STATE OF NEW MEXICO
54th LEGISLATURE

Wednesday, February 19, 2020
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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE
Today is the final full day of the Legislative Session. The Session concludes tomorrow at noon.
1. BUDGET BATTLE TAKE CENTER STAGE TODAY AT ROUNDHOUSE

The full Senate will take up the state budget today as it wrestles with a massive spending plan chock full of spending increases. Yesterday the Senate Finance Committee cleared the package after it approved HB 2. That calls for a $7.6 billion budget for the 2021 fiscal year, a budget that would increase spending by 7.6% increase over the current year or $536 million more.

Reserves would be targeted at 25%. But this may not be enough considering the uncertain future of the oil and gas industry, which provides more than 40% of state revenues. “Twenty-five percent reserves is a good chunk of change, don’t get me wrong. But oil and gas can go south very quickly,” said Sen. William Burt, (R)-Alamogordo to the Finance Committee.

If approved, the budget would mark the state’s second consecutive year of big spending growth after several years of budgetary belt-tightening. It seems the spending plan continues to show how left-leaning Democrats fail to see potential dangers with this increased spending.

Many lawmakers in both chambers worry that the bloated bill keeps New Mexico overly dependent on oil and gas revenue.

“New Mexico deserves more respect than to have bills and higher taxes crammed down their throats when we have billions of dollars in surplus. This is absolutely spending out of control,” said House Minority Leader Jim Townsend.
2. LAWMAKERS PULL THE PLUG ON PLAN TO REORGANIZE PRC

A bill that sought to give Gov. Lujan Grisham a power grab involving the Public Regulation Commission is dead. HB 11 would have reorganized the public Commission which regulates utilities. The Commission is an elected body, but the bill would have allowed the Administration to appoint members, something critics charge would have shifted too much power to the executive branch. Opponents to the bill believed the move would have led to higher utility rates. The bill was tabled in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Commission by a vote of 5-3.

“This feels to me like it’s purely punitive,” said Sen. William Sharer, (R)-Farmington.

He also suggested the bill might violate the constitutional separation of powers provision, as it would allow the governor to appoint two top executives who would oversee the PRC’s staff. It's good to see this bill tabled, for the sake of all utility customers.
3. ELECTION BILL FATE UNCERTAIN

With just more than 24 hours before the Session ends, HB 229 currently sits in the Senate Finance Committee. That election bill opens the door for more absentee voter chaos and fraud. The legislation would remove three voter identification requirements for absentee ballots now in place. There may be a late amendment to put that back into the bill, but it's unclear when Senators will pick up the legislation.

4. HOUSE PASSES BILL TO ALLOW EASIER ACCESS TO RAINY DAY FUND

Progressive Democrats approved legislation yesterday that allows them to raid the Rainy Day Fund. The bill gives them quicker access and less oversight if they want to tap into these reserve funds. The bill makes various changes to give them faster access. The bill passed along party lines. Here's another way the left-leaning Democrats get to play with New Mexicans' money.
ROUNDHOUSE PROFILES: WORKING HARD FOR YOU
Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell lives in Roswell and represents Chaves County. Rep. Ezzell is a rancher and has been in the legislature since 2005.

Committees: Agriculture and Water Resources, Consumer and Public Affairs
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Rep. Greg Nibert, an attorney, lives in Roswell and represents Chaves and Lincoln Counties.

Committees: Judiciary, State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
The House will reconvene at 9:30am today. The Senate will reconvene at 10:30am.
For more information about bills, lawmakers and happenings at the Roundhouse,
go to the New Mexico Legislature website. ([link removed])
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