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An eight hour special session of the New Mexico Legislature put $330 million in badly needed pandemic aid on the Thanksgiving table, or more accurately underneath the Christmas tree. The money will be rolled out between now and year's end, providing a a boost for the unemployed, businesses teetering because of virus shutdowns and assistance for many New Mexicans threatened with eviction. 

The bipartisan approval of the omnibus economic package--59-11 in the House and 33-5 in the Senate--was a hopeful sign in one of the most turbulent years in state history. Combined with the expected approval of another federal stimulus package, the relief will be meaningful. 

Even our Governor--tough as nails when it comes to controlling the pandemic--added to the hopeful outlook when she rescinded a stern 14 day mandatory shut down order for businesses that have four rapid responses for virus cases among employees within two weeks. That led to the closing of a number of grocery stores and has been a real hardship in parts of rural NM, noted Las Cruces Dem Senator Joe Cervantes who announced the Guv's change of heart at the end of the session. 

Virus cases have soared lately along with the death toll and the state ordered lockdown is a misery filled ordeal. But on this Thanksgiving Eve there is a sense building that while the worst is upon us, these are also our final days of burden before the light again shines. 

There is reason to hope and to give thanks. 

The session ended amiably but not without an ugly moment. During a contentious debate over proper procedure Rio Rancho GOP State Rep. Jason Harper took to the floor, glowered at House Speaker Brian Egolf and called him a "bully" whose presiding over the chamber was "disgusting."

It seemed out of character for Harper, a Sandia Labs engineer with a love for tax policy. But then the state has turned against his brand of fiscal conservatism. His kind of tax reform is not to be and perhaps frustration provoked his outburst. Veteran GOP Rep. Craig Nibert later in the day thanked Egolf for indulging the R's with a second vote on the amendment that sparked the anger and everyone seemed to move on. 

The session was frustrating for many lawmakers. Dem Sen. George Munoz summed up why the session was called so late in the year: "Someone didn't do their homework," he declared.

He's right. At the June special session the state decided to put $750-million in federal Covid relief money in the state's general fund to plug a huge budget hole, instead of spending that money on specific virus measures. However, it turned out the forecasts were too gloomy. The state's reserves exploded to 35 percent of the budget, according to Sen. John Arthur Smith. The Special diverted over $300 million of that $750 million to virus relief.  

Even after approval of the pandemic bill Smith said reserves stand at a still historic high of 30 percent. Much of that money will need to be rolled out at the January legislative session when the economic wreckage becomes more clear. 

NMSU economist Jim Peach says this is not the time for the Legislature to fret over reserves, that the crisis is so harmful to so many that it demands fiscal stimulus. 

Sen. Joe Cervantes lamented that the special session was mostly a one way street, with the Guv basically dictating how to spend the federal money because it had to be committed by year's end. He and others will get their chance for a more robust debate if and when that second round of DC stimulus arrives. 

Rep. Dow

Back in the House GOP Rep. Rebecca Dow held sway over the debate when she tried to divert some of the virus money from the unemployed to "essential workers." But doing so would be an administrative nightmare this late in the game and her effort failed. Still, she commanded the floor with authority and her give and take with the equally skilled House Speaker Egolf was gripping. 

The House R's met on the day of the Special to name their leadership. Rep. Jim Townsend of Artesia was again named House Minority Leader and Farmington's Rod Montoya was again selected as House GOP Whip. Dow was named Caucus Chair, but she could easily handle either of the higher positions. 

Unlike some of her brethren, Dow knows how to run the political football up the middle. That's the path of recovery for the demolished GOP--if they choose to take it.

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by--and Happy Thanksgiving, New Mexico. 

This is the home of New Mexico politics.