Albuquerque Journal

Gov. Eyes Session Before Primary
By Jeff Jones
Journal Politics Writer

    Gov. Bill Richardson says he's inclined to call a special legislative session on health care reform next month— smack-dab in the middle of primary election season.
    In a round of phone calls Wednesday to state Senate leaders, Richardson said he's considering calling lawmakers back to Santa Fe before the primary election on June 3, when more than 20 House and Senate members face challenges.
    "The governor has tried to work with Senate leaders to move this issue forward and forge an agreement on health care before a special session. But Senate leaders have only met once, and there has been no progress whatsoever," Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said Thursday in an e-mail to the Journal.
    "The governor will now meet with House leaders, and he is inclined to hold a special session in May," Gallegos said.
    Calling a special session at the height of the primary season would throw a wrench in the fundraising efforts of statehouse incumbents and challengers: Under state law, legislators and legislative candidates would be prohibited from seeking campaign cash from the moment Richardson issued a special-session proclamation to the moment the session adjourned.
    Several Senate leaders were critical of the potential timing of the session.
    "If his goals are for health care, that's one thing. If his goals are to gum up the election process, (this) might do it," said Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell.
    "It's certainly an awkward time for people," said Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales.
    The Legislature, during a regular session that ended in February, gave Richardson's sweeping health-care reform package a chilly reception.
    Richardson vowed to call a special session to try again. He and Senate leaders in late February announced a bipartisan executive/legislative group to discuss the reform— and the plan was to wait until summer to hold the session.
    But Gallegos said, "The governor remains frustrated by the Senate leadership's cavalier attitude" about coming up with an agreement.
    Legislators have said all along they were concerned about how to pay for Richardson's health care plans. Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, and other lawmakers said Thursday they want to hold off on a special session until they can examine revenue forecasts, which are due in June.
    Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said Thursday that the special session should come later this year.
    "Several members of the state Senate have been meeting and will continue to meet in the coming months to help forge an agreement on (health-care reform)," Sanchez said. "I expect that groundwork can be completed by the end of the summer and that a special session could convene as early as this fall."
    Gallegos said Richardson will make a final decision on the timing of a special session in the next several weeks.