Richardson: special session could come in April or May

The Associated Press's Barry Massey just moved a story that reports that Gov. Bill Richardson said he thinks the state needs a special session in April or May.

Here's a little from the story:

"Richardson said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that he favors assembling a budget for next year during the current session of the Legislature but then holding a special session in April or May. That would allow lawmakers to adjust the budget after it becomes clear how much federal economic stimulus money will flow to New Mexico."

Read the rest here.

Did I mention there are still 36 days left in this session?

Senate Committees' Committee says yes to webcasting

The Senate's Committees' Committee just decided to take a step (again) towards webcasting from that chamber. The committee decided to allow the cameras that had been taken down to be reinstalled with the aim of webcasting later this session. The state bought three cameras for the project.

In the meantime, the committee will draft rules governing the webcasting and present them to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration.

"I think we ought to utilize the equipment that's already in place," said Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming. The state spent $38,000 on the cameras, it will need to spend another $10,000 for another server to broadcast the video on the Legislature's web site. The cameras may be operated by someone already on Senate staff, or the state may need to hire an additional person.

Keep in mind, this is the same committee that previously decided to not webcast this session. . .

Meanwhile, the online news publication New Mexico Independent may beat the Senate to the punch. It plans to webcast the Senate Rules Committee Friday morning.

Politico takes hard look at Richardson

Politico.com has this look at where Gov. Bill Richardson is in his career these days. Worth a read if nothing else because it gives an outside perspective of the world we're living in the Capitol here.

Bill would track state worker productivity

A measure in the hopper by freshman Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, would measure the productivity of state government employees.

An analysis of the measure says labor productivity is defined as "the output per worker-hour of labor."

Further, the bill says "labor productivity would be calculated using Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology. Each local government would be required to submit data on local government worker productivity through the department’s website beginning in 2011."

Now that would be a truly interesting study, and a measure that's sure to cause a lot of controversy, should it go anywhere this year. Given that Rue's a freshman, chances aren't good, but in these cost-cutting times, you never know.

Ethics Day, part two

Maybe today really is Ethics Day after all. (Although there are more ethics bills coming Friday.)

But the Senate Rules Committee this morning passed one bill that's hard a hard time even getting a hearing in the past. This measure would allow enhanced penalties for public officials who commit felonies.

Bill sponsor Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne, R-Albuquerque, said things are different this year.

"We have more convictions, more talks of investigations ongoing," he said.

It's Ethics Day Wednesday

That's according to the Senate Republican Office, which put out information on a hearing Wednesday morning on two ethics related bills.

The measures, which are before the Senate Rules Committee at 8 a.m., are:

SB 141 ENHANCE FELONY SENTENCES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS (PAYNE)
SB 261 RETIREMENT BENEFIT FORFEITURE FOR SOME CRIMES (WILSON BEFFORT)

Payne in a statement said his bill would ramp up penalties for public officials convicted of crimes.

"Because they were receiving a salary from taxpayers when they were acting illegally, they should have to pay some of that salary back to the public and they should not receive their fringe benefits like pensions if they are convicted of a felony," he said.

Apparently this is the first time Payne's bill has actually gotten a hearing, despite its being introduced repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Friday looks like it could really be Ethics Day. Check out all the bills on the Senate Rules Committee agenda, set for 8 a.m. Friday morning. (Now that would be a good day to crank up the webcasting from Senate committees, hint hint.)

SB 94 PROHIBIT FORMER LEGISLATORS AS LOBBYISTS (BOITANO)
SB 116 LIMIT CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES & PACS (FELDMAN)
SB 128 REQUIRE BIANNUAL CAMPAIGN REPORTS (WIRTH)
SB 141 ENHANCE FELONY SENTENCES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS (PAYNE)
SB 163 PROHIBIT FORMER LEGISLATORS AS LOBBYISTS (GRIEGO E.)
SB 258 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STATE CONTRACTORS (KELLER)
SB 262 POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES (BEFFORT)
SB 263 CONTRACTOR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRIBUTIONS (BEFFORT)
SB 296 STATE CONTRACTOR CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE (FELDMAN)
SB 346 POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES (SANCHEZ B.)

New revenue projections coming on Friday the 13th

This might be one time to really be scared on that superstitous day.

The state's latest round of revenue projections are set to be released Friday. Early word is that the state could be in the hole another $100 million. That's an unconfirmed number, but if you take just one quick look at the economy these days, it seems plausible.

The question then becomes whether the Legislature then would have enough time this session to craft another solvency package or whether we'd be back here in say, May. Stay tuned.