Round Up From The Roundhouse, Time is Running Out New Mexico

Is much going to get done? Not much time left, the session ends at High Noon on Feb. 18th. It seems there is a lot of kicking and screaming going on at the Roundhouse……A whole bunch of “NOTHING NOISE” is going on…. air pollution..these adults cannot even settle the driver’s license issue….so far…..Michael Sanchez stops most every piece of solid legislation for life…..Sanchez is the most powerful person in New Mexico, more power than the Governor. Will Martinez confront Sanchez before HIGH NOON? Where’s Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly?

Round Up From The Roundhouse from the New Mexico House Republican Caucus:

House Approves Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Repeat DWI Offenders

Santa Fe, NM – Legislation to crack down on repeat DWI offenders by increasing penalties for fourth and subsequent DWI offenses passed the House of Representatives this evening by a 52-12 bipartisan vote. House Bill 83 is sponsored by Representatives Sarah Maestas Barnes and Rod Montoya.

“Our laws are not doing enough to protect New Mexicans from drunk drivers,” Maestas Barnes said. “Too many New Mexico families have lost loved ones at the hands of individuals who repeatedly choose to drive drunk.  I urge the Senate to act quickly on this bill and make it law.”

According recent data, New Mexico ranks near the bottom when it comes to the strictness of its laws and the strength of its criminal penalties.  The proposal offered by Maestas Barnes and Montoya would increase the punishment for individuals convicted of four to seven DWIs by adding an additional year to their sentences. It also includes a provision to qualify an eighth DWI conviction as a second-degree felony, which would make the offender eligible for a 12-year sentence.

In addition, the legislation would elevate homicide or great bodily harm by a vehicle while driving under the influence from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, allowing for judges to sentence offenders to additional incarceration.

Legislation to Address DWI Offenders Passes House Floor

Santa Fe, NM – A bill sponsored by Rep. Paul Pacheco aimed at helping to address New Mexico’s DWI problem passed the House Floor by a 39 to 26 vote today. House Bill 81 (as amended) will toughen the penalties for DWI offenders who continue to get in the driver’s seat after their licenses have been suspended or revoked.

“We’re one step closer to toughening up our DWI laws,” Pacheco said. “Drunk drivers who continue to get behind the wheel even after their license has been revoked or suspended due to a previous DWI are a danger to New Mexico families. I hope the Senate will agree and put this bill on the Governor’s desk.”

The bill would make it a fourth-degree felony to be charged with a DWI while driving with a license that has already been revoked or suspended because of a prior DWI offense.

If passed the bill would also increase punishments for individuals who lend their car to someone with a revoked or suspended license due to DWI.

House Judiciary Committee Unanimously Passes Bill to Streamline Regulations for Ridesharing Companies

Santa Fe, NM – Today a bill to streamline regulations and allow ridesharing companies, like Uber and Lyft, to operate in New Mexico passed the House Judiciary Committee by a unanimous vote of 12 to 0. The bill, House Bill 168, is sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood.  The provisions included in the bill will bring more safe and reliable transportation options to the state and provide jobs for New Mexicans.

“We need this bill to become law,” Youngblood said. “Not only will it expand ridesharing services, but it will also create business opportunities.  These services can provide an easy and a safe ride home for individuals after a night out on the town which will help reduce drunk driving and keep our streets safe.”

The ridesharing or Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) model is innovative, and they are using technologies and creating opportunities that did not exist a few years ago. New Mexico’s regulations have not kept pace with these innovations, and they need to be updated to allow these services to operate in the state legally. This legislation would clarify regulations in New Mexico and codify the highest safety standards for TNCs and ridesharing services, while at the same time giving New Mexicans better transportation options.

The bill would also require ridesharing companies to conduct rigorous background checks on drivers and compel drivers or the company to obtain to adequate insurance coverage.

Senate Democrats Vote To Block Consideration of Bill Closing Child Pornography Loophole

Effort to blast the bill out of committee fails on a 23-17 vote

Santa Fe, NM –Senate Democrats, led by Michael Sanchez, continued their hardened record of voting against New Mexico’s children today when they blocked consideration of a measure that would close a dangerous loophole in New Mexico’s child pornography law.

“The bill passed the House by an overwhelming margin, and it was endorsed by New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas. It’s a sad day for our state and for our children when Michael Sanchez refuses to even consider a bill with this much bipartisan support,” House Majority Whip Alonzo Baldonado said.

Senate Democrats blocked a motion by Sen. William Sharer to have the bill, HB 65, blasted out of committee and brought before the full Senate. The vote was 23-17.

HB 65 would give prosecutors the option of charging individuals for each image or depiction of child pornography in their possession.  It passed the House of Representatives on January 27 by a vote of 60-2.  Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez referred the bill to three Senate committees: the Senate Public Affairs Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Finance Committee.  Sanchez’s procedural move effectively killed the bill for the session.

Last year, similar legislation to close the child pornography loophole passed the House unanimously, but received two committee assignments from Sanchez (Senate Public Affairs Committee and Senate Judiciary Committee).  Even though the Senate had 14 days to act on the bill, it died in the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

House Committee Approves FY17 Budget

Santa Fe, NM – The House Appropriations and Finance Committee passed House Bill 2 this afternoon by a vote 12 to 5.  The bill authorizes funding for fiscal year 2017 state operations and set state agency spending levels.

“Given the decline in revenue due to the drop in oil prices, we had to carefully prioritize our spending decisions,” Rep. Larry Larrañaga, chairman of House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said.  “This is a responsible budget.  It maintains funding for important public services and addresses critical needs in the areas of public safety, education and economic development.”

The appropriations bill would add $38.5 million to meet the state’s Medicaid needs.  It also would increase public education funding by $31.2 million and provides $7.3 million for key early childhood programs, including $3 million for prekindergarten.  It allocates a $2 million increase for K-3 Plus, pre-K and early reading programs.

The bill sets aside an additional $12.1 million to the Department of Corrections and $5.1 million to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to assist in the recruitment and retention of officers. DPS would also receive $1.2 million to process the existing backlog of untested rape kits in the state and $600,000 to establish a centralized database for criminal records.

The Department of Children, Youth and Families would receive an increase of $6.1 million to support its protective services program and to hire more social workers.

The Department of Economic Development would receive a total of $8 million to support the Job Training Incentive Program, and it authorizes $1.25 million for the creation of a rapid workforce development program within the Department of Workforce Solutions.

The committee also passed legislation allowing for the transfer of unspent funds within state agencies on a 13-4 vote.  The bills will be considered by the full House of Representatives later this week.