The Forty-Ninth New Mexico Legislative Session

The Forty-ninth New Mexico Legislative Session is in full swing in the state’s capital city of Santa Fe at the Roundhouse. We are in an odd-numbered year so the session that opened January 20, will last 60 days until March 21. The lawmakers have a full calendar that include the house calendar and the senate calendar. These calendars do not include the the packed schedules of the committees of both the house and senate.

Because of the extreme political and economic circumstances facing the state and the nation, this session presents urgent challenges. Current events at home and across the nation bring ethics reform into full focus. The focus is also on health care - an ongoing, burning issue for state and federal government alike. Bills relating to education, crime prevention, housing, the environment are not new nor less urgent but funding considerations underpins considerations will surely affect deliberation and passage of all bills. Law makers will certainly be earning their stipend this session.

Apart from work relating to the serious business of drafting and passing legislation for the state, the legislative session also includes a busy social calendar which, as the web page states, does not include every event. The Governor’s Prayer Breakfast sponsored by Presbyterian Healthcare, for example, does not appear on the social calendar. It appears every group that wishes, may go the Santa Fe for days of fun and direct or indirect lobbying during the legislative session. The special days on the calendar reflect cultural, business, and special interests - American Indian Day, Hispanic Culture Day, African American Day, Culture Day, Santa Fe Public School Day, Animal Advocacy Day, WIPP - to name a few of the social events that I think are a mixture of fun and seriousness.

Groups seek to get the attention of their lawmakers and raise awareness for their causes through demonstrations, presentations, displays and visits to the office of their representatives. Hardworking committee members, behind the scenes workers, and special-interest groups get opportunities to take a break and network. local businesses a boost. Hotels, restaurants and caterers especially must thrive during the legislative session because of the increase in visitors, their dinner meetings, breakfasts, receptions and the

I have visited Santa Fe once already during the session for a session related social function that was not at the Roundhouse. On that occasion I drove my car. Santa Fe is fifty minutes from Albuquerque. On my next visit, I will attend a session at the Roundhouse and I plan to take the Rail Runner even though the freebies are over. If you would like to join me in visiting the legislature before the session ends, here is the schedule. All Aboard!