The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by cjc4454/flickr.com)
The Senate has voted to uphold Sen. Eric Griego’s amendment to add a requirement that staff compile a list of at least $150 million in potentially cutable capital outlay projects to a bill that would make widespread reductions in state government. But that came only after tensions erupted over some serious allegations made against Senate leaders.
Five senators who voted earlier this afternoon in favor of Griego’s amendment to House Bill 17 voted moments later in favor of reconsidering the amendment. Almost immediately, Griego, an Albuquerque Democrat, and others tossed out allegations of arm-twisting by Senate leaders. That led to several minutes of arguing among senators that included some emotional outbursts.
The allegation, made by Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Española, was that leadership got Navajo senators to change their votes by telling them their capital outlay projects would be pulled if they didn’t vote to stop Griego’s amendment. Griego said “the squeeze” was put on by leadership.
“This is a hell of a way to do business,” he said.
In addition, Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, D-Albuquerque, said leadership was pushing for no amendments to the bill — which has already been approved by the House — so the session can end today. If the Senate approves the bill with amendments, the House must consider the changes and re-vote on the bill, which would prolong the session.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, put a stop to the arguing by asking Democrats to vote in favor of Griego’s amendment on the second vote, even if they didn’t the first time. He is among those who voted against the amendment the first time, when it passed on a tie-breaking vote by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.
“This debate is getting to a point of being very personal,” Michael Sanchez said in trying to rein things in.
On a vote of 21-19, the Senate then reaffirmed its approval of the Griego amendment.
Still pending is Griego’s second amendment, which would use the $150 million potentially freed up by the capital outlay cuts to reduce the cuts to state agencies approved by the House and ensure no cuts to education. The Senate is still debating House Bill 17.
After the second vote on Griego’s amendment, Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, said she was not part of any effort to pressure members to change their votes.
Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, said it’s true that the Navajo Nation would be affected by cuts to capital outlay more than others, but said there was no threat or pressure on those senators to change their votes.
“I resent the implication by anybody that Sen. Sanchez did it, and I did it,” or that other leaders pressured members, Jennings said. He added that he is “ready to go unpack my car” and stay in session “until hell freezes over.”
A prior version of this posting incorrectly stated that Griego’s first amendment would increase cuts to capital outlay projects by $150 million.