Legislative roundup — Feb. 5

Days remaining in session: 13

Too much

Rep. Paul Pacheco, sponsor of 14 bills this session, said Thursday he took on more work than he should have. Pacheco made the comment as he dashed up the stairs of the Capitol just after 8 a.m.

Pacheco, R-Albuquerque, sponsored a series of crime bills, including a "three strikes" measure to expand the list of felonies that could send a repeat offender to prison for a life sentence. He also carried the House Republicans' bill to create Real ID-compliant driver's licenses for U.S. citizens and driving privilege cards for undocumented immigrants.

Pacheco told state senators on the Public Affairs Committee that any amendments to his Real ID bill would be unacceptable. "That's not how the legislative process works," Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, said later.

The Senate committee, including three Republicans, amended Pacheco's bill to a two-tier licensing system. That measure has another committee hearing ahead in the Senate.

Bring back food tax?

Just about any time state revenues start looking shaky — and few can deny that's the situation this year — Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, dusts off his proposal to reinstate the gross receipts tax on groceries and medicine.

This week Smith introduced Senate Bill 281, which would make food taxable again, as it was before the law was changed in 2004.

Reaction was swift. "We are deeply concerned that legislation has been introduced that would increase the cost of buying groceries for New Mexico families," said Veronica Garcia, executive director of Voices for Children, a liberal advocacy group focused on improving the well-being of children. "While we agree that the state must raise new revenue in order to adequately fund programs and services that are vital for our families, communities and economy, this would be the worst possible way in which to do that."

The Legislature actually did vote to repeal the food-tax repeal at the outset of the recent recession. However, then-Gov. Bill Richardson vetoed it. Gov. Susana Martinez in the past also has pledged to veto any such legislation.

Blast attempt

Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, tried but failed Thursday to advance a crime bill to the full Senate without the customary committee hearings. Senators rejected Sharer's attempt to "blast" the bill on a party-line, 23-17 vote.

The measure he wanted the Senate to hear in expedited fashion is House Bill 65, which would make each photo or depiction of child pornography a crime that could be charged individually. The bill, whose chief sponsor is Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes, R-Albuquerque, passed the House on a 60-2 vote.

Sharer said it should be heard by the full Senate without committee hearings because it is noncontroversial. But Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D-Albuquerque, one of the two House members who voted against the bill, has said he sees practical problems for district attorneys who might have to charge someone with a hundred or a thousand counts of child pornography. Antonio Maestas said the better solution would be to make possession of child pornography a more serious crime that would carry a longer prison sentence than the typical 18 months.

Maestas Barnes' bill is to be heard by the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

One-sided bills: Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said Thursday that the only bills House members have sent to the Senate are those sponsored by Republicans. Sanchez said the Senate has always tried to give members of both parties a fair opportunity to pass their bills.

Sanchez received support on this from a party rival. Sen. Bill Payne, R-Albuquerque, said he agreed with Sanchez that the Senate finds a balance in hearing and acting on bills from senators of both parties.

Going nowhere

House Democrats on Thursday held a news conference to call attention to dozens of bills they have introduced but are stuck in the House Rules Committee awaiting messages from Gov. Susana Martinez — messages that don't seem likely to come.

In a 30-day session, any bill that doesn't directly relate to the budget and state finances can't be considered without an executive message from the governor.

House Minority Leader Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, argued that this year Democrat-sponsored bills that do deal with taxes and revenue have been assigned to the Rules Committee, which, after more than halfway into the session, has yet to meet.

Noting the big emphasis on Republican crime bills this year, Egolf said "The same old trickle-down economics and Band-aid fixes solely focused on crime aren't working." He said the best way to fight crime is to create jobs."

Going solo

The House Business and Employment Committee has moved ahead a bill to encourage solo workers and independent contractors in New Mexico.

The measure, House Bill 177, appropriates $500,000 to the state Economic Development Department to create a pilot initiative that will coordinate with business incubators and community colleges to highlight and address the needs of solo workers. Some examples of those jobs include graphic designers, writers, accountants and even information technology experts who can troubleshoot and still work remotely.

The bill is sponsored by House Speaker Don Tripp, R-Socorro, and Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces. It is one of the recommendations from the Jobs Council, an interim committee of lawmakers and economic development experts.

In presenting the measure, Rep. Conrad James, R-Albuquerque, said the initiative could also help rural areas, as those with skills and expertise could be encouraged to stay in smaller communities and pursue a career if they had the resources to do so. The bill now moves to House Appropriations and Finance.

Quote of the day

"The big elephant in the room is our dismal economy." — House Minority Leader Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, at a Thursday news conference.