2008 Legislature: Senators balk over proposed May session

Though health care deal remains elusive, Richardson poised to call lawmakers back

Kate Nash | The New Mexican

4/10/2008 - 4/11/08

Gov. Bill Richardson and state Senate leaders are still sparring over the possibility of a special session on health care reform.

The governor is inclined to call the New Mexico Legislature back to Santa Fe in May, his office said Thursday. But Senate leaders say they need more time to reach agreement on sweeping proposals.

During the regular session that ended in February, legislators rejected Richardson's call to cover the 400,000 New Mexicans who lack health insurance. Many lawmakers cited cost concerns.

Since then, Richardson has met with Senate leaders to see what agreements could be hammered out. The governor also wants more accountability and efficiencies in the state's health care system.

"The Governor has tried to work with Senate leaders to move this issue forward and forge an agreement on health care before a special session," spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said in an e-mail.

"But Senate leaders have only met once, and there has been no progress whatsoever. The Governor will now meet with House leaders, and he is inclined to hold a special session in May."

As recently as this week, Richardson had said he expected a special session this summer.

House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, said Thursday that no meeting is set with House members.

"If he asks us, just like the Senate met with him, we're inclined to meet," said Luján, who had heard that the session could come in June. "There are some things to be discussed."

Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, and Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, this week said many questions linger concerning the governor's plans. They said fall is a more realistic time to meet.

"Every New Mexican deserves to be able to get good, affordable health care when they need it," Jennings said in a statement. "We are committed to making sure that happens. The reforms necessary to achieve that goal are quite complex and need to be worked out over time."

Said Sanchez: "It is important to reach an agreement on as many aspects of this issue as possible before convening a special session. We're making progress and I'm hopeful that in a few more months we can hold a productive special session that will get us closer to our goal."

Firing back, Richardson said he would decide when the session begins. "The Governor remains frustrated by the Senate leadership's cavalier attitude toward coming up with an agreement on universal health care," Gallegos said in a statement. "The Governor is inclined to hold a special session in May — not in the fall — to ... provide health care to the 400,000 New Mexicans who don't have access."

May and early June is a key time for lawmakers, all 112 of whom face re-election this year, because they can't raise campaign funds while in session.

While senators aren't enthused about reconvening while concerns remain about the state's economy, they also are upset in part because they have borne the brunt of Richardson vetoes of capital-outlay projects. When the governor called them back into special session last year, they balked at his demands and adjourned several times without passing various Richardson proposals.

While House members are willing to meet, Luján said, they hope for an agreement on what can be done before a session starts.

"I've stated before that it's much better for us to have the Senate and the House and the governor on the same page," Luján said.

"I continue to think that that's the only way to get things done."

When asked whether everyone is on that same page, Luján said "that's where we need to get. If we were there, he'd call the special session right now."

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog, Green Chile Chatter, at www.santafenewmexican.com.