Days remaining in session: 13

Define nothing: While Gov. Bill Richardson was in Washington, D.C., on state business Thursday, he was blasted by several lawmakers in the House and Senate over comments he made to reporters Wednesday about a "do-nothing Legislature."

"I think it's a little insulting when you wake up today and read that we're a do-nothing Legislature," House Minority Whip Dan Foley said.

"I take it as an attack, and I'm not going to stand for it," the Roswell Republican said.

Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, also took a little swipe at the governor.

"Do you think that comment about a do-nothing Legislature, which was obviously directed at the House, do you think that would fall under the rabbi's comments about not being cruel to others?" he said after the morning prayer in the Senate.

DWI bill: By a unanimous vote, the Senate Public Affairs Committee gave a do-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 199, sponsored by Sen. Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque, which would give some drunken-driving offenders more prison time.

The bill is a response to an 11-year-old Supreme Court decision that a felony conviction for DWI does not count as a prior felony conviction for purposes of sentencing under the Habitual Offender Act. For most crimes, each prior offense tacks on an extra year in prison for one prior offense, four years for two prior felonies and eight years for three or more prior felonies. But the court found the language in the state's felony DWI law to be ambiguous. SB 199 specifically says prior felony convictions will count under the Habitual Offender Act.

Similar bills have failed in previous sessions. The bill goes on to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sex offenders: The Senate Public Affairs Committee gave a unanimous do-pass recommendation to a bill that would require sex offenders to register with local law enforcement within three days of moving into a community instead of the 10 days under current law.

SB 204, sponsored by Carrarro also requires 72-hour notice to authorities of any changes of residency, employment or schooling, including notification to the agency with whom the offender last registered. The bill goes on to the Judiciary Committee.

Looking ahead: The Legislature, in particular ethics reform, will be among the topics again on the KNME, Channel 5, talk show In Focus tonight. The show airs at 7 p.m. and will be repeated at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Over at the Report from Santa Fe show, the guests for this week are the majority and minority whips of the Senate, Sens. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Las Cruces, and Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces. They will discuss ethics reform, health care and border issues. The show airs at 6 a.m. Sunday on KNME for viewers in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and all of Northern New Mexico.

• Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Health Secretary Alfredo Garcia and the New Mexico Dental Association have scheduled a 9:30 a.m. news conference today in the Capitol Rotunda to promote the importance of oral health care at Give Kids a Smile day.

• Today also is School Nutrition Day at the Capitol. Supporters of various bills plan a 1 p.m. talk in the Rotunda about how buying local produce helps students and local farmers.

Quote of the day: "If we can accomplish just 2 percent of all the work we have to do, we'll get pretty far." — Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, on the Senate floor as lawmakers started their day.



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