NM Sen. Republican Leader Stuart Ingle Comments on Session

Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle
Comments As Session Ends with Balanced Budget and More

The 30 day Legislative Session ended at noon today and concluded a month full of debate, discussion and ended with a new, balanced budget to run state government starting in July.

Many Republican State Senators say it is a good budget that continues to invest in public education, while meeting its financial responsibilities to fund Medicaid. The $5.6 billion dollar budget spends about $220 million more than the current year budget. Much of that 4% increase goes to public schools and Medicaid. The legislature also passed over $280 million in capital outlay for many New Mexico communities.

Passing a balanced budget in the 30 day legislative session, is the only constitutional requirement the legislature has in the even numbered years when the session is held. In addition to passing a budget, education reform and tax breaks to encourage economic development in the state were hotly debated during the session. Senators predicted that the bills that did not pass regarding education reform, tax reductions to encourage economic development and stopping illegal immigrants from receiving New Mexico driver’s licenses will be back.

“We had a very deliberative session and we have produced a good budget for the state,” Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle said. “It is disappointing that we were not able stop the state from issuing driver’s licenses to people who come to our state illegally. Many come here solely to get our license to be used as a legitimate form of identification to be able to travel freely around our country. I dread the day one of our New Mexico licenses is used by someone who was not here legally to do great harm against our country and our against our people. I fear New Mexico will deservedly receive the rage of the world.”

New Mexico Senate Basketball Game Highlights

ploaded by dianekinderwater on Feb 11, 2012

Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot


Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.

The Senators were challenging the referees' final call at last night's Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and did not allow the Senators' final shot right before the buzzer to count. Senator Howie Morales' (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.

A video shot by Senate Communication's Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales' fingers before the buzzer sounded and made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.

This year's annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys

Anti-corruption news conference Senate Minority Leader Payne & House Ma...

Hard-hitting, Bipartisan, Anti-corruption Landmark Piece of Legislation Passes Unanimously Both Senate and House

News Conference can be found at: http://youtu.be/XVDUsdGqUMA
And at NewMexicoRepublicanSenatorsblogspot.com
SB 197 Felonies for Public Officials
Sponsored by Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne (R-Albuquerque)
Passed House 67-0, Passed Senate 39 to 0- on to Governor


Santa Fe— A hard-hitting, bi-partisan, anti-corruption bill passed the House today 67-0 after having passed the Senate 39-0 last Thursday. The sponsor of the bill, Senate Minority Leader Bill Payne (R-Albuquerque) said it is one of the major bills of the session to pass both Houses. He has been working for four years on the bill to fine corrupt public officials who are guilty of a felony related to their public office.

The Democratic Majority Leader of the House, Rep. Kenny Martinez carried SB 197 in the House.

Under this major anti-corruption bill, SB 197- Felonies for Public Officials- corrupt officials could receive a fine and lose their fringe benefits like their pensions if they are found guilty of a felony related to their public office.

Senate Protests Being Robbed of Gaming-Winning Shot

Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot

Video can be found on Youtube at:
http://youtu.be/W2gTmFZo4QU
Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.

The Senators were challenging the referees’ final call at last night’s Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and the refs did not count the Senators’ final shot that got off right before the buzzer sounded. Senator Howie Morales’ (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.

A video shot by Senate Communication’s Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales’ fingers before the buzzer sounded and the ball made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.

This year’s annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys.

Senate Protests Being Robbed of Game-winning shot

http://youtu.be/W2gTmFZo4QU


Senate Protests Being Robbed of their
Game-winning Shot


Proof of Senate’s game-winning shot can be seen at: NewMexicoRepublicanSenators.Blogspot.com.


Santa Fe--The New Mexico State Senate threw down a red flag in the Senate Chambers in protest today.

The Senators were challenging the referees’ final call at last night’s Senate/House charity basketball game. That call ended the game and the refs did not count the Senators’ final shot that got off right before the buzzer sounded. Senator Howie Morales’ (D-Silver City) two-pointer would have put the Senators ahead 27 to 26. Instead, the referees ruled the game ended 26 to 25 in favor of the House.

A video shot by Senate Communication’s Director Diane Kinderwater clearly shows the ball left Senator Morales’ fingers before the buzzer sounded and the ball made a swoosh through the hoop for what should have been two points.

This year’s annual Senate/House game raised over $26,000 for the UNM Cancer Center. The Senators were Senate Lobos and wore the Lobo jerseys and the House members were House Aggies wearing New Mexico State Aggie jerseys.

Remove Cloak of Secrecy That Covers Alleged Misconduct of Judges

Remove Cloak of Secrecy That Covers Alleged Misconduct of Judges

Santa Fe – The cloak of secrecy that covers the alleged misconduct of New Mexico judges would be thrown off if a Senate Joint Resolution sponsored by Senator Sander Rue is able to be presented to the public and passes in the next general election.

Senator Rue said New Mexico judges should be held to the same ethical standards of other elected officials. He said their alleged misconduct should be made public as soon as probable cause is determined after an investigation into misconduct and as soon as a hearing is ordered.

Currently, any charges of judicial misconduct and an investigation resulting in probable cause is kept confidential by the Judicial Standards Commission of the Courts. That information is not made public until after the conclusion of a hearing by Judicial Standards Commission and its opinion is forwarded to the State Supreme Court for review and approval.

“More openness when dealing with misconduct of our judges will be required by my bill. Currently, when someone files a complaint, I feel that complaint needs to be made public as soon as Judicial Standards has done an investigation and has determined there needs to be a hearing before the Judicial Standards Commission. Waiting until the hearing is concluded is too late. The process now is cloaked in secrecy. The public needs a chance to change that,” Senator Sander Rue said.

Senator Clint Harden's Bill to Relieve Victim's Trauma

-For Immediate Release Monday, January 30, 2012 Contact: 986-4702

In Committee This Afternoon:
Bill to Relieve Victim’s Trauma

Senate Judiciary
SB 176 Corrections Dept. Intensive Supervision Fund
Senator Clint Harden

Click here for video and soundbite:
http://youtu.be/MpQUwbrGZ0E

Victims Notification System to Get Steady Stream of Money with SB 176

Santa Fe-There will be a guaranteed, steady stream of money for the state’s automated victims notification system if SB 176 is passed. Senate Bill 176 allows funds in the “Corrections Department Intensive Supervision fund” to be used for victim notification efforts. That fund comes from fees convicted criminals pay for parole and probation programs for themselves. Now, some of the money could go to alert victims.

“It is only right that the offenders that created the victims would be responsible for funding this program through the fees they are obligated to pay,” bill sponsor Clint Harden (R-Clovis said.) “There should be less trauma for crime victims knowing that they will indeed be notified of the activity of their convicted perpetrator.

The plan would enable victims across our state to be alerted automatically when their offenders are scheduled for court hearings, sentencing, and releases from detention facilities at both the county and state level. The amendment to the existing statute could mean faster and more efficient means of automatically notifying victims when their perpetrators are released from state prison.

“You might be able to imagine the trauma victims might experience if they weren’t property notified and the first time they learn of their offenders release is when they physically seem them in the community. What a shock. I hope we can relieve this feeling of re-victimization by creating this long-term sustainability flow of funding to the plan,” Senator Harden said.

The bill also allows greater funding for probation and parole supervision programs for all offenders, not just those on the Intensive Supervision program. They are the very initiatives seeking to reduce recidivism and crime victimization in our neighborhoods. By doing so, we may not only lessen the costs associated with confinement of inmates and save New Mexico tax dollars, but also increase the safety and security of our families, homes, and neighbors, while providing appropriate respect to those around us who have been victimized.

Convicted criminals pay a fee when they are on probation and parole into the Corrections Department Intensive Supervision fund. That fee is currently used for intensive supervision programs such as rehab and anger management classes. If SB 176 passes, some of that funding from the fees could also go to the automated notification system, and for probation and parole programs that are not part of the intensive supervision group.

Carlsbad High School Troubadours Move Many at Capitol Centennial Celebra...

Carlsbad High School Troubadours Move Many at Capitol Centennial Celebration Today



State Senator Vernon Asbill (R-Carlsbad) visits with the 59- member Carlsbad High School Troubadours choir prior to their performance singing the National Anthem and O Fair New Mexico, the state’s song, at a joint Senate and House session commemorating the state’s centennial. The New Mexico Legislative Centennial Celebration was held on Monday, January 30, 2012 in the House Chamber at the State Capitol. The choir, directed by Ken Miller, competes in various statewide competitions and are the recipients of numerous awards. In all state competitions, the choir has placed in either first, second or third in the state.
After the performance before the joint session of the Senate and House, Senator Asbill said, “These beautiful singers made all of us in Southeastern New Mexico proud today with their renditions of the National Anthem and our state song. What a tribute to our state and to its 100th anniversary as a state. These young people moved all of us in the capitol, some of my fellow legislators even mentioned they had goose bumps. These students are quite remarkable. I am so proud of these kids. ”

Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne on removing Statute of Limitations

On to Senate Judiciary-
Remove Statute of Limitations for All Homicides
Unfriendly Amendment Removed Limitation on Only One Charge
“Mindboggling all New Mexicans would not be on board with seeing justice served for a confessed killer.”
Santa Fe –The bill to remove the statute of limitations on being able to charge someone with homicide will move on to its second committee, to Senate Judiciary. This afternoon, Senate Public Affairs put unfriendly amendments on the bill to only remove the statute of limitations for one charge- for second degree murder- and not to remove it on all other charges of homicide that currently have statute of limitations.

Currently, only first degree murder has no statute of limitation, or time limit for bringing a charge of first degree murder against an alleged murder.

An amendment also lengthened the statute of limitations on all other homicides such as 3rd and 4th degree murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, and vehicular homicide to ten years instead of the shorter five and six year limitations.

The two sisters of Michael Snyder, the man whose wife was convicted recently for his death back in 2002 after his remains were unearthed outside his Albuquerque home in 2010, testified at the Senate Public Affairs committee.

“It is surprising to me that there is opposition to this bill. Why wouldn’t all New Mexicans want justice to be served for a confessed killer. It is quite mind bobbling to see why others are not on board with this,” Teri Johnson said.

“We thought the law and criminal justice would be on our side, but it was not. We are trying to keep someone else from going through what we have had to do. It is not just and we do not want other New Mexicans to go through this,” Laura Bowman said. “Step in someone else’s shoes. If your love one was murdered and they did not get the justice they deserved, how would you feel if the killer not only hid the murder for so long and then was not accountable for the confessed murder because the statute of limitations ran out.”

SB 37- No Time Limit to Prosecute Certain Crimes is sponsored by New Mexico Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne.

New Mexico State Senator Sander Rue explains the importance of transpare...

ALL Branches, ALL State Agency Employee Names and Salaries
on the State’s Website
Not Subject to Administration Whims

For Immediate Release January 25, 2012 Contact: 505-986-4702

Santa Fe – State Senator Sander Rue of Albuquerque said more state government employee names and salaries will be on New Mexico’s Sunshine Portal, and the requirement to put the information on the state’s website would be in state law and would not be at the whim of future governors, if his bill to expand the definition of “state agency” in the Sunshine Portal is passed.

The definition will be expanded to include all branches of government. If SB 30 passes, employee names, titles and salaries of the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of state government would be required to be included on the state’s website. Because they are state employees, school personnel including teachers and administrators would be included, too.

Senator Sue Wilson Beffort supports creating jobs with small business tax incentives and diversifying the state's economy

New Mexico State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort of Sandia Park supports creating jobs by building New Mexico small businesses. She said the state can help by supplying them with tax incentives to help grow their businesses. She said she is introducing bills to help create jobs in the private sector. Senator Sue Wilson Beffort said it is important for the state to have a diversified economy and to not rely solely on the gas and oil industry to pay for state government. She said now is not the time to expand state government.

Happy 100th New Mexico from FarmingtonBloomfield Chamber

For Immediate Release Monday, January 23, 2012 Contact: Diane Kinderwater 505-986-4702

Farmington-Bloomfield Chamber Members Presented Giant Birthday Card to State Senate Monday

On Youtube- http://youtu.be/9QsQmA3Ccfo Video and singing happy birthday

Photo Caption:
Members of the Farmington- Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce made a special presentation to the New Mexico State Senate and Lt. Governor John Sanchez as they presented a 100th Happy Birthday card to the New Mexico State Senate on Monday, January 23, 2012. The chamber members were joined by Senate Republican Caucus Chair Steve Neville R-San Juan-2) and Senator Bill Sharer (R-San Juan 1) who represent San Juan County.

This year, 2012, is the state’s centennial with celebrations planned throughout the year. New Mexico was officially welcomed as the 47th state to join the union on January 6, 1912 when President William H. Taft signed the statehood legislation.

The giant birthday card states: For 100 years the question has been asked: Red or Green?
Happy 100th New Mexico! It was signed by over 300 citizens of San Juan County. The question “Red or Green?” was adopted by the legislature in 1999 as the official question of the state. Chiles and frijoles were adopted as New Mexico’s state vegetables in 1965.

Prior to the Senate presentation, the brigade of Red Coat members from the Farmington-Bloomfield Chamber and Senators Neville and Sharer sang Happy Birthday to New Mexico. A video of their rendition can be seen on YouTube address at: http://youtu.be/9QsQmA3Ccfo

NM Senate Republican Whip on eliminating Statute of Limitations for Homi...

SB 37 No Time Limit to Prosecute Certain Crimes
Senator Bill Payne
Soundbite and Quote on NewMexicoRepublicanSenators.blogspot.com


Santa Fe –New Mexico Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne is sponsoring a bill to remove the statute of limitations for certain crimes that take someone’s life.

Currently, only first degree murder has no statute of limitation, or time limit for prosecuting a first degree murder case.

Under Senate Payne’s bill, the statute of limitation would be eliminated for any type of homicide. It would remove the six year statute of limitation for second-degree murder. It would also remove the time limit for a case to be tried for: every degree of murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, assisted suicide and vehicular homicide.

Senator Payne said criminals should not get away with a homicide because the calendar runs out.

“This is bill is not about changing penalties, it is eliminating the time limit in finding evidence to charge someone with a homicide,” Senator Payne said. “Someone should not get away with taking another’s life if enough evidence to charge a person with homicide is found one day after the current statute of limitations runs out.”

He said because of improved technology, and advances in forensics and DNA testing, reliable evidence can be found many years after a homicide is committed.

NM State Senator Rod Adair comments on Governor's State of the State Address

State Senate Republican Caucus Chair Steve Neville

NM Senator Carroll Leavell comments on State of the State Address

Senator Clint Harden Comments on State of State

Senator Vernon Asbill

State Senator Clint Harden's reaction to State of State Address today