Testing at Santa Fe schools Monday for a newly-required exam saw a very small number of students walk out of the testing—five at Santa Fe High School-- and a total of 60 students who chose to opt-out of the exam from a total test-eligible of eight-thousand district wide. That word from Santa Fe School District Chief of Staff Latifah Phillips. Phillips credits school leadership for the high participation, saying, quote, “Our principals worked hard to provide accurate test information to students and parents,” prior to Monday’s beginning of testing for many Santa Fe schools. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers—or PARCC—test prompted several protests in Albuquerque.
The new Majority Leader in the State House, Nate Gentry, in a letter to his Senate counterpart asks that House-passed bills be provided the “courtesy of a prompt referral and committee hearing.” Gentry’s concern with the pace of progress is heightened because the legislative session is in its final stretch. It wraps up March 21st. Republicans took control of the House for the first time in decades this year, but Democrats still have an edge in the Senate. That has made for a session where gridlock and showdowns on contentious bills have become the norm. In his letter, Gentry mentions bills that would end social promotion for third-graders who aren't proficient readers and repeal driver's licenses for those in the country illegally. For his part, Sanchez responded to the letter Monday afternoon. Sanchez wrote, quote: "As you may be unfamiliar with Senate practices, it has been a long standing tradition that Senate bills are heard before House bills in Senate committees. I don't anticipate any changes to this practice."
A proposal that would amend the New Mexico constitution by adding a section allowing for possession and use of marijuana for those at least 21 years of age is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque is the sponsor of the proposed constitutional amendment that calls for regulation of the production, processing, transportation, sale, as well as details including the taxation of cannabis to be determined by the state legislature. Ortiz y Pino says his proposal follows on the heels of states including Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and the nation’s capital—Washington, D-C—that have gone out on the intergovernmental limb of saying “no” to the federal government’s “war on drugs.” And he stresses that his proposal would let you decide the matter. *****030315-OyP-2 :28***** The Democrat says his proposal is getting a lot of support from the public who’ve contacted him, in favor of his second attempt to put the issue on the ballot. If the full Senate and House approve his effort, the proposal would be on the November 2016 ballot. Ortiz y Pino’s measure has already passed the Senate Rules Committee.
The New Mexico Senate voted 33-8 Monday to pass a bill that would allow farmers in the state to grow an industrial version of hemp. The bill, sponsored by Albuquerque Democratic Senator Cisco McSorley, would establish fees and set up state regulations for the processing of hemp for research and development. It will not be allowed for sale. Hemp has extremely low amounts of THC, the compound that gives marijuana a psychoactive effect. It was used widely prior to the early 20th century as material for ropes, clothes and oils. The bill will now head to the House.
A panel of House lawmakers has tabled a measure that would prohibit the slaughter of horses and the transportation of horse meat in New Mexico if it's intended for human consumption. The sponsor, Democratic Rep. Gail Chasey of Albuquerque, told the committee there are ways other than slaughter to address horse overpopulation.
A state district judge has sided with Governor Susana Martinez on whether her calendars are considered public information. Judge Sarah Singleton ruled last week that the calendars kept by Martinez don't meet the definition of public records in state law and don't have to be released by the governor's office. The ruling came in an ongoing lawsuit filed by The Santa Fe Reporter, a weekly newspaper that sought access to calendars that included political, personal and other entries not on the governor's list of public events. Attorneys for the Reporter say the public has a right to know how the governor spends her time during normal work hours. Martinez's attorneys argued the calendars aren't public records because they are maintained by Martinez and not a government agency.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with a 30-percent chance for snow showers and the high reaching 44. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 20-percent chance for showers and the overnight low down to 22. Tomorrow: Partly sunny and cooler with a 20-percent chance for snow showers and the high, 33.