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.
The House Rules Committee temporarily tabled a measure that would add video to the audio already streamed from the state House. Rep. Keith Gardner, R-Roswell proposed the measure, and for a time it looked like it would make it out of the committee, but it was tabled on Wednesday.
“When we’re here and we’re here to do the people’s business, it’s not my time” said Gardner, “There should be nothing said on the floor that I wouldn’t want broadcast.”
Members of the committee had concerns that the images might later be used for political reasons. “Almost any words can parsed and used in ways that would seem to be unfair” said Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque.
The same concerns were voiced last year by members of the state Senate before that body started webcasting.
Shortly after Rep. Larry Larrañaga made a motion to pass the bill to the full house, House Majority Leader Ken Martinez brought a motion to table the bill until Friday.
Martinez said he supported the measure, but he was looking for a firm date for when webcasting would begin and suggested the committee wait until their next meeting, on Friday to find out that date.
Republicans on the committee disagreed.
“Rather than continuing to stall, I think we need to walk the talk,” said Rep. Anna Crook, R-Clovis.
But when it came time to vote, the motion to temporarily table the measure passed 7-6. Many on the committee left with the understanding the issue would be brought up again Friday morning, this time with the answer to the question of when the webcasting could start.
Earlier in the hearing two women from the Albuquerque Tea Party had started to video tape the committee. According to the women, one representative raised concerns to House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, who reported asked the women who had given the permission to film. One of women told The Independent she told the speaker she couldn’t remember. One of the women said Speaker Lujan then openly questioned her intelligence. The tense moment concluded with the women putting away their camera, although the entire incident was captured by a web cam watching the hearing. Later in the meeting, after Speaker Lujan had left, Rep. Kathy McCoy, R-Cedar Crest, requested the women be allowed to continue filming. Her request was granted.
In order for the cameras to turn on in the House there would be fewer hurdles for this measure to clear. Since Rep. Gardner’s measure is a House Resolution it would go to the full House if it passes committee. The full House would then decide to adopt or reject the resolution. With the House Rules Committee not meeting again until Friday, the earliest the rule can be adopted would be Saturday.
