Denish: 'don't delay'

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who spent the morning meeting with legislative leaders and the governor, is urging them to not delay on key cuts that need to be made to the budget.

"I urged them to make necessary long-term structural changes. I also encouraged legislators to keep all options on the table and close as much of the budget shortfall during this session as possible. My message was “Don’t delay."

So far, they don't appear to be taking that to heart. As of 2:16, neither chamber is meeting for the 2 p.m. session.

Denish, who is running for governor in 2010, put out a statement saying she's "fundamentally opposed to any cuts that will affect New Mexico’s classrooms. Making sure that our children have the skills needed to compete for 21st Century jobs is one of the most important stimulants to the state’s economic future. Taking money out of our classrooms would only be to our own economic detriment."

UPDATE, 2:18 p.m.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, just let everyone in the audience of the Senate know that the session hasn't started because lawmakers haven't received the session's proclamation from the governor. (That's the little thing that spells out what lawmakers will be doing this session.)

UPDATE, 2:26 p.m.

Sanchez now is announcing the session won't start until 3:00 p.m. The proclamation isn't done, apparently. . .