REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME BACK TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUEST TODAY IS SENATOR LINDA LOPEZ, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>LINDA: SO VERY MUCH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR SHOW.

>>LORENE: WELL YOU ARE DOING SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BILLS.

BUT FIRST, A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU WERE ELECTED IN 1997 AND YOU SERVED FOR 26 YEARS, YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT FROM DISTRICT 11, WHERE IS THAT ROUGHLY?

>>LINDA: IT IS THE SOUTHWEST QUADRANT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY.

>>LORENE: OH GOOD AND YOU WERE THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED FROM THE SOUTH VALLEY TO SERVE IN A LEGISLATURE.

>>LINDA: YES MA'AM.

>>LORENE: CONGRATULATIONS.

>>LINDA: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: YOU WENT TO THE COLLEGE OF SANTA FE, YOU GOT BACHELOR AND MASTER DEGREES IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS REALLY FUNDAMENTAL, IT'S HOW YOU HAVE TO OPERATE UP HERE.

AND I'M WONDERING SO LONG AGO YOU HAVE BEEN SERVING FOR ALL THESE YEARS, WHAT MADE YOU FIRST DECIDE TO RUN?

>>LINDA: WHEN I PURCHASED MY HOME IN WESTGATE WHICH IS THERE IN THE SOUTHWEST ALBUQUERQUE, I BEGAN TO REALIZE AND START TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHO IS MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR ME.

AND THAT IS WHEN I REALIZED THE PERSON WHO IS REPRESENTING US IN SANTA FE, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE LEGISLATION HE HAD INTRODUCED AND SUCH, JUST DIDN'T REFLECT ME AND ACTUALLY SEVERAL OTHERS THAT I KNEW IN THE COMMUNITY, SO I THOUGHT LET'S CHALLENGE.

>>LORENE: AND EVEN IN HIGH SCHOOL WERE YOU INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICERS OF YOUR CLASS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>>LINDA: OH YES.

>>LORENE: DID YOU HAVE THE POLITICAL BUG EARLY?

>>LINDA: THAT'S WHERE I THINK THAT I GOT IT.

YES, IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, BACK IN THE DAY WE CALLED IT JUNIOR HIGH.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: BUT IN JUNIOR HIGH I WAS IN CLUBS, SO YOU RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL STILL PART OF YOUR CLASS, RIGHT, FRESHMAN CLASS, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, SENIOR, PART OF STUDENT COUNCIL AND ALSO I HAVE A FEW OTHER CLUBS I WAS ENGAGED.

RUNNING FOR OFFICE FOR PRESIDENT, STATEWIDE OFFICE FOR SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS TOO.

SO, YES, I HAD THE BUG EARLY.

>>LORENE: OH GOOD, GOOD.

WELL YOU HAVE DEVELOPED IT TO A VERY HIGH LEVEL, THANK YOU.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR HOME AND WHO REPRESENTED YOU BUT THERE WAS A RECENT EPISODE THAT YOU ENDURED ON JANUARY 3, YOUR HOME WAS SHOT AT.

SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND MUCH TIME ON THIS BUT I AM SO CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HEAR VIOLENT, POLITICAL RHETORIC AND TAKE IT AS A CALL TO ACTION THAT THEY SHOULD GO OUT AND SHOOT UP LAWMAKERS' HOUSES.

AND SO, CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN BE SURE THAT THE VIOLENT RHETORIC IS CONTAINED AND DOESN'T TURN INTO VIOLENT ACTION.

>>LINDA: YOU KNOW, LORENE, OVER THE YEARS DIFFERENT LEGISLATION THAT I HAVE INTRODUCED, I HAVE RECEIVED SOME PRETTY CRAPPY EMAILS, PHONE MESSAGES AND IT IS KIND OF PAR FOR THE COURSE I THINK JUST BECAUSE SOME OF THE LEGISLATION IS CONTROVERSIAL.

BUT WHERE IT CAME TO THIS POINT, WHAT HAPPENED AT OUR HOME ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 3, ELEVATED IT TO JUST A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL.

AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK, I MEAN OUR HOME WAS SHOT UP AS IT WAS LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, RIGHT, OUR OTHER TWO COMMUNITY COMMISSIONERS IN BERNALILLO COUNTY AS WELL AS THE SPEAKER'S HOUSE.

THESE BULLETS WHEN THROUGH MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM, THREE OF THEM WENT THROUGH MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM AND THEN INTO MINE, FROM THREE, TWO MADE IT INTO MINE.

IT CHANGED A PERSPECTIVE IN SO MANY WAYS.

ONE, WHAT IS THE SAFETY OF OUR HOME?

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: RIGHT, OUR HOME IS OUR CASTLE, OUR HOME IS A PLACE WHERE WE GO TO NOURISH OURSELVES AND BE SAFE, RIGHT?

ALL OF THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE PUT ON NOTICE.

SO WE ARE STILL WORKING ON IT, STILL PROCESSING, BUT AS TIME IS GOING, WE LOOK AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

THAT PERSON WHO SHOT AT MY HOME, MR. PENA, HAS ALSO THREATENED OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, HE HAS THREATENED THE COUNTY CLERK OF SANDOVAL COUNTY, HE HAS THREATENED THE CLERK, A COUNTY CLERK OF DONA ANA COUNTY AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE HE HAS BEEN DOING.

HE IS PART OF THE DENIERS, THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

HE WAS PRESENT, A PICTURE ON HIS TWITTER FEED SHOWED THAT HE WAS PRESENT AT THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION.

HE IS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OVERTHROW OF OUR DEMOCRACY, THAT IS LIKE, NO.

>>LORENE: SO HE CLAIMED TO BE THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THESE SHOOTINGS.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: AND HE'S ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH AND PAYING FOUR MEN TO SHOOT AT YOU AND TWO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE SPEAKER.

HE TEXTED THEM, THERE IS SUCH A PAPER TRAIL, HE TEXTED THE BAD GUYS THE ADDRESSES OF WHERE TO GO AND SHOOT.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: BUT I AM WONDERING, HIS NAME IS SOLOMON PENA AND HE WAS ACTUALLY A CANDIDATE FOR THE HOUSE.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE.

>>LINDA: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIMAS HE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BY THE WAY, THE SHOOTER, JOSE TRUJILLO, WHO SHOT YOUR HOUSE, IT'S SUCH DIVINE JUSTICE, HE WAS ACTUALLY STOPPED BY THE COPS FOR EXPIRED TAGS AND THEY FOUND IN HIS CAR, TWO GUNS, THREE GRAND IN CASH, 800 FENTANYLS, AND THE CAR WAS REGISTERED TO SOLOMON PENA AND HE CALLED FOR PENA TO BAIL HIM OUT WHEN HE WAS IN JAIL.

SO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE, THEY HAVE CLEARLY CROSSED THE LINE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, MAYOR KELLERMAN DESCRIBING THIS SUBJECT, "THIS KIND OF RADICALISM HAS MADE ITS WAY TO OUR DOORSTEP, WE HAVE TO PUSH BACK AND NOT LET IT IN."

SO, HOW WILL THESE PEOPLE BE PUNISHED AND HOW CAN WE PUSH BACK?

>>LINDA: WELL, THEY ARE IN THE SYSTEM AND MR. PENA, OF COURSE, WAS NOT RELEASED ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE, BUT THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION.

>>LORENE: THERE IS A BILL THAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

>>LINDA: WE WILL TALK ABOUT.

BUT AT LEAST HE WAS KEPT IN SO THAT IS A GOOD THING.

MR. TRUJILLO, OF COURSE, ALSO HE IS IN FEDERAL CUSTODY, A WHOLE DIFFERENT VENUE TO WORK WITH, SO HE IS IN.

THE OTHER PERSONS ARE I THINK STILL BEING MONITORED BUT THEY ARE NOT IN JAIL AT THIS POINT, SO I AM STILL A LITTLE ON EDGE.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: THESE ARE STILL SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE PARTICIPATING FOR MONEY TO GO AND SHOOT UP ELECTED OFFICIALS' HOMES.

STILL, I AM A LITTLE ON EDGE, JUST TO BE QUITE HONEST ON THAT.

>>LORENE: OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

SO I AM SURE YOU NOW, I HOPING YOU HAVE CAMERAS AND SECURITY SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING.

BUT WHEN I HEARD THAT, I WOULD PUT UP A HUGE ADOBE WALL, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT WILL STOP BULLETS, BUT IT WON'T STOP CRAZY AND CRAZY IS GOING TO FIND A WAY.

>>LINDA: AND PART OF THIS TOO, I THINK AND I HAVE MENTIONED IT BEFORE TOO, IS THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE A WAY, HOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT IS NOT HAPPENING BECAUSE IT IS SO POLARIZED, RIGHT?

DONALD TRUMP IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION, TO BE NOMINATED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT SO THAT MOVEMENT IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE.

BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED MOVEMENTS START LOCAL, SO AT SOME POINT I AM HOPING THAT MYSELF AND A FEW OTHERS WHO THINK LIKE ME MAYBE CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH MEMBERS OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE JUST OVER COFFEE.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

>>LINDA: LET'S BEGIN THIS CONVERSATIONS SO THAT WE'RE NOT SO POLARIZED AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW THERE ARE HIGH EXTREMISTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, SO ONE SIDE IS NOT MORE THAN THE OTHER, EXCEPT WHEN YOU GOT TO THIS PART WHERE SOMEBODY TAKES IT UPON THEMSELVES AS MR. PENA AND OTHERS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, LOOK AT GOVERNOR WHITMER, THE ATTACK ON TRYING TO DO THAT.

THERE WAS A CITY COUNSELOR WHO WAS KILLED JUST RECENTLY.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>LINDA: IT HAS BECOME TOO ACCEPTABLE AND ONCE YOU SEE THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENING, IT BECOMES KIND OF THE NORM.

HOW DO WE CHANGE THAT?

IT STARTS SMALL, THAT'S WHAT I AM HOPING.

>>LORENE: NOT ONLY HAS THE VIOLENCE BECOME ACCEPTABLE AND KIND OF THE NORM AS YOU SAY, BUT ALSO THE LYING.

YOU KNOW IT IS QUITE ALRIGHT FOR SOMEONE TO RUN FOR OFFICE, COMPLETELY FABRICATE, I THINK OF SANTOS.

HE COMPLETELY FABRICATED HIS BIOGRAPHY AND EVERYTHING.

AND YOU KNOW THEY WANT THE VOTE AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO LET HIM STAY, A LIAR, I MEAN THAT'S LIKE MY BOTTOM LINE, THOU SHALT NOT LIE.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS, YOU HAVE WONDERFUL BILLS AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THEM, BUT SEGUE INTO IT, BILL SB123, WHICH IS REBUTTAL PRESUMPTION AGAINST RELEASE THAT CRIMINALS SHOULD BE KEPT IN JAIL IF THEY CAN PROVE HE WILL BE A THREAT TO OTHERS.

OKAY, SO WAS THIS BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH PENA OR WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME?

>>LINDA: WELL, I ACTUALLY INTRODUCED IT LAST YEAR.

IT WAS TABLED IN SENATE HEALTH AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER HEARING THIS WEEK.

IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S BILL AND OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR DID MENTION IT AND SHE SUPPORTS THIS.

WITH MY RECENT EXPERIENCE, AND IF THE PUBLIC WOULD GO AND LOOK, THE RECOMMENDATION ON THE ARNOLD'S TOOL, WHICH IS WHAT IS PART OF THE SELECTION THAT JUDGES HAVE.

IT ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED FOR HIM TO BE RELEASED ON RECOGNIZANCE WHICH IS CALLED ROR, IT WAS LIKE OH MIGHT GOD.

BUT I AM GRATEFUL THE JUDGE ERRED ON THE OTHER SIDE TO KEEP THEM IN JAIL UNTIL HE GOES TO TRIAL.

BUT THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, THE PERPETRATOR HAS COMMITTED A FELONY AND YET THEY'VE BEEN RELEASED WITH AN ANKLE BRACELET AND YET THEY GO BACK AND COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME WITHIN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS AND THIS TIME EVEN OF A WORST KIND.

SO HOW ARE WE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC?

SO THAT IS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION WILL BE ON REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION.

THERE IS DISCUSSION ABOUT, WELL IT IS AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, IT IS AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PUSH, SOMETIMES CHANGES HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: SOMETIMES LEGISLATION HAS TO PASS AND IT IS ME OVER ALL THESE YEARS I HAVE SEEN IT.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, SO IT IS PUBLIC.

>>LORENE: BUT ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT BILL, WE HAVE TO HAVE CLEAR EYES ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: THE NORMS HAVE CHANGED COMPLETELY AND IT IS OKAY TO MAKE THESE THREATS AND TO ACT ON THEM.

AND THAT IS WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE FIRMER, STRONGER PENALTIES AND GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ALL THE NORMAL CITIZENS JUST GOING TO WORK.

I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR OTHER BILLS.

ONE THAT DIDN'T PASS BUT IS SO TIMELY, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD RENT CONTROL BILL SB99.

I LISTENED TO A FOUR-HOUR DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE, IT DIDN'T PASS.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: BUT, IT WAS SO REASONABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT IS NOT HAPPENING NOW, IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT, ANOTHER CARD TO HAVE IN OUR DECK.

BUT WHAT WOULD RENT CONTROL, PARTICULARLY IN ALBUQUERQUE, WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THAT AND WHY SHOULD WE KEEP IT IN MIND?

>>LINDA: WELL SENATE BILL 99, THE RENT CONTROL, IT WAS JUST A VERY SIMPLE BILL.

IT IS TO REMOVE THE PROHIBITION FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

VERY SIMPLE, BUT THEN WE HAD DEVELOPERS COME UP AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD DESTROY, ALL THE OTHER ADJECTIVES THEY ADDEDD TO IT BUT, THE COST TO LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, TO RENT A HOME, THE COSTS HAVE INCREASED PHENOMENALLY.

THERE IS SOME DATA THAT SHOWS 46 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN RENT.

I HAVE RECEIVED PHONE CALLS IN MY OWN COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FROM SINGLE WOMEN, SINGLE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS, FROM OLDER WOMEN AND OUR VETERANS WHO EVEN IF YOUR RENT IS RAISED $120 A YEAR BASED ON YOUR INCOME, THE COST OF INFLATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, HEALTHCARE COVERAGE, IT IS HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND THEY HAVE TO DO THIS TO BALANCE, RIGHT, WHAT DO I CHOOSE?

>>LORENE: WHAT DO I CUT?

>>LINDA: WHAT DO I CUT?

>>LORENE: FOOD FOR THE KIDS.

>>LINDA: YES, EVEN AS A SINGLE PERSON.

FOR AN OLDER PERSON, WHAT DO YOU CUT?

>>LORENE: MEDICINE.

>>LINDA: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

>>LINDA: SO IT IS A REAL ISSUE.

AND DURING COMMITTEE, I MAKE THAT HEAVY SIGH BECAUSE IT IS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION CENTERED AROUND SHORT TERM, THIS IS JUST A SHORT TERM FIX, WELL THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.

>>LORENE: YEAH, RIGHT, THOSE PEOPLE IN A HOUSE.

>>LINDA: LONG TERM, I AGREE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS HAVE BILLS THAT WILL INCREASE HOUSING AVAILABILITY BUT SHORT TERM, SHORT TERM.

>>LORENE: WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH SENATOR LINDA LOPEZ ABOUT SOME OF THOSE BILLS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, I WOULD LIKE THIS TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THEM PRETTY QUICKLY.

YOU SUGGESTED WITH SB285 THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, YOU CO-SPONSORED IT WITH SOME HOUSE MEMBERS.

YOU DO SO MUCH WORK WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND WITH JUVENILES.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK, BUT WHAT WOULD THIS SPECIAL OFFICE DO?

>>LINDA: THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION HAS GROWN OUT OF BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED WHICH I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO SPONSOR.

FOCUSING ON WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE DOING FOR OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR CHILDREN WHO HAVE AN IEP, INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN, AND YOU KNOW MY SON IS ON THE SPECTRUM, SO I HAVE LEARNED FIRST-HAND, EVEN THOUGH I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE PUSH IS AND WHERE OTHER FAMILIES COULD BE PUSHED INTO SIGNING PAPERWORK, NOT GETTING AN ACTUAL DETERMINATION HEARING, I MEAN THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN THERE THAT WE NEED SOME SERIOUS ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION I THINK ALSO COMPLIMENTS, THE MARTINEZ V THE STATE LAWSUIT, WHICH WAS FOCUSED ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND FAMILIES, AT-RISK STUDENTS AND WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR ADEQUACY IN EDUCATION FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS FINALLY A MOVEMENT.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, SO WE ARE MOVING IT.

>>LORENE: SO IT WILL PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN NEED OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, BUT WHAT IS EVEN HUGER IN SCOPE AND WE CAN'T SPEND TOO LONG ON THESE, BUT MY GOODNESS, THE DIVERSITY ACT.

THIS IS HUGE AND YOUR CO-SPONSORS ARE SENATORS POPE AND SHANNON PINTO.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: AND GOSH, WHEN I READ WHAT IT IS DOING, IT IS LONG OVERDUE.

BUT IT IS BIG, TELL US WHAT DOES THE DIVERSITY ACT DO?

>>LINDA: WELL THE GENESIS FIRST WAS AN ANTI-INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM BILL THAT HAS COME FROM COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHERS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT AS TIME PROGRESSES, THIS WILL BE THE FIFTEENTH YEAR THAT WE TRY TO GET SOMETHING PASSED AND UP TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HER SIGNATURE.

SO WE HAVE CHANGED IT INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING TO TRAIN ACROSS THE STATE, THIS TIME WE HAVE AN ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAINING WHICH WILL BE THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE STATE PERSONNEL OFFICE.

>>LORENE: AND THEY WILL INTERACT WITH EVERY AGENCY.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: OKAY.

>>LINDA: SO WE GOT IT THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS LAST YEAR AND IT DIED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR BECAUSE OF THE GOP DEBATE.

>>LORENE: I REMEMBER, YEAH.

>>LINDA: YEAH, SO WE WILL TRY IT AGAIN.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ON SO MANY LEVELS.

WHAT I HAVE HEARD FOR SO LONG IS THAT THE WAITING LISTS FOR THESE SERVICES IS FOR CHILDREN THAT SHOULD BE TREATED WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG, THE WAITING LIST USED TO BE SO LONG THAT THEY WERE PAST THAT PIVOTAL POINT WHERE YOU COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: SO YOU HAVE SO MANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY BILLS, DO WE HAVE MONEY NOW, IS THAT WHAT IS GOING TO SHORTEN THE LISTS, WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING TO CHANGE?

>>LINDA: WELL, WE HAVE MONEY AND WHAT HAPPENED A FEW YEARS AGO HAS BEGUN TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

SO IF SOMEBODY NEEDS SERVICES, WE NOW ARE ABLE TO HELP THAT FAMILY, THAT CHILD, THAT PERSON, SO IF THEY WILL JUST SIGN UP TO BE ON DD WAIVER AND WAIT FOREVER, WHICH IS WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT AT LEAST NOW THERE IS MORE DIRECTED SERVICES THAT THEY CAN GET SO IT HAS KIND OF SHORTENED THE TIME FOR THEM TO WAIT.

BUT THE BIG ISSUE IS FINDING PROVIDERS, SO THAT IS THE NEXT ASPECT.

PROVIDERS NEED REIMBURSEMENT RATES TO BE INCREASED, WE DO THIS ALL THROUGH THE GOODNESS OF OUR HEARTS, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE AND BE COMPENSATED FOR THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT THEY PROVIDE, SERVICES.

SO THAT IS ALL PART OF THE MIX.

>>LORENE: YES.

ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE THAT YOU WORKED SO HARD AT IS THE ISSUE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND ABORTION.

SO IT IS SUCH A HOT BUTTON ISSUE, IT IS SO POLARIZING BUT IT IS WOMEN'S HEALTH.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: AND SO WHERE DOES THAT STAND NOW?

>>LINDA: WELL WE HAVE A MEASURE IN THE HOUSE SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE SERRATO AND IT STARTED TO MOVE THROUGH THERE AND THAT IS BASICALLY DEALING WITH DISCRIMINATION AND ALSO GENDER AFFIRMING CARE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY BLOCKAGE AND SOMEONE CAN'T COME AND SAY NO.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: THE OTHER BILL THAT WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE THIS WEEK IS ESSENTIALLY FOLLOWING WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S FIRST EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR THAT WE WOULD BE PROTECTING PROVIDERS, WE WON'T BE PROVIDING ANY RELEASE OF DATA FROM THOSE WHO MAY COME TO OUR STATE TO ACCESS ABORTION CARE, SO THAT WE DON'T SHARE THEIR DATA.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH BECAUSE OF COURSE THAT IS ACROSS STATE LINES AND INFORMATION AND SUCH, BUT WE WILL GET IT THROUGH.

>>LORENE: AND DIDN'T THE GOVERNOR IN HER STATE OF THE STATE TALK ABOUT A HEALTH CENTER IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE THAT COULD SERVICE PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES IN COMMON HEALTH.

>>LINDA: YES, THE GOVERNOR HAD MENTIONED, AND IT IS IN THE WORKS, IT IS ALREADY WITHIN BUDGET PROCESS, $10 MILLION DOLLARS, TO HELP FUND, DEVELOP, BUILD, WHATEVER THE PROCESS THAT IS NEEDED FOR A FACILITY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO WHICH IS NEEDED BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY PERSONS WHO NEED ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE, THEY ARE COMING FROM TEXAS BECAUSE OF TEXAS UGLY LAW.

AND ALSO FROM ARIZONA ALTHOUGH I AM HOPEFUL WITH THE NEW DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA THAT THINGS WILL MAYBE HOPEFULLY CHANGE THERE, TOO.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE BEEN A CO-SPONSOR FOR NUMEROUS BILLS IN THE HOUSE ABOUT GUN CONTROL.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: AND BECAUSE OF THE VERY POWERFUL GUN LOBBY, BUT I NOTICE THAT THE BILLS IN THE HOUSE THAT YOU CO-SPONSORED, THEY ARE KIND OF BUILDING A FENCE HERE, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T HAVE LARGE CAPACITY GUN MAGAZINES AND YOU CAN'T HAVE A LITTLE CONVERTER THAT MAKES REGULAR WEAPONS AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: SO IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET A HANDLE ON GUN CONTROL AND GUN VIOLENCE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE OUR NEXT STEPS AS?

>>LINDA: WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS VERY SUPPORTIVE AND SHE DOES WANT A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS.

SO I DID CO-SPONSOR, I AM CO-SPONSORING WITH REPRESENTATIVE CABALLERO, HOUSE BILL 70 AND HOUSE BILL 72.

BUT REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA ROMERO ALSO HAS ANOTHER MEASURE, SO I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE COMBINING, A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE WHICH IS A PROCESS THAT WE DO UP HERE.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>LINDA: SO I THINK IT WILL BE HOUSE BILL 101.

I WILL BE SIGNING ON TO THAT BILL ONCE THE AMENDMENT IS DROPPED AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THEN IT COMES TO THE SENATE AND WE WILL HAVE OUR DISCUSSION HERE ON THE SENATE SIDE, TOO.

AND IF I MAY MENTION ALSO TOO, MR. PENA WAS PRESENT AT THE SHOOTING AT MY HOME AND ONE OF THE GUNS HE HAD HAD BEEN MADE INTO AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON AND I SAW THE PICTURE, SO I KNOW HIS INTENT WAS VERY DRASTIC.

>>LORENE: BUT IT MALFUNCTIONED.

>>LINDA: THANK GOODNESS THAT IT MALFUNCTIONED.

>>LORENE: I KNOW.

>>LINDA: I BELIEVE IN GUARDIAN ANGELS, I BELIEVE OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS WERE TRULY WATCHING.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: BUT I HAD AGREED TO SIGN ONTO THIS BILL WITH REPRESENTATIVE CABALLERO BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

>>LORENE: BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, YEAH.

>>LINDA: AND HERE IT IS.

THERE IS A WHOLE BELIEF THAT I HAVE IN OTHERS ABOUT WHO SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO BUMP STOCKS.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>LINDA: ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ASSAULT WEAPONS.

WE NEED TO START AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A START.

>>LORENE: YES AND THERE IS A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO REDUCE, TO TAKE AWAY THE AGE LIMIT.

MOST OF THESE VIOLENT GUN CRIMES ARE DONE BY YOUNG MEN BETWEEN 18 AND 21 AND NOW THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE 18-YEAR-OLD LIMIT, YOU CAN'T BUY A GUN BEFORE YOU ARE 18.

I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY UNWISE.

>>LINDA : IT IS, I AGREE.

>>LORENE: AND SO WE WILL SEE WHAT.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS A STATE, I WANT OUR AUDIENCE TO REMEMBER THAT THE PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO ARE LISTENING ABOUT THESE BILLS AND IDEAS, THIS CAPITOL IS OPEN TO THEM AND THEY CAN COME HERE, THEY CAN LOOK ONLINE, GO TO NMLEGIS.GOV AND TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC, WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AND ALL THESE BILLS WILL COME UP.

YOU CAN WRITE YOUR LAWMAKERS, CALL YOUR LAWMAKERS, YOU CAN COME AND TESTIFY IN COMMITTEE.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: YOU CAN SIT IN THE GALLERY WHEN THE THIRD READINGS COME AND THE REALLY DEEP DISCUSSIONS, PROS AND CONS OF THESE BILLS.

NEW MEXICO IS A STATE WHERE THE CAPITAL IS OPEN TO ITS CITIZENS AND WELCOME.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: SO I WOULD LIKE OUR VIEWERS TO... >>LINDA: AND WE ALSO HAVE ZOOM AVAILABLE FOR COMMITTEE.

>>LORENE: THAT'S TRUE.

>>LINDA: IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE UP TO SANTA FE, YOU CAN GO ON NMLEGIS.GOV AND REGISTER FOR A COMMITTEE MEETING ON A CERTAIN BILL YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN.

>>LORENE: YEAH AND THEN YOU CAN SPEAK FROM YOUR COMPUTER AT HOME.

>>LINDA: AND YOU CAN SPEAK FROM HOME.

YES.

>>LORENE: AND HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

IT IS WONDERFUL.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SESSION AND WHAT IS YOUR CALL TO ACTION?

>>LINDA: WELL, THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE ARE ALMOST AT THE HALFWAY POINT, FEBRUARY 18 AT NOON IS THE HALF, SO THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN 30 DAYS, THIS TIME HAS GONE BY SO QUICKLY.

BUT FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, USUALLY AFTER THAT HALF-WAY POINT YOU WILL SEE LEGISLATION REALLY MOVE FAST.

THE BUDGET IS BEING WORKED ON SO WE WILL SEE WHERE AND HOW THAT IS HAPPENING, THE GOVERNOR HAD ASKED FOR A REBATE FOR TAXPAYERS, SO THAT IS ALREADY MOVING ITS WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THAT BILL DONE FIRST, SO THEY CAN BEGIN THE DISTRIBUTION AT THE END.

SO THAT IS COMING.

>>LORENE: I THINK THAT IS WONDERFUL WHEN WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE CITIZENS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS COSTING MORE NOW.

>>LINDA: OH YES.

>>LORENE: HEATING YOUR HOME IS COSTING MORE NOW.

>>LINDA: OH THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

>>LORENE: FOOD, EGGS, EVERYTHING IS COSTING MORE.

>>LINDA: YEAH, THAT IS TRUE.

>>LORENE: SO TO HAVE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PERHAPS $750 PER TAX PAYER.

THAT'S IS GOING TO COME IN HANDY FOR SO MANY HOUSEHOLDS.

>>LINDA: IT WILL.

>>LORENE: SO I THINK THAT IS GREAT.

WHAT ELSE DO PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK FOR?

>>LINDA: AGAIN, YOU CAN WATCH US AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, LORENE.

PLEASE COME IN AND PARTICIPATE, YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOICE YOUR OPINION DURING A COMMITTEE HEARING.

THE CHAIRPERSONS DO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, MAYBE IT IS JUST A MINUTE.

HAVE YOURSELF SCRIPTED SO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, YOUR NAME IS TAKEN SO WE KNOW WHO IT IS.

BUT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE AND THAT IS WHAT WE LEARNED FROM COVID, HOW TO OPEN THE DOORS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE AND NOT HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY UP HERE IN SANTA FE.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO, I THINK NEW MEXICANS WHO HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE WILL FIND IT REALLY EMPOWERING.

>>LINDA: YES.

>>LORENE: BECAUSE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU ARE ALLOWED, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS THE RENT CONTROL DISCUSSION, IT WAS SO REASONABLE, EVERYONE IT WAS FOUR HOURS LONG.

BUT PEOPLE JUST PRESENTED THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR FEELINGS AND IT WAS SO EDUCATIONAL.

THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN AND I THINK THE KEY IS TO COME BACK TO THE VIOLENT RHETORIC POINT TO SIT DOWN WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T AGREE AND SIMPLY TALK.

THERE IS NO CALL TO ACTION, THERE IS NO SHOOTING PEOPLES' HOUSES.

YOU JUST TALK ABOUT IT AND IF YOU KEEP AN OPEN MIND, THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN.

>>LINDA: THERE IS.

WHEN I STARTED HERE 26 YEARS AGO, WE USED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

WE KNEW THAT WE WERE NEVER GOING TO AGREE, BUT IT NEVER HAD RAMPED UP TO WHAT WE FEEL SOMETIMES, EVEN HERE IN THE ROUNDHOUSE, JUST FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

AND I AM SURE THEY FEEL IT FROM US BUT IT WAS NEVER AT THIS LEVEL.

OF COURSE, THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN STILL GET BACK TO WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AS YOU AND I ARE.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME DISAGREEMENTS BUT LET'S SEE WHAT THE COMMONALTIES ARE AND HOW DO WE ARRIVE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN STOP THAT UGLY RHETORIC BECAUSE THAT IS NOT BENEFITTING ANYBODY.

>>LORENE: AND YOU HAVE GIVEN TODAY SUCH A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH THERE IS TO LEARN FROM TALKING.

AND SO, I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS SENATOR LINDA LOPEZ, DEMOCRAT FROM SOUTH VALLEY OF ALBUQUERQUE.

AND I THANK YOU FOR COMING AND JUST DISCUSSING THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES WITH US.

>>LINDA: WELL, THANK YOU, TOO, I ENJOYED IT.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM