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 HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS, AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F.<br/> OUR GUEST TODAY IS RAUL BURCIAGA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>RAUL: THANK YOU, LORENE, I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>>LORENE: WELL, ALL OF SANTA FE IS GETTING READY FOR THE 30-DAY SESSION, WHICH STARTS VERY SOON.

>>RAUL: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: BUT NO ONE HAS THE AMOUNT OF PREPARATION TO GET READY, AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR WHAT, 24 YEARS, ALMOST 24.

YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO DO TO GET READY, BUT FIRST, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

I KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTED YOU THE DIRECTOR IN 2010, BUT YOU WERE ON THE COUNCIL SERVICE FROM, WAS IT 2000, THAT'S AFTER YOU GRADUATED FROM UNM LAW SCHOOL.

AND NOW YOU'RE THE DIRECTOR, ALMOST 24 YEARS, THANK YOU.

>>RAUL: THANK YOU.

THAT'S CORRECT.

I HAD ACTUALLY WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, DECIDED TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL, NOT WITH THE INTENTION OF LITIGATING, BUT I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN BEHIND-THE-SCENES POLICY WORK.

AND SO AFTER I GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL, I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE PAULA TACKETT, MY PREDECESSOR, HIRE ME AS A STAFF ATTORNEY.

AND SO FROM APPROXIMATELY 2000 TO 2004, I WAS A STAFF ATTORNEY, MOSTLY WORKING ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ISSUES.

2004, I BECAME THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR DRAFTING SERVICES, AND I DID THAT UNTIL 2010, AGAIN WHEN I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE OVERSIGHT BODY FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE, AND THE BODY THAT SPEAKS FOR THE LEGISLATURE WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SESSION, APPOINT ME AS THE DIRECTOR IN 2010.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE STATE, I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AS THE DIRECTOR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE, BECAUSE WHEN THE BREADTH OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO COVER.

SO WE WON'T DO ALL WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET READY FOR THE SESSION FIRST, BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS DIRECTOR OF THE LEGISLATIVE, WHAT IS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE, AND WHAT DOES THE DIRECTOR DO?

>>RAUL: THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE IS THE BILL DRAFTING AND LEGAL RESEARCH AGENCY FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

IT WAS CREATED IN 1951, THE SAME YEAR THAT THEY CREATED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ITS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AT THAT TIME WAS TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATURE WITH PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH, BILL DRAFTING, AND OTHER LEGAL ASSISTANCE, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE, TO THE LEGISLATURE.

AT THAT TIME IT WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND OTHER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT STATE GOVERNMENT.

OVER TIME, IT HAS GROWN, IT GREW FROM JUST A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE TO, I THINK ABOUT 60 PEOPLE WE NOW HAVE ON BOARD.

BUT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE IS NOT SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR BILL DRAFTING AND LEGAL RESEARCH, THAT'S HOW WE STARTED.

WE HAVE BECOME THE LEGISLATIVE, THE LEGISLATURE'S, I SHOULD SAY, ADMINISTRATIVE ARM.

SO WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IT FOR ALL OF THE LEGISLATURE, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCOUNTING FOR ALL AGENCIES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE.

WE ARE ALSO, WE ALSO HAVE A PRINT SHOP, WE HAVE A STAFF OF DRAFTERS, STAFF ATTORNEYS, WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY, WHICH IS UNIQUE IN THE SENSE THAT IF YOU NEED ANY INFORMATION ON THE LEGISLATURE, GOING BACK TO WHEN WE FIRST BECAME A STATE, WE PROBABLY HAVE IT IN OUR LIBRARY UPSTAIRS OR CAN GET ACCESS TO IT.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STAFF THAT DO RESEARCH, WE ALSO STAFF INTERIM COMMITTEES.

SO, EVERY INTERIM THE LEGISLATURE OR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 20 TO 24 INTERIM COMMITTEES, AND THEY USUALLY MEET HERE IN THE CAPITAL, BUT THEY ALSO TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE AND WE ARE THE STAFF FOR THOSE COMMITTEES.

WE GO AROUND THE STATE WITH THE LEGISLATORS, SO THAT THE LEGISLATORS CAN TALK TO CONSTITUENTS, TALK TO STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE AND IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT, WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUILDING ITSELF.

SO LEGISLATIVE BUILDING SERVICES IS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE, WE HAVE A STAFF OF ABOUT 50 WHO MAINTAIN, NOT ONLY THE BUILDING ITSELF, BUT THE GROUNDS OUTSIDE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CAPITAL ART COLLECTION IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND GETS UPDATED AS NEEDED.

>>LORENE: THERE'S A LOT IN THERE I'D LIKE TO UNPACK A LITTLE BIT.

SO THE INTERIM COMMITTEES, THEY'RE COMMITTEES THAT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION AND THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE THEIR OWN COMMITTEES, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT MEETING, THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE INTERIM COMMITTEES WITH MEMBERS FROM EACH BODY, RIGHT?

>>RAUL: THAT'S CORRECT.

THE INTERIM COMMITTEES ARE JOINT OR BICAMERAL COMMITTEES, AND THERE ARE MEMBERS FROM BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ON THOSE COMMITTEES.

>>LORENE: AND HOW MANY INTERIM COMMITTEES ARE THERE, ABOUT?

>>RAUL: APPROXIMATELY, THERE ARE ABOUT TWELVE STATUTORY COMMITTEES, AND ROUGHLY ANOTHER TWELVE INTERIM COMMITTEES THAT ARE CREATED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY GET CREATED EVERY YEAR, BUT THEY CAN CREATE MORE OR CREATE LESS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR THAT PARTICULAR INTERIM.

>>LORENE: WELL, THE THING THAT MOVES ME ABOUT IS WHEN THEY TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, THE LOCAL AREAS ARE WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD AND FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE LAND GRANT COMMITTEE IN ACTION OR ONE OF THE WATERS COMMITTEES OR, DOES THE FINANCE COMMITTEE GO ON THE ROAD?

>>RAUL: THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE DOES GO ON THE ROAD, AS DOES THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE.

JUST AS A SMALL POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THOSE TWO COMMITTEES HAVE THEIR OWN DIRECTOR AND THEIR OWN STAFF, THEIR OWN YEAR ROUND STAFF.

>>LORENE: YEAH, BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

VERY IMPORTANT, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>>RAUL: VERY IMPORTANT, THEY DEAL WITH VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE DEALS WITH K-12 LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE, OF COURSE, DEALS WITH BUDGET, BUT THEY ALSO DO PROGRAM EVALUATION.

EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THERE, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL SERVICE STAFF, AND YES, WE ACCOMPANY THE LEGISLATORS ON THOSE, IN THOSE MEETINGS AROUND THE STATE.

WE HAVE RECENTLY UPGRADED TO, FOR THE MOST PART, PROVIDE WEBCASTING OF INTERIM COMMITTEES ON THE ROAD, EXCEPT FOR THOSE PLACES THAT MAY NOT HAVE GOOD INTERNET CONNECTIONS, BROADBAND.

BUT EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT AND CANNOT WEBCAST THOSE, THEY'RE RECORDED AND PUT ON THE WEBSITE FOR LATER VIEWING.

>>LORENE: WELL, THAT IS SUCH A GIFT TO THE POPULACE, BECAUSE PEOPLE IN FARMINGTON OR IN RATON, YOU KNOW, I MEAN IT'S VERY HARD FOR EVERYONE TO COME HERE.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE, FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, WEBCAST THE SANTA FE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THE FLOOR SESSIONS, IT IS SUCH A GIFT TO THE STATE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>RAUL: THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO UPGRADE THE EQUIPMENT, THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY ALSO WITH THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY ON ENHANCING A LOT OF THAT SO THAT THERE IS CLOSED CAPTIONING FOR THOSE MEETINGS THAT ARE WEBCAST.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR OR IF THE VIEWERS MIGHT BE FAMILIAR, BUT IF YOU GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE, IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER, THERE'S A LITTLE LOGO CIRCLED WITH A FIGURE OF A PERSON ON THERE.

IF YOU CLICK ON THAT, IT PROVIDES GREATER ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE WEBSITE.

IT CAN CHANGE THE FONT SIZE, IT CAN CHANGE THE COLOR, IT CAN TURN IT INTO TEXT ONLY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT CAN ALSO TRANSLATE VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING THAT IS ON THE WEBSITE TO HUNDREDS, LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF LANGUAGES.

IT'S A SERVICE THAT WE JUST STARTED A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO AND WE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS, PARTICULARLY FROM THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT HAS PROVIDED MUCH GREATER ACCESSIBILITY.

>>LORENE: WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY A DEMOCRACY CAN FUNCTION IS IF PEOPLE CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND CAN PARTICIPATE.

SO YOU HAVE REALLY IMPROVED ACCESS ON SO MANY LEVELS, SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALSO, YOU HAVE TO DO CUSTODY MAINTENANCE OF THE STATE CAPITOL AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE BUILDINGS, DOES THAT INCLUDE P.E R A., WHAT OTHER LEGISLATIVE BUILDINGS ARE YOU... >>RAUL: SO, THE LEGISLATURE OWNS THREE BUILDINGS, SO TO SPEAK, THE CAPITOL, THE ROUNDHOUSE, AND THE CAPITOL NORTH, THE ANNEX, WHICH IS THE OLD STATE LIBRARY.

THERE'S A WALKWAY BETWEEN THE CAPITOL AND CAPITOL NORTH, SO WE TAKE CARE OF CAPITOL NORTH.

WE ALSO TAKE CARE OF THE LEGISLATIVE PARKING STRUCTURE, WHICH IS ACROSS THE WEST SIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

THOSE ARE THE THREE BUILDINGS WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, BUT WE DO WORK ACTUALLY VERY CLOSELY WITH GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON THE CAPITAL, WHAT WE CALL THE CAPITAL CAMPUS, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SHARING OF INFORMATION AND WHATNOT AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S AN EFFORT TO PERHAPS BUILD AN EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE CITIZENS GREATER ACCESS TO HOPEFULLY ALL CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ON ONE CAMPUS.

>>LORENE: SO I'VE BEEN COVERING THE SESSION AS LONG AS YOU'VE BEEN IN CHARGE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BUILDING THAT PARKING STRUCTURE BECAUSE IT WAS SO HARD, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WOULD PARK IN DRIVEWAYS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT WAS JUST, AND NOW IT'S BEAUTIFULLY DONE, BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED, VERY CLOSE AND IT'S IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE TO BE HERE, SO THANK YOU.

>>RAUL: THANK YOU.

>>LORENE: YOU ARE INVOLVED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WITH SO MANY, SO MANY MAJOR PROJECTS, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE COMPILATION COMMISSION AND THE NEW MEXICO UNIFORM LAW COMMISSION, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM?

>>RAUL: SURE.

THE COMPILATION COMMISSION IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE LAWS THAT ARE PASSED EVERY YEAR ARE COMPILED INTO WHAT WE CALL THE NEW MEXICO STATUTES ANNOTATED.

SO WHEN WE PASS LAWS, IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THOSE KIND OF TAN BOOKS WITH THE BLACK AND RED BINDING, THOSE ARE THE ACTUAL LAWS, THOSE ARE THE OFFICIAL LAWS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED AND THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SIGNED.

THOSE HAVE TO BE COMPILED INTO A SUMMARY, IF YOU WILL, SO THAT THEY ALL STAY IN ORDER AND THEY'RE THE MOST RECENT UPDATES.

SO IT'S A COMPILATION OF ALL OF THOSE LAWS AND THERE ARE ANNOTATIONS TO THEM THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS AND COURT CASES THAT DEAL WITH THAT.

WE PROVIDE OVERSIGHT FOR THE STAFF THAT ACTUALLY DOES THE COMPILATION AND DOES THE ANNOTATIONS.

ON THERE SITS THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT IS THE CHAIR AND THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, MY OFFICE OBVIOUSLY, THE STATE BAR, AND THE SCHOOL OF LAW.

>>LORENE: WOW.

AND ONE OF THE, YOU'VE BEEN A MAJOR FIGURE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES.

>>RAUL: I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.

I BECAME INVOLVED WITH NCSL, NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES, ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I STARTED HERE IN 2001, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND A COUPLE OF CONFERENCES.

AND SINCE ABOUT 2003, I HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE WITH THAT ORGANIZATION.

THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT NCSL IS THAT IT IS NOT JUST FOR LEGISLATORS, IT'S ALSO FOR LEGISLATIVE STAFF.

SO WHILE THERE ARE ABOUT, I THINK, 7,700, GIVE OR TAKE, LEGISLATORS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE OVER 30,000 LEGISLATIVE STAFF, AND NCSL DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF BRINGING BOTH GROUPS OF LEGISLATIVE STAKEHOLDERS, THE LEGISLATORS AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF, IN FACT, THEIR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED TWO THIRDS OF LEGISLATORS AND ONE THIRD LEGISLATIVE STAFF.

I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND I WAS ALSO FORTUNATE TO BE APPOINTED AS THE STAFF CHAIR.

SO, I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES, SO I WAS ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE A TOTAL OF ABOUT FIVE YEARS, THREE OF THOSE AS AN OFFICER.

>>LORENE: AND YOU ALSO WERE PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF, STAFF MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE.

>>RAUL: THAT'S CORRECT.

>>LORENE: SO I GOT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING OFF THE CUFF.

SO YOU LOOK AT HOW ALL STATES ARE DOING THEIR LEGISLATURE, ARE THERE SOME THAT REALLY STRIKE YOU, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE AN A AND SOME THAT MIGHT GET IT, MAYBE A C MINUS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE FAILING.

BUT WHO'S REALLY ROCKING THEIR STATE LEGISLATURE STAFF MANAGEMENT.

>>RAUL: IT VARIES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN SAID A LOT, PARTICULARLY BY NCSL, IS THAT IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU'VE SEEN ONE STATE LEGISLATURE.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS QUITE DIFFERENT.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT MAKEUP, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT MAJORITIES AND MINORITIES, WHETHER OR NOT THE EXECUTIVE IS OF THE SAME PARTY.

AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF STATES THAT DO TREMENDOUS WORK.

I THINK IT JUST SIMPLY DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE STATE, SO CALIFORNIA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A YEAR ROUND LEGISLATURE, THEY'RE PAID, THEY'RE VERY WELL PAID.

THEY HAVE A HUGE LEGISLATIVE STAFF, THEY HAVE DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE LIKE.

THOSE OF US IN THE WEST, LIKE NEW MEXICO, WYOMING, IDAHO, AND THE OTHERS, MUCH SMALLER, BUT THEY DO A LOT.

THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF DOES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK WITH SOMETIMES VERY FEW RESOURCES.

>>LORENE: WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH RAUL BURCIAGA, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW MEXICO'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR FILLING ME IN ON ALL THAT.

YOU RECENTLY SENT ME, EXCUSE ME, A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION YOU PUT TOGETHER, AND I'M JUST HOPING YOU CAN, JUST BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE DON'T KNOW ABOUT OUR LEGISLATURE, WHEN WE MEET, HOW, WHAT, THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, ALL OF THOSE BASIC NUTS AND BOLTS.

SO CAN YOU GIVE US THE ELEMENTARY SUMMARY, JUST TO BE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, HOW MANY BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT DO WE HAVE?

>>RAUL: SURE.

THANK YOU.

I THINK, JUST BRIEFLY, TO GO OVER THAT, EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY HAS THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, THE EXECUTIVE, THE LEGISLATIVE, AND THE JUDICIAL.

AND I SHOULD HAVE SAID LEGISLATIVE FIRST BECAUSE IN EVERY STATE CONSTITUTION, AS WELL AS THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, THE LEGISLATURE IS ALWAYS IDENTIFIED AS THE FIRST BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, IT'S THE ONE THAT'S CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE.

THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ARE ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE CONSTITUENTS, SO IT'S ALWAYS THE FIRST BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

AND THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A HEALTHY TENSION AMONG AND BETWEEN THOSE THREE BRANCHES BECAUSE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.

IN NEW MEXICO, AS IN ALL THOSE STATES, EXCEPT BY THE WAY, NEBRASKA HAS A UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE, BUT ALL OF THE OTHERS HAVE A HOUSE AND A SENATE.

SOME REFER TO THE HOUSE AS THE ASSEMBLY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

IN NEW MEXICO THERE ARE 70 HOUSE MEMBERS, IN THE SENATE THERE ARE 42 SENATE MEMBERS.

ALL OF THE OTHER STATES SIMILARLY EITHER HAVE SPLIT LEGISLATURES WHERE ONE MAJORITY, ONE OF THE PARTIES IS OVER ONE HOUSE AND THE OTHER PARTY IS OVER THE OTHER, BUT IN NEW MEXICO BOTH HAVE THE DEMOCRATS AS THE MAJORITY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE LEGISLATURE IN NEW MEXICO MEETS EVERY YEAR AND THEY ALWAYS START ON THE FIRST, EXCUSE ME, THEY ALWAYS START ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF JANUARY.

IN FACT, UP UNTIL 1966, I BELIEVE, OR 67, THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE ONLY MET ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS, IN THE MID-1960S, A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WAS PASSED THAT ALLOWED THE LEGISLATURE TO MEET IN THE IN BETWEEN YEARS, THE EVEN NUMBERED YEARS, FOR 30 DAYS.

AND THE THING ABOUT THE 30-DAY SESSION IS THAT IT IS LIMITED TO THREE THINGS.

ONE IS PRIMARILY MONEY BILLS, REVENUE APPROPRIATIONS, TAX BILLS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SECONDLY, IT'S OPEN TO BILLS FOR WHICH THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED A SPECIAL MESSAGE AND LASTLY FOR BILLS THAT WERE VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR IN THE LAST PREVIOUS REGULAR SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRYING TO OVERRIDE THE VETO IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

SO IT'S A FAIRLY LIMITED 30 DAY SESSION.

IT CAN GET QUITE BIG IF THE GOVERNOR DECIDES TO GIVE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL MESSAGES TO HEAR THOSE BILLS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD ADD IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS A DELIBERATIVE PROCESS AND WHEN I SAY DELIBERATIVE, IT'S NOT SIMPLY ABOUT DEBATE, IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS IN THE PROCESS TO SLOW THINGS DOWN, BASICALLY.

THAT'S WHY IN EACH CHAMBER, COMMITTEES, EXCUSE ME, BILLS ARE REFERRED TO TWO COMMITTEES USUALLY, SOMETIMES THREE, ESPECIALLY THREE IF THERE IS A MONEY ELEMENT TO ONE OF THE BILLS, THEN IT'LL GO TO THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE OR THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, OR BOTH.

AND OF COURSE, A BILL HAS TO PASS BOTH HOUSES, IT'S NOT LIKE IN CONGRESS WHERE ONE BILL CAN PASS EACH HOUSE AND THEN THEY GET TOGETHER IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

HERE THE SAME BILL HAS TO PASS BOTH HOUSES BEFORE IT CAN GO TO THE GOVERNOR.

AND I THINK NEW MEXICO DOES A GREAT JOB, ITS LEGISLATORS AND LEGISLATIVE STAFF, IN GETTING THE WORK DONE IN 60 OR 30 DAYS, PRIMARILY THE BUDGET AND CAPITAL OUTLAY AND SOME OF THE MAJOR BILLS THAT HAVE TO PASS EACH YEAR.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE JUST, THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO JUST CELEBRATED ITS 112TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEN I LISTEN TO YOU, IT MAKES ME REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS AND HOW WELL WE'RE DOING IN THAT RESPECT.

YOU DID MENTION THE GOVERNOR, IN YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WHAT'S USUALLY THE, DOES EVERY GOVERNOR HAVE A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND HOW MUCH, WHAT EFFECT DOES WHO IS GOVERNOR HAVE ON THE LEGISLATURE?

>>RAUL: I BELIEVE EVERY GOVERNOR HAS A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK IT JUST VARIES ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS RELATED TO WHAT PARTY THE GOVERNOR OR THE LEGISLATURE, WHAT PARTY THE GOVERNOR IS IN AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THE PARTY THAT IS IN THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE TWO BRANCHES.

MOST OFTEN THE LEADERS, THE SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, AND THE SENATE, AND THE LEADERS, DO A LOT OF WORK TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR ON IDENTIFYING MAJOR ISSUES FOR THE STATE.

BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO GO ABOUT ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED AND SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

>>LORENE: NOW, WE PRIDE OURSELVES AS CAPITOL RESIDENTS IN HOW ACCESSIBLE THE NEW MEXICO STATE CAPITOL AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS TO OUR CITIZENS, SO CAN YOU INVITE PEOPLE, COME ON DOWN TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT STARTS JANUARY 16TH, COME DOWN AND WATCH YOUR GOVERNMENT IN ACTION?

>>RAUL: ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

WE WELCOME THE PUBLIC TO COME AND ATTEND THE MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS WATCH THE HOUSE AND SENATE ON THE FLOOR AND WHAT THEY DO.

WE HAVE GOOD-SIZED COMMITTEE ROOMS WHERE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAN ATTEND, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF COMMITTEE ROOMS THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE ALMOST 200 PEOPLE.

THE GALLERIES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ALSO ACCOMMODATE PROBABLY OVER 200 EACH ONE.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE, THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATORS ARE QUITE ACCESSIBLE.

I ALSO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO NOT ONLY WAIT UNTIL THE SESSION IS IN FULL SWING HERE IN SANTA FE, BUT TO LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE AND SEE IF ANY OF THE INTERIM COMMITTEES ARE MEETING IN THEIR RESPECTIVE TOWNS OR CITIES, BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO A VERY GOOD PLACE TO GET TO KNOW SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS, SEE WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON, SEE WHAT THEY'RE THINKING, WHAT ARE THEY STUDYING, WHAT ARE THEY OVERSEEING, WHAT BILLS ARE THEY ENDORSING?

AND THAT'S SOMETIMES THE EASIEST.

ABILITY THEY HAVE TO GET ONE OF THE LEGISLATOR'S EARS.

THEY CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT DURING SESSION, BUT THEY'RE INCREDIBLY BUSY.

DURING THE INTERIM, THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME.

>>LORENE: AND EVEN BEFORE THE SESSION WOULD BE A BETTER TIME TO REACH OUT TO YOUR LAWMAKER WHEN THEY WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RETURN YOUR CALLS, BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE HERE, EVERY MOMENT IS SPOKEN FOR, THEY REALLY DON'T GET TO DO MUCH CONSTITUENT OUTREACH, ALTHOUGH THEY TRY, BECAUSE THE FLOOR SESSIONS ARE SO LONG AND THE COMMITTEE SESSIONS ARE SO LONG.

BUT I LOVE IT, NOT JUST THE SCHOOL KIDS, BUT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WOMEN'S GROUPS AND ELDERLY GROUPS AND, YOU KNOW, ANYONE COMES IN JUST TO WATCH THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN EDUCATION.

ONE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THIS IS AN ERA, NATIONALLY, OF TOXIC PARTISANSHIP.

YOU HAVE MAINTAINED THE POSTURE OF NON-PARTISANSHIP IN AN ADMIRABLE WAY, IN A STELLAR WAY, BUT HOW DO WE TONE THAT DOWN SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO PEOPLE WITHOUT WAVING ONE PARTY'S LEG OR THE OTHER?

I MEAN, THAT'S THE ANSWER FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, THE NATION RIGHT NOW.

SO JUST GIMME YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT.

>>RAUL: SURE, YOU'RE CORRECT.

UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW ARE QUITE POLITICALLY POLARIZED, VERY PARTISAN, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT UNFORTUNATE.

I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THEIR POLITICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS, WHATEVER PARTY THAT THEY BELONG TO.

ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER, THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT, NEEDS TO COME TO A CONSENSUS, NEEDS TO AGREE ON SOMETHING TO GET A BILL PASSED.

OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO FUND GOVERNMENT WHICH FUNDS A NUMBER OF ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE, A LOT OF DELIBERATION OVER WHAT NEEDS TO GO INTO HOUSE BILL 2, THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT.

BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH CAPITAL OUTLAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH ANY OTHER BILLS.

I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT DELIBERATIVENESS, AND I THINK THE IDEA IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY LOOK AT THE BILLS IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO COME AWAY WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN ACCEPT.

IT MAY NOT BE EVERYTHING THAT A PARTICULAR LEGISLATOR WANTS, BUT IF THEY CAN AGREE ON THE MAJORITY OF THE THINGS, SOMETIMES THEY JUST FIGURE, OKAY, I'VE GOT ABOUT 80% OF WHAT I WANT, THE OTHER 20% I CAN LIVE WITH, I'LL VOTE YES ON THIS BILL.

>>LORENE: YEAH, OR THE PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.

>>RAUL: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH AND IT'S ALMOST DONE, THEN GO WITH IT.

SO, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW YOU GET READY FOR A SESSION, BUT WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT, BUT TELL ME WHAT, EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND JANUARY 16TH, THE START DAY OF THE SESSION.

>>RAUL: SO ACTUALLY, GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION BEGINS, REALLY, AROUND THE SUMMER.

>>LORENE: AH, GOOD.

>>RAUL: WE START MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HIRE, FOR EXAMPLE, PROOFREADERS, EDITORS, WORD PROCESSORS, AND IN SOME CASES, DRAFTERS, TO ASSIST WITH OUR STAFFING.

IN THE FALL, BY THE TIME WE'RE IN THE FALL, WE'RE ALREADY DRAFTING BILLS, BECAUSE A LOT OF INTERIM COMMITTEES ARE LOOKING TO ENDORSE THEM.

OUR BUILDING SERVICES STAFF MAKES SURE THAT THE BUILDING IS READY TO GO, OUR IT STAFF IS MAKING SURE THAT AUDIO, VISUAL EQUIPMENT IS WORKING IN ALL OF THE COMMITTEE ROOMS, EVERYTHING GETS TESTED.

WE JUST UPGRADED, BY THE WAY, ALL OF THE AV EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND ALL OF THE COMMITTEE ROOMS AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THE WEBSITE GETS UPDATED.

WE HAVE A STAFF THAT WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HOUSE AND SENATE CHIEF CLERKS, WE REFER TO THEM AS THE HISTORIANS OR BILL LOCATOR PEOPLE.

AND THEY MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT GETS DONE IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE BILLS, THE AMENDMENTS, THE SUBSTITUTES, THE REPORTS, THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, ALL THOSE THINGS GET LOADED UP TO THE WEBSITE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND THAT WE PRODUCE A BILL LOCATOR THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE USED TO CARRY IN THEIR BACK POCKET AND SOME PEOPLE STILL DO, BUT NOW IT'S ONLINE.

>>LORENE: WAIT, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR VIEWERS UNDERSTAND.

WOULD YOU TELL US THE WEBSITE, WWW.NMLEGIS.GOV >>RAUL: THAT'S CORRECT.

>>LORENE: OKAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO WRITE IT THERE, PEOPLE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN BECAUSE NOT ONLY CAN YOU GET THE WEBCASTS AND THE FLOOR SESSIONS AND THE COMMITTEES, BUT YOU CAN TRACK A BILL, YOU CAN DO ALL THIS STUFF.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS SERVICE YOU DO FOR THE STATE.

>>RAUL: THANK YOU, WE THINK IT'S VERY HELPFUL.

THE OTHER THING I WILL SAY ABOUT NOT JUST GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION, BUT YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES AND CERTAINLY FOR THE SESSION, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS STAFF.

AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE 30,000 OVER 30,000 PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT STAFF LEGISLATURES.

YEAR-ROUND STAFF, WE HAVE ABOUT 200, BUT WHEN WE GET INTO SESSION WE HAVE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 400 AND 600 STAFF THAT COME IN AND ASSIST LEGISLATORS, ASSIST THE CHIEF CLERK'S OFFICES, ASSIST THE OTHER AGENCIES, LEADERSHIP STAFF, AND DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, NOT JUST FOR THE LEGISLATORS, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: AND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND THE PRESS, WITH WHOM YOU HAVE A VERY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE ALL OF OUR INFORMATION THAT WE NEED AVAILABLE TO US.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY, WE COULD GO ON AND ON.

THIS IS ENOUGH TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S COMING AND HOW IT WORKS.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS RAUL BURCIAGA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>>RAUL: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORENE, AND WE INVITE EVERYBODY TO THE CAPITOL.

>>LORENE: EXACTLY, I DO TOO.

AND I'M LORENE MILLS.

I'D 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