Lawmakers express disappointment in session

The region's Republican lawmakers and Clovis Mayor Mike Morris mostly expressed disappointment Monday as they recapped the state's legislative session that wrapped up earlier this month.

Morris, speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, expressed disappointment at several measures that were passed in the session, not mentioning particulars.

"It breaks my heart about the direction of our state," he said.

Rep. Martin Zamora said he was disappointed his effort to place armed marshals in public schools and a bill he worked on with Rep. Andrea Reeb to declare marijuana "contraband" in state correctional facilities were not approved.

He also was disappointed lawmakers shot down local efforts to outlaw abortion in Clovis and Roosevelt county.

"The governor has decided city and county level decisions will not be made about abortion, only her," Zamora said. "We'll all get stronger. I can't do anything without everybody's help."

But Zamora also found some bright spots in the 60-day session.

"With the new speaker of the house (Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque) the atmosphere was a lot less abrasive," Zamora said.

He noted one of the focus points of action in the Legislature was an effort to help non-profit organizations across the state.

"We increased the awards in gaming machines for non-profits. I don't think that's a bad thing," Zamora said.

Reeb said efforts to reduce crime in the state were mostly not successful.

"We didn't accomplish anything really great criminally," Reeb said.

She was happy to see legislation was approved that's intended to address organized shoplifting in the state's major cities.

She's not happy a "second-chance" bill was passed that, if the governor signs it, will allow parole hearings after 25 years for juveniles sentenced to life in prison.

Reeb pointed to the cases of those involved in the 2005 shooting death of 10-year-old Carlos Perez and the 2017 case of the Clovis library shooting as reasons she voted against the measure.

Reeb spoke of "bad gun bills that made it through anyway" noting she stands for "Second Amendment rights."

She said her bill to restrict packaging of cannabis products so as not to look "child friendly" did not make it on its own but she did manage to get it attached to another bill that awaits the governor's signature.

Reeb said of 1,089 bills introduced only 23%, or about 250 bills, made it to the governor.

Sen. Pat Woods talked about a number of measures, including one that provides school lunches statewide for students through grade 12.

"We need to look at what we're providing for lunches is what kids want," Woods said, noting the amount of food that is thrown away in school cafeterias.

Sen. Stuart Ingle spoke of the large amount of oil and gas revenues going into state coffers in Santa Fe.

"When I started in the Legislature (in 1985) the state budget was $9 million," Ingle said. "Now it is $10 billion. A stumbling block in our future will be when the price of oil drops down."

Over 60 people attended Monday's luncheon at the Clovis Civic Center.