A proposal that calls for pulling the plug on New Mexico's taxpayer-financed spaceport and putting the futuristic hangar up for sale will have its first legislative hearing.
The Senate Corporation and Transportation Committee on Thursday will consider the legislation sponsored by Democratic Sen. George Munoz of Gallup.
The bill has added fuel to criticisms that Spaceport America — first initiated by former Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, and British billionaire Richard Branson — is a boondoggle.
Under the legislation, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and other agencies would have to come up with a marketing plan by October to sell the spaceport. Money from the sale would be used to pay back development bonds, and taxes imposed in Sierra and Dona Ana counties to pay for the project would be rescinded.
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