Sen. Peter Wirth

Gov. Bill Richardson has said twice this week that he’s sensitive to how a controversial measure that would force out-of-state corporations to pay more in corporate income tax might affect companies like Intel, which has a plant in Rio Rancho.
But Intel Corp. already operates in seven states, including Colorado and Arizona, that require the company to pay [...]

Their voices were clear and their shouts were loud in the Roundhouse rotunda on Tuesday. One week into the legislative session and Better Choices New Mexico wants every law maker to know more budget cuts aren’t the answer. And if the Roundhouse rally is any indication, the coalition might have a strong pull during this [...]

By a 7 to 4 vote, a Senate panel killed legislation that would have altered the way the state collects its corporate income tax.
Called combined reporting, the bill (Senate Bill 8)sponsored by Santa Fe Democrat Peter Wirth would require multi-state companies with stores in New Mexico to pay taxes on income earned here.

Sen. Peter Wirth plans to introduce legislation that would change the way the state collects corporate income tax, requiring multi-state companies with stores in New Mexico to pay taxes to the state on profits earned here. Although similar bills have been defeated several times before, Wirth is hoping that the state’s budget crisis may increase support.

What’s the old line? Be careful what you ask for.
That thought must have crossed Gov. Bill Richardson’s mind Thursday. His staff called a news conference at the Capitol to showcase the governor signing two ethics reform bills. One will put New Mexico in the mainstream of states by, for the first time, limiting campaign contributions [...]

A bill that would require security and privacy protections (pdf) related to the use of electronic medical records is on its way to Gov. Bill Richardson.
The House passed the Electronic Medical Record Act on Monday. The Senate passed it earlier in the session.

The New Mexico Senate Rules Committee voted 3-2 to table a proposal to ban all campaign contributions from contractors that do business with the state.
State Sens. Tim Jennings, Stuart Ingle and Dianna Duran voted to table the proposal while Sens. Dede Feldman and Peter Wirth opposed the motion.

The Senate voted on Thursday 40-1 to pass legislation that caps the amount of money contributors could give to political candidates and elected officials.

The state Senate voted 36-4 to pass legislation that would make electronic medical records the equivalent of paper records.
The chamber’s vote came after a short debate on the Senate floor in which some lawmakers wondered if placing medical records in a system would invade a patient’s privacy.