Smith and his fellow conservative leaning Dems are under intense pressure as they deal with a near Dem super majority in Egolf's House. And it's showing.

Senator John Sapien has thrown in the towel and won't seek re-election. Sen. Clemente Sanchez, facing a primary challenge, reversed his opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment for early childhood; Senator Munoz switched on gun policy and backed the Red Flag bill and Smith's Dem primary challenger, Neomi Martinez-Parra, is starting to breath fire.

No wonder Egolf is turning up the heat.

Not that the House is perfect. They're not the type of folks to wait for a sale before shopping. Restraint from the Senate is in order. But what Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico is witnessing is not a genuine, btg stakes budget battle as Thursday's adjournment looms but a Senate leader bristling and bucking as the forces of change begin to corner him.

Not so sure? Reader Karl Kiser points out:

John Arthur Smith says $150 million must be cut from HB-2 (the state budget) while he tries to take away $40 million with SB-274, a bill to delay the implementation of an increased tax rate for the wealthiest taxpayers and approved at the last session of the Legislature. Something smells here.

In a day we'll report on what else smelled and what didn't during this 30 day session.

HIGH IMPACT

One of the Senior Alligators operating under deep cover at the Roundhouse (we'll never tell) reports on the continuing melodrama of Dem Senator Clemente Sanchez:

Joe, HB 4 is the bill. Federal Impact Aid is paid to school districts with federal land, military bases and tribal lands. The state (unfairly) takes a credit equal to 75% of the Aid the districts receive. Sens. Munoz and Sanchez have long fought to return these funds to the state's poorest school districts. They came close to winning last year and are close again with HB 4 which passed the House 55-2. It's now stuck in the Senate Education Committee.

Sanchez's re-election is essential to the "conservative coalition" in power in the Senate, responsible for Sens. Papen and  Smith retaining control. Impact Aid is vital to his primary election because it is hugely important to Zuni Pueblo and other areas in his district. 

Will the senate powers that be force Senate Education Chair Soules to hear the bill or will they risk losing Sanchez and their power over this one issue? We'll know soon.

We don't know about other Roundhouse watchers, but we've just voted Clemente Sanchez "Entertainer of the Year" for the 2020 legislative session. Congrats. . . .or something, Clemente.

REPLACING SAPIEN

MLG and Kevin Lucero

Two veteran political hitters and one who may be a fave of the Guv are eyeing that senate seat held by Dem John Sapien who announced Sunday he will not seek re-election.

Former two term Dem state Rep. Ben Rodefer, 56, who lost the 2012 senate primary to Sapien, is trying again. He tells us:

I am absolutely running. I grew up in the district and represented a portion of it in the House. I have a solid Democratic voting record from my time in the House and have proven that I can raise money and win in a tough swing seat. . . I look forward to bringing honest and effective representation to Bernalillo, Corrales, Placitas and Rio Rancho. . . 

Rodefer says he has already been endorsed by liberal ABQ Dem Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino which would seem to ensure that, if elected, he would not caucus with the conservative senate coalition that includes Sapien.

Rodefer

Rodefer served two terms in the House and was defeated for re-election by Republican David Doyle in 2012.
Former state House Majority Leader Rick Miera, a longtime resident near Downtown ABQ, tells us he moved to Corrales this past summer and is considering getting into the Dem primary for Senate District 9 that covers parts of Sandoval and Bernalillo counties. He says he is considering a bid because Dems "need to keep that seat."

Miera, 68, who left the House in '15 and ran for Lt. Governor in '18, doesn't have much tenure in the district but says he was born in Algodones which is in the district. He moved to Corrales because he and his wife are now empty nesters who wanted a smaller home.

Then there's Corrales Village Councilor Ken Lucero, 47, who served in the BernCo Sheriff's department and is now a possible Dem contender. He was seen this week walking around the Roundhouse with a close political ally of MLG. He's weighing a bid and is also considered a strong contender.

A number of R's are also sure to join the race for the seat that Sapien has held for three terms.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020