Senate votes to adjourn again, awaits House action

Posted 3/24/2007 12:02:00 PM

The New Mexico Senate voted again today to adjourn sine die in defiance of the governor.

It’s the second time in a week the Senate has voted to end the session and reject Gov. Bill Richardson’s call for a special session. The move places the ball back in the House’s court, as that chamber’s membership must now decide whether to adjourn sine die and end the session or force the Senate to meet a third time.

The Senate didn’t approve the feed bill before adjourning today, so House members would be working without per diem, as they did during the first week of the special session, if they continue. If they keep working, the Senate must return by Wednesday, but could vote to adjourn again.

Democratic Sens. John Arthur Smith of Deming, Tim Jennings of Roswell and Linda Lopez of Albuquerque voted with the Republican caucus to adjourn sine die. The motion passed on a vote of 18-17, with several senators absent.

“We do not have an imminent emergency in state government for a special session,” Smith told me following the vote.

Richardson has a number of items he wants approved during the special session, including public financing of judicial campaigns, campaign contribution limits, a state ethics commission, a registry for methamphetamine laboratories, tougher penalties for domestic violence, $208 million for road projects and domestic partner benefits.

The House has approved all proposals except the contribution limits bill.

Smith said one of the most contentious issues is the road funding bill. It’s dubbed GRIP II, with the acronym standing for Governor Richardson’s Improvement Plan. The issue is that GRIP I, passed years ago by lawmakers, is some $300 million over budget and unfinished.

“I don’t believe until we fund GRIP I we should even move on to GRIP II,” Smith said.

Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, said the House Democratic caucus, which to this point has kept the special session alive by refusing to adjourn, should realize that the Senate has no intention of approving the bills already approved by the House.

“At a certain point, I think the House has to accept the Senate’s position just out of mutual respect,” Rawson said.

In addition, Rawson noted, there’s a hardship for House members because they aren’t getting per diem.

“They’ve got members who have to travel from around the state, too,” he said.

The governor’s office had no immediate comment.

Update, 12:20 p.m.

When the Senate voted Tuesday to adjourn sine die, eight Democrats sided with Republicans. Three of those Democrats did so again today, but four others changed their votes, and one was absent.

Those who changed their votes were Ben Altamirano of Silver City, John Grubesic of Santa Fe, Bernadette Sanchez of Albuquerque and Michael Sanchez of Belen.

Democrat Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, who voted Tuesday to end the session, was absent for today’s vote.

As for Doña Ana County’s senators – Rawson voted to end the session; Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, voted against the motion to adjourn; and Cynthia Nava and Mary Kay Papen, both Las Cruces Democrats, were absent.

Update, 3:15 p.m.

Here’s a statement from Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos:

“The governor is very disappointed that the Senate chose to continue to shirk its responsibility to the citizens of New Mexico,” Gallegos said. “While we had a tremendous regular session, the fact of the matter is there were critical, time-sensitive issues that remained unaddressed, which is why the governor convened the special session. The House recognized this and did the people’s business. Certainly local governments recognize this. Victims of domestic violence recognize this. Civil rights advocates recognize this. Proponents of ethic reform recognize this. It seems the only people who don’t recognize it are certain members of the Senate who would rather make a political statement than take care of business.”

“The governor is not giving up and expects the Senate to address these issues. The House debated the bills, amended them and passed solid legislation,” he said. “The Senate may have temporarily avoided their work today but they will have to come back. This is not over.”