Last Updated:  April1, 2008

During the legislative session, you can call him/her at the Capitol without using the Legislative Map by calling  the legislative switchboard at 505-986-4300 and asking for his/her office.

To fax him/her, send it to 505-986-4610, and put the legislator's name on the recipient field.  Faxes on business letter-heads are particularly powerful.

Information on your legislator can be found at: http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legislatorsearch.asp

We have a file on Tips for Writing Letters for your convenience. Mail your letter to:

Sen. or Rep.______________________ 
New Mexico Capitol 
Santa Fe, NM 87501

HB 484--REDUCE TAXES FOR LESS PROFITABLE RACETRACKS

This bill was especially aimed at reducing the taxes at the Ruidoso racetrack from 26% to 10% .  Although this track had seen a moderate decline in the last couple of years, it was still profitable.  The major owner, R. D. Hubbard, had been one of the partners who parlayed a $40 million investment in the Hobbs race track casino into a $200 million sale to Penn National two years ago.  He and other partners contributed tens of thousands in  contributions to Governor Richardson's presidential campaign.

Governor Richardson pushed this bill, and House Speaker, Ben Lujan, carried the bill, which passed overwhelmingly in the House.  NMCAG worked the Senate Finance Committee and the full Senate, and for various reasons, it never saw the light of day after getting read into the Senate. Finance Committee chairman Senator John Arthur Smith refused to allow the bill to get pulled out of his committee without a hearing.  It is nice that some legislators insist on proper procedures.

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NMCAG COMPLAINTS TO AG AND NM GAMING CONTROL BOARD RE FRAUDULENT SLOTS

The New Mexico Coalition Against Gambling has filed formal complaints with the New Mexico Gaming Control Board and Attorney General Gary King about slot manufacturers programming slot machines that deceive the customers.                                      

Click here to view the complaint                                                                                         

Click here to see a letter sent to NMCAG supporters

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PROPOSED DEMING CASINO:

The Ft. Sill Apache tribe from Oklahoma has plans to build a gambling hall at Akela Flats near Deming, New Mexico.  They claim to have trust status tribal land and need no compact to erect a bingo palace.  Right now they could install Class II gambling devices that look, sound, and feel like regular Class III video slot machines. 

The National Indian Gaming Commission has developed regulations to make a clear distinction between Class II and Class III gambling machines.  They are taking comments until March 10.  We need to send in lots of letters to them to hold the line and outlaw Class II bingo machines that are really Class III slots.  Please send in letters before March 10. To view a sample letter to the NIGC click here.