House Republican Caucus Elect Leaders

From a New Release:

On Saturday, House Republicans elected their leadership for the upcoming session.

State Representative Tom Taylor of Farmington was re-elected Minority Leader. State Representative Keith Gardner of Roswell was elected Minority Whip - filling the position formerly held by departing State Representative Dan Foley of Roswell. State Representative Anna Crook of Clovis was re-elected Caucus Chair.

"We had a successful and productive caucus meeting today," commented Caucus Chair Representative Crook.

"With our leadership team in place, the next item on our agenda is to immediately begin tackling the serious budgeting challenges that face New Mexico in this coming session," stated Minority Leader Representative Taylor.

Oil was selling at $147 a barrel back in July, but now is hovering between $60 and $70 per barrel, and natural gas prices are being hit even harder. This will result in drastic declines in the severance taxes at the same time that the housing market slowdown and economic recession are taking a toll on gross receipts tax revenue and jobs.

"During these difficult times, I am honored and humbled to have earned the support of my colleagues for this leadership position," said Minority Whip Representative Gardner, first elected to the House in 2004.

"Like most families and small businesses across New Mexico, we at the legislature are going to have to focus on cost-cutting to pull through this," continued Representative Gardner.