I can now confirm rumors that have been floating around in select political circles the last few weeks about the meeting of the New Mexico Senate Democratic Caucus. The Caucus DID vote at its meeting to reject the special session of the Legislature called by Governor Bill. Democratic insiders have confirmed the negative vote to me but say the whole thing has been kept very quiet because opponents of the Guv "fear retribution." The vote does not have the force of law but is the sense of the Caucus. Big Bill still plans to call a special session. Meanwhile, over in the House, many Democrats there were also grumbling over the special session at a meeting over the weekend, but did not take a formal vote against it, again, according to Democratic insiders.

It is the first major crack in the dam for Democratic Governor Richardson, who has one of the outstanding records for a freshman year governor in state history. But, the insiders tell me, he has pushed too hard this time and the Legislators feel they are being put on the spot; that the session is a session just for the Governor to put up a few more marks on the board to further his national political ambitions. The entire Legislature stands for re-election next year, and the last thing lawmakers want is to be forced to handle political hot potatoes like tax increases.

The problem has gotten worse since the majority of Senate Democrats voted against the special in that closed door, no outsiders permitted meeting. The Guv's tax reform commission is seen as anything but. Conservative Dems especially are put off by the tax increases proposed by the commission. The Governor will probably offer some cover for concerned Dems in the next couple of days, but no dramatic "reform" is in the offing. One proposal getting attention on the Fourth Floor (Bill's Office) is a slight reduction in the gross receipts tax on food, in exchange for a boost in cigarette and booze taxes. Not exactly the sweeping reform first envisioned.

Also, new rumors are floating around that one senate Democrat, not from the ABQ area, will take to the floor shortly after the special session convenes on October 27th and make a symbolic move against Governor Bill's session. This senator, the rumor goes, will call for immediate adjournment of the session saying there is nothing special to consider and that lawmakers can handle the tax issues at their regular session in January!

The guv is a political master, but for the first time, he is running up against what other governors have had to deal with---powerful voices in the Legislature who are not about to have the power of any chief exec go unchecked. The insiders say the disgruntled Dems will keep most of the discontent to themselves for now. But the Republicans and even some Dems may start shouting about the $80,000 a day it will cost to have the session.

Bottom Line: The Guv had a chance to cancel the special when his tax commission came off the tracks, but he decided to move forward without Legislative consensus. Now a price will be paid. For New Mexico's Legislature there is more risk than reward in a special session dealing with taxes on the eve of the election year. They will work to get attention on the more pleasing non-tax issues on the governor's call and get out of town, but Bill's own party, for the first time, has fired a shot across his bow. Stay tuned.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2003
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