The defining features of the legislative session opening today are the status of the sitting Governor as a lame-duck and the November election results that pushed Democrats toward the center on crime and public safety. 

(Session previews here, here and here. The Governor's State of the State address early this afternoon will be shown on the major TV news channels and on the Governor's Facebook page.)

Gov. Lujan Grisham's special summer legislative session on crime fell flat, to put it kindly, but since then she and key legislative leaders have patched things up some and appear ready to pass crime related bills--and with the support of Republicans. 

However, MLG is already saying her long struggle for a pretrial detention bill that would keep more persons charged with crimes behind bars is "a heavy lift," shorthand for dead on arrival. 

This is her first session as a lame duck, and she will see the shift in power from the fourth floor to downstairs that comes with that status.

The most meaningful and new crime proposals appear to be those aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of youth and tougher action against those under 18 who commit gun violence. The spike in youth crime is new and alarming and threatens to embed itself further into the state's bloodstream.

Other crime measures--changing competency laws and that detention bill--are process measures already defeated at the special and whose impact is questionable.

MEAT AND POTATOES

The meat and potatoes of the 60 day session is the sudden interest of Democratic progressives and the Governor to finally fully address the ubiquitous behavioral health crisis after six years of blaming Republican Governor Susana Martinez for destroying the system in 2013. She did but that has been a feeble excuse for the inaction of the majority party perhaps too consumed by the "woke" movement that is now receding in the wake of Trump's win. 

The election clarified that the public is not keen on the status quo. Upgrading behavioral health is a crime-fighting measure that brings all sides together and addressees the public's impatience. That is where the payoff can be very impactful, unlike scattered get-tough-on-crime bills which do have public support but those already approved did not get at the core of the problem.

A package of bills would appropriate $200 million for infrastructure for behavioral health facilities to handle the crush of clients in need of services. A $1 billion trust fund made possible the continued state surpluses generated by the oil and gas boom--would be established to fund behavioral health--including crucial personnel. The fund would generate $50 million annually. 

The problem is finding and keeping qualified personnel for the ticklish work of treating addicts and others staring into the abyss. It is noble work but those following that path often risk their own mental health.

TAX CUTS?

With revenue and budget reserves at unheard amounts, the outright elimination of the state income tax on lower income households is an easy reach. We have not yet seen such a bold measure introduced, but House Speaker Martinez is pledging some kind of tax relief for low and middle income households, the very ones that abandoned the Democratic Party in November.

The historic surpluses have the General Fund budget proposed at nearly $11 billion, up from $6 billion only a few years ago, but the state has seen that money alone is not going to do the trick in reversing deep-seated negative trends. 

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

Much better management of the state bureaucracy is needed to effectively deploy the billions. Legislators have repeatedly seen money they appropriated to key agencies left unspent or spent without any apparent impact. New approaches are warranted as New Mexico's government is often impervious to outside influences that could reshape the culture to more effectively deal with the unprecedented and ongoing largesse.

The long-troubled Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is a prime example of stubborn institutional resistance to change including the Governor. That could change this session if bills for more outside oversight of CYFD become law. That would be a nice side dish to the meat and potatoes that are served up during the next 60 days. 

SECOND THAT MOTION

Trujillo

We've said as much on a number of occasions. Now MLG:

She said she believes Santa Fe is currently at a key juncture in its struggle to address housing, crime and drug use, while Albuquerque is "going to take years" to fix.

Agreed. 

Santa Fe's November mayoral election is the most important of our lifetimes. Laid-back leadership there is out of the question if the storied capital city is going to avoid the plight of ABQ which MLG rightfully analyzes as taking "years" to fix. 

We simply can't allow Santa Fe to become a mini-version of New Orleans with a small, thriving tourist center surrounded by crime and chaos. 

Former City Councilor Ron Trujillo has joined a growing list of candidates seeking the mayor's office. He's tough, has moxie and a furious passion for his hometown. His candidacy is a welcome addition to an essential debate.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.