Font ResizeDays remaining in session: 32
•Job hopping still safe: The House Labor Committee on Tuesday voted down a bill designed to prevent political appointees from landing protected classified positions in state government during the last year of a governor's administration.
Rep. Rick Little, R-Chapparal, said his House Bill 351 was a response to multiple examples of exempt employees appointed by former Gov. Bill Richardson landing classified jobs in the waning months of Richardson's administration last year - sometimes at a higher salary than their exempt positions.
Current Gov. Susana Martinez, who was backing the bill, squabbled with the Richardson administration over this practice during the transition period between administrations.
But the bill was opposed by House Democratic Leader Ken Martinez of Grants. He argued that the bill could prohibit qualified people from getting state positions and might make it harder for a governor to recruit good exempt employees.
The bill failed on a party-line vote.
•Consolidation bills bog down: Although there's been much talk during the past two years about consolidating and reorganizing various state government departments, legislation to accomplish that hasn't fared well in this legislative session.
A staff member for the Government Restructuring Task Force had warned the Legislative Finance Committee late last year that lawmakers should expect a fight from any agency that might be under consideration
Last week the Senate Rules Committee voted to table SB 85, sponsored by Sen. Steve Neville, R-Aztec, which would have combined the state Racing Commission with the Gaming Control Board.
On Tuesday the House Health and Government Affairs Committee voted to table HB255, sponsored by Rep. Paul Bandy, R-Aztec, which would have combined the Cultural Affairs and Tourism departments. Merging the two agencies was endorsed by Gov. Susana Martinez.
There are several other consolidation bills. So far none seem to be showing any momentum.
•Land Office transparency: A bill that would require the state auditor to review land deals proposed by the state Land Office unanimously cleared the Senate Conservation Committee on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 53 was sponsored by Sen. Steve Fischmann, D-Las Cruces. It was prompted by some of the controversial land swaps and other deals made under former Land Commissioner Pat Lyons.
The bill goes next to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
•Kiddy witnesses: A House committee on Tuesday recommended a bill meant to allow some witnesses under the age of 16 to avoid having to testify in criminal and civil court proceedings.
HB196, sponsored by Rep. Bill O'Neill, D-Albquerque, would allow judges to hold hearings to determine what the effect of open-court testifying would have on the child witness.
The measure would maintain defendants' rights by allowing testimony to take place on closed-circuit television or using similar technology that would make cross-examination by defense attorneys available.
The House Consumer and Public Affairs gave the positive recommendation. It goes on to the House Judiciary Committee.
