Dede's Report Card: 2024 Legislative Session Final Grade: C

2024 Legislative Session Final Grade: C It’s not that I don’t respect the hard work and good intentions of our legislators.  They passed a solid budget with lots of the surplus from oil and gas socked away into trust funds. They made the tax code a little more progressive and gave some tax credits to alternative energy.  But the shortness of the session, the ability of the Republicans to control the agenda through filibusters and the specter of a coalition in the House all added up to a lackluster session. And the final verdict is not in yet.  The Governor has until March 6 to sign or veto bills. The Good •$10 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund - This will match federal funds, provide more outdoor recreation opportunities and preserve open space. •A 7-day waiting period before you can purchase a gun •A ban on the open carrying of guns within 100 ft. of polling places •A $6 million appropriation for staff for rank-and-file legislators following a study of potential staffing models •A bill to require HMOs, Rx manufacturers and benefit managers to report Rx prices to the Insurance Department - the real prices of meds -from the manufacturer to the user—are now largely opaque. •A bill to allow the Insurance Superintendent to review hospital mergers and acquisitions to determine their effect on patient access to care • A bill to require disclosure when misleading campaign advertisements contain artificial intelligence The Bad: •Failure of the Family Leave Act on the House floor •Failure of meaningful regulations on oil and gasindustry, including the failure of an increase in the royalty rate for operations on state land to match the market rate of 25% and the defeat of a ban on polluting facilities within a stone’s throw of schools and homes • Failure of an alcohol tax increase to fund alcohol harms alleviation and address NM’s status as #1 in alcohol-related death and disease. The tax rate has not been changed since 1993. •Failure of a bill in the Senate to ban local governments from contracting with private prisons to detain asylum seekers—even though Homeland Security has called for closure of the Torrance Co. facility •Failure of constitutional amendments to lengthen the session and allow an independent commission to set salaries for currently unpaid legislators   • The failure of bills in the House to ban assault weapons, raise the age for purchasing automatic firearms and hold gun manufacturers responsible for deceptive practices The Ugly: For the second year in a row, the Senate dismissed a revision to the Governmental Conduct Act that would have put some teeth into the state’s ethics laws, as suggested by the AG and the Ethics Commission. The measure passed the House but died in the Senate Judiciary Committee, after a long tirade by Sen. Daniel Ivey Soto, the subject of an ethics complaint based on conflict of interest. Finally, it’s not a good look for the NM Senate to gush over one of their own members who was caught very publicly in an extramarital affair with a young senate staffer last year. But that’s what happened when Sen. Cliff Pirtle was bid a fond farewell, as the ex-staffer, with baby in arms, sat by his side. On the last day his fellow senators waxed poetic about his representation of ranching, rural values, his approachability and what a good fellow he is. Elsewhere, having a relationship with a subordinate is a firing offense—and maybe more, depending on the age of the employee. But here, we wear it on our sleeve, without so much as an investigation by the Senate, Ethics Commission or anyone else. Mass Exodus from the Senate At last count, nine current senators. (Nancy Rodriguez, Cliff Pirtle, Mark Moores, Steve Neville, Gerry Ortiz y Pino, Bill Tallman, Greg Schmedes, Ron Griggs and Brenda McKenna) have, for various reasons, decided not to run again. Combined with Sens. Gay Kernan and Stuart Ingle, who resigned last year, that makes 11 or over 25%. A number of House members who currently represent the overlapping district are running to replace a few, so maybe the change will not be that dramatic.  But who knows… maybe we’re in for a younger, fresher crop of senators who will inject new life into the ole body. Meanwhile these senators deserve our thanks for their public service. My hat is off to one other departing legislator. Rep. Gail Chasey, who is retiring this year, entered the House the same year I entered the Senate and is now, along with Miguel Garcia, the longest serving House member.  I wrote about the “Grace under Fire” she displayed in her 10-year struggle to ban the death penalty in Inside the New Mexico Senate. For my money, she’s the best legislator we’ve ever had. She’s reinvented herself several times, once when she entered law school in her 60s! I’m hoping she can do it again.  Primary Season Upon Us The filing date for the 2024 election is March 12, which means that legislative, judicial, public education commission and district attorney candidates must submit nominating petitions containing the signatures of 2-3% of registered voters in their district. The Democratic primary (June 4) for the Senate will be very interesting.  Three incumbents face challengers.  Sen. Bill O’Neil will face former Councilor and Commissioner Debbie O’Malley in District 13; Sen. Moe Maestas will face former South Valley Academy Principal Julie Radoslovich in District 26 and Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto will face policy analyst and financial consultantHeather Berghmans in District 15.  I’ll have more to say about these primary contests later, including posting where you can hear candidates debate the issues. Here’s the first forum I’ve heard about:            District Attorney Candidate Forum            March 24. 3:00 p.m.                 Albuquerque Friends Meeting House                 1600 5th ST. NW Albuquerque                 Sponsored by Democratic Ward 11 Voters can now sign nominating petitions online. Follow this link and put in your name as registered and the petitions you are eligible to sign will be displayed.  It’s easy for both voters and candidates and is a result of a law passed last year by our own Sen. Katy Duhigg. There’s much more to say about the national—and international scene—but I will leave you with a photo of a true hero, Alexi Navalny. May his candle light a fire in the hearts of all who love democracy and hate corruption, here and in Russia.