Can the New Mexico Legislature meet over the Internet and avoid gathering in Santa Fe for a special or regular session? Most of the legal beagles being quoted say no, that the state Constitution mandates that they must meet in person at the capitol. Then there's this "read it any way you like" memo from the Legislative Council Service (LCS):

The coronavirus outbreak presents significant challenges to legislative action that may be necessary at a time when state and national public health directives call for limitations on mass gatherings and observance of social distancing. On one hand, the Constitution of New Mexico does not provide the framework that allows other states to conduct sessions without members physically present or outside the seat of government. On the other hand, the current public health emergency presents a situation not experienced in more than 100 years.

Okay, LSC, thanks for something, but it appears we need a definitive answer from the Supreme Court. If Internet sessions are not allowed, the Legislature could consider placing a constitutional amendment before the voters this November allowing for such meetings in the event of future emergencies. By the way, state Sen. John Arthur Smith said Tuesday "late June" is the date he discussed with the Governor for the special session that is needed because of the coronavirus/oil price crisis.

QUESTION ANSWERED

Our Wednesday question was answered. Automated Election Services in Rio Rancho, which used to be Ink Impressions has the state contract to print ballots and would be the vendor for any all mail election that was decided for the June 2 primary. The company has done all mail election for APS and CNM. Ernie Marques is the elections director for the firm. There are no lobbyists listed for the company on the SOS site. The matter of an all mail election is before the NM Suprme Court,

KEEPING DISTANCE

Reader Alton Donnell comes with reaction to that social distancing map that was used at MLG's news conference and showed many rural areas of New Mexico getting a failing grade:

Joe, A very casual look at the scoreboard appears to be biased against low population density areas. Initially, they put how far you traveled into the score. Hmm. Now they’ve added a grade for how much the distance you travel has changed. Also, hmm. If they really used just cell phone data, they should be able to exclude immediate family (in your house) and come up with a real measure. A count of how many strangers you came within 6’ of.

That map was done by a company called Unacast, headquartered in New York.

HOPE HE'S WRONG

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, said at his daily briefing Wednesday:

Cuomo warned that the current numbers show “it’s a New York problem today” but “tomorrow it’s a Kansas problem, a Texas problem, a New Mexico problem.”

New Mexico reports six deaths from the virus and a total of 363 positive cases, as of Wednesday afternoon.

KINDA DICEY?

It seems dicey that the construction industry is exempted from the Guv's stay at home order and is deemed "essential" but the city of ABQ will take advantage of it:

Mayor Keller focused Wednesday. . . on nearly $70 million in construction projects that the administration is initiating in the next six months. “Under the necessary public health guidelines, it’s important to keep the city running and build some sort of bulwark for recovery. That’s why the City and the local construction industry are teaming up to accelerate what construction projects we can to help prevent layoffs, take advantage of empty streets and buildings, and provide critical momentum toward long-term economic recovery from this serious crisis."

ANOTHER DOC

We blogged of the entry of Dr. Willie Orr into the Dem primary for the state House seat held by Marian Matthews in the ABQ NE Heights. And that brought this:

I wanted to flag for you that the candidate I'm working with, Dr. Martin Hickey, is also an MD running for the NM Legislature. He's running in NE Heights Senate District 20 for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Bill Payne.

Also on the medical beat, from DC:

Senators Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the recently-enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act will result it an estimated $250 million increase in federal Medicaid funding for New Mexico over a 12-month period to provide added relief to the state, which will face growing costs due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

NM can use it. MLG said this week she will be expanding Medicaid eligibility because of the virus crisis.

THREE WAY RACE

The NM GOP reports:

In the GOP U.S. Senate race, Gavin Clarkson will now be on the ballot after he collected an additional 1,503 signatures. He’ll join Elisa Martinez and Mark Ronchetti, who both received more than the required 20% at the pre-primary convention.

In the northern Dem congressional race, John Blair is getting an early start with this ad running on broadcast and cable. At this point the opponents of Teresa Leger Fernandez have to be hoping she makes a mistake, after she landlslided all of them at the March pre-primary convention. 

R's are running but this district is all D all the time. But you already knew that. . .

THE DINEOBELLATOR

From Smithsonian magazine:

A new carnivorous feathered dinosaur, coyote-sized with razor-sharp teeth and claws, has been discovered in New Mexico’s San Juan Basin. The small but formidable predator called Dineobellator would have stalked these open floodplains 70 million years ago.

And the modern day descendants of the Dineobellator are known today as political consultants.

That's it for now, kids. Thanks for the company.

Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan and. . .

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019