Feb. 23, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
Final Push for Reform
By Trip Jennings and Rene Romo, Journal Staff WritersLAS CRUCES— Can state Senate leaders and the governor agree on a plan for health care reform?
The answer to that question might help Gov. Bill Richardson decide whether to call a special session.
Richardson and Senate legislative leaders said they plan to sit down Thursday afternoon at the Capitol to see if a preliminary agreement can be hammered out.
"I'm going to meet with legislative leadership next week, and we'll make a decision next week," Richardson said after a bill signing ceremony at New Mexico State University on Friday.
Sen. President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, in a telephone interview later, said the concern he and other Senate leaders have is the same as it was during the recently ended 30-day regular session.
"Where are we going to find the money, that's the whole thing," Jennings said. "I don't think there's anybody who doesn't want health care. People are just worried where we are going to find the money.
"We're just going to get together and see where we can go," Jennings said.
Universal health care coverage for New Mexico was the governor's No. 1 priority in the 30-day regular session that ended Feb 14. But the House substantially altered the governor's main proposal after nearly four weeks of deliberation, sending it to the Senate with only three days left in the session. The legislation never made it out of the Senate Finance Committee.
Also invited to Thursday's meeting are Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, and Sen. Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales.
House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, said he and other House leaders won't be at Thursday's meeting, but are interested in the results.
"If there is some ... agreement on the issues, then I think that (the governor) will be meeting with all leaders," Lujan said. "I have no objection. That's what he probably should do."
Richardson earlier this month called the regular legislative session the most disappointing he's experienced so far and specifically blamed the Senate for his troubles.
Several of Richardson's priorities, including health care reform, died in the Senate.
The day the session ended, Richardson vowed to call a special session and said he would limit the agenda to health care reform.
Another Richardson priority that fell victim during this year's session was legislation to create a new rail transit district to help pay for the Rail Runner Express commuter train's operations, including rail improvements and safety equipment installation.
Voters in a transit district including Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Valencia counties would have been asked to vote this November to approve a local gross receipts tax increase to pay for Rail Runner operations.
The tax— about 12.5 cents on every $100 purchase— would raise more than $26 million a year to pay for the train, officials said.