2021 Capitol Report, February 26

INTRO:

An ongoing dispute over security at the New Mexico State Capitol Building simmered as state lawmakers recessed for the weekend.

Tom Trowbridge reports from the Roundhouse:

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((Script)):

Since before the 2021 60-day session gaveled-in for business inside the Roundhouse on January 19^th, the outside of the so-called “people’s house” has appeared ominous: Cement barriers ward-off traffic on its surrounding Santa Fe streets with patrol cars at the ready… and the building itself is surrounded by a chain-link fence with a single point of secured entry.

Republican lawmakers have had enough. House Leader Jim Townsend complained in a news release that quote: “This fence just further divides the public from what is happening in Santa Fe. We are spending 33-thousand dollars a day on this blockade, with no incidents reported. I think we can reconsider security plans that are less offensive to the public,” end quote. And Farmington Republican Senator moved on the Senate Floor for the fence’s removal.

Sharer2  :07

Sharer’s motion went nowhere. Later, I asked Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf about the fence; He told me leading lawmakers are following the advice of the New Mexico State Police and the State Department of Homeland Security:

BEgolf  :10

And that’s the way it will stay.

For the New Mexico News Network, I’m Tom Trowbridge

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