Days remaining in session: 5

Barela confirmed: It only took two sessions, but the Senate on Friday confirmed Gov. Susana Martinez's nomination of Jon Barela as secretary of the Economic Development Department. The vote was 38-0 in favor of the appointment.

The governor issued a statement saying, "Over the past year, Secretary Barela has shown strong leadership in promoting job creation throughout New Mexico. Since taking office, Secretary Barela has traveled around the state and worked closely with community and business leaders to help facilitate a competitive economic environment so New Mexico can attract businesses here and help business already located in the state to remain here."

Barela was the Republican nominee for the Albuquerque congressional seat in 2010, but lost to Democrat Martin Heinrich.

The Senate has confirmed several Martinez Cabinet appointments this year. However, no hearing in the Senate Rules Committee has been scheduled for Martinez's choice for the Public Education Department, Hanna Skandera.

Medical marijuana: Senate Bill 240 -- which would create a dedicated funding source for the Department of Health's medical cannabis program using fees already being charged to producers and patients -- passed by a unanimous vote on the floor of the Senate on Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, heads to the state House of Representatives for debate.

Matanza bonanza: We all know that legislators love pork, but on Friday the House went on record in favor of traditional pig-roasting parties known in New Mexico as matanzas.

In December, the Valencia County Hispano Chamber of Commerce had to cancel its annual matanza after the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified the chamber that the event was in violation of the federal Meat & Poultry Act.

The USDA since gave the chamber the OK to proceed. The event is now scheduled for Feb. 25 at the Sheriff's Posse Fairgrounds in Belen.

"When the USDA first shut down the VCHCC matanza, I thought to myself, 'this just isn't right,' " Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, R-Los Lunas, said in a news release. "I grew up with matanzas. It's arguably the longest running tradition brought from Europe to the Americas and this bill, in this year of our State Centennial, goes to honor that tradition."

Baldonado's House Memorial 58 puts the House on record as respecting "the deep cultural importance" of matanzas. He plans to introduce legislation next year to protect matanzas from "further discretion by food inspectors."

Interlock license bill: State senators voted 38 to 0 to pass legislation that would amend New Mexico's Ignition Interlock Licensing Act, according to a news release. Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. Vernon Asbill, R-Carlsbad, would allow the state to issue a limited license to a person who has served his or her sentence for certain convictions, including vehicular homicide and causing great bodily harm by vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Currently, a driver convicted of homicide by vehicle or great bodily injury by vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs cannot obtain an ignition-interlock license, the news release said.

"We are trying to remove the obstacles for the folks who have made a mistake and who are truly trying to rehabilitate themselves back into society," Asbill said in the news release. "The parole officers know who the people are who are trying to clean up their act."

County salaries: Elected county officials, including sheriffs and commissioners in Santa Fe County, could receive pay increases of up to 15 percent next year under a proposal that has passed the House.

The bill increases the cap in state law on salaries of county officials, including treasurer, assessor and clerk. However, it's left to county commissioners to decide whether to provide a pay increase.

The House unanimously approved the bill on Thursday and sent it to the Senate for consideration.

If the measure is enacted, the maximum salary for the sheriff in the state's largest counties -- Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Santa Fe and San Juan counties -- could go to $78,555 starting in 2013. That's up from the current limit of $68,308. Pay for county commissioners could increase to $34,005 from $29,569.

Spaceport liability: Before they go home, Gov. Susana Martinez wants lawmakers to take one more crack at passing legislation to protect spacecraft manufacturers from legal liability.

The Senate Judiciary Committee this week declined to advance a bill granting Spaceport America suppliers and manufacturers immunity from most lawsuits by space travelers.

Members of the House Business and Industry Committee made a similar decision.

Spaceport executives say the $209 million government enterprise in Sierra County could lose businesses if the legislators do nothing.

Sen. Lisa Curtis of Albuquerque tells the Alamogordo Daily News that by looking out for consumers, the state would be better off.

Looking ahead:

• The Senate Rules Committee is scheduled Saturday to hear three constitutional amendments aimed at reforming the Public Regulation Commission. The committee is expected to meet sometime after 9 a.m. in Room 321, but no definite time had been set by Friday evening.

• Tony Reyna, the oldest living survivor of the Bataan Death March, will be honored Tuesday morning in the House of Representatives. Born in 1915, Reyna is a former governor of Taos Pueblo.


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Staff and wire reports