Senate and House Democrats met separately over the weekend to focus on the special legislative session called by MLG for July 18 but great uncertainty and confusion remained following those meetings, report our highly reliable and senior sources.

Following the Senate caucus at the Isleta golf course clubhouse, one source declared that that there is "zero support" for the crime bills that are on the Governor's agenda for the session. They explained:

None of the bills are seen as essential and the Governor failing to get a deal before calling the session is now coming back to bite her. The caucus is at a standstill.

In the House caucus held over Zoom, our sources report that leading conservative Democrat Patricia Lundstrom was a no-show as were other conservative Dems, some of whome were beaten by progressive opponents at this month's primary election:

That raised the fear that the conservative D's could join with the House Republicans to kill the crime bills as they did at the last regular session with the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.

Republicans have been offering an alternative set of get tough on crime proposals since the Governor called the special session, labeling hers weak and largely irrelevant. 

A House coalition to derail the session is not unthinkable. The possibility of the Senate shutting down early to force an end to the session and a breakthrough deal with the Governor before the session is also still on the table. A Senior Alligator commented:

Joe, if you're confused over the outlook, so is just about every legislator. Talk about a ball being up in the air. 

Keep in mind, these are the majority Democrats expressing dismay and confusion. 

GUV ON FIRING LINE

There was talk following the caucus sessions of another possibility--that MLG and lawmakers could seek a "soft landing."

That would entail walking back the special session by announcing that progress has been made and that the bills will be dealt with in the 2025 session. 

But MLG is not one to give up her grip easily even as her critics pile on over her handling (or mishandling) of this special session. That, critics argue, is only one of her problems. A sample:

--She did the extraordinary by calling a special session without a pre-arranged deal with lawmakers. The oversight is glaring and reminiscent of her unpopular veto of $50 million in capital outlay she had to be bailed out from by Dem legislators.

--Her staffing remains weak with no one on the Fourth Floor with extensive legislative experience who can craft a deal. Combine that with a chief executive who specializes in micro-management and deal-making is like climbing Everest.

--The Governor has been unfocused, taking numerous out of state trips and involving herself in national issues but not tending to the home fires. That has given rise to renewed speculation that she is back on the job-seeking trail with the Biden administration and that is her priority.

--The narrative that the "crime crisis" is mainly an ABQ metro continues to grow among lawmakers who are looking to local governments to tackle the scourge--not the Roundhouse.  

--The bills she is backing seem like small ball in the face of a historic crime wave that demands nuanced solutions not given to quick resolution in a special session.

MLG's bills include prohibiting felons from being in possession of a firearm and a batch of mental health measures, including "an overhaul of state law concerning "assisted outpatient treatment," or court-ordered treatment for mental illness or addiction." That plan has drawn public criticism from even Democratic lawmakers. 

Two other measures are seen as nearly pointless by opponents: Requiring crime statistics reporting from state and local law enforcement agencies and prohibiting pedestrians from standing on some roadways and medians. 

The latter is seen as having serious constitutional problems and the former as a routine bill that lacks urgency.

No matter the outcome of the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the special legislative session--if it occurs--it is not expected to last longer than three days.  

THE BOTTOM LINES

Reader Peter Ives writes:

 Joe, Your Mimbres contributor (6/12) somehow equates having more than two major political parties with "democracy." Apparently, he hasn't seen past presidential ballots. Numerous third parties ranging from the extreme right (Constitution Party, etc.) to the left (Socialist Workers, etc.) and single-issue parties like the Prohibition Party decorate the ballots. But hardly anyone votes for them. Nations with effective multiple parties work best in parliamentary systems. Look north to Canada which has it at both the provincial and national levels.  

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