2021 legislative session starts off with a virtual hiccup in the Senate
There was about an hour delay in the state Senate.
Updated: 6:45 PM MST Jan 19, 2021
Kalyn Norwood
SESSION IS UNDERWAY. THEY AIM TO DO THINGS VIRTUALLY. SHELLY: THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A LITTLE HICCUP. KALYN: THERE WAS AN HOUR DELAY IN THE SENATE. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DABBLE IN AROUND NOON, BUT THEY GAVELED IN CLOSER TO 1:00. -- THEY WEREGA SUPPOSED TO GAVEL AROUND NOON, BUT THEY GAVELED IN CLOSER TO 1:00. KALYN: THERE WERE SOME TECHNICAL ISSUE. >> CLOSING THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE TO THE PEOPLE IS THE SERVICE -- IS A DISSERVICE. AS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DORIAN GALLEGO SHARED THINGS WERE DIFFICULT THIS YEAR. >> IT HAD A VERY DIFFERENT SOLEMN FEELING. IT'S BITTERSWEET, BUT KNOWING THAT WE ARE HERE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S WORK IS SO IMPORTANT. PROBABLY EVEN MORE THAN WE WOULD NORMALLY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC , WE'VE GOT TO GET FOLKS BACK TO WORK. WE'VE GOT TO START MOVING THE ECONOMY. KALYN: THAT INCLUDES CASHING THE $7.3 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL. -- THAT INCLUDES PASSING THE 7.3 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET PROPOSAL. ANOTHER PRIORITY FOR DEMOCRATS IS TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA. >> IT'S HARD FOR US TO RECOVER. WE NEED TO OPEN -- WE NEED TO REOPEN NEW MEXICO. KALYN: I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS THAT THERE WILL BE NO FLOOR SESSION UNTIL NEXT MONDAY
The New Mexico legislative session is officially underway. Tuesday marked day one of a very unusual meeting for state leaders as they aim to do things virtually.It was a rocky start to the first Senate session of 2021. There was about an hour delay. The Senate session was set to gavel in at noon, but newly elected Republican State Sen. Crystal Diamond told KOAT there were some technical difficulties starting off."For those of us who are concerned that we're going to have an effective legislative session virtually, I think that these challenges are real and concerning," said Diamond.Diamond said the technical issues only confirmed her concerns with having a virtual session."I think that closing the house to the people is a disservice…for New Mexicans," said Diamond.Meanwhile, on the House floor, things went a lot smoother. But, as Democratic Rep. Doreen Gallegos shared, things are very different this year."There were partitions between everybody on the house floor," said Rep. Gallegos. "It just had a very different, solemn feeling, and it's a little bittersweet, but knowing we are still here to do the people's work is so important."There's a lot on the agenda over the next 60 days. "Probably even more than we would normally because of the pandemic," said Rep. Gallegos. "We've got to get folks bag to work. We got to start moving the economy."That includes passing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's $7.3 billion budget proposal. The funding would go towards pandemic relief, improving broadband networks, public health and early childhood programs. Another big priority for Democrats is to legalize recreational marijuana.But, Diamond said she's really looking to address economic recovery."It's hard for us to recover from an injury we're still bleeding from so first," said Diamond. "We need to reopen New Mexico."KOAT's Kalyn Norwood also confirmed with House Democrats and House Republicans there will be no floor session in the House until next Monday due to safety concerns.
SANTA FE, N.M. —
The New Mexico legislative session is officially underway. Tuesday marked day one of a very unusual meeting for state leaders as they aim to do things virtually.
It was a rocky start to the first Senate session of 2021. There was about an hour delay. The Senate session was set to gavel in at noon, but newly elected Republican State Sen. Crystal Diamond told KOAT there were some technical difficulties starting off.
"For those of us who are concerned that we're going to have an effective legislative session virtually, I think that these challenges are real and concerning," said Diamond.
Diamond said the technical issues only confirmed her concerns with having a virtual session.
"I think that closing the house to the people is a disservice…for New Mexicans," said Diamond.
Meanwhile, on the House floor, things went a lot smoother. But, as Democratic Rep. Doreen Gallegos shared, things are very different this year.
"There were partitions between everybody on the house floor," said Rep. Gallegos. "It just had a very different, solemn feeling, and it's a little bittersweet, but knowing we are still here to do the people's work is so important."
There's a lot on the agenda over the next 60 days.
"Probably even more than we would normally [have] because of the pandemic," said Rep. Gallegos. "We've got to get folks bag to work. We got to start moving the economy."
That includes passing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's $7.3 billion budget proposal. The funding would go towards pandemic relief, improving broadband networks, public health and early childhood programs. Another big priority for Democrats is to legalize recreational marijuana.
But, Diamond said she's really looking to address economic recovery.
"It's hard for us to recover from an injury we're still bleeding from so first," said Diamond. "We need to reopen New Mexico."
KOAT's Kalyn Norwood also confirmed with House Democrats and House Republicans there will be no floor session in the House until next Monday due to safety concerns.