I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
New Mexico Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said on the Senate floor this afternoon that he plans for a debate tonight on one of the bills that would open conference committees and other legislative meetings to the public.
There has been talk all day about whether House Bill 393, sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, or Senate Bill 737, sponsored by state Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, will be brought up for consideration. The identical bills have both made it to the Senate floor. Cervantes’ has already passed the House.
Early today Sanchez called Feldman’s bill up for debate, but she asked for a delay, saying she wants the Senate to vote on Cervantes’ bill instead. Approval of Cervantes’ bill would send the proposal directly to the governor, while Feldman’s bill, if approved by the Senate, would have to go first to the House.
“I want to have Senator Feldman’s bill or whatever other bill might be coming down as one of those bills heard,” Sanchez said moments ago about tonight’s floor session.
Conference committees are groups of usually of three House members and three Senate members who are tasked with reconciling differences between versions bills that have passed both chambers.
In addition to opening conference committees to the public, the Feldman and Cervantes bills would open many other currently closed legislative meetings, including executive sessions of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. Exempt from having to be open under the proposal would be investigative or quasi-judicial meetings — such as impeachment proceedings — and political party caucus meetings.
