Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler takes part in the League of Women Voter’s legislative preview forum Thursday night on Zoom. Screenshot/LADP
New Mexico Sen. Roberto Gonzales takes part in the League of Women Voter’s Legislative Preview Forum Thursday night on Zoom. Screenshot/LADP
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
It might be a short legislative session kicking off Jan. 16 but it will be a busy one. Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler and Sen. Roberto Gonzales, who both represent Los Alamos, discussed the upcoming 30-day session during the League of Women Voter’s Legislative Preview Thursday night on Zoom. The forum was originally scheduled in person but due to inclement weather moved online.
Sen. Leo Jaramillo who also represents Los Alamos was absent due to illness. Rep. Susan Herrera who represents Dist. 41 in the Valley participated on Zoom and spoke about efforts underway to modernize the Legislature.
Rep. Chandler explained what is expected to be in store during the session. She said a short session means that the agenda will theoretically be limited to budgetary matters, revenue matters and finances as well as memorials and constitutional amendments. The last things that would be accepted are items or bills that the governor puts “on call” or provides a message.
“The governor has said that she plans on putting some gun safety legislature on the call and I think there are going to be some crime bills on the call as well and likely some other things…,” Chandler said.
As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Chandler said she expects a very busy schedule. She also serves on the House’s Taxation and Revenue Committee.
As a result, Chandler said, “I am resting up for what I think will be a lot of energy in my committee.”
As far as bills she plans to introduce, Chandler highlighted a few of them:
A bill that addresses paid family and medical leave. Chandler is co-sponsoring this bill, and said the governor has been asked to provide a message of the bill.
“Essentially it provides a wage replacement, opportunity and job protection for people who need to take off time to address serious illnesses, birth of a child, care for loved ones who have serious illnesses …,” she said.
Chandler co-filed a bill intended to refine and improve the extreme risk protection order enacted a few years ago. She said the bill allows law enforcement to remove guns from a person if it is established that the person is a risk to themselves or others. Chandler added that the changes were at the request of law enforcement and the bill sponsors worked with law enforcement and the attorney general to refine the bill.
A bill that would reduce capital gains deduction for many people.
A bill that would help facilitate the development of large-scale renewable energy storage by allowing free standing renewable storage to qualify for industrial revenue bond status, which offers tax advantage for investors.
A bill to provide protection for those carrying student loans. Chandler said this would be a consumer protection bill that would require companies administering loans to adhere to rules. It would also create an ombuds to assist people with difficulty navigating the loans.
Finally, Chandler said she is working with the New Mexico Supreme Court on bills they would like to have to improve the functioning of the courts by strengthening benefit packages and increasing salaries to draw in more experienced candidates for judges.
Sen. Gonzales commented that his focus, “really for the last 20 years”, is concentrating on the budget and revenue of the state. He noted that the state’s revenue is reliant on oil and gas production and while oil and gas sales are still strong – the price of oil has dipped this year to $70 per barrel from $100 per barrel last year.
Gonzales further pointed out that the biggest chunk of the state’s budget goes to education.
“The last few years, our funding for education was at $2.2 billion,” he said, “within the last few years we have raised it to $4.2 billion. What is important about this is that this is recurring so we have to maintain that level of revenue coming to the state otherwise we have taken safeguards and safety mechanisms … we do have state revenue set at 32 percent plus and that is very healthy for our state but if we were to have a downturn, we would probably hold on for two to three years with that kind of funding …”
Gonzales reported that funding for higher education is at $1.4 billion. He noted that education is important but other notable issues include water, gun control, forest fire prevention and infrastructure.
During the question-and-answer period, Los Alamos Public Schools Director of Inclusive Schools Andrea Determan asked about the Public Education Department’s (PED) proposal to change the school calendar and school hours.
Chandler responded saying, “My sense in speaking with the Governor and in a meeting … it seems like PED is very committed to what the rules they have alluded to in terms of days … at least on my side of the legislative branch I know there are a number of house members and senator members, too, … who are very disappointed in the approach that PED is taking. I think there’s concern that if what they’re planning comes to fruition … it may be outside their authority.”
Gonzales emphasized the need to work with people and to get the support of parents.
“We need to win those people over, not fight with them,” he said.
Los Alamos County Council Chair Denise Derkacs asked whether raising the minimum wage would be addressed during the upcoming session.
Chandler said she has no plans to introduce a bill for minimum wage and does not know of anyone else who has plans to do so. Gonzales said he felt that was more an issue to address during a 60-day session.
Another attendee raised concerns about the proposed 3 percent raise for school staff and teachers, which they said they felt was low.
Chandler said she agrees that a 3 percent raise seems low, adding that salaries for teachers and staff need to continuously be elevated to attract quality teachers.
Gonzales also said 3 percent seemed low, pointing out that there are a high number of vacancies in education, and it is a challenge to fill them. He also noted that it is not just salaries at issue but being able to afford a place to live.
The 56th Legislature opens at noon Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe.
