Session reviewed

link Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Community members eat a barbecue lunch Thursday at the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly luncheon, held at the Yam Theatre.

Area lawmakers updated a packed room of community leaders on a wrapped-up legislative session before bidding farewell to one of their own Thursday at the Yam Theatre.

Though some of the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly luncheon was spent on the decision of Rep. Anna Crook, R-Clovis, to step aside after 20 years, the event was mostly a review of the hits and misses of the 30-day legislative session.

Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, said he’s served in the Senate since 1984, has been through three redistricting processes, and is currently the Senate minority floor leader and appreciates the support he’s received from Roosevelt County through it all.

“It’s been a great learning process for me,” Ingle said.

Ingle said this year’s session had more constitutional amendments introduced than in any session he remembers within the last 10 years.

One of the bills he felt was most important was the one that kept the state’s lottery scholarship funded.

He noted changes to eligibility requirements may cut the number of students who qualify, but the solution was vital to keep the scholarship intact for New Mexico’s high school students.

Ingle also mentioned how impressed lawmakers were with Eastern New Mexico University’s plans for a new multi-purpose stadium and the university and community working to support it.

“That means a lot when you’re willing to pay some of it yourself,” Ingle said.

ENMU Foundation President Steve Doerr said the group is close to raising the money and thanked Ingle and other representatives for helping secure $606,000 in capital outlay funds toward the stadium’s construction.

As Ingle wrapped up, he praised Crook before handing her the mic.

“I can’t tell you how tough this lady is when the tough needs to be tough,” Ingle said of Crook.

Crook’s introduction was met with a standing ovation.

She said this session was the first time in 20 years she got a taste of being in the majority, with two Democrats absent in her Taxation and Revenue Committee meetings. Crook said that situation led to economic development bills that might not have otherwise advanced.

She added that other bills involving the legalization of marijuana and raising the minimum wage were squashed, which was met with applause from the audience.

She said the hardest part of the session was finding a solution to save the state’s indigent care fund while trying not to raise taxes in the state. Ultimately, a compromise was made between rural hospitals and county governments so that hospitals would continue to receive funds that help them serve the indigent population.

“I felt like I was having to make a decision between my two children,” said Crook.

Rep. Bob Wooley, R-Roswell, spoke last about his excitement for the upcoming session when he feels there may be a chance Republicans can tie the Democrats in the House if Republicans were to win the open seats in the 2014 election.

Democrats control both houses, 37-33 in the House of Representatives and 27-15 in the Senate.

“If we can get the House taken over, it will be a different ball game,” Wooley said.

Notable legislation for Wooley in this session was the passing of House Bill 51, which is the Right to Farm Act, which would protect farmers and dairies from certain lawsuits, a bill that eliminates commercial tax on airliners, and $350,000 he said he wanted to secure for post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for veterans.