Conference Committee Bill Still Lives

After tabling a bill that would open conference committees to the public and media on Wednesday, The House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted unanimously Thursday to give a do-pass recommendation to HB393, sponsored by Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces.

Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, told me the panel never intended to permnanently deep six the bill. He said there were questions from some members about technical issues Wednesday, which were cleared up Thursday.

Conference committee meetings are where issues such as the state budget are hammered out. They are some of the few that are not open to the public.

The bill now goes to the House floor, where, if things go as usual, it will pass.

But if things go as usual in the Senate, it will die a hideous death there.