Focus remains on the Roundhouse for this week’s “Conversations Different” as state Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, and freshman state Sen. Nate Paul, R-Alamogordo, join the show to share Republican and rural perspectives for the 60-day legislative session.

Dow and Paul say Republicans share the Democrats’ desire to pass crime legislation, but that the GOP has been calling for action for years with little progress. While the most attention gets paid to crime in the state’s largest cities, Dow and Paul say crime has been rising in rural areas, too. They also note that they don’t want gun control in a public safety package.

Dow and Paul also speak to the struggle of having influence in legislation as a minority party and share ways they can try to make an impact. Dow says the challenges may increase as Democrats have recently voted in more progressive candidates who have replaced more conservative party members.

The lawmakers agree that the state’s rural areas, especially in the south, are often forgotten. As the state enjoys a large revenue surplus, Dow mentions the desire to have a rural capital outlay fund created to offer greater support to rural infrastructure.

Dow also advocates for tax reform, calling for the state to consider eliminating the income tax and reforming the state’s gross receipts tax.

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