The legislative session looms: Get informed
The legislative session begins next week — and the laws passed there make a difference in the lives of all New Mexicans. That’s why it’s wise to find out what is going to be proposed before the bills are introduced, the committees begin meeting and floor debates start.
Locally, our legislative delegation works hard to meet with citizens, understanding that they need to explain what’s going on and listen to the opinions of voters as they go about their business. Town hall meetings are an opportunity to get up to speed.
During a short legislative session — 30 days — the kind that opens next week, the main order of business is financial, primarily to pass a balanced budget. But other issues always intrude on the finances. What will those be? The Santa Fe legislative delegation knows the answers to that question, and will spend two nights this week discussing what to expect.
From 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Senate
Majority Leader Peter Wirth, Sen. Liz Stefanics and Rep. Matthew McQueen will discuss issues at the Max Coll Corridor Community Center, 16 Avenida Torreon in Eldorado.
The town hall is aimed at Eldorado/U.S. 285/Lamy and Galisteo communities, but all are welcome. From 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Wirth, Sen. Nancy Rodriguez and State Reps. Reena Szczepanski, Tara Lujan, Linda Serrato and Andrea Romero will meet with people at the Santa Fe Farmers Market Pavilion, 1607 Paseo de Peralta.
The sessions offer insight into what issues will be debated and how citizens can influence the outcome so their wishes are heard. For legislators, it’s a chance to hear directly from citizens. That’s essential in a representative democracy.
For people who can’t make the meetings, there are online programs that give insight into the sausage-making that is passing laws.
The Conversations Different podcast airing this week (find it at santafenewmexican. com) from features former state Sen. Dede Feldman and retired journalist Steve Terrell, longtime state government reporter. They’ll be discussing the power of lobbyists, specifically in reference to the difficulty New Mexico has had in increasing the excise tax on alcoholic drinks. The tax hasn’t been raised in decades, even as New Mexico continues to have the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths in the nation.
House Speaker Javier Martinez appears on Blue Opiñon, a production of the state Democratic Party, hosted by party chairwoman Jessica Velasquez. It can be viewed on YouTube.
On the episode, he discusses what’s ahead for the session and delves into the dynamics of his caucus. The virtual outreach isn’t limited to Democrats, of course.
Paul Gessing, head of conservative think tank the Rio Grande Foundation, recently visited No Doubt About It, the podcast hosted by former GOP candidate Mark Ronchetti and his wife, Krysty. Part of the discussion concerns electric vehicle mandates, but the trio also discuss what is likely to happen during the upcoming session. State Republican Party chairman Steve Pearce also has a podcast, Inside New Mexico, that likely will feature discussions of the session. These all are available wherever you get your podcasts.
The Republican legislative delegation is reviving its podcast, Real NM, and will kick off its latest rendition with a Facebook live broadcast beginning 11 a.m. Tuesday. Sen. Craig Brandt will host the first episode. The podcast will be updated regularly during the session.
In short, there’s little excuse not to become informed. You can show up at a town hall and address legislators in person, or you can educate yourself by listening to podcasts and, of course, reading newspapers. For government to work, citizens must be informed. So get out there and find out what this legislative session means to you.