LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP.(Local News)

Byline: THE NEW MEXICAN

Days remaining in session: 53

Putting the death penalty to a vote: New Mexico voters would decide whether to bring back the death penalty under a proposed constitutional amendment introduced in the House on Monday.

Rep. Dennis Kintigh,

R-Roswell, the sponsor of House Joint Resolution 6, said he's well aware that getting a constitutional amendment through the Legislature -- which would require a two-thirds vote in both chambers -- would be more difficult than passing a bill to change the current law -- which would only require majority votes from each chamber.

But Kintigh said he feels it's important to let voters decide on the issue. "This is a huge issue," he said in an interview. Unless the voters decide one way or another on the death penalty, the issue is liable to come back year after year in the Legislature, he said.

It was only two years ago that the Legislature voted to repeal capital punishment. Gov. Susana Martinez repeatedly has said she wants to bring it back.

The AG's agenda: Attorney General Gary King will be pushing the Legislature to pass a law allowing all counties to hold referendums on whether a tax on liquor can be raised to fund alcohol- and drug-awareness programs.

"McKinley County has successfully used its ability to raise additional revenues to address serious alcohol and drug abuse problems; that option should be expanded statewide," he said in a Monday news release. All counties in the state should have that option, King said.

King also said he's backing several ethics and campaign-finance bills, including a yet-to-be introduced measure that would prohibit state contractors from contributing to political campaigns.

He also wants legislation to impose a usury cap on small loans as well as mortgage-foreclosure reforms to protect "innocent homeowners."

Insurance sunshine: Insurance companies would be required to justify premium increases in a more transparent way and give consumers a say through public hearings, according to a bill introduced last week by Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque.

The measure (SB 208) would require companies requesting rate hikes to prove that their proposed rates are "reasonable, not excessive or inadequate, and not unfairly discrimination."

Companies would have to prove that they are based on reasonable administrative expenses and medical-cost increases. The companies would be required to provide information on past premium increases, profits, reserves, surpluses, cost-containment efforts, claims history, executive salaries and benefits, and ratios between amounts spent on direct services and administrative expenses.

Eliminate the Public Regulation Commission: Sen. Lynda Lovejoy, D-Crownpoint, a former member of the Public Regulation Commission, introduced legislation Monday to eliminate her old agency. The PRC, which regulates many high-profile industries, including electricity and title-insurance markets, has been in the news in recent years. Add to that fact that the PRC's Insurance Division also has generated a bit of controversy, especially in its handling last year of Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico's request to raise premium rates.

The legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 6, faces a couple of obstacles. The Legislature would have to pass it first. Then New Mexico's voters would have to approve it during the next general election.

"I'm not sure where it's going to go or whether it's symbolic or not," Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said of the legislation Monday. "I just think because of the controversy over the last two or three years, this is maybe a wake-up call to them. I haven't talked to the sponsor about what her intent is. But I'm sure it will get their attention, if it hasn't already."

Pump up the bandwidth redux: A few days after bumping up the bandwidth at the state Capitol, a legislative agency is thinking about increasing it again.

The bandwidth started

off this year's session at

1.5 megabits per second. Last week, the Legislative Council Service bumped up the bandwidth twice -- to 4 megabits and then to 8 megabits.

Now, the Legislative Council Service is looking at an even larger bandwidth to handle increased Internet traffic.

Think of bandwidth as a highway for digital information. A small bandwidth is like a two-lane road. The more people use it, the slower the information travels. A bigger bandwidth might widen the highway to four lanes, allowing for more information to flow faster.

Part of the strain on the bandwidth is the profusion of people who have devices able to connect to the Internet and who are going to the legislative website. Add in the fact that more people also are taking the opportunity to use the website's audio and video webcasting, and the combo is putting a strain on the website.

Looking ahead:

u The House and The Senate reconvene at 10 a.m. Later in the morning, Chief Justice Charles Daniels of the state Supreme Court will address a joint session of the House and Senate on the state of the judiciary in New Mexico.

u Tuesday is "Thank You Day for Mentors." There will be an event in the Rotunda at 9 a.m.

u Tuesday also is Human Rights Day at the Legislature. There's a news conference scheduled at 1:30 p.m. and a rally at 2 p.m.

There are several invitation-only parties, receptions and meals for legislators, including:

u Council of State Government WEST Western Legislative Academy Alumni Breakfast at the Capitol.

u Annual Reception Honoring Elected and Appointed Women at the Dragon Room of the Pink Adobe.

u Sierra County Economic Development Organization Legislative Dinner at La Fonda.

u Friends of the Legislature have 6:30 p.m. reception at La Fonda, followed by a 7 p.m. dinner, by invitation only.

The New Mexican

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