2. RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA TO BE DEBATED TODAY
After the Red Flag bill is debated, Committee members will hash over recreational marijuana legislation. Some Republicans are upset that this bill was scheduled for the Senate Public Affairs Committee before it was even out of the Senate Committee’s Committee.
“Democrats are just railroading legislation through,” said Sen. Craig Brandt (R)-Sandoval County. “What happened actually was a violation of the legislative process.”
The Republican Party’s official position is that it’s against this bill. The Party worries over potential crime, underage use and impaired driving. Tell your lawmakers to vote against this legislation. The sponsors are Gerald Ortiz y Pino (505) 986-4482 and Javier Martínez (505) 986-4236. Call them and tell them you oppose this bill. 3. EARLY CHILDHOOD TRUST FUND PUSHES FORWARD
The oil and gas surplus is already being tapped–a warning from Republicans from day 1. Today by a unanimous vote of 9-0, the Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill 3, the Early Childhood Trust Fund. The idea is to create a new fund of $320 million, some of which would come from surplus money. If approved, Senate Bill 3 would require a certain amount of energy-related tax collections to be diverted in years when total state cash reserves exceed 25% of spending levels. The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee. This is still worrisome because there’s still no guaranteed revenue stream here. |
