Heavy negotiating continues on a proposal to remake the state’s troubled affordable housing system.
Shortly after House Democrats emerged from their secret caucus this afternoon, Speaker of the House Ben Lujan spoke with Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, on the House floor. Immediately after that, Reps. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, and Al Park, D-Albuquerque, began negotiations with
I’ve been unable to speak with any of the three about the negotiations. Getting anyone to comment on what’s going on is tough.
Senate Bill 519, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, would fund an investigation to determine the extent of mismanagement that led to the housing authority system crumbling in scandal last year, and would also replace the authorities with a new system overseen by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. I still don’t know what amendments are being proposed.
I can tell you that, about an hour ago, Park emerged from negotiations and spoke for several minutes with Lt. Gov. Diane Denish on the Senate floor. Denish is the chair of the MFA board and has been heavily involved in negotiations.
Moments after Park left the Senate floor, Papen visited Denish’s desk and spoke with her.
Shortly after that, Park made a brief appearance on the House floor, then vanished again. Currently Park, Cervantes and Taylor are away from the House floor.
Here are some photos of what’s going on. I’ll update when there’s news.
