Energy and mining interests were responsible for a big share of the wining and dining of legislators in recent days, according to the lobbyist reports filed in recent days.

Those industries always have been a major presence at the Legislature. Oil and gas is a major source of revenue for the state government.

By law, during a legislative session, lobbyists are required to report expenditures larger than $500 within 48 hours of the spending.

One of the biggest events during most sessions in recent years is the annual Legislative Reception and Dinner for the New Mexico Mining Association. Lobbyist Mike Bowen reported that this year's dinner, which took place Feb. 1 at the Santa Fe Hilton, cost $17,845. All legislators were invited.

Nancy King, a lobbyist for Louisiana Energy Services -- which has a uranium enrichment facility in Eunice, N.M. -- reported the company spent $2,039 for a dinner on Feb. 5 at the Inn of the Anasazi. Attending were Sens. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, Vernon Asbill, R-Carlsbad, Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, and Carol Leavell, R-Jal, Reps. Don Bratton, R-Hobbs, Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad, Bill Gray, R-Artesia, and Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell, and spouses and guests.

The company is seeking a technical correction in the state tax code, which would change the name of a product exempt from New Mexico gross-receipts tax from "enriched uranium" to "uranium hexafluoride."

The Senate passed Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Leavell, last week on a vote of 36 to 5. Also last week, the House passed the similar House Bill 70, sponsored by Rep. Jim Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, by a vote of 62 to 6.

Another energy-related event took place on Feb. 4 at the Inn at Loretto. Karin Foster, lobbyist for the Independent Petroleum Association, reported spending $1,765.77 for a cocktail party and movie screening Feb. 4 at the Inn at Loretto.

The movie shown, Foster said Friday, was SpOiled,a documentary about oil by New Mexico filmmaker Mark Mathis. All legislators and some executive branch staff were invited. "I wanted to do an event that was a little different, instead of the usual rubber chicken," Foster said.

Meanwhile, the ConocoPhillips oil company on Feb. 3 spent $835 on a dinner at The Compound Restaurant for several legislators including Sens. Asbill and Leavell and Reps. Bratton, Brown and Gray, as well as guests and spouses.

On the other end of the spectrum on energy issues, Conservation Voters New Mexico spent $4,560 on a reception at Rio Chama restaurant Jan. 31 for its members and legislators.

Among the other lobbyist reports posted on the Secretary of State's site this week:

• The Lensic Performing Arts Center spent $4,730 on dinner at the Bull Ring on Feb. 3 for the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and staff.

• Laguna Pueblo reported spending $2,508 Wednesday for a dinner to discuss pueblo priorities at the Bull Ring. Among those attending were Laguna Gov. Rich Luarkie, Reps. Jane Powdrell-Culbert, R-Corrales, and Candy Ezzell, R-Roswell, and Sen. John Pinto, D-Tohatchi.

• Express Scripts spent $2,478.50 for lunch for the House and Senate and their staffs Monday at the state Capitol.

• Rocky Mountain Synod-Evangelical Lutheran Church spent $2,023 on its Bishop's Legislative Luncheon at La Fonda on Feb. 2. Invited were all legislators, the governor and the attorney general.

• Veteran contract lobbyist Scott Scanland, who represents several clients, spent $664 at the Pink Adobe on Tuesday to discuss general budget and policy matters with Gov. Susana Martinez's chief of staff, Keith Gardner, and Farmington-area legislators including Sens. Steve Neville, Bill Sharer, Reps. Tom Taylor, James Strickler, Paul Bandy, plus spouses and guests.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.

ON THE WEB

• Lobbyist reports can be found on the Secretary of State's campaign finance website https://cfis.state.nm.us and searching under "Lobbyists" and "Lobbyist Employees."