Richardson won’t call special session until summer

Gov. Bill Richardson announced today that he won’t call a special session for health-care reform until the summer.

The decision comes following a meeting today with Senate leaders, Richardson said in a news release. He said he and the senators “agreed to form bipartisan, executive-legislative working groups that will develop consensus on all of the key areas of a universal health coverage plan.”

“We all want a productive special session that results in affordable access to health care,” Richardson said.

He called the meeting with Senate leaders “productive.”

The news will come as a relief to many lawmakers who are focused on re-election and the June 3 primary. Most politicos believed Richardson would be making a mistake to call lawmakers back immediately. There is currently no consensus on health-care reform, and the relationship between the governor and Senate has been increasingly contentious.

The working groups may be a chance to improve that relationship.