The House appears to be on track to work through the night, and a GOP motion to adjourn sine die and end the session was defeated by Democrats.
House Republicans are working every procedural angle they can find to try to stop or stall the session, and a bipartisan group of members who are on the floor have described the scene to me as a huge mess.
I’m not clear at this early hour (It’s almost 4 a.m. now and I’m in Las Cruces, not Santa Fe) what the exact vote was on the motion to adjourn sine die, but all Democrats voted against ending the session and all Republicans voted for it. Among those voting against the motion was Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, who was absent much of Wednesday but made the trip to
The vote came early this morning after a call of the House by Republicans and a number of excusals by Speaker of the House Ben Lujan.
The scene is ugly. Earlier, Minority Whip Dan Foley, R-Roswell, called the Democrats “sheep” during a speech. Republicans also sent a strongly worded letter to the governor complaining that he’s in
Lujan appears ready to keep working until the House has approved the entire agenda for the session. Members just approved what is now House Bill 2, sponsored by Rep. Dan Silva, D-Albuquerque. It’s the $208-million road-funding bill that includes $25 million for the spaceport road. The domestic partner benefits bill is up next, and the debate on it should last several hours.
“We have an obligation to the citizens of
Here’s a rundown of the other bills introduced by House Democrats that are being considered:
• House Bill 3, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Swisstack, D-Rio Rancho, would establish cleanup procedures for toxic substances in residences used as methamphetamine labs and would establish a statewide registry of these residences.
• House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, would provide domestic partners with the same rights, protections and benefits given to spouses, including parental rights.
• House Bill 5, sponsored by Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, would increase the penalties for domestic-violence repeat offenders and mandate treatment for first-time offenders.
• House Bill 6, sponsored by Lujan, would provide for public financing of statewide judicial campaigns.
• House Bill 7, sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, would refine campaign reporting requirements and place limits on campaign contributions.
• House Bill 8, sponsored by Majority Leader Ken Martinez, D-Grants, would establish a state ethics commission.
I’m not certain at this point what has already been approved, but all passed the House during the regular session and should do so again.
“It’s important that we pass these three bills so we can have a comprehensive ethics reform package,” he said.
Text of House Republicans’ letter to
Meanwhile, here’s a copy of a letter House Republicans sent to the governor:
Dear Governor Richardson:
On behalf of the People of the State of
We feel that the Executive and Legislative branches worked very well together over the last 60 days – let’s not destroy the progress we’ve made. The public is furious the Senate has gone home while the House sits idle, costing the taxpayers God only knows how much. Our citizens are also aware that there is no real need for this Special Session, and they blame you as well as us.
Please comply with our request so we can continue to work together for the good of
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Taylor, Republican Floor Leader
Dan Foley, Republican Whip
Anna Crook, Republican Caucus Leader
cc: Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House