SANTA FE (KRQE) – In just hours, lawmakers will pack up and leave Santa Fe for the year. A lot of things still hang in the balance, like the Daylight Saving Time bill.
As the clock winds down, there’s another big fight brewing. Millions of dollars meant for projects in your community, is at the center of controversy.
“We’ve got 59 days down,” Democratic Sen. Howie Morales said Friday evening. “The work of the people, I thought, has been extremely productive here.”
“We have been working,” Republican Rep. Nora Espinoza added. “We have truly, truly been working. We have been doing what the citizens have called us to do.”
It’s the home stretch and New Mexico’s lawmakers say to this point, they’ve been productive.
“It’s been a great session,” Rep. Espinoza said.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, just nine bills had reached the governor’s desk – compare that to 39 at the same point during the 2013 session, the last 60 day session.
The big item is out of the way – the more than $6 billion budget to keep the state running.
Other divisive issues, like right-to-work, repealing a law that allows illegal or undocumented immigrants to have drivers licenses and holding back third-graders who don’t read well enough died in the Senate.
Friday night the fight has been over capital outlay, or the money that goes to lawmakers to fund projects where they live such as extra security for Albuquerque Public Schools or improvements at the BioPark.
“The negotiations broke down and the Senate moved forward without any direction from the executive on how (Governor Susana Martinez) wanted those funds,” Republican Rep. Jason Harper said.
In the House Ways and Means committee Friday, changes were made and nearly $80 million was moved from that fund of $260 million to road projects for the governor.
Dems said that money is much needed for vulnerable New Mexicans. They instead proposed a gas tax hike to make up those dollars.
“I don’t know how you and go back to your respective districts and explain and say this responsible spending,” Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith said.
They point specifically to higher education and senior centers taking the hit.
So what still has a shot of passing this session?
The plan to keep New Mexico on permanent mountain daylight savings time has passed the Senate and is waiting its time in the House. It’s unclear if they’ll get to it, though.
For now, we watch the clock.
“In the last few hours, of course anything can happen and I’m hoping we can continue to keep in mind the citizens of New Mexico,” Sen. Morales said.
If lawmakers can’t come to a deal on the capital outlay bill, none of the projects will be funded.
This is the first time in 60 years Republicans controlled the House.
Aside from the budget, bills on film tax credits and measures cracking down on domestic violence are also headed to the governor’s desk.
The session ends Saturday at noon.
Tagged: New Mexico Legislature 
