INTRO:
LAWMAKERS HAVE GONE HOME—DONE WITH THIS 60-DAY SESSION. BUT KOB 4’S CHRIS RAMIREZ REPORTS—THEY MAY SOON BE BACK IT. THE GOVERNOR DOESN’T THINK THEY COMPLETED THEIR WORK.
RUNS: 1:27 OUT: STANDARD
THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDED SATURDAY AT NOON.
DEMOCRATS TOOK A VICTORY LAP AFTER– TOUTING THEIR ABILITY TO DELIVER A BUDGET THAT INCLUDED PANDEMIC RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES, EXTRA FUNDING FOR MEDICAID AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MILLIONS IN ROAD PROJECTS AND BROADBAND ACCESS ACROSS THE STATE.
HERE’S SENATE MAJORITY LEADER PETER WIRTH OF SANTA FE.
<Sen. Peter Wirth>
“this session in COVID was about essential workers it was about small businesses and the governor mentioned we came in right out of the gate and delivered”
REPUBLICANS FEEL LIKE THE PRIORITIES OF THIS SESSION DON’T REFLECT THEIR VALUES. HERE’S HOUSE MINORITY WHIP ROD MONTOYA OF FARMINGTON.
<Rep. Rod Montoya>
This was a terrific session…if you’re a felon, if you’re a sex offender, if you’re a special interest and you’re wanting to shut industry down. This was an amazing session for you.
BIG TICKET BILLS THAT PASSED INCLUDE MANDATORY SICK LEAVE, THE NEW MEXICO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND A HANDFUL OF BILLS INTENDED TO GIVE BREAKS TO BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SUFFERED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, ESPECIALLY BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
NOTABLY- LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA DID NOT PASS. STALL TACTICS BY KEY LAWMAKERS ESSENTIALLY RAN THE CLOCK DOWN ON THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM STATED SHE PLANS ON CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION IN A FEW WEEKS FOR LEGALIZING POT.
FOR THE NEW MEXICO NEWS NETWORK, I’M CHRIS RAMIREZ, KOB 4.
