A bill that would massively privatize the state’s public services and infrastructure

A bill has been introduced in the New Mexico legislature that would massively privatize the state’s public services and infrastructure, and is being fought by public interest groups. Eleanor Bravo, the Southwest organizer for Food & Water Watch and a longtime resident of New Mexico, writes: “HB 275 is a bad deal for New Mexico. State leaders give away huge tax breaks to corporations in the state. Then, because the government can no longer afford to keep up with aging infrastructure, it would let private corporations make money off that much-needed infrastructure. In addition to the broad definition of “public projects” that are subject to privatization, HB 275 specifically lists dams, reservoirs, sewerage or water treatment facilities, water pipelines, habitat or environmental restoration, cleanup or reuse, hazardous fuels reduction, power plants, solid waste, recycling, and other basic, essential environmental facilities and services.”