Jane Powdrell-Culbert

Two Representatives from Albuquerque — one Republican and one Democrat — disagreed Thursday on whether the House had worked hard enough on passing a budget during the 30-day session that ended at noon. Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert, R-Albuquerque, began the exchange between herself and Ben Rodefer, D-Bernalillo.

House Speaker Ben Lujan’s bill to implement a temporary half-cent hike in the state’s gross receipts tax would presumably not have passed earlier today if two Republican members hadn’t missed the vote.

Some African-American community leaders are unhappy with the way a story in Thursday’s Albuquerque Journal portrays the city’s small black community. The front-page story featured large mug-shot images of six young black men accused of breaking “every law in the book.” But the story never mentioned race.

Could Barack Obama have Election Day coattails long enough to reach down into the New Mexico Legislature? That’s certainly the hope of state Democrats — and the fear of at least a few Republicans. Thanks to clever redistricting, most seats in the 112-member body have remained remarkably stable for years. But at least a few are drawing intense interest, and money, in this election cycle.