As expected, the Senate Committee on Committees this morning voted to replace Senate Judiciary Chairman Cisco McSorley with Richard Martinez of Espanola. The vote was unanimous with virtually no discussion of the change.
Senate President Pro-tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, told reporters that the change had nothing to do with the fact that Martinez is more conservative than McSorley. "If anything, the committee got more liberal with the changes made," he said, pointing to the fact that liberal Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque will replace Sen. Bernadette Sanchez on the committee. Sanchez has been opposed to some measures favored by progressives, such as the domestic partnership bill.
Another Judiciary change: Santa Fe Democrat Peter Wirth will be vice chairman of the committee. McSorley will remain on the committee.
Jennings said the main reason for replacing McSorley was complaints about bills bottlenecking in the committee. There was a period during last year's session when Judiciary didn't meet at all, Jennings said.
Martinez thanked the committees committee for their vote. Without being specific he said he knew that there had been some concerns about his ability to run Judiciary because of "some of my actions in the past."
It's not clear whether he was referring to instances like his Senate floor tirade during a special session in October 2009 when he accused fellow legislators of abusing the per diem system. “There are some who come in right before lunch, sign the voucher, get their free lunch,” then leave," he said. "... I’ve been here nine years,” he said. “I’ve collected a list (of legislators who have abused per diems). It would be very embarrassing if I released this list to the media.”
I've asked for that list several times, with no luck.
Martinez said he has been frustrated because McSorley hadn't included him on decisions on organizing the committee.
Jennings told Martinez that everyone knew Martinez had been under stress. He didn't specify what stress he was under.
***
On the Senate floor moments ago both Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, who wasn't personally affected by the committee changes and Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, who was, protested that the Senate seniority rules were disregarded in the changes. Sanchez said she wasn't consulted about the change until after the decision had been made.
Showing posts with label cisco mcsorley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cisco mcsorley. Show all posts
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Is McSorley Getting the Boot from Senate Judiciary?
A version of this will be published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
Jan. 20, 2011
Social conservatives may find it easier moving bills through the state Senate to bring back the death penalty and restrict gay rights if an anticipated change in the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee comes to pass.
State Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Espanola said Wednesday that Senate President Pro-tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, had asked him to take over the top position on Judiciary, which for the past six years has been chaired by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque — one of the most outspoken liberals in the Legislature.
McSorley, interviewed in his office Wednesday afternoon, said, “Right now I don’t know if I’m going to remain as Judiciary Committee chairman.”
Jennings said Wednesday, “I can’t respond now.” He said the decision on committee chairmanships and committee assignments will be decided today at the scheduled meeting of the Senate Committee on Committees.
Unlike the state House of Representatives, where one person — the speaker — determines who will chair and who will sit on each committee, in the Senate the Committee on Committees decides.
Both McSorley and Martinez, who has been deputy chairman of Senate Judiciary since McSorley became chairman, spoke no ill of one another.
But the two have dramatically different voting records on issues like the death penalty and gay rights. McSorley, a lawyer by profession, has been a champion of domestic partnership legislation and other bills affecting homosexuals. Martinez has been on the opposite side on these issues.
Gov. Susana Martinez, a former Las Cruces prosecutor, has been a vocal advocate of bringing back the death penalty, which in 2009 was repealed by close votes in both chambers of the Legislature. She mentioned the issue as a priority in her State of the State address Tuesday.
While she has not stressed gay-related issues, Martinez has said she opposes a domestic partnership law and that she would sign a bill that would legally define marriage in New Mexico as the union of one man and one woman.
Though there are more Democrats than Republicans in the Senate, Jennings was elected in 2009 by a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats.
The Roundhouse rumor mill involving possible major committee changes was even busier Wednesday than the Capitol copy machines printing newly introduced bills.
There is much “palace intrigue” in the House, spurred mainly by the aborted challenge of House Speaker Ben Lujan by Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces.
Many expect Rep. Andy Nunez, D-Hatch, to lose his chairmanship of the Water and Natural Resources Committee. Nunez, a conservative Democrat, was a vocal supporter of Cervantes and an outspoken critic of Lujan’s. He voted “present” Tuesday instead of voting for Lujan or Republican Leader Tom Taylor of Farmington for speaker.
Another rumor involves Santa Fe’s Rep. Brian Egolf. According to one scenario, Egolf, a progressive Democrat who is beginning his second term, would become chairman of the House Energy Committee. Asked if it was true, Egolf replied in a text message, “Don’t know.”
Egolf denied another rumor that he was being named chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Lujan has yet to announce any committee changes.
Jan. 20, 2011
Social conservatives may find it easier moving bills through the state Senate to bring back the death penalty and restrict gay rights if an anticipated change in the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee comes to pass.
State Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Espanola said Wednesday that Senate President Pro-tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, had asked him to take over the top position on Judiciary, which for the past six years has been chaired by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque — one of the most outspoken liberals in the Legislature.McSorley, interviewed in his office Wednesday afternoon, said, “Right now I don’t know if I’m going to remain as Judiciary Committee chairman.”
Jennings said Wednesday, “I can’t respond now.” He said the decision on committee chairmanships and committee assignments will be decided today at the scheduled meeting of the Senate Committee on Committees.
Unlike the state House of Representatives, where one person — the speaker — determines who will chair and who will sit on each committee, in the Senate the Committee on Committees decides.
Both McSorley and Martinez, who has been deputy chairman of Senate Judiciary since McSorley became chairman, spoke no ill of one another.
Gov. Susana Martinez, a former Las Cruces prosecutor, has been a vocal advocate of bringing back the death penalty, which in 2009 was repealed by close votes in both chambers of the Legislature. She mentioned the issue as a priority in her State of the State address Tuesday.
While she has not stressed gay-related issues, Martinez has said she opposes a domestic partnership law and that she would sign a bill that would legally define marriage in New Mexico as the union of one man and one woman.
Though there are more Democrats than Republicans in the Senate, Jennings was elected in 2009 by a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats.
The Roundhouse rumor mill involving possible major committee changes was even busier Wednesday than the Capitol copy machines printing newly introduced bills.
There is much “palace intrigue” in the House, spurred mainly by the aborted challenge of House Speaker Ben Lujan by Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces.
Many expect Rep. Andy Nunez, D-Hatch, to lose his chairmanship of the Water and Natural Resources Committee. Nunez, a conservative Democrat, was a vocal supporter of Cervantes and an outspoken critic of Lujan’s. He voted “present” Tuesday instead of voting for Lujan or Republican Leader Tom Taylor of Farmington for speaker.
Another rumor involves Santa Fe’s Rep. Brian Egolf. According to one scenario, Egolf, a progressive Democrat who is beginning his second term, would become chairman of the House Energy Committee. Asked if it was true, Egolf replied in a text message, “Don’t know.”
Egolf denied another rumor that he was being named chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Lujan has yet to announce any committee changes.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Susana: Repealing Medical Marijuana Law Not a Priority
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
January 7, 2011
Although she still opposes the idea of allowing medical use of marijuana, Gov. Susana Martinez said Thursday that repealing the state’s medical cannabis program will not be a priority for her in the upcoming legislative session.
“I oppose medical marijuana,” Martinez said at a news conference, repeating a campaign statement that the program puts state employees in the position of violating federal drug laws.
But when asked if she’d seek legislation to repeal the law passed in 2007, Martinez said, “We have bigger issues we have to deal with, like balancing the $450 million budget deficit and reviving the economy.”
About 3,000 patients are enrolled in the New Mexico program.
Indeed, it appears that medical marijuana won’t be an issue in the upcoming 60-day session of the Legislature.
State Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, a retired police detective who has been vocal in his opposition to medical marijuana, said in a phone interview Thursday that he probably won’t be leading any charge to repeal the program.
Rehm said it’s possible that a repeal bill could clear the House, but it would be hard to get it through the Senate.
A 2007 vote in the House was close, but the Senate passed the “Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act” by a margin of 32-3.
Proponents of medical marijuana were happy with Martinez’s statement.
“I see this program staying intact over the next four years,” said Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, who sponsored several medical marijuana bills over the past decade. “I feel the program we have, with all its checks and balances, has become a model for the nation. There’s things in the program we need to change and improve. But it’s a long-term experiment.”
Under the law, patients suffering specific medical conditions have to be recommended to the program by a doctor. They can legally obtain marijuana for treatment by growing their own or buying from a licensed provider. There currently are 25 nonprofit providers, though McSorley said that number needs to double to meet demand.
McSorley said that none of the “horrible things” predicted by opponents of the law during the years it was debated in the Legislature have come to pass.
Rehm, however, noted that in the short time the program has been in place, the number of conditions that qualify a patient for the program has expanded.
Currently there are 15 qualifying conditions — among them cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, severe chronic pain and post traumatic stress disorder. Those with PTSD need a psychiatrist’s diagnosis to qualify.
Sheila Lewis, interim director of the state’s Drug Policy Alliance — a group that lobbied for years to pass the medical marijuana bill — also said she was glad that Martinez said she won’t focus on repealing the medical marijuana law. Referring to various polls that show support for medical marijuana, Lewis said the governor is following the will of the people.
Some proponents have expressed the fear that even if the Legislature doesn’t rescind the law, Martinez could administratively weaken the program — cutting its budget or establishing administrative regulations that would make it difficult for patients or providers to participate.
Lewis said recently passed regulations that raised fees on marijuana producers will help keep the program self-sufficient. The new fees, adopted by the Health Department last month, are $5,000 for producers licensed less than one year, $10,000 for more than one year, $20,000 for more than two years and $30,000 for more than three years.
Many producers complained that the fees were too high and would make it more expensive for the patients. Lewis said the fact the Health Department raised the number of plants the providers can have to 150 from 95 would help ease the increased financial burden on the providers.
A Health Department spokeswoman, said last month the program needs to take in about $700,000 a year to be self-sufficient.
In addition to the nonprofit marijuana providers, there are about 1,400 patients who are licensed to produce their own supply of marijuana for their treatment. These patients are allowed to have four mature plants and 12 seedlings.
January 7, 2011
Although she still opposes the idea of allowing medical use of marijuana, Gov. Susana Martinez said Thursday that repealing the state’s medical cannabis program will not be a priority for her in the upcoming legislative session.
“I oppose medical marijuana,” Martinez said at a news conference, repeating a campaign statement that the program puts state employees in the position of violating federal drug laws.But when asked if she’d seek legislation to repeal the law passed in 2007, Martinez said, “We have bigger issues we have to deal with, like balancing the $450 million budget deficit and reviving the economy.”
About 3,000 patients are enrolled in the New Mexico program.
Indeed, it appears that medical marijuana won’t be an issue in the upcoming 60-day session of the Legislature.
State Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, a retired police detective who has been vocal in his opposition to medical marijuana, said in a phone interview Thursday that he probably won’t be leading any charge to repeal the program.
Rehm said it’s possible that a repeal bill could clear the House, but it would be hard to get it through the Senate.
A 2007 vote in the House was close, but the Senate passed the “Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act” by a margin of 32-3.
Proponents of medical marijuana were happy with Martinez’s statement.
“I see this program staying intact over the next four years,” said Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, who sponsored several medical marijuana bills over the past decade. “I feel the program we have, with all its checks and balances, has become a model for the nation. There’s things in the program we need to change and improve. But it’s a long-term experiment.”
Under the law, patients suffering specific medical conditions have to be recommended to the program by a doctor. They can legally obtain marijuana for treatment by growing their own or buying from a licensed provider. There currently are 25 nonprofit providers, though McSorley said that number needs to double to meet demand.
McSorley said that none of the “horrible things” predicted by opponents of the law during the years it was debated in the Legislature have come to pass.
Rehm, however, noted that in the short time the program has been in place, the number of conditions that qualify a patient for the program has expanded.
Currently there are 15 qualifying conditions — among them cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, severe chronic pain and post traumatic stress disorder. Those with PTSD need a psychiatrist’s diagnosis to qualify.
Sheila Lewis, interim director of the state’s Drug Policy Alliance — a group that lobbied for years to pass the medical marijuana bill — also said she was glad that Martinez said she won’t focus on repealing the medical marijuana law. Referring to various polls that show support for medical marijuana, Lewis said the governor is following the will of the people.
Some proponents have expressed the fear that even if the Legislature doesn’t rescind the law, Martinez could administratively weaken the program — cutting its budget or establishing administrative regulations that would make it difficult for patients or providers to participate.
Lewis said recently passed regulations that raised fees on marijuana producers will help keep the program self-sufficient. The new fees, adopted by the Health Department last month, are $5,000 for producers licensed less than one year, $10,000 for more than one year, $20,000 for more than two years and $30,000 for more than three years.
Many producers complained that the fees were too high and would make it more expensive for the patients. Lewis said the fact the Health Department raised the number of plants the providers can have to 150 from 95 would help ease the increased financial burden on the providers.
A Health Department spokeswoman, said last month the program needs to take in about $700,000 a year to be self-sufficient.
In addition to the nonprofit marijuana providers, there are about 1,400 patients who are licensed to produce their own supply of marijuana for their treatment. These patients are allowed to have four mature plants and 12 seedlings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
