Days remaining in session: 19

Governor optimistic about Mexico meeting: Gov. Bill Richardson met Friday with Mexican President Felipe Calderón to ask that a major international rail project be positioned so it benefits Southern New Mexico.

"We had a cordial discussion of this project, which is important to the growth of trade between Mexico and the United States," Richardson said in a statement. "President Calderón has included this project in his 2012 National Infrastructure Plan as one of the priorities for his administration."

Richardson also said his administration would work with the Chihuahua state government, the mayor of Ciudad Juárez, with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and with the Union Pacific Railway on the project.

In addition, the governor met with Mexican Secretary of Health Dr. José Ángel Córdova Villalobos about the possibility of improved health service facilities in the border town of Palomas, located across the border from Columbus, N.M.

Governor responds to Rawson: Friday's Legislative Roundup reported that Senate Republican Whip Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, blasted Richardson for not issuing a "message" to allow consideration of Rawson's Senate Bill 73, which would require lobbyists for government entities to disclose how much they are paid.

(During a 30-day "budget" session, any bill not dealing with budget matters needs a message from the governor before it can be considered.)

The item stated that the Governor's Office had declined to comment, which was true at the time it was written. However, Richardson spokesman Allan Oliver later e-mailed a response.

"This is exactly the type of partisan posturing that gets in the way of good ethics reform," Oliver wrote regarding Rawson's attack. "The governor is meeting with the legislative leadership from both chambers, and with both parties, to build a consensus for ethics reform on campaign contribution limits, an elections commission task force, public financing of statewide campaigns, campaign contribution reporting, and the creation of a state ethics commission."

Rawson had said it was ironic that Richardson had declined to give Rawson's ethics bill a message on the same day that former state Treasurer Michael Montoya was sentenced to prison for his role in a kickback scandal.

"A state ethics commission, as Gov. Richardson has proposed, will hold public officials like Michael Montoya accountable for their actions and fight public corruption," Oliver's response said.

"It's ironic that Senator Rawson would call for lobbyist compensation to be reported, but voted against campaign reporting requirements last year. He seems happy to call on others to report their finances, but reluctant to report his own. Government compensation is already subject to full disclosure; all state contracts unlike the private sector are a matter of public record."

Taking the pledge: Common Cause New Mexico is stepping up its effort to get legislation for public financing for campaigns.

The group is distributing a "Voters First" pledge for lawmakers to sign.

The text reads, "I pledge to put voters first and will work to pass and enforce legislation for full voluntary public campaign financing for statewide offices, extending the legislation already in place for New Mexico appellate court judge races and the Public Regulation Commission."

Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, is expected to introduce a public-financing bill early next week.

Let's legislate everything: Should the Aggies-Lobos football game be played during what's known as college football rivalry week?

Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D-Albuquerque, thinks so.

He introduced House Memorial 11, which urges The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University to play their annual football game the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The memorial passed the House floor Friday.

Just how short are we? Rep. Nathan Cote, D-Las Cruces, wants the state to study the reasons for turnover in school nurses, counselors and other professional instructional support staff.

The measure, House Joint Memorial 3, passed the House floor Friday and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Cote is directing the state to look at issues associated with the turnover, something the Legislative Education Study Committee also has recently reviewed.

Looking ahead: Anti-smoking activists on Monday will erect a "Wall of Remembrance" at the Capitol. The display will contain hundreds of photographs of people who died due to tobacco-related illnesses.

Lawmakers and youth activists, starting at 10 a.m., will ask the Legislature for "policies that will prevent the pain and suffering that comes from tobacco use," according to the group New Mexicans Concerned About Tobacco.

Also on Monday, at Intel in Rio Rancho, the governor will unveil the state's newest supercomputer. Expect it to be obsolete by next month.

Quote of the day: "I'll be doing a lot slower version of what they are doing, if you'd like to see it about 10 o'clock (p.m.)." — Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, after a group of young mariachis performed on the Senate floor Friday morning.