The House Democrats just issued a statement saying that Rep. Phillip Archuleta, D-Las Cruces, won't be able to travel to Santa Fe for the Legislature, but he'll be able to follow the session on his laptop.
However, I don't think Archuleta, who is recovering from hip surgery, be able to vote by laptop.
As I reported today, Archuleta is one of two House Democrats who might be sidelined because of health issues. The other is Rep. Ernest Chavez, D-Albuquerque.
If both Archuleta and Chavez are absent, the political makeup in the House would be 35 Democrats, 33 Republicans. And, as I said in the paper, "That is uncomfortable for Democrats considering that Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, and Rep. Donna Irwin, D-Deming, have been known to break with their party on several issues ..."
Here's the statement from House Dems:
SANTA FE, NM – Representative Phillip Archuleta (D-36, Doña Ana) will be fully engaged in the 2014 Legislative Session and plans to address the issues important to the citizens of Doña Ana County even as he recovers from major surgery. Rep. Archuleta says he has already been involved in the introduction of legislation and requests of capital outlay on behalf of his constituents. He has a laptop computer and will monitor the session online. Rep. Archuleta will receive daily reports from the House staff and his legislative secretary. He looks forward to hearing from his constituents by email at phillip.archuleta@nmlegis.gov .
“Rep. Archuleta is determined to be a part of the process and to make sure his constituents have a voice,” says Speaker of the House, W. Ken Martinez. “We wish him a speedy recovery and will keep him and his family in our good thoughts and prayers.”
Rep. Archuleta is recovering after major hip surgery due to a fall he took while attending an interim committee meeting. While he will not be able to travel to Santa Fe, his family will be representing him on Opening Day. Rep. Archuleta looks forward to a complete recovery so he can continue working on behalf of the good people of Doña Ana County.
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