By The New Mexican
Days left in session: 13
Early childhood education: A proposed constitutional amendment to expand early childhood education might get its first hearing Monday in the Senate.
The big question is whether it can survive the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee.
House Joint Resolution 1 has been a priority for Democrats in the House of Representatives. But the Senate will be a tougher test.
Though Democrats have a 7-4 majority on the Rules Committee, a few of them might not be on board with the proposal, leaving its fate unclear. The panel will be one to watch come Monday morning
How many? Sen. Michael Padilla, sponsor of a bill to create a new department for early childhood education, fielded several questions about his proposal Saturday night. He couldn’t accurately answer one of them.
Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, asked Padilla how many Cabinet departments the state has now. Padilla hesitated, then said the total is somewhere “north of 15”.
It’s 22. And that doesn’t count the Department of Agriculture, which is connected to New Mexico State University.
It was still a good night for Padilla, D-Albuquerque. The bill carried 39-2 and goes next to the House of Representatives.
Dribbling and drooling: If you’ve ever wanted to see Republicans and Democrats working together for a common cause – sweating, straining and maybe swearing – here’s your chance.
The Senate plays the House of Representatives at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the annual Hoops 4 Hope basketball game.
The event raises money for the University of New Mexico’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Tickets are $5. The game will be at the Santa Fe Indian School, 1501 Cerrillos Road.
The Senate, led by Bill O’Neill, won last year, 33-24.
Lottery scholarship bill: A House committee on Saturday voted 8-0 to advance a bill eliminating the guarantee that 30 percent of gross lottery revenue will go for college scholarships.
But the measure, Senate Bill 283, requires that at least $40 million a year be turned over to the scholarship program. The House State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee moved the bill forward.
The bill also requires the New Mexico Lottery to reduce its administrative costs from 16.7 percent of revenue to 15 percent within three years. It also would ensure that any unclaimed prize money would go to the scholarship fund. The bill now goes to the House Judiciary Committee.
Quotes of the day:
“Only 400 bills left.” –Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, after the state government committee on Saturday dispatched the first of 17 bills on its agenda. More than 1,600 bills were filed. The session ends March 16.
“Acme. Is that a real company? It sounds like Wile E. Coyote.” –Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, commenting on Acme Equities LLC, the New York hedge fund negotiating with the City of Farmington to take over the San Juan Generating Station.
