♪ MUSIC 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 THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

TODAY WE HAVE TWO EXTRAORDINARY SENATORS AS OUR GUESTS, SENATOR PETER WIRTH, WHO'S A DEMOCRAT FROM SANTA FE, AND SENATOR WILLIAM SHARER, WHO'S A REPUBLICAN FROM FARMINGTON, SAN JUAN COUNTY, SO I WELCOME YOU HERE.

YOU ARE THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON NOW.

WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUNDS, BUT OUR MAIN PURPOSE TODAY IS TO TALK ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILLS.

YOU HAVE MANY OTHER BILLS, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU'RE UP TO, BUT LET ME TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU'VE BEEN, WHAT, 16 YEARS IN THE SENATE?

>>PETER: YEAH, SO THIS IS MY 17TH YEAR IN THE SENATE AND I SERVED TWO TERMS IN THE HOUSE FOUR YEARS BEFORE THAT, TWENTY FIRST YEAR, NOT QUITE WHAT SENATOR SHARER HAS REACHED, BUT WE'RE REALIZING THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY THE OLD TIMERS AROUND HERE WITH ALL THESE NEW MEMBERS.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE LOST, WHAT, SEVEN SENATORS AND IT AFFECTED EVERYTHING, THERE WAS A DOMINO EFFECT.

THE COMMITTEES, THERE WERE VERY POWERFUL, WONDERFUL SENATORS, AND THEY CHOSE TO RETIRE OR WERE PRIMARIED OUT.

SO NOW, WE'RE WORKING.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE NOW 16 REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, IS THAT TRUE?

>>BILL: SIXTEEN REPUBLICANS, TEN OF WHICH ARE BRAND NEW.

>>LORENE: GOOD, YOU GET TO MOLD THEM, YOU GET TO TEACH THEM.

IT WAS 1933, THE LAST TIME THE REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE SENATE.

>>BILL: THAT'S TRUE.

>>LORENE: SO YOU HAVE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF YOU.

>>BILL: BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE IT, I'M GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE BECAUSE SENATOR WIRTH NEEDS TO BE THE MINORITY LEADER FOR A WHILE.

>>LORENE: WELL, AN INTERESTING POINT OF VIEW.

SENATOR WIRTH, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE HOUSE, YOU SAT IN MAX COLLS SEAT, AND HE WAS A FINANCIAL WIZARD AND A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LAWMAKER.

YOUR FAMILY IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE TELL US WHO YOUR MATERNAL GRANDFATHER WAS, IF YOU WOULD.

>>PETER: SURE, HAPPY TO, MY GRANDFATHER WAS JOHN GAW MEEM, WHO WAS PREEMINENT ARCHITECT HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

CAME TO SANTA FE IN 1920 WITH TUBERCULOSIS AND WAS UP AT THE SANATORIUM TO DRY OUT, QUOTE UNQUOTE.

AND JUST PART OF THAT WHOLE SANTA FE ARTS COMMUNITY.

HE ACTUALLY STARTED DOING HIS DRAWINGS FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED.

IT'S A NEAT STORY AND FUN TO KIND OF BE PART OF THAT LEGACY HERE IN OUR STATE.

>>LORENE: WELL, HE WAS AN ARCHITECT AND THEY SAY THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FATHER OF WHAT'S CALLED, "ALLEGED" THE FATHER, WE KNOW ABOUT PATERNITY, "ALLEGEDLY" THE FATHER OF SANTA FE STYLE, WHICH HAS HAD A HUGE INTERNATIONAL EFFECT.

>>PETER: IT HAS, HERE IN SANTA FE IN PARTICULAR.

NOT ONLY WAS HE AN ARCHITECT, VERY INVOLVED, BUT ALSO HELPED WITH THE HISTORIC ORDINANCE AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK REALLY HAS CREATED THE WHOLE SANTA FE ECONOMY BASED AROUND ARTS, TOURISM, CULTURE.

>>LORENE: THE CITY DIFFERENT.

>>PETER: YEAH, OUR APPRECIATION OF SPACE AND BUILDINGS.

>>LORENE: YOUR OTHER GRANDFATHER TAUGHT AT THE LOS ALAMOS BOYS RANCH BEFORE IT BECAME, TRANSFORMED INTO "THE LABS", BEFORE WORLD WAR 11.

YOUR GRANDFATHER WORKED WITH THEM AND HELPED, THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT NEW MEXICANS.

>>PETER: AND FUN STORIES, MY DAD ACTUALLY WAS BORN IN DAWSON, NEW MEXICO, NOW A GHOST TOWN AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER RAN THE PHELPS DODGE MINE IN DAWSON.

SO THIS WHOLE CONNECTION AND BEFORE THE WAR AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE DISPLACEMENT AFTER OPPENHEIMER, WHO WENT TO THE LOS ALAMOS RANCH SCHOOL AS A STUDENT, THAT'S HOW HE DISCOVERED THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

AND THERE WAS A REAL DISPLACEMENT AS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CAME IN, SO LOTS OF INTERESTING HISTORY.

>>LORENE: LOTS OF INTERESTING HISTORY, WE LOVE HISTORY.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR DISTRICT, DID WE MENTION THAT IT'S THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT?

>>BILL: WELL, IT IS THE MOST DIVERSE DISTRICT, IT'S ABOUT 30% NAVAJO, ABOUT 30% HISPANIC, AND ABOUT 30% OF WHATEVER YOU THINK I AM, WHICH IS MOSTLY MUD.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH, AND ALSO YOU HAVE THE MOST FRESHWATER.

>>BILL: TWO THIRDS OF ALL OF THE SURFACE WATER IN NEW MEXICO RUNS THROUGH SAN JUAN COUNTY.

>>LORENE: WOW.

OH, THAT'S WEALTH BEYOND COMPARE.

>>BILL: WE HAVE GREAT FISHING AND BOATING AND IF YOU WANT TO SKI, YOU GO TO COLORADO AND SKI, WHEN YOUR TOES GET COLD COME BACK TO FARMINGTON AND COOK OUTSIDE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, ONE OF YOUR GOALS IN THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IS TO REPRESENT REPUBLICANS AND TO LET PEOPLE KNOW BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF LIES, THERE'S A LOT OF PROPAGANDA AGAINST REPUBLICANS AND YOU WANT TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE REAL COMPASSIONATES, NOT THAT THE DEMOCRATS AREN'T REAL COMPASSIONATES, BUT THE YOUR MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY.

AND THE LIES THAT THEY TELL ABOUT YOU ARE MISREPRESENTED, THE REPUBLICANS ARE RACISTS AND GREEDY BUSINESSMEN.

BUT YOU SAY YOUR MISSION IS TO HELP OUT THE MOM-AND-POP BUSINESSES.

THIS IS REAL GRASSROOTS, THIS IS NOT GREEDY BUSINESS, THIS IS LET'S SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS.

>>BILL: SO ON THAT THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NEW MEXICO IS WE PILE ON REGULATIONS AND THE SMALL DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES CAN'T HANDLE IT.

THEY DON'T HAVE A HERD OF ATTORNEYS AND CPAS TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS.

THE BIG BUSINESSES, THE WALMARTS DO, THE WELLS FARGO BANKS DO.

SO, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF RULE THEY PUT UP IN OR IS PUT UP IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY CAN FIND A WAY AROUND IT OR THROUGH IT.

THE SMALL DOWNTOWN BUSINESS CAN'T AND THAT REALLY TROUBLES ME.

I THINK SOME REGULATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT SOME OF THEM SEEM TO BE DESIGNED POORLY.

>>LORENE: WELL, ALSO, SOME OF THEM JUST APPEAR TO BE FLAMING HOOPS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH TO KEEP THEIR COATTAILS FROM GETTING SINGED.

>>BILL: IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY SENSE, A LOT OF THEM ANYWAY, DON'T SEEM TO MAKE ANY SENSE.

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY COME OUT THERE, OH, WELL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS ONE BECAUSE OF, I'M SAYING WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT FOR, YOU KNOW, 5000 YEARS, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TODAY?

>>LORENE: SO SPEAKING OF THE HISTORY OF THE SENATE, LAST SESSION YOU LOST SEVEN SENATORS AND THEY WERE AMAZING.

JOHN ARTHUR SMITH, MARY KAY PAPEN, CLEMENTE SANCHEZ, RAMOS, MARTINEZ, FULFER AND WHITE AND THAT WAS A REALLY TOUGH THING.

HOW HAVE THOSE CHANGES, HAVE YOU RECALIBRATED, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>>PETER: I THINK IT'S ALWAYS A TOUGH THING, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOSE MEMBERS WITH THAT KIND OF SENIORITY, YOU HAVE RETIREMENTS AND ELECTIONS AS YOU MENTIONED.

IT'S A BIG CHANGE, I'M EXCITED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THE SENATOR SHARER MENTIONED THE TEN NEW MEMBERS HE HAS.

WE HAVE SIX NEW MEMBERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, ALL WOMEN, DIVERSE, VARIOUS DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND SO IT'S FUN TO BE ON THE FRONT END OF A FOUR YEAR TERM.

OF COURSE, FOUR YEARS AGO WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEVER WANT TO DO AGAIN, THAT WAS JUST AWFUL.

SO IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, JUMP RIGHT IN AND WE ARE AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WE'RE REALLY PRIORITIZING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND DOING THAT IN AN EXPEDITED FASHION.

SO WE ARE JUST FINISHING OUR THIRD WEEK HERE AND IT FEELS LIKE WE'VE BEEN HERE ALREADY A LONG TIME BECAUSE WE ARE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WORKING HARD AND SO IT'S EXCITING.

IT'S FUN TO HAVE NEW MEMBERS COME IN.

WE, OF COURSE, ARE AT THE BACK END OF A GUBERNATORIAL TERM, THAT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO REALLY WORK HARD TOGETHER AND I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THAT SENATOR SHARER IS THE NEW MINORITY LEADER, THESE TWO POSITIONS, WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK WELL.

>>LORENE: IT'S VERY CLEAR YOUR EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ARE VERY BIPARTISAN, BUT WHAT IS CRUCIAL TO ME IS THAT...WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FORMER GOVERNORS.

LET'S LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN NEW MEXICO, BECAUSE WAS IT TEN YEARS AGO, GOVERNOR MARTINEZ DISBANDED ALL OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS AND THE EASE OF WHICH PEOPLE COULD GET HELP.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND WHERE WE STAND NOW AND THEN I WANT YOU TO TELL ME WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FIX OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

>>BILL: PART OF WHAT GOVERNOR MARTINEZ WAS LOOKING AT IS SHE SAW THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK AND ALSO THERE APPEARED TO BE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY CORRUPTION, THAT MAY BE TOO BIG A WORD, BUT THERE WERE ISSUES.

SO HER PLAN WAS JUST MAKE IT ALL GO AWAY AND FIX IT.

WELL, WE MADE IT ALL GO AWAY, BUT WE NEVER FIXED IT.

SO NOW WE'RE IN THE, NOW WE ARE IN THE LET'S FIX IT.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK YOU HAD MENTIONED TALKING TO THE BORDER CZAR IN TEXAS.

WE SHARE A COMMON BORDER WITH MEXICO AND NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS, TEXAS CLOSED THEIR BORDER TO PEOPLE COMING UP FROM NOT JUST MEXICO, BUT VENEZUELA AND THEN THE BORDER CZAR MENTIONED THAT WHEN THEY CLOSE THE TEXAS THING THAT ALL THE PROBLEMS WENT TO ALBUQUERQUE.

AND THEY KEPT SAYING, I THINK YOU HAD POINTED THIS OUT TOO, THAT THE ISSUE BORDERS WITH FENTANYL AND DRUGS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ALL OF THAT, THAT IS NOT A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THAT'S CRIME.

>>BILL: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: AND THE CARTELS ARE RUNNING IT.

I THINK YOU HAD SAID A WONDERFUL THING ABOUT, I'M SURE YOU WERE BEING SARCASTIC WITH IT, THE GOVERNOR PERHAPS FEELS SHE CAN HUG HER WAY OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

IT'S NOT A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, IT'S A CRIME ISSUE.

IT'S CARTELS AND THE CARTELS HAVE ONE WAY OF DEALING WITH THINGS.

THEY DON'T CANCEL YOU, THEY DON'T DELAY AND DEFER, THEY SHOOT YOU.

AND SO BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THEY DO BUSINESS.

SO WE HAVE TO, WELL, WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THAT, IS THAT TRUE?

>>BILL: WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHEN YOU CLOSE ONE PIECE OF ANYTHING, PEOPLE TAKE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE.

AND SO, FOR THE CARTELS, THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE THEN WAS COMING RIGHT UP I-25 TO THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER, WHICH IS ALBUQUERQUE.

>>LORENE: AND RIGHT BY I-25, I-40, IT'S A BLOOD STREAM.

>>BILL: AND THAT'S WHERE OUR CRIME PROBLEM REALLY BLEW UP, NOT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE CRIME BEFORE, BUT IT REALLY BLEW UP.

THIS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PACKAGE, I DON'T VIEW THAT AS A CRIME PACKAGE, THIS IS SEPARATE.

YES, THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT NEED HELP, THAT NEED A HUG OR NEED OTHER HELP.

>>LORENE: SUPPORT.

>>BILL: IF YOU'RE GOING TO SOLVE THE CRIME PROBLEM, THE REAL DEEP CRIME PROBLEM, THAT'S ANOTHER PACKAGE THAT'S IN THE WORKS.

>>PETER: THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT GO TOGETHER, AGAIN THERE'S A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PIECE THAT WE'RE STARTING IN THE SENATE AND THEN THERE'S A PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE, A PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO COME FROM THE HOUSE, WE'RE GOING TO CROSS THEM OVER AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM UP TO THE GOVERNOR HALFWAY THROUGH THE SESSION.

BUT THERE ARE OVERLAPS AND THINGS THAT TIE TOGETHER.

YOU CAN'T COME IN AND TRY AND PASS A WHOLE BUNCH OF LAWS TO DIVERT FOLKS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM OR THROUGH A CIVIL PROCESS INTO TREATMENT WHEN THERE'S NO TREATMENT FOR THEM TO GO TO.

SO, AGAIN, I THINK WHAT I'M ENCOURAGED BY IS THERE'S A CRIMINAL COMPETENCY BILL, THAT CHRISTINE CHANDLER, WHO IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LOS ALAMOS, THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY, AND JOSEPH CERVANTES, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, HAVE BOTH SIGNED OFF ON IT.

BASICALLY, IT'S DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DIVERSIONS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY INTO PROGRAMING AND THESE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILLS THAT WE'RE CARRYING ARE TO CREATE A TRUST FUND FOR RECURRING MONEY, SEPARATE BILL THAT'S GOING TO HAVE 150 TO $200 MILLION OF ONE TIME MONEY AND THEN SENATOR SHARER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 17 YEARS THAT WE'VE SERVED TOGETHER, WE'RE CARRYING THE BILL TOGETHER.

WE CALL IT THE GUARDRAILS BILL TO HAVE OVERSIGHT, ACCOUNTABILITY.

>>LORENE: IS THAT SB2 OR 3?

>>PETER: SB3.

SO THERE'S AN INTERSECTION THERE AND, YOU KNOW, THE CARTELS ARE PUSHING FENTANYL AND FENTANYL IS JUST A HORRIFIC SCOURGE ON OUR COMMUNITIES.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO INCARCERATE OUR WAY OUT OF A FENTANYL PROBLEM.

SO IT'S ALL THE ABOVE AND THEY'RE ALL COMING TOGETHER, I'M JUST ENCOURAGED THAT YOU'RE SEEING BIPARTISAN WORK ON ALL THESE ISSUES AND HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET THEM ACROSS THE LINE AND THE GOVERNOR WILL SIGN THESE BILLS.

>>LORENE: AND WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH SENATOR PETER WIRTH, THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND SENATOR WILLIAM SHARER, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS, BECAUSE EVEN LOOKING AT THE FENTANYL ISSUE, THERE'S CHINA SENDING THE PRECURSOR, MIGHT BE SENDING THE PRECURSOR CHEMICALS TO MEXICO.

MEXICO, THEY BLAME US.

THEY SAY WELL YOUR PEOPLE WANT IT, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMES IN TO TRY, BUT IT'S A MANY HEADED HYDRA.

YOU CUT OFF ONE HEAD AND NINE MORE POP UP.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THIS.

I WANT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THE TERM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, IS IT A NEW TERM FOR SOMETHING ELSE, HOW WOULD YOU, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT WHAT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH?

>>PETER: YEAH, I THINK IT'S A RANGE, IT'S A TERM THAT ENCOMPASSES A WHOLE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT INDIVIDUALS FACE.

ADDICTION CERTAINLY IS A HUGE PIECE OF IT, MENTAL ILLNESS, VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT TRIGGER CAPACITY IN SOMEONE WHO'S UNABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE A LOT, CERTAINLY WITH FOLKS THAT ARE ABLE TO WHEN THEY'RE ON MEDICATIONS, THEY'RE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THEIR ISSUES, BUT ONCE THEY GO OFF THE MEDICATION, SCHIZOPHRENIA AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MENTAL ILLNESSES, WHEN YOU'RE OFF THE MEDICATIONS, IT JUST BECOMES EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN BOTH A CIVIL CAPACITY OR WHEN THEY START GETTING INTO THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE VIOLENT FOLKS CAN BE SENT UP TO LAS VEGAS, TO THE INSTITUTION.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU GET FOLKS THAT ARE JUST BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, CASES ARE BEING DISMISSED.

AND SO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH KIND OF UMBRELLA PULLS IN ALL OF THESE FOLKS DEALING WITH A VARIETY OF MENTAL HEALTH, I WOULD SAY ISSUES.

>>BILL: BUT IT'S BEYOND MENTAL HEALTH, I THINK, BECAUSE IT DOES INCLUDE THE ADDICTIONS.

AND BEFORE MENTAL HEALTH MEANT SCHIZOPHRENIA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THIS INCLUDES MORE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INCLUDES MORE.

>>PETER: AND IT'S NOT JUST FENTANYL, IT'S ALCOHOL.

I MEAN, ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR STATE HAS STRUGGLED WITH.

THE FRIGHTENING THING, LORENE, THAT JUST MAKES ME REALLY PAUSE IS, YOU KNOW, HEROIN'S BEEN SUCH AN ISSUE IN NEW MEXICO FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND THEY SAY THIS FENTANYL, I'VE HEARD, IS 50 TIMES AS ADDICTIVE AS HEROIN.

ONCE SOMEONE TAKES THIS ONCE, IT JUST STARTS A VICIOUS CYCLE AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CARTELS HAVE PLAYED INTO THIS AND WE'RE IN A PLACE.

WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE, AND I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THAT HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE.

>>LORENE: AND IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO ME, THE CARTELS ARE PUSHING THIS, BUT THERE'S A HIGH OVERDOSE RATE AND SO IF YOUR BUSINESS IS KEEPING PEOPLE ADDICTED, BUT YOU'RE GIVING THEM SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE LOSING A LOT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AS A BUSINESS MODEL TO MAKE AVAILABLE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN OVERDOSE ON, BECAUSE YOU'RE LOSING A LOT OF THEM.

SO I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR BILLS.

THERE'S A TRIO OF BILLS AND IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EACH ONE, I THINK SB1, SB2, SB3.

I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN SB ONE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE PUT A $1 BILLION TRUST FUND TO, TELL ME WHAT IT DOES.

THIS IS A SERIOUS EFFORT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>>BILL: SO THIS TRUST FUND, $1 BILLION, BIG NUMBER AND WE'VE BUILT SOME OTHER TRUST FUNDS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF OIL AND GAS MONEY COMING IN.

THIS BILLION DOLLAR ONE IS BY FAR THE LARGEST, BUT I LOOK THAT ANY WAY IS WE'RE SAVING $1 BILLION, WE CAN GO OUT THERE AND SPEND $1 BILLION ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PROBABLY NOT GET THE RESULT WE WANT, BUT WE'VE BUILT THIS TRUST FUND, SO IT'S GOING TO BE THERE, IT'S GOING TO BE INVESTED, IT'S GOING TO GROW, AND WE'RE GOING TO DRAW 5% OFF EVERY YEAR.

SO $50 MILLION, WHICH ISN'T ENOUGH TO FUND THE WHOLE THING, BUT, THAT'S A DEDICATED $50 MILLION A YEAR, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S TRULY DEDICATED AT THE MOMENT.

SO AS THE SAVINGS GROWS, BUT IT'S ALSO A FUNDING SOURCE FOREVER.

AND I LIKE THAT BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE IS JUST SPEND IT AND NOT GET ANYTHING.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE GET ANYTHING FROM IT, THAT'S THE DEAL.

>>LORENE: AND THEN SB2 AND SB3.

>>PETER: SO SB2 IS A ONETIME APPROPRIATION OF NON-RECURRING MONEY TO BUILD OUT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.

A VARIETY OF THINGS, HOUSING, CRISIS RESPONSE, THE COURTS, LET ME GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE COURTS, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED.

OF COURSE, AS A LAWYER, YOU KNOW, USE OF THE COURTS HAVING A PRETTY LIMITED LANE, BUT I THINK THE COURTS REALIZE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY'RE SEEING EVERY DAY.

JUSTICE BRIANNA ZAMORA WAS A DISTRICT JUDGE AND TALKED ABOUT SEEING THE SAME FOLKS OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

>>LORENE: CATCH AND RELEASE.

>>PETER: OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THE FOLKS THAT ARE DEALING WITH A VARIETY OF ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND SO THE COURTS HAVE STEPPED UP AND WE DID YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL SESSION WAS BUMPY.

THAT'S ONE WAY TO PUT IT, BUT WE DID PASS SOMETHING IN A SPECIAL SESSION THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT.

IT WAS $3 MILLION FOR A PILOT PROGRAM TO SET UP ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT COURTS AND CRIMINAL COMPETENCY COURTS, ONE OF THOSE WAS HERE IN SANTA FE.

JUST LAST WEEK, THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE OPENING A NEW ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT COURT.

SO THE COURTS ARE GOING TO PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN THIS, SO PART OF SENATE BILL TWO IS TO GET THE COURTS THE MONEY THEY NEED, BECAUSE THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR NORMAL DAY TO DAY.

WE KIND OF GAVE A COMMITMENT TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO GO ASK THEM TO DO SOMETHING AND THEN TELL THEM TO TAKE IT OUT OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGET.

SO THAT'LL BE ANOTHER PIECE OF SB2.

>>BILL: THEN SB3, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PACKAGE AT ALL HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR SB3, WHICH REALLY GUIDES US AND TELLS US WHO SHOULD BE DOING WHAT, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US A FLEXIBILITY SO THAT SAN JUAN COUNTY, WHAT OUR ISSUES ARE, ARE DIFFERENT THAN LEE COUNTY, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN UNION COUNTY, SO WE CAN DO IT REGIONALLY AND STILL HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

>>LORENE: SO YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR OTHER BILLS BECAUSE THE PBS AUDIENCE IS VERY RESPONSIVE.

SO IF YOU EACH JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR OTHER BILLS, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BUT I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU'RE DOING.

DO YOU WANT TO FIRST?

>>PETER: YES, SURE, THERE'S A COUPLE I'LL HIGHLIGHT.

TWO WATER BILLS THAT ARE SUPER IMPORTANT, ONE IS TO HAVE THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO EXERT PRIMACY UNDER THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT.

WE'RE ONE OF ONLY THREE STATES NOW THAT DOESN'T IMPLEMENT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND THIS IS FOR SURFACE WATER IN NEW MEXICO.

SO AGAIN, SENATE BILL 21 DOES THAT, SENATE BILL 22 DEALS WITH A US SUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE SACKETT CASE THAT BASICALLY SAID THE CLEAN WATER ACT ONLY APPLIES TO FREE FLOWING RIVERS.

SO 95% OF THE WATER AND THE RIVERS IN NEW MEXICO ARE INTERMITTENT OR EPHEMERAL STREAMS, SO WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE, BASICALLY THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT STEPPING BACK IN TO COVER THOSE STREAMS.

THEN THE OTHER BILL I'LL FLAG THAT'S IMPORTANT, IS AGAIN, A BIPARTISAN BILL, SENATE BILL 81.

IT DEALS WITH FIRE AND THE FAIR PLAN, THIS IS THE INSURANCE DEFAULT PLAN.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THE HORRIFIC FIRES HERE IN NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA.

HERE IN SANTA FE, INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE TELLING PEOPLE WE'RE NOT GOING TO COVER YOU ANYMORE AND THE DEFAULT PLAN IS CALLED THE FAIR PLAN.

RIGHT NOW, THE MAXIMUM LIMIT FOR A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IS $350,000.

SO THIS WILL INCREASE IT TO $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION FOR COMMERCIAL, SPONSORING THAT WITH REPRESENTATIVE HARLAN VINCENT, REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE.

SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF INTERESTING BILLS I HOPE I CAN GET SENATOR SHARER ON THE FIRE BILL.

I DOUBT I'LL GET HIM ON THE WATER BILL, BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

>>LORENE: WELL, CLIMATE CHANGE HAS MADE IT SO THAT INSURANCE IS DIFFERENT NOW, LIKE YOU SAY, IN CALIFORNIA, THEY'VE PASSED A LAW THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN NO LONGER FAIL TO RENEW PEOPLE'S POLICY OR NOT AND THEY'RE ALSO TRYING NOT TO WRITE ANY NEW ONES AND CALIFORNIA SAID, NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK LIKE THAT.

BUT TELL ME YOUR OTHER BILLS.

>>BILL: AS THE MINORITY LEADER, ONE OF MY BIG JOBS IS TO INTERRUPT HIS BILLS.

REPUBLICANS GENERALLY PLAY DEFENSE ON THINGS, I'VE HAD THIS BILL FOR A WHILE THOUGH, THAT I WANT TO MENTION, AND IT'S KNOWN AS THE 2% BILL.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT ELIMINATES GROSS RECEIPTS TAX EXEMPTIONS, CREDITS AND DEDUCTIONS AND REDUCES THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX TO 2%, NOT FIVE OR WHATEVER.

2%, BUT WITHOUT THE DEDUCTIONS, CREDITS AND EXEMPTIONS, IT TAXES EVERYTHING.

AND I BELIEVE IT RAISES THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT MAKES IT SIMPLE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MAIN STREET BUSINESSES.

OUR TAX CODE IS VERY CONFUSING, I DON'T THINK WE'RE OVERTAXED, WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE TAXED.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>BILL: THAT MAKES IT MAKES BUSINESSES CRAZY.

SO MAKE IT SIMPLE AND IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE SPECIAL INTEREST EXEMPTIONS, THEN WE CAN LOWER THAT TAX A LOT TO 2% AND STILL PAY ALL THE BILLS.

>>LORENE: WELL, I'M SURE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT TOO.

SO, WE HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, IF YOU CAN GIVE A CLARION CALL OUT TO OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT EITHER THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BILLS OR JUST WHAT THE SESSION IS LIKE.

>>PETER: WELL, I'LL JUST SAY THIS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT SENATOR SHARER HAS STEPPED UP HERE AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING REPUBLICANS TO SUPPORT BILLS THAT HAVE A LOT OF SPENDING IN THEM, I THINK IS NOT ALWAYS THE FIRST ON THEIR LIST TO JUMP ON THAT.

BUT HIS WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT BASED ON HAVING THESE GUARDRAILS AND THE OVERSIGHT, I THINK IT SENDS A REALLY IMPORTANT SIGNAL, ESPECIALLY NOW, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE TURBULENT, CERTAINLY POLITICALLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL CONGRESS AND, BOY, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF BIPARTISANSHIP GOING ON AND FOLKS NOT WORKING TOGETHER IN THE STATE SENATE, WE REALLY TAKE PRIDE IN THAT.

AGAIN, IT MAY BE 26-16, BUT THE REALITY IS ON LOTS OF ISSUES, WE CROSS OVER AND WORK TOGETHER.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD SESSION AND CONTINUING THAT WORK TOGETHER.

>>BILL: AND MOST OF THE BILLS THAT COME THROUGH THE SENATE ARE EITHER PASSED OR KILLED UNANIMOUSLY.

OCCASIONALLY THERE'S 1 OR 2 OUTLIERS, BUT WE GET TO FIGHT HARD ON A HANDFUL AND WHAT I THINK IS GREAT.

SENATOR WIRTH AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME, WE LIKE TO POKE AT EACH OTHER, BUT IT'S NOT PERSONAL, AND IT'S FUN.

BUT I STILL WANT TO FIGHT WITH HIM ON THE FLOOR SOMETIMES.

>>PETER: WELL, AND WE NEED TO DO THAT AGAIN, REAL BELIEFS AND THINGS WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT PASSIONATELY FOR.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL, YOU'RE BOTH GREAT PUBLIC SERVANTS.

OUR GUEST TODAY, OUR SENATOR WILLIAM SHARER, REPUBLICAN FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY AND DEMOCRAT FROM SANTA FE, PETER WIRTH, THANK YOU BOTH FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND, WE'LL HAVE A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND, ANYWAY, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>>BILL: THANK YOU.

>>PETER: THANKS, LORENE.

AND I'M LORENE MILLS.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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 THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

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