coun­try. With his retire­ment loom­ing in Jan­u­ary, Binga­man weighs the chances that goal will be accomplished.

New Mex­ico PBS’ one hour pub­lic affairs show New Mex­ico in Focus airs Fri­days at 7 p.m. and Sun­days at 7 a.m. on Chan­nel 5.1. The show can also be seen on New Mex­ico PBS Chan­nel 9.1 on Sat­ur­days at 5 p.m.

The Line takes a look at the selec­tion of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s run­ning mate. The pick may not directly affect the pres­i­den­tial race in New Mex­ico, but Ryan’s bud­get plan has become an impor­tant issue in the sen­ate race between Heather Wil­son and Rep­re­sen­ta­tive Mar­tin Heinrich.

Also, before they go on the clock, pan­elists sound off on the Paseo Del Norte inter­change project now at the mercy of the Albu­querque City Coun­cil, and econ­o­mist Kelly O’Donnell pleads the case for New Mex­ico to expand its Med­ic­aid program.

Guests
• Jeff Binga­man, United States Sen­a­tor
• Kelly O’Donnell, Inde­pen­dent Eco­nomic analyst

Line Guests
• Matthew Reich­bach, NMTelegram.com editor

Line Pan­elists
• Jamie Estrada, for­mer U.S. Com­merce Depart­ment offi­cial
• Dan Foley, for­mer N.M. House Repub­li­can Whip
• Sophie Mar­tin, edi­tor in chief, New Mex­ico Law Review

Host/Commentator
• Gene Grant

Get updates, watch and fol­low New Mex­ico PBS on Face­book, Twit­ter, YouTube & more.

New Mex­ico in Focus is pro­duced by Matt Grubs and Kathy Wim­mer. Fund­ing has been pro­vided in part by the McCune Foundation.

Media con­tact: Joan Rebec­chi, (505) 277‑1214; email: jrebecchi@newmexicopbs.org