• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Mountain
    • Bike Park
    • Lift Tickets
    • Mountain Facts
    • Ski & Snowboard School
    • Snow Report
    • Trail Map
  • Winter
    • Ski Shops
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Night Skiing
    • Nordic Skiing
    • Sledding
    • Snowmobiling
    • Sleigh Rides
    • Terrain Parks
    • Tubing
  • Summer
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Fishing
    • Go Carts
    • Golfing
    • Hiking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Music From Angel Fire
    • Whitewater Rafting
  • Lodging
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins, Condos & Houses
    • Hotels, Motels & Lodges
    • Pet Lodging
    • R.V. Parks
    • Reservation Services
  • Real Estate
    • Builders & Supplies
    • For Sale By Owner
    • Home Builders
    • Office Space
    • Real Estate Sales
    • Real Estate Services
  • Links
  • Angel Fire News

Angel Fire, New Mexico

Lodging, Real Estate, Skiing, Golf & More!

  • About Angel Fire
    • Advertising
    • Area Groups
    • Attorneys
    • Churches
    • Communication
    • CPAs
    • Dining
    • Essentials
    • Financial Services
    • Getting Here
    • Home Services
    • Insurance
    • Internet Services
    • Jobs
    • Living Here
    • Local Businesses
    • Music From Angel Fire
    • Photography
    • Schools
    • Security
    • Shopping
    • Vital Statistics
    • Weather
  • Event Schedule
  • Request Brochure
  • Email This Page
  • Photo Gallery
  • Video Gallery
  • Contact Us

New Mexico Legislature Special Session?

March 22, 2017 By Dave C. Leave a Comment

The New Mexico Legislature adjourned at noon March 18, 2017 with no appointed date for resumption, but it probably isn’t over. Due to a deadlock on many issues, look for a special session to be called.

This legislative session had some great bills (and some not so great) emerge but not many of them made it past both the House and the Senate. The few bills that did pass and made it to the Governor’s desk now await signature or veto. The budget, comprehensive tax reform, crime fighting measures, preemption, capital outlay reform, P-3 legislation, right-sizing government, all hang in suspension.

We now look forward to a special session to see if there is another path to fiscal solvency. Will it be less dependent on tax increases and more dependent on right sizing government and reforming the tax code to produce long term revenue stability? With all the tax increase bills for the people of New Mexico, that were introduced in the House this session added up, they amount to 1 billion, and that’s just the House side.

Short On Cash? So Is The State Government

The Governor said Saturday prior to Sine Die, that soon the Department of Finance (DFA) won’t be able to cut checks as cash is nearing empty. The Governor added that she has directed DFA to begin exploring the process of a government shutdown. We’re told this could mean museums open for just a few days a week, hours at our parks could be cut back and state employee furloughs could begin. We know that DFA is watching- on a daily basis- the cash flow in the State General Fund Investment Pool . When do we hit the wall and have to put the breaks on? DFA is analyzing that question, and we imagine we’ll hear more on this next week. This is all happening in FY 17, which ends June 30, 2017.

Currently, we have projected a 1.7% reserve, which is about $102 million. But the margin of error is about the same. Oil is coming up a bit but natural gas…not so much. Finally, the Governor, as of Saturday, did not even have HB2 or any of the other budget bills on her desk yet. All the bills need to be enrolled and engrossed and that can often take up to 10 days. The 20 day period the Governor has to act on all bills started Saturday at noon. So, hang on to your hats, folks. This wild ride is gonna continue.

Governor’s Veto Upheld

In an article in Saturday’s Santa Fe New Mexican it’s reported that the Secretary of State’s office will uphold the Governor’s veto of five bills unless a court tells them otherwise. Democrats claim the vetoes are invalid because the Governor did not provide an explanation of why she vetoed the bill within the three day rule. They argue that the state constitution requires explanations and that a Colorado court case overturned a Governor’s vetoes for that reason. This one could go to court. Another issue from this legislative session to follow. But first let’s try to get a acceptable and balanced budget.

Public Safety

Very sadly, this is one category in which we can think of not a single significant piece of legislation that was sent to the Governor. To the House of Representatives’ credit, many positive bills were passed to the Senate, which utilized the Senate Judiciary Committee as the place to die. Here’s a tragic list of bills that were blocked by Senate Judiciary:

  • HB 16 (Rehm) – apprehending a child absconding from CYFD custody
  • HB 43 (Youngblood) – increased penalties for child rape
  • HB 44 (Youngblood) – criminal penalties for assaulting CYFD employees
  • HB 17 (Rehm) – sentencing enhancement for violent felons in possession of firearms
  • HB 45 (Maestas-Barnes) – Life imprisonment for child abuse leading to death
  • HB 71 (Fajardo) – increased penalty for showing illicit images to children
  • HB 133 (Maestas-Barnes) – allow police officers to use video conferencing for administrative hearings (saves law enforcement time and money)
  • SB 159 (Gould) – distinguishes penalties for Negligent versus Intentional child abuse

And, this is just the list that died in Senate Judiciary.

Also killed in various committees were making violence against police officers a hate crime, expanding the currently never used three strikes law and various measures to deal with drunken and drugged driving.

We need more legislators with a pro economic development mentality and a crime fighting/prevention mentality. The state’s poor reputation as a safe place to live and do business is dragging down business growth and expansion, pure and simple.

Also left sitting on House and Senate calendars as the sine die adjournment was announced were:

  • SB 139 (Morales) that would have helped break up auto theft rings;
  • SB 262 (Cervantes) that would have set up an interim committee to revamp the capital outlay process;
  • SB 258 (Cervantes) that would decrease penalties for marijuana possession,
  • SB 425 (Sanchez) that would have allowed local governments to establish enterprise zones *HB 129 (Maestas-Barnes) that would have facilitated police officers obtaining a warrant for blood test to combat drunk and drugged driving.

And we will continue to turn our clocks forward or backward, whatever the season demands.

Our greatest challenge as a state is to achieve a common mindset about what it takes to broaden our economic base, create jobs and ensure our young people have the skills to compete for those jobs. As New Mexicans, we can and must find a better way together.

(Teri Cole/President and CEO Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce)

For a complete list of bills that passed both the House & the Senate (and those that did not) click here: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/BillFinder/Passed_Both.

Filed Under: Angel Fire News

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Featured Business

Laguna Vista Lodge
Laguna Vista Lodge

Local Weather

ANGEL FIRE WEATHER

Snow Report

Check out the latest snow report or three mountain web cams from Angel Fire Resort.

Road Conditions

Check out road conditions in New Mexico. Stay safe!

Archives

  • May 2024 (11)
  • February 2024 (4)
  • November 2023 (6)
  • September 2023 (3)
  • August 2023 (7)
  • July 2023 (2)
  • June 2023 (2)
  • April 2023 (14)
  • March 2023 (13)
  • February 2023 (7)
  • January 2023 (9)
  • December 2022 (14)
  • November 2022 (4)
  • October 2022 (13)
  • September 2022 (8)
  • August 2022 (6)
  • July 2022 (8)
  • June 2022 (15)
  • April 2022 (5)
  • March 2022 (15)
  • February 2022 (10)
  • January 2022 (10)
  • December 2021 (4)
  • November 2021 (5)
  • October 2021 (17)
  • August 2021 (3)
  • July 2021 (12)
  • May 2021 (15)
  • April 2021 (12)
  • March 2021 (10)
  • February 2021 (10)
  • January 2021 (16)
  • December 2020 (5)
  • November 2020 (12)
  • October 2020 (23)
  • September 2020 (21)
  • August 2020 (8)
  • July 2020 (15)
  • June 2020 (18)
  • May 2020 (17)
  • April 2020 (25)
  • March 2020 (37)
  • February 2020 (12)
  • January 2020 (17)
  • December 2019 (4)
  • November 2019 (11)
  • August 2019 (5)
  • July 2019 (11)
  • June 2019 (12)
  • May 2019 (14)
  • April 2019 (19)
  • March 2019 (13)
  • February 2019 (33)
  • January 2019 (4)
  • December 2018 (6)
  • November 2018 (12)
  • October 2018 (14)
  • September 2018 (9)
  • August 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (16)
  • June 2018 (3)
  • May 2018 (21)
  • April 2018 (20)
  • March 2018 (23)
  • February 2018 (18)
  • January 2018 (5)
  • December 2017 (54)
  • November 2017 (10)
  • October 2017 (20)
  • September 2017 (19)
  • August 2017 (18)
  • July 2017 (11)
  • June 2017 (12)
  • May 2017 (15)
  • April 2017 (28)
  • March 2017 (16)
  • February 2017 (30)
  • January 2017 (27)
  • December 2016 (12)
  • November 2016 (17)
  • October 2016 (17)
  • September 2016 (14)
  • August 2016 (18)
  • July 2016 (10)
  • June 2016 (22)
  • May 2016 (13)
  • April 2016 (19)
  • March 2016 (10)
  • February 2016 (18)
  • January 2016 (14)
  • December 2015 (29)
  • November 2015 (12)
  • October 2015 (13)
  • September 2015 (10)
  • August 2015 (17)
  • July 2015 (16)
  • June 2015 (14)
  • May 2015 (33)
  • April 2015 (15)
  • March 2015 (14)
  • February 2015 (20)
  • January 2015 (9)
  • December 2014 (34)
  • November 2014 (20)
  • October 2014 (20)
  • September 2014 (13)
  • August 2014 (29)
  • July 2014 (15)
  • June 2014 (24)
  • May 2014 (22)
  • April 2014 (15)
  • March 2014 (16)
  • February 2014 (10)
  • January 2014 (20)
  • December 2013 (20)
  • November 2013 (17)
  • October 2013 (22)
  • September 2013 (13)
  • August 2013 (14)
  • July 2013 (25)
  • June 2013 (25)
  • May 2013 (17)
  • April 2013 (12)
  • March 2013 (15)
  • February 2013 (11)
  • January 2013 (16)
  • December 2012 (17)
  • November 2012 (19)
  • October 2012 (17)
  • September 2012 (9)
  • August 2012 (15)
  • July 2012 (18)
  • June 2012 (18)
  • May 2012 (23)
  • April 2012 (13)
  • March 2012 (15)
  • February 2012 (11)
  • January 2012 (17)
  • December 2011 (15)
  • November 2011 (16)
  • October 2011 (17)
  • September 2011 (18)
  • August 2011 (22)
  • July 2011 (19)
  • June 2011 (18)
  • May 2011 (34)
  • April 2011 (45)
  • March 2011 (48)
  • February 2011 (55)
  • January 2011 (46)
  • December 2010 (39)
  • November 2010 (57)
  • October 2010 (30)

Tags

Adoption Angel Fire ArtSpace Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce Angel Fire Community Center Angel Fired Pizza Angel Fire Fire Department Angel Fire Garden Club Angel Fire Resort Angel Fire Rotary Club Angel Fire Small Animal Hospital Angel Fire Visitor Center Art Up! Balloons Over Angel Fire Business After Hours Business Brief Carson National Forest Current Events Eagle Nest Elementary Eagle Nest Lake State Park Elements Employment Girl Scouts Holy Angels Catholic Church Jokes Kit Carson Coop Laguna Vista Lodge Missing Pet Moreno Valley Arts Council Moreno Valley High School Moreno Vally Arts Council Music From Angel Fire National Veterans Wellness & Healing Center Pub 'n Grub Recycling Roadrunner Tours Rotary Club of Angel Fire Shall We Dance? Shopping Shuter Library Stray Hearts Animal Shelter The TrailHead United Church of Angel Fire Vietnam Veteran's National Memorial Village of Angel Fire Zebadiah's Restaurant & Bar

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 1996-2019 Apok Technology, Inc. · All rights reserved. · Log in