Roundhouse Report #4

The big news from last week at the Roundhouse was the failure, by a vote of 17 for and 25 against, of Senate Bill 12 -- more widely known as the domestic partnership bill.  I voted for the legislation not only on the floor of the Senate, but when it had earlier come before both of the committees that I sit on.  On the day of the vote, the Capitol was inundated by supporters and opponents and during the floor debate and the vote itself the gallery overlooking the Senate action was filled to capacity and beyond.  It now seems very unlikely that any further movement of this legislation will occur in the 49th session.

Monday, March 2nd will mark 19 days until the close of the session.  There is much work to be done and Senate committee hearings now have between 20 and 40 bills to consider at each meeting and the workload will only increase as legislation that has passed out of the House side comes to the Senate side for deliberation and votes.  We will begin next week working very late into the evenings no doubt; we have been in session the last two Saturdays; and Sunday sessions and committee work are certainly looming.

This session, I have introduced three Senate Memorials:

• SM 32  Valles Caldera Management Hearings
• SM 46  Support Outstanding Waters Designation
• SM 57 School Emphasis on Country and Flag

You may read these pieces of legislation and analyses of them by visiting the New Mexico State Legislature websie at www.nmlegis.gov.  There is much more information at that address about the ongoing session, which will end promptly at 12:01pm on Saturday, March 21st.  I again urge you to contact my office in the Capitol at 505-986-4859, if you would like to discuss any issue pertinent to Senate District 15.