No rest for weary state lawmakers. Psych!
State lawmakers, get ready for a nice little break from the summer. To prepare, close your eyes and just imagine a bustling state Capitol in August or September.
Yep, that's right. Start packing your bags, New Mexico legislators. Make your hotel reservations, o weary public servants. Gov. Bill Richardson announced to a roomful of skeptical reporters Thursday that he still wants a special session on health care and he's penciled in something for August or September.
"I keep my word," Richardson said, reminding the Doubtful Thomases that he had promised a special session earlier this year and he's going to have it.
Never mind that his timeline will put the special session smack dab in the middle of the presidential election season. The Democratic national convention is in late August. The GOP national convention follows closely behind in early September.
Never mind that the special task force empaneled earlier this year to try to overcome serious disagreements didn't meet for an extended period prior to the June 3 primary.
Never mind that the summer is major tourism time for Santa Fe, including the mega-attraction called Indian Market. In other words, what will be the state of room availability.
Finally, never mind that in September the Land of Enchantment's political class will be focused, maybe obsessed, by a historic election cycle in which New Mexico will figure prominently in the presidential election and will elect a U.S. senator and all three congressmen.
For all those reasons, Sen. President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, said "it's possible" to have a special session in August or September, "but it would be very difficult."
"We have some real big issues to address (in how to reform the state's health care system). The biggest part is funding," Jennings said.
Translation: There's still a lot of major policy disagreements to talk through.
And let's not forget that a late-summer special session would bar state lawmakers from campaigning or raising money for their re-election campaigns during that period, Jennings said.
Translation: "That would make legislators more disagreeable," Jennings said.
All in all, that's a major obstacle to overcome, but who knows what the governor will do.
Translation: I sense a good game of chicken between the guv and the Legislature coming on.
Be the first to comment