Just how many times can the Senate Sine Die? That’s the question of the hour, and it’s ironic, because the Latin phrase “Sine Die,” pronounced in the New Mexico roundhouse as “ Sign-EEE-dye,” means to adjourn without a day certain to meet again.
Except we do have a date certain this coming week (Thursday), just as we had one last week (Saturday). That’s because when the other chamber declines to adjourn, the Senate must come back within 72 hours. Maybe we should change Sine Die to Hasta Luego. It sure would be more appropriate, since we seem to be caught in an endless war of wills between the Republicans (and a few key Democrats) in the Senate and the Governor that has no end in sight.
Caught in the crossfire are some important issues for which the Governor called weary legislators back into session. They include campaign contribution caps, an ethics commission, public financing for statewide judicial elections, Grip II, domestic partner rights, an increase in penalties for domestic violence, and a registry for methamphetamine houses.
The House has already acted on almost all of the measures, but is now in recess, awaiting the next dramatic showdown at the o.k. corral. Make that “eagerly awaiting” the roll call, since they—and all the staff—who worked for several days and stayed up all night to complete their work, wont’ get paid unless the Senate at least acts on the “feed bill,” for the special session.
I’m for hanging in there—not because I think the Governor was right to call a Special Session so quickly—but because it’s important to me that we come out of this year with some meaningful campaign limits and ethics reforms. Without ‘em, the Dems are not going to have much credibility going into the next election cycle, and, with the Iglesias developments still unfolding, ethics will be center stage. As for the Republicans, with only a few exceptions, they never voted for any of the bills coming out of the Ethics Reform Task Force during the regular session, and probably don’t want to go on record again.
It’s a real shame the way things have evolved. These ought to be common sense, non-partisan issues. My constituent survey revealed that respondents favored almost all of them to the tune of 80 plus percent—as did the Albuquerque Journal last fall.
Seeking a respite from the situation, I googled the phrase “Sine Die” and found that it was the title of a trashy novel by Matthew Levin based on the Michigan legislature, where, to quote the jacket, "the capitol has mouldered into a laboratory of reckless ambition…where civility is scarce and motives are bountiful.” The “poetic violence” and “unbridled sexuality,” advertised for the thriller are a far cry from the corny humor and slow pace of Senate debate, but who knows what’s in store. Stay Tuned.
I actually believe that this is exactly how lawyers pronounce "sine die." It saddens me nonetheless, because a few days ago I decided that the Oxford Latin Dictionary may be a perfect classy gift for a lawyer. Well, maybe not. Goodness knows what kind of Latin they study in their law schools...
Posted by: TheRingMaster | July 09, 2008 at 08:10 AM