Legislative Update
20 January 2002
Number 02-01
(As of today: 3,455 subscribers)
2002 Session Begins
· Almost No Fireworks
· Legislation Introduced
· Rod Adair for Lieutenant Governor?
Note: Many people have asked if they have been dropped from the
list, or if I have stopped sending Legislative Updates or Let's
Talk Sense... I have done neither. It is just that I have had very
little time even at home over the last several months because of
work on redistricting. Please stay in touch. Your feedback is very
important to me.
Almost No Fireworks
After much speculation about a possible meltdown on day one of the
legislature, the widely expected fireworks on the floor were nothing
more than a mild fizzle.
It is true that the new Majority Floor Leader, Manny Aragon made
an expected hour-long speech about how the "rules had been
violated" in his ousting from the chairmanship of the Senate
Rules Committee and other switches made by the Senate's Committees
Committee. However, President Pro-tem Richard Romero was more than
ready for Aragon.
As soon as Manny had sat down, Romero took to the floor to refute
Aragon's charges point by point as 42 copies of several articles
dating from 1988 (when Aragon had used precisely the same maneuvers
to become President Pro-tem himself) were handed out to each senator.
Aragon sat quietly and said no more. It was over. No real fireworks
thus far.
The situation is this: Senator Richard Romero, D-Albuquerque, is
the President Pro-tem, and has considerable power in determining
committee assignments and the day to day operation of the senate.
Senator Aragon is the Floor Leader, but the rules have been changed
(without rules violations, as made clear by Romero) to strip him
of considerable power and options.
The all-important role of determining the daily agenda (what gets
to the floor and when and if legislation will be voted on) is controlled
by a triumvirate of Romero, Senator Joe Carraro, R- Albuquerque,
and Senator Tim Jennings, D-Roswell.
Jennings was the Majority Floor Leader, and a strong Aragon supporter
for 23 years, until Aragon ousted him on a 14-10 vote (in the Democrat
Caucus) last November. Suddenly Jennings became very, very friendly
with Romero. No one in the Roundhouse believes Jennings actually
supports Romero's efforts to reform the senate in any way, but rather
that it is a case of Jennings' being temporarily steamed at losing
his position he had coveted for many years. Observers are unanimous
in their belief that Jennings would abandon Romero and go back to
supporting Manny the instant Manny allows Jennings to become floor
leader again.
Carraro, for his part, is in fact the principal architect of the
21-20 vote which ousted Aragon a year ago and installed Romero as
the new President Pro-tem.
Legislation Introduced (Read all bills at: http://legis.state.nm.us)
Senator Rod Adair has introduced the following pieces of legislation:
Senate Bill 60: Amending the Medical Malpractice Act to include
"Certified Nurse Practitioner" in the definition of "Health
Care Provider"
Senate Bill 63: Providing for Chemical Treatment for Child Sex Offenders
Senate Bill 123: The Civil Commitment Act of 2002. Modeled after
a Kansas statute which has been upheld by the US Supreme Court,
this bill provides procedures for civil commitment of sex offenders
who are about to be released from prison. Having this as law would
have saved the life of such victims as Megan Kanka, for whom "Megan's
Law" (another statute aimed at preventing child molestation
and murder) was named.
Rod Adair for Lieutenant Governor?
Yes, I have been gathering signatures for the office of Lieutenant
Governor since October 3.
However, both business pursuits as well as having to appear as an
expert witness in two redistricting trials have taken up almost
all my time. Therefore I still need signatures in order to be able
to have my name placed on the ballot. The deadline is the second
week in February.
If you can help by providing your signature, or more than one from
your household or from friends, please contact me by e-mail, or
by phone at 627-8372. We will send you a petition.