New Mexico Official Wants Less Economic Reliance on Feds

D.C. is a fickle mistress

Amid economic news in New Mexico that is mixed at best, Jon Barela of the state's Economic Development Department says the state has to rely less on the federal government.

"The federal government can no longer be considered a growth industry here in New Mexico," Barela told Capitol Report New Mexico.

"New Mexico is consistently ranked second or third in the entire country of dollars going into Washington DC and dollars coming back to Washington DC," Barela said while emphasizing, "our congressional delegation has to fight tooth and nail" for the federal jobs currently based in New Mexico.