http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/andersen/ en-us 2005-03-19T14:00:08-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007248.html Day 60, Gov. Bill Richardson got most of what he wanted, and has agreed to no special session. A collective hallelujah. Thus comes to an end this little experiment. Thanks to all the readers and critics (I won't name names,... sandersen 2005-03-19T14:00:08-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007239.html her voice breaking with emotion, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish announced that H.B. 337, the pre-k bill, passed the Senate 22 to 18. The measure now goes to Gov. Bill Richardson for his signature. The vote was almost party-line; Sen. Tim... sandersen 2005-03-18T23:15:10-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007233.html Since we're looking down the barrel at a classic Senate all-nighter, here's a few considerations for surviving the long dark haul: -Feeding the beasts: Lawmakers gotta eat, just like the rest of us. But when a flurry of minor bills... sandersen 2005-03-18T17:09:59-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007219.html Gov. Bill Richardson has signed everything he needs to sign before Saturday's adjournment. By law, he now has until April 8 to act on other legislation before it is "pocket vetoed" due to his inaction. Not a lot of heft... sandersen 2005-03-18T11:39:33-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007212.html The Senate almost, but not quite, got to the pre-K debate last night. Sen. Ben Altamirano said he was ready to do something "I haven't done in 35 years" and blast the bill out of the Senate Finance Committee. Altamirano... sandersen 2005-03-18T10:50:04-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007167.html Gov. Bill Richardson today signed the $4.7 billion budget into law, with what can only be described as very mild veto action. "He didn't do much at all," said Secretary of Finance and Administration James Jimenez. The numbers: $350,000 worth... sandersen 2005-03-17T13:38:01-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007148.html Why, it's St. Paddy's Day up here. How odd to celebrate an Irish holiday in New Mexico, where the wearin' o the green typically means you spilled green chile on your tie. So I say, beware the Immediate Irishman. On... sandersen 2005-03-17T10:53:45-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007118.html More Richardson-at-Gridiron humor, via the venerable Washington correspondent Helen Thomas. Also, if you're into that sort of Richardson-media-saturation thing, he made the rounds at the Al Franken show this week, where, I'm told, he recycled his Bush-NCAA joke. Not that... sandersen 2005-03-16T16:50:59-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007104.html We're cranking into the wee hours these days. Last night the House took every second of its allotted three hours to debate tax cuts/tax hikes before ultimately passing the measure on a tight 34-32 vote. That vote came after a... sandersen 2005-03-16T10:52:31-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007026.html Why, oh why, can't this snow wait until the weekend? Nonetheless, the ship of state sails on. Last night, leaving the Roundhouse, spotted a unique coping mechanism: Secretary of Health Michelle Lujan Grisham heading outside with a garbage bag... sandersen 2005-03-15T09:48:41-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007008.html Seen on the message board of the Senate just before their evening floor session: "The Senate is in recess until 8 p.m. this evening. Per Sen. Rawson, the Republicans have gone to Texas."... sandersen 2005-03-14T20:32:32-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/007001.html I-25 North from Santa Fe? Closed. Snow and ice. I-25 South to Albuquerque? Same. Highway 285 to Espanola? Ditto. The House, in its businesslike wisdom, has shut down for the day. The Senate, however, sensing a captive audience in the... sandersen 2005-03-14T17:01:36-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/006993.html I've now heard enough from readers and friends about Sen. Joe Carraro's appearance on National Public Radio that I figure I'd better put up a link to the show. Carraro is soldiering on in his effort to change the state's... sandersen 2005-03-14T13:36:10-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/006990.html Signs of the coming end of the Legislature: -Snow: All that springtime sunshine has disappeared behind a freak spring snowstorm that is supposed to hang around all week. The weather nicely reflects the storms brewing in the Capitol. -Parliamentary wrangling:... sandersen 2005-03-14T12:07:13-07:00 http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/archives/andersen/006938.html I'm outta here for at least 24 hours, so I leave you with this quote from Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort: "The whole country's out of whack when you can go into a 7-11 and get a 32-inch gulp." What kind... sandersen 2005-03-11T19:59:54-07:00