Senate Rules chairwoman blasts Ruszkowski

SANTA FE — The top Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee accused state Public Education Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski of failing to submit the paperwork necessary for consideration of his appointment as a Cabinet secretary.

Sen. Linda Lopez, an Albuquerque Democrat and chairwoman of the Rules Committee, said Ruszkowski has refused to submit a questionnaire asking about tax liens, conflicts of interest and other past conduct.

And a release allowing him to undergo a background check hasn’t been submitted, she said.

“I find it curious that the Cabinetsecretary designate is choosing not to live up to this standard that we require of our educators,” Lopez said in a written statement.

Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration fired back, arguing that Ruszkowski underwent a background check in 2016 when he was appointed deputy secretary.

“With over 100 nominees still waiting for a hearing, it’s clear Linda Lopez is unable to do her job no matter how much paperwork is done,” Martinez spokesman Michael Lonergan said. “The idea of the Senate Rules Committee accusing anyone of not fulfilling a constitutional duty is laughable.”

— Dan McKay, dmckay@abqjournal.com

LAB CONTRACTORS: A bill aimed at ensuring New Mexico can keep levying the gross receipts tax on contractors that run the state’s national laboratories — whether they’re not-for-profits or private consortia — is headed to the House floor.

But it’s run into some thorny legal questions along the way.

Before voting 10-5 to advance the legislation, several members of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee expressed concern Monday about essentially singling out a certain entity in tax legislation. An amendment could be added before a House floor vote.

The measure, Senate Bill 17, is being debated, with a new operating contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory set to be awarded later this year. Three university systems are known to be among the groups bidding.

Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, who is a Sandia National Laboratories employee, also worried aloud about the political implications of the bill as New Mexico seeks funding for military bases and labs.

— Dan Boyd, dboyd@abqjournal.com

BRINE WELL: Legislators are sending to the governor a proposal that would make about $30 million available over the next few years to help prevent the collapse of an old brine well in Carlsbad.

Supporters of the legislation say a collapse could injure or kill people and cause extensive damage to two major highways and other structures.

Senate Bill 226 cleared the House on Monday and now heads to Gov. Susana Martinez for consideration.

“I am gratified that my colleagues finally acknowledged the urgency of this situation,” Rep. Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad, said in a written statement. “The longer we wait, the more likely a disaster will happen.”

— Dan McKay

CRIME STRATEGY: A bipartisan package of anti-crime legislation — with support from both prosecutors and public defenders — cleared a key Senate committee Monday as supporters raced to get it passed in the final days of the session.

The 90-page proposal, co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Nate Gentry and Democratic Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, both of Albuquerque, won approval on an 11-0 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill combines a variety of crimefighting strategies — including $15,000 bonuses to encourage retention of veteran police officers and increased penalties for violent felons caught with a firearm.

— Dan McKay