We blogged Monday of the most watched proposal of this legislative session--the legalization of marijuana. Today we look at perhaps the second most watched--the long-sought constitutional amendment (HJR1) that would divert money from the state's $22 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund and devote it to very early childhood education, ages zero to five. 

As expected the amendment is zooming--both literally and figuratively--through the state House. It won approval Monday from the House Education Committee on a 9 to 6 vote and full House approval is expected soon. 

The Senate has traditionally been the Waterloo for the amendment which would be sent to voters for a decision once it passed the legislature. But this year longtime amendment backer Allen Sanchez, president of nonprofit CHI St. Joseph's Children, says chances are better than ever:

Senate Finance is no longer chaired by conservative John Arthur Smith who was defeated for re-election so Sanchez's prediction seems to have merit. 

 

The amendment-friendly Senate Rules Committee is the one other committee expected to consider the proposal before a full Senate vote.

With so many conservative-leaning senators defeated last year and replaced by mostly amendment supporters, the floor vote should be solidly in favor and an election could be scheduled for as soon as November. 

Under the proposal about $170 million a year would be generated for early childhood education and administered by the new Early Childhood Department. 

 

There is no sunset clause so the funds would flow each year until a future legislature decided to end the program. 

 

Rep. Thomson

What about what some amendment backers are calling the "poison pill" that is circulating? That plan would take half the money generated by the amendment and give it to the public schools. Early childhood advocates say that could be a deal-breaker for voters and could endanger the amendment's passage. 

Senate Majority Leader Wirth has introduced a separate amendment to tap one percent of the Fund annually for the public schools but that is expected to fade.

However, there is discussion of increasing the withdrawal from the Permanent Fund to 1.25 percent and have the additional quarter percent earmarked for the public schools, but the full one percent would remain with early childhood ed.

Sanchez, who has worked on behalf of the amendment for nearly a decade, says if the amendment is approved he expects about 4,000 child education specialists to be hired to tackle the state's long struggle with poverty, child welfare and lagging education results. 

Upon passage of HJR1 out of the education committee, ABQ Dem Rep. Liz Thomson said:

That's a pretty broad brush for one piece of legislation and that's why it's among the most watched at Session '21. 

CONGRESS WATCH. 

Two more candidates have joined the race for the ABQ congressional seat as Rep. Deb Haaland awaits confirmation by the US Senate to become the next Sec. of Interior. Selinda Guerrero describes herself as an "imperfect revolutionary." Francisco Fernandez says he has had a career in the film industry and would be "the first openly gay congressional member from NM and first HIV positive member of Congress." 

There are now eight candidates.

Hopefuls last week took part in a live Facebook debate sponsored by the progressive group Indivisible Nob Hill. There will be another debate this Wednesday aponsored by Progressive Democrats of America Central NM Chapter. Register here.

Members of the Dem state central committee from the ABQ district will select a candidate for the special election to replace Haaland as will the R's and the Libertarians. Those choices are expected in March. 

In a first draft Monday, we said congressional hopeful Melanie Stansbury is an attorney. She is not. She is a scientist. 

Reader Andrew Larroque writes from Cedar Crest: 

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