Gov. Bill Richardson expanded today the agenda for a long-anticipated special session of the Legislature and said it will be held just after Democratic and Republican national presidential nominating conventions wrap up in early September.
In addition to health-care reform, Richardson told The Associated Press that the agenda for the special session will include “a package of initiatives to help working families with the rising costs for food, gasoline and other household expenses.” That may include tax relief, he told the news service, but specific proposals are still being developed.
Richardson had previously said he would call a special session for health-care reform in August or September. He told the news service today that he settled on early September because he didn’t want to interfere with the Democrats’ convention being held Aug. 25-28 in Denver and the Republicans’ convention being held Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minn.
Richardson’s announcement comes two days after the state announced windfall oil and gas revenues that will provide $392 million in new money for the upcoming budget year and another $1 billion for one-time spending projects. Richardson said earlier this week that would provide the money necessary for universal health care.
But the chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee, Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said earlier this week that the money should instead be used to provide a tax rebate to New Mexicans and to help cover a highway financing shortfall of at least $500 million. Smith and many other lawmakers contend that the state can’t afford universal health care. Richardson’s expansion of the special session’s agenda comes as many continue to doubt that he has the ability to push health-care reform through the Legislature.
Richardson told The Associated Press today that he is “tired of members of the Senate — some members of the Senate — constantly saying no to any kind of progress on education reform, on health care. I am tired of these ‘Dr. No’s.’ Ever since I’ve come into office … we’ve had substantial progress despite their dire predictions, which continue unabated every year.”
Smith told the news service that it’s the Legislature’s responsibility to say ‘no.’
“We’re the appropriating body. We have to make certain it’s affordable and sustainable even when he’s gone,” Smith said.
Gov. Bill Richardson expanded today the agenda for a long-anticipated special session of the Legislature and said it will be held just after Democratic and Republican national presidential nominating conventions wrap up in early September.