Upcoming legislative hearings

As we head into week four of this year's session, some election related bills are finally getting a hearing. Let's remember this slow start at the end of the session, when legislators shrug and throw up their hands explaining "we just ran out of time."
It's time to seriously evaluate whether the legislative process is working for New Mexicans, but more on that later.

Monday, February 9, at 8:30 am in room 321, Senate Rules will be hearing SJR 1, the Constitutional Amendment that would let voters decide to empanel Independent Redistricting Boards to draw legislative and other district boundaries. Senator Lopez has been reluctant to hold hearings on this in the past, so please contact her and other members to voice your support.

Senator Linda M. Lopez
Senator Daniel A. Ivey-Soto
Senator Jacob R. Candelaria
Senator Stuart Ingle
Senator Mark Moores
Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino
Senator Cliff R. Pirtle
Senator Clemente Sanchez
Senator Michael S. Sanchez
Senator Sander Rue

You can reach any of them through the main switchboard at 505-986-4600, or look them up online at www.nmlegis.gov.


On the House side, the Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee has scheduled three election related bills for Wednesday, February 11 at 8:30 am in room 307.

HB 205 would expand the state's public campaign financing system to include legislative candidates. Clearly, if this is a good idea for PRC candidates, it is a good idea for potential lawmakers.

HB 150 and HB 151, introduced by Representative Steinborn, aim to increase voter participation, one by allowing voter registration at early voting sites, the other by allowing 17 year olds to vote in primaries (if they will turn 18 by the general election in November).

We think that a better solution is universal voter registration of all citizens handled by the Secretary of State and county clerks, but Rep Steinborn's bills are steps in the right direction.

Members of HGEIC are:

Representative James E. Smith, Chair
Representative Sharon Clahchischilliage
Representative Eliseo Lee Alcon
Representative Zachary J. Cook
Representative Kelly K. Fajardo
Representative Doreen Y. Gallegos
Representative Dianne Miller Hamilton
Representative James Roger Madalena
Representative Antonio Maestas
Representative W. Ken Martinez
Representative Jane E. Powdrell-Culbert
Representative Debbie A. Rodella