NM Legislature Off and Running

Opening Day of the first session of the 50th New Mexico Legislature, Santa Fe. 

Tore myself away from a tequila-fueled indoor shuffleboard competition up north to attend the opening session.  I was perched in a corner of the press room but thrown out by a Sergeant of Arms for not having a press pass.  This may have come from a legitimate complaint from a legitimate journalist with a legitimate issue about the very crowded room.  But it closely followed a visit from the Governor's  spokesman who had hesitated before handing me a copy of the speech and asked, "Are you with the press?"  I answered, "I'm a blogger."*  

The rest of the Roundhouse was as crowded and sweaty as the press room.  In exile on a hard wooden bench in a hall I tuned to streaming coverage.   The several second delay meant hearing cheering at inappropriate moments - like for rapists and murderers instead of for the death penalty.  Soon I was bookended by others watching the proceedings on my tiny laptop.  I smelled tea and this cramped my tweeting.

The only negativity I heard followed the Governor's remarks about immigration: "...(W)hen people have to show a photo ID to rent a movie, it's not too much to ask to show a photo ID to vote."   She hasn't heard of Netflix?  Make them show a credit card. 

Official reaction from Democrats to the Governor's speech was officially tepid.  Senator Linda Lopez suggested the new Governor not put special interests ahead of the people and Representative King said improving the economy is the priority.  Lopez responded to a question about appointments saying, "We're going to have a fun day in Senate Rules."

Someone should bring a shuffleboard if they want fun in Senate Rules. 

 

 * As a practical matter I seldom lie.  The truth is hard enough to remember.


 

Comments

[ABQBear]

So... how do we get you a set of credentials to attend these sessions?

[bg]

I guess manufacturing credentials is a lost art? How hard can it be?