Area lawmakers talk results of legislative session

Mar. 25—The Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce held a legislative luncheon Thursday afternoon with five guest speakers in attendance. All of them were there to discuss the last legislative session and what their experiences were in Santa Fe.

Sen. Stuart Ingle, Sen. Pat Woods, Rep. Martin Zamora, Rep. Andrea Reeb, and Rep. Greg Niebert all took the microphone to share with those at the luncheon. Rep. Jack Chatfield was on the list of speakers but was unable to attend Thursday.

Reeb took the microphone first to discuss the crime bills that were passed and those that were not. "We didn't have a lot of great crime bills that are going to really help us," she said.

However, she went on to explain the three good bills, in her opinion, that were passed. One of them was an organized retail crime theft bill that would really come into play in the larger cities, it's supposed to help with massive shoplifting schemes.

Another bill passed that Reeb believed was a good move was the crime of bestiality. Reeb said, "We are only one of two states that don't have a bill that protects animals against sexual contact with people." She said that the bill was passed quickly with no questions asked.

She also spoke of a bill that discussed the selling and distribution of firearms to a felon or someone that may commit a crime. She said this would go to the governor's desk as well.

Reeb said, "There were three very bad bills, in my opinion, that were passed in the late hours of the night." She went on to explain the juvenile sentencing parole bill, which would let "our most violent juvenile offenders out early." She used the Clovis library shooter, Nathaniel Jouett, as an example. She said that with this bill, he would have an opportunity for parole 25 years after sentencing.

Reeb was also not in favor of a bill that passed that would take away all habitual enhancements for anybody convicted of a drug offense. She said, "You could have committed a murder and then a possession of heroin, and you're not going to be able to advance or enhance that crime for more time."

Lastly, Reeb discussed a sentencing for juveniles bill that would lessen parolees and probationers' restrictions. She said, "You're going to get four chances now before they're going to look to revoke your probation."

Zamora discussed budgets and capital outlay monies in his speech and what he believes is an attack on the oil and gas industry in New Mexico. He said in addition, "We keep fighting on the abortion issues. It's just a tough fight."

Zamora expressed his gratitude to the people for their support and prayers. "It means everything to us when we're up there," he said.

Niebert, whose district includes Lincoln, Chaves, DeBaca and Guadalupe counties, discussed the difficulties they faced in the Roundhouse and what he thought was a lack of communication from the speaker. He said, "(Speaker Brian Egolf) never let us know what the next bill was going to be called on the floor. And so when it was announced, we'd all be scrambling to figure out what the bill was coming up."

Niebert also expressed his concern for the lack of doctors in the state. He said doctors are leaving, and that's "Partially because of things that we did in the state legislature, raising medical malpractice insurance limits to $6 million; doctors could not afford to even find the insurance, let alone afford to pay for the insurance if they could find it," he said.

Woods and Ingle both discussed the importance of rural communities and expressed their gratitude for the people's support.