Funding bills’ disputed 6 p.m. deadline approaches

As the disputed 6 p.m. deadline approaches for Gov. Bill Richardson to act on the junior budget and capital outlay bills, the governor is in a closed-door meeting with House Democrats.

The big question: Will Richardson act on the bills before 6 p.m. and avoid a legal showdown with the Senate? Or will he wait until after 6 p.m. to act, daring the Senate to take him to court?

Phil Sisneros, spokesman for the attorney general, is among those who keeping an eye on the situation. He said the AG doesn’t have plans to join any lawsuit, even though he has sided with the Senate in the dispute.

“We’ve said what we believe and there’s no much else we can do,” Sisneros said.

Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said he expects Richardson to act on the bills just before 6 p.m. If he doesn’t, the bills will be delivered to the secretary of state for final certification.

Meanwhile, I can’t tell you what’s going on in the meeting between Richardson and House Democrats. I can tell you there is a lot of behind-the-scenes political wrangling taking place.

Check back here throughout the evening for updates. If you have no idea what this is all about, click here for the background.