Although early this year, the state Senate voted overwhelmingly to begin streaming live video of floor sessions over the Internet, and even though $30,000 worth of video equipment was purchased and installed in the Senate Chambers in recent months, a small panel of Senate leaders decided this week to hold up starting the webcasts for at least another year.

Paula Tackett, director of the Legislative Council Service, said Friday that the Senate Committees Committee, which is responsible for purchasing supplies, among other responsibilities, decided not to contract with a service to provide the webcasting because of the state budget crunch. "They decided it wasn't appropriate to do it this year," Tackett said. "It's difficult to start a new program during a budget crisis."

But Sen. Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, who has pushed webcasting for years, said Friday, "It's very, very frustrating. It's embarrassing to think the leaders of the Senate don't have a clue about what our constituents want. Our constituents want more access. They want to be more engaged in the process."

New Mexico is one of only six states that doesn't webcast legislative proceedings.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that as of February, 44 states provide live audio or video broadcasts of legislative proceedings over the Internet.

In recent years, the governor's State of the State address has been webcast on the opening day of the Legislature

The Senate voted 27-13 in February for Boitano's Senate Memorial 45, which instructed the Legislative Council to arrange to start streaming Senate proceedings on the Internet beginning next year.

In 2005, Boitano successfully carried a bill that appropriated $75,000 for webcasting of the Senate.

During debate on the memorial this year, some senators spoke against webcasting Senate sessions, saying this would cause lawmakers to play to the cameras with "grandstanding" speeches.

While a majority of both parties in the Senate voted for Boitano's legislation, it was far more popular with the rank-and-file than with the leaders. Among those opposing it were Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, and Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales.

Boitano on Friday said the bids that have come in indicate webcasting would cost about $30,000 to $40,000 a year. "But those are annual rates," he said. For the 60-day session, the cost probably would be closer to $10,000, he said.

The newly purchased cameras are in place in the Senate Chambers. There's a question whether the capital-outlay money left over from the equipment purchase — about $45,000 — could be used for operational cost.

Tackett said the cameras won't be wasted. They will be in place when the webcasting starts in the future, she said. And they can be used as security cameras.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.