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.
With a 7-4 vote the Senate Finance Committee tabled one of the most-watched bills of the 2010 regular session. For nearly three weeks, strong opinions have swirled around domestic partnerships legislation, but supporters vow that it will be back in 2011.
“Realistically my sense is that it’s done for this year,” said Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe. “It’s gonna happen, it’s just a matter of when.”
Wirth was the sponsor of the 800-page bill and steered it through one Senate committee before its defeat Monday night in Senate Finance.
The tabling vote strikes a blow to Gov. Bill Richardson who made extending many of the same rights enjoyed by married couples to gays and lesbians part of his legislative agenda.
But with the state confronting the worst budget picture in decades some senators felt the issue was too much to take on.
“I did not ask for this bill to be sent to Senate finance,” said Chairman Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, “But that’s the politics and that’s the way it is.”
During his testimony Wirth told the committee about the behind-the-scenes discussions regarding the bill and how it would be handled at the Roundhouse.
Senate leaders weighed the Domestic Partnership bill along with another to define marriage as one man-one woman. Domestic partnerships, it was decided, was sent to Finance, while the marriage-defined bill was sent to Judiciary. “I feel we did this in a fair way,” Wirth said.
Wirth said he was honored to sponsor the bill and added that it will very likely be brought back to Santa Fe next year.
“Sometimes in this process, things take a long time,” he said.
