Call your Senator to Stick in Session if These Matter to You
For me, the Senate’s decision Tuesday to Sine Die reflected more than
exhaustion, more than a fit of pique with the Governor and the House.
It reflected a continued dismissal of ethics reform as urgent business
that the state must deal with one way or the other. As many of you
know these were major, contested issues for me during the regular
session. And, for the most part, I lost. But the Special Session
represents another opportunity to pass some meaningful reforms.
...
To recap what you’ve already seen in the news – the enactment of
campaign contribution limits, public financing for judicial campaigns,
an ethics commission were included in the Governor’s proclamation for
the special, along with GRIP II, domestic partners, and an increase in
domestic violence penalties.
In what seemed like a final blow, my bill to limit campaign
contributions was defeated by one vote in the final seconds of the
session when Sen. Joe Carraro changed his vote, and one Democrat whom
I thought was voting for the measure (Sen. John Arthur Smith) voted
no. Sen. Linda Lopez, Sen. Tim Jennings and Sen. Shannon Robinson
were the other Democrats who voted no. All —and I
mean all—of the Republicans voted against the caps—the same measure
that they had moved (unsuccessfully) to push back until 3007.
We still have a chance to pass some of these measures, but first you
have to convince your Senator that ethics reform is an emergency.
That’s certainly what the task force felt; it’s what the Governor
wants, and, I believe it’s what the public wants, too.
But only a massive outpouring from you can help. Contact:
Sen. Lopez [email protected]
phone:986-4737
Sen. Pinto [email protected]
phone: 986-4835
Sen. John Arthur Smith [email protected]
phone:986-4363
Sen. Michael Sanchez
[email protected] phone: 986-4727
Sen. James Taylor [email protected]
phone: 986-4862
Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, especially.
[email protected]
phone: 986-4267
More on this later—but for your amusement, I’ve attached a photo of
the inbox I returned to after the session adjourned on Saturday. I’ve
spent most of the week digging out., and figuring out how to get back
to my business.
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