The Week In Depth

Not the crime bill she wanted

The New Mexico In Depth crew has had a busy week chasing down lawmakers, keeping up with legislation and following the budget process, which is getting closer now that the House passed its own budget with an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 65-3.

Executive Director Trip Jennings has been circling the halls of the Roundhouse like a captive shark, and with criminal justice reporter Jeff Proctor, has put together an insightful look at competing narratives about what is causing a rise in violent crime in Albuquerque and other New Mexico cities from Gov. Susana Martinez and the state’s judiciary, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Judith Nakamura. Martinez has repeatedly emphasized lenient judges without saying where she’s getting her numbers. In contrast, Nakamura and the judiciary have cited many factors and have relied on data and research.

A proposed state budget that cleared the House this week as well as a crime bill that passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday suggests state lawmakers are weaving a middle path between the judiciary and Martinez. The budget includes increased pay for the state’s judges, public defenders and district attorneys as well as their staffs. The legislation, meanwhile, weaves together five bills that tackle New Mexico’s growing crime problem from multiple sides. It won wide bipartisan support and accolades from a wide spectrum of organizations, including parties not known for backing the same proposals — including the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the ACLU.

“It presents a very balanced view from both sides of the debate and it does it in a very smart way,” said Terri Cole, executive director of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.

Missing from the legislation are some of the governor’s signature legislative issues, including reimposing the death penalty and a three-strikes law. It remains to be seen if she will sign the bill if it makes it to her desk.

American Indian Day

It’s American Indian Day at the Roundhouse today. Earlier this week New Mexico In Depth Fellow Melorie Begay explored what the day means to the lawmakers who are carving out a space for themselves in a legislative body that has few Native representatives. Those lawmakers are the voice of diverse and widespread tribes.

“It’s evident that there’s a lot of overlap in need, and rather than separate Navajos, Pueblos and Apaches, I try to collectively push an aggressive agenda,” Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, told NMID. For him, that includes education, support for the elderly, protection for sacred sites, and dominion over natural resources.

Melorie traveled to the Roundhouse today with one of NMID’s legislative interns, Anthony Jackson, and reported on the main issue raised by participants — language preservation. And Anthony produced a video/photo slideshow. Be sure to check it out. 

Supporting teen victims of sexual assault

Reporting by New Mexico In Depth Fellow Xchelzin Peña about a young Las Cruces woman who started a sexual assault program for teens dovetailed with a bill introduced by Sen. Mimi Stewart that would fund training for educators and counselors on how to spot the signs of sexual or other forms of abuse, and report it.

“I believe that we really need to do much more with the issue around sexual assault which is much more prevalent than people will admit,” Stewart told Peña. “You know the #MeToo Movement comes to mind. I certainly, my background, my childhood was very problematic and I had those issues happen to me when I was a child. I didn’t talk to anybody at school, and I want that to change.”

Public school reserves

A push to help school districts that lost $41 million to the state in 2017 to close a budget deficit seemed to have some sympathy and support from members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, according to reporting by NMID reporter Sylvia Ulloa. But the issue also devolved into a furor when the bill’s Republican sponsor accused the committee of cutting him out of the budget-making process. Rep. James Townsend, R-Artesia, has filed a complaint with the Legislative Council Service, but whether money to repay districts is added to the state budget is now in the Senate’s hands.

Chats with lawmakers

One of the great things about being in Santa Fe in person is how accessible the Capitol is and how easy it is to get in touch with lawmakers. We were able to sit down with several lawmakers to talk informally about some issues we’ve been covering, including an effort to tap the Land Grant Permanent Fund with bill co-sponsor Rep. Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, marijuana legalization with Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Las Cruces, and childcare with Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences. You can find them all on our Facebook page.

Short takes