SINCE IT’S LASTED A LOT LONGER, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ECONOMIST JEFF MITCHELL SAYS THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS HAVING A MUCH GREATER IMPACT IN NEW MEXICO THAN PREVIOUS ONES. HE SAYS THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS ARE NOW WITHOUT A PAYCHECK. HE SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT 22-THOUSAND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES IN NEW MEXICO, AND ROUGHLY HALF OF THEM ARE WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT AFFECTED BY THE SHUTDOWN.
MITCHELL TELLS NEWSRADIO KKOB THE MEDIAN INCOME OF A FEDERAL WORKER IN NEW MEXICO IS 72-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.
BESIDES WORKERS NOT BEING PAID, HE SAYS THE STATE’S NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION IS BEING HURT MORE THAN ANY OTHER GROUP…WITH INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES AND THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS BOTH BEING SHUT DOWN.
