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/> I AM DELIGHTED THAT OUR GUEST TODAY IS SENATOR PETER WIRTH, DEMOCRAT FROM SANTA FE DISTRICT 25, THE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER OF THE SENATE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>PETER: LORENE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>LORENE: I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS, BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT, WE DID INVITE SENATOR GREGORY BACA, WHO IS THE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER, BUT HE HAD TO CANCEL DUE TO ILLNESS, WE HOPE HE'S FEELING MUCH BETTER NOW.

BUT YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE SENATE FOR HOW LONG, 14 YEARS... >>PETER: SO IT'S ACTUALLY 16 YEARS, FINISHING UP THE LAST YEAR OF MY FOURTH TERM AND BEFORE THAT, LORENE, I WAS IN THE HOUSE FOR TWO TERMS.

SO IT'S UNBELIEVABLE, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE TO KIND OF GET MY HANDS AROUND 20 YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>>LORENE: WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE TALKING TO YOU, BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL.

WHEN YOU WERE IN THE HOUSE, YOU HAD MAX COLL'S SEAT, I MEAN WHEN HE RETIRED, YOU TOOK HIS SEAT.

AND IT'S REALLY PIVOTAL FOR YOU TO BE A SANTA FE LAWMAKER REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT IN THE WHOLE STATEWIDE BODY OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.

I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR MATERNAL GRANDFATHER.

>>PETER: SO MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER WAS JOHN GAW MEEM, THE ARCHITECT WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SOUTHWEST STYLE AND THE WHOLE HISTORIC CODE IN SANTA FE.

HE CAME TO NEW MEXICO IN 1920 WITH TUBERCULOSIS.

AND IT WAS FUN, WE ACTUALLY HAD A ZOZOBRA DAY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY WITH WILL SCHUSTER, WHO ALSO CAME TO SANTA FE WITH TUBERCULOSIS.

SO THIS INCREDIBLE DYNAMIC GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE TO RECOVER AND "DRY OUT" AND AGAIN, MY GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THOSE AND ACTUALLY STARTED HIS ARCHITECTURAL CAREER FROM HIS BED UP WHERE THE CARMELITES ARE NOW, THE SUNMOUNT SANATORIUM.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS AND TELL ME ABOUT YOUR OTHER GRANDFATHER.

>>PETER: SO, YEAH, MY OTHER GRANDFATHER.

>>LORENE: YOUR PATERNAL GRANDFATHER.

>>PETER: CECIL WIRTH, HE WAS A CAMP COUNSELOR AND MATH TEACHER AT THE LOS ALAMOS RANCH SCHOOL.

AND HE DIED WHEN MY DAD AND MY UNCLE TIM WERE VERY YOUNG, SIX AND TWO AND IT KIND OF TIED INTO THE WHOLE TRANSITION WHEN THE LOS ALAMOS RANCH SCHOOL WAS MOVED ALONG AND OPPENHEIMER CAME IN AND THAT WHOLE TRANSITION THERE.

BUT MY DAD IS NO LONGER ALIVE, ALWAYS LOVED THE FACT THAT HE WAS BORN IN DAWSON, NEW MEXICO, NOW A GHOST TOWN, MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS PART OF THE WHOLE PHELPS DODGE MINE IN DAWSON.

SO A LOT OF NEAT NEW MEXICO HISTORY.

>>LORENE: YEAH, WELL, YOU REPRESENT CURRENT HISTORY, TOO, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.

SO WHAT DOES A MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER DO AND WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF THE SENATE, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS REFERRED TO AS A MORE REFLECTIVE, WHAT DO THEY SAY, THE TEA COOLING OFF IN THE SAUCER, RATHER THE HOUSE IS A LITTLE MORE AGITATED PERHAPS, ENERGETIC.

SO WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF THE SENATE AND HOW DO YOU MANIFEST THAT YOURSELF, BUT HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THAT WONDERFUL BIPARTISANSHIP AND GENTLEMANLY AND LADYLIKE BEHAVIOR, VERY HIGH LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION AND DIALOG IN THE SENATE.

>>PETER: WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT, LORENE, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE DO TOWN HALLS LEADING INTO THE SESSION AND WE HAD A CONSTITUENT WHO CAME TO A TOWN HALL AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY AND WATCHING THE DYSFUNCTION IN WASHINGTON, HE JUST GAVE US A BIG SHOUT OUT FOR THE WAY OUR LEGISLATURE RUNS AND IT'S LEARNING TO, YOU KNOW, AGREE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

>>LORENE: EXACTLY.

>>PETER: YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY KNOWING THAT YOUR ENEMY ON ONE BILL IS GOING TO BE YOUR CO-SPONSOR ON THE NEXT.

THE NEW MEXICO STATE SENATE HAS QUITE A HISTORY AND IT HASN'T ALL BEEN PEACE AND CALM, TO SAY THE LEAST AND I GIVE HUGE CREDIT TO SENATOR MICHAEL SANCHEZ, MY PREDECESSOR.

I BECAME THE MAJORITY LEADER IN 2017, AND WE JUST, THERE WAS A REAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN BOTH SIDES.

STUART INGLE, WHO RETIRED THIS YEAR.

>>LORENE: YES, AFTER 40 YEARS.

WHAT A WONDERFUL MAN, I MISS HIM, TOO.

>>PETER: WE DEFINITELY MISS HIM.

I SAW HIM AT THE GOVERNOR'S PRAYER BREAKFAST, HE'S DOING GREAT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE TAUGHT ME AND HE AND MICHAEL SANCHEZ TAUGHT ME IS JUST THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING.

THE TWO LEADERS, IT'S TOO BAD THAT SENATOR BACA COULDN'T BE ON.

>>LORENE: I'M SORRY, TOO.

>>PETER: BUT HE'S DEALING WITH WHAT LOTS ARE IN THIS BUILDING, ALL THE ILLNESS GOING AROUND, BUT IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT THAT THE TWO OF US KIND OF COMMUNICATE.

AND SO I REALLY MAKE AN EFFORT TO NOT ONLY LET THE MEMBERS KNOW KIND OF WHAT THE ROADMAP LOOKS LIKE FOR THE NEXT DAY, FOR THE NEXT WEEK, BUT THEN ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH SENATOR BACA AND KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE FLOOR SCHEDULE, WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO BE HEARD, GIVE HIM A HEADS UP ON WHAT'S COMING.

AND IN THIS JOB, YOU ASKED ABOUT THIS JOB, OUR OFFICE REFERS ALL THE BILLS.

SO WE REVIEW THE BILLS, WE SEND THEM TO COMMITTEES, I HAVE INSTITUTED A POLICY OF KIND OF SHOWING MY REFERRALS TO SENATOR BACA AND HIS TEAM BEFORE WE INTRODUCE THEM, RATHER THAN HAVE A FIGHT ON THE FLOOR OVER REFERRALS.

THAT'S WORKED REALLY WELL.

AND THEN IT'S OUR JOB, EVERY NIGHT AFTER COMMITTEES ARE OVER, I SIT DOWN WITH MY STAFF AND PUT TOGETHER THE CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT DAY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TAKES A LOT OF KIND OF ARTICULATION AND THOUGHT ABOUT WHICH BILLS GET HEARD IN WHAT ORDER, MAKING SURE YOU'VE GOT DEMOCRATS BILLS, REPUBLICAN BILLS, KNOWING WHICH BILL IS GOING TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE, WHICH BILL BRINGS IT DOWN, IT'S KIND OF PUTTING TOGETHER AND CHOREOGRAPHING WHAT THE FLOOR WILL LOOK LIKE THE NEXT DAY.

>>LORENE: THAT'S A WONDERFUL TERM FOR IT.

AND I DO WANT TO TALK TO OUR AUDIENCE BECAUSE WE LOVE IT WHEN CITIZENS COME TO THE NEW MEXICO STATE CAPITOL AND WATCH THEIR GOVERNMENT IN ACTION.

IT'S ILLUMINATING, THERE ARE ALWAYS SCHOOL KIDS AND WOMEN'S GROUPS AND ALL OF THIS, BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND WHEN YOU DO HAVE THE SENATE CALENDAR, IT ISN'T THE BIBLE, IT IS NOT, SOMETIMES THERE ARE CHANGES THAT COME UP, SO DON'T THINK IT'S FIRST ON THE AGENDA, I'LL BE THERE AND IT'LL BE THE FIRST THING BECAUSE IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.

SO, I WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN AND I WANT THEM, THEY CAN FIND EVERYTHING ONLINE AT NMLEGIS.GOV, THEY CAN FIND THE SCHEDULES, THEY CAN FIND EVERYTHING, WE WANT THEM HERE, BUT REALIZE THAT IT'S MOVING, A LIVING ORGANISM, AND THIS IS A SUGGESTION, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, AN IDEA OF HOW THINGS MIGHT GO, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE CHANGE.

SO, I JUST WANT TO BE SURE PEOPLE COME DOWN.

>>PETER: I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT, LORENE AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE DID IT IN THE PAST WAS, YOU KNOW, I TRY AND START THE FLOOR AT 11:00 PRETTY CONSISTENTLY, AND THEN I DO, WHEN YOU REALLY KIND OF PUT TOGETHER THE ROAD MAP FOR THE NEXT DAY, I TRY TO STICK TO THAT.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, YEARS AGO I REMEMBER HAVING A BILL AND I HAD A UNM LAW PROFESSOR AS THE EXPERT WITNESS.

HE SAT FOR FIVE WEEKS OUTSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC CHAMBER BECAUSE THE BILL WASN'T BEING CALLED AND SO I THINK IT'S FAIR FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE MEMBERS AND FOR THE EXPERT WITNESSES AND THE GUEST IS TO PUT TOGETHER A LINEUP AND GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, I TRY TO STICK TO THAT AS WE GET TOWARDS THE END, WE DO GET SUPPLEMENTAL CALENDARS AND THINGS HAPPEN SUMMONED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND ALL THAT KIND OF FUN DRAMA THAT HAPPENS AS WE KIND OF WIND TO THE END AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.

>>LORENE: YES AND THE 30 DAY IS SO FAST, THE PACE IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SUGGESTIONS TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THE LEGISLATURE, MAYBE MEET FOR TWO 45 DAY SESSIONS OR TWO 60 DAY SESSIONS.

BUT TELL OUR AUDIENCE WHAT IS THE PURVIEW, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE BY THE CONSTITUTION SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED IN THE 30 DAY OR SHORT SESSION.

>>PETER: WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT THIS SESSION.

IT'S ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION FIVE, AND IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT APPROPRIATION AND REVENUE BILLS, SO THE BUDGET AND TAX BILLS ARE AUTOMATICALLY GERMANE, ITEMS THAT THE GOVERNOR ADDS TO THE CALL, SHE CAN ADD ANYTHING.

WE'VE HAD A LITTLE OVER 60 MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR, WHICH IS WHAT'S REQUIRED TO HAVE A BILL THAT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATION OR A TAX BILL AND THEN AN INTERESTING PROVISION THAT WE'VE BEEN DEBATING AND WHAT EXACTLY IT MEANS.

SECTION THREE UNDER THAT SAYS BILLS THAT WERE VETOED IN THE LAST SESSION AND THERE'S A DISCUSSION, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO DO AN OVERRIDE OR DOES IT MEAN YOU CAN REINTRODUCE THE BILL THAT WAS VETOED IN THE LAST SESSION AND TRY AND FIX IT TO OBVIOUSLY GET IT SIGNED.

SO THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY RESOLVED, BUT THOSE ARE THE THREE IN THE CONSTITUTION AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT'S A BIG ONE IS JOINT RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

>>LORENE: YES AND YOU'VE GOT A BIG ONE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE, BECAUSE PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGES OR CALL HAS BEEN PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND THE GUN BILLS.

>>PETER: YES.

>>LORENE: AND SO ONE OF THE SENATE JOINT RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 12 ASK THAT THE CONSTITUTION BE AMENDED, THE PEOPLE VOTE ON THIS, TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REGULATE FIREARMS MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE STATE LAW.

SO THAT WILL, IF THAT PASSES, THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT THEN FOR PEOPLE AND THE GUN ISSUES, THERE ARE SO MANY BILLS AND PEOPLE REALLY FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT THESE GUN BILLS.

SO ONE, I THINK YOU ARE A SPONSOR OF SB FIVE, RIGHT?

>>PETER: CORRECT.

>>LORENE: TELL ME WHAT THAT IS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.

>>PETER: THIS IS THE BILL WHICH I AGAIN, OF ALL BILLS IN THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION CYCLE, THIS ONE REALLY IS THE TOP OF THE LIST.

BUT IT WOULD BAN FIREARMS IN POLLING PLACES AND THE BILL CAME TO ME FROM CONSTITUENTS HERE IN SANTA FE WHO WERE INTIMIDATED BY VOTERS COMING WITH FIREARMS TO VOTE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF CRITICISM FOR THAT ON THE FLOOR.

THAT WAS WELL, THIS JUST CAME FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHAT ABOUT MY CONSTITUENTS.

IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING AND OF COURSE, IF I BROUGHT THIS BILL ON BEHALF OF SOME ADVOCACY GROUP, I WOULD HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR THAT.

BUT I JUST THINK IT'S COMMON SENSE AND LORENE, WE ALREADY BAN GUNS IN POLLING PLACES THAT ARE IN SCHOOLS, SO WHY WOULDN'T WE ALSO BAN THEM IN THE MALL WHEN YOU HAVE THE POLLING PLACE IN THE MALL.

AND WE WORKED VERY HARD IN THE COMMITTEE PROCESS TO LISTEN TO OUR REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS ON THIS, THE SENATORS, WHO HAD GOOD SUGGESTIONS, AND I THINK WE MADE SIX OR SEVEN AMENDMENTS TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS AND I THINK IT'S A MUCH BETTER BILL.

LAST YEAR, THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

SOMETIMES THINGS IF THERE'S A REASON THEY DON'T PASS AND SO I THINK THIS IS A MUCH BETTER BILL.

IT'S OVER IN THE HOUSE, I THINK IT'S GOT ONE REFERRAL ON THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, SO WE'RE HOPING THAT ONE GETS ACROSS THE LINE.

>>LORENE: AND ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS YOU MADE THAT PEOPLE COULD LEAVE THEIR GUN IN THEIR TRUCK AND THEY COULD COME IN AND VOTE.

BUT THESE DAYS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN SET PEOPLE OFF, YOU COULD BE INNOCENTLY A CITIZEN VOLUNTEERING IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNMENT TO HELP AND YOU COULD BE IN DANGER.

BUT WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH SENATOR PETER WIRTH, THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER GUN BILLS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

>>PETER: YEAH, SO WE'VE GOT A BIG ONE THAT WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT, WHICH IS A WAITING PERIOD, BOTH REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA ROMERO FROM SANTA FE AND SENATOR JOSEPH CERVANTES FROM LAS CRUCES, I HAVE A SENATE AND HOUSE VERSION OF THAT, BUT BASICALLY IT WOULD REQUIRE A PERIOD OF TIME FOR MOST INDIVIDUALS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CARVE OUTS AND AMENDMENTS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD THIS APPLY TO SOMEONE WITH A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT, BUT JUST REQUIRING A COOLING OFF PERIOD, A SUICIDE BY GUN IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND THIS BILL BASICALLY WOULD JUST GIVE THAT COOLING OFF PERIOD, WHICH I THINK MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

SO THAT'S ONE OF MANY.

THERE'S SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RED FLAG BILL THAT WE PASSED EARLY IN GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM'S TERM, FIRST TERM AND AGAIN, WE'LL SEE POTENTIALLY SOME OTHER BILLS ALONG THOSE LINES.

IT IS, THOUGH, I WANT TO SAY IT'S A BUDGET SESSION AND WE CAN'T FORGET, YOU KNOW, THAT WE NEED TO PUT A BUDGET IN PLACE.

THERE ARE $3.4 BILLION IN NEW MONEY, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THAT FRONT.

>>LORENE: WELL, I AM SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE MONEY, BECAUSE NEW MEXICO HAS $50 BILLION IN THE PERMANENT FUNDS.

IT'S THE 31ST LARGEST SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND IN THE WORLD, AND THAT INCLUDES THE LAND GRANT, PERMANENT FUND OF 30 BILLION, THE SEVERANCE TAX PERMANENT FUND, 9 BILLION, A LOT OF OTHER SMALLER FUNDS, BUT SO WE'RE SITTING ON $50 BILLION, AND YET NEW MEXICO RANKS 50TH, LAST, IN SO MANY IMPORTANT THINGS.

SO HOW CAN WE, IT'S JUST SUCH A DISPARITY, THIS MUCH WEALTH AND THE NEED IS SO GREAT.

AND EVEN THE HUNGER STATISTICS, HUNGER IS SO SCARY THAT THERE ARE 100,000 FOOD INSECURE CHILDREN IN OUR STATE AND ONE OUT OF EVERY SEVEN ADULTS HAS FOOD INSECURITY, ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE CHILDREN.

AND SO WE JUST WONDER HOW CAN WE MAKE THE RUBBER HIT THE ROAD, WE HAVE ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY AND THE NEEDS ARE SO GREAT.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO MANIFESTING THAT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF NEW MEXICO, IT'S NOT DOING ANY GOOD FOR NEW MEXICANS SITTING, ACQUIRING INTEREST.

>>PETER: YEAH, NO, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, LORENE, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US KIND OF STRUGGLE WITH, HERE IS THIS INCREDIBLE FUND AND YET EXACTLY AS YOU SAY, THE FRUSTRATION OF HAVING SO MUCH CHALLENGE TO MOVE US IN PLACES WE NEED TO MOVE POVERTY, EDUCATION, ETC.

I WILL SAY THAT IT DOES SPIN OFF A SET PERCENTAGE FROM THE FUNDS.

>>LORENE: OF INTEREST.

>>PETER: OF INTEREST AND IT'S NOT A SMALL LITTLE AMOUNT OF INTEREST, I MEAN, $2 BILLION IS BEING SPUN OFF FOR EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO.

ALSO, AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE DEBATED FOR YEARS, AND YOU HAD EXACTLY THE TENSION YOU'RE REFERENCING.

YOU HAD THOSE THAT FELT THIS FUND NEEDED TO STAY THERE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, DON'T TAP IT, AND THEN THE NEED TO HAVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND FOCUS ON OUR YOUNGEST IS SOMETHING THAT MANY OF US HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AND FINALLY WE DID HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WENT TO THE VOTERS AND PASSED WITH LARGE NUMBERS THAT WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND FOR K THROUGH 12.

VERY POSITIVE.

WHAT WE ARE DOING THIS YEAR, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL, SO WE HAVE $3.4 BILLION OF NEW MONEY.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GO CREATE $3.4 BILLION OF NEW RECURRING PROGRAMS.

>>LORENE: RECURRING, THAT'S WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

>>PETER: THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S THE MAGIC WORD.

AND SO I THINK WHAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEES HAVE DONE, WHICH IS NEW, IS THEY HAVE REALIZED THAT YOU CAN TAKE, WE CALL IT NOW MONEY, NONRECURRING MONEY, PUT IT INTO A NEW FUND AND MAKE IT FUTURE MONEY AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

SO SENATOR JOHN ARTHUR SMITH, WHO I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD ON YOUR SHOW BEFORE.

>>LORENE: OH YES, HE'S WONDERFUL, ONE OF OUR FINEST LAWMAKERS EVER.

>>PETER: AND I CAN REMEMBER IN 2020, IN MY OFFICE WHEN HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE IDEA OF CREATING AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TRUST FUND, HE TOOK $300 MILLION OF NONRECURRING, HE PUT IT IN THAT TRUST FUND, HE ALSO, THOUGH, ALLOCATED A PERCENTAGE OF THE OIL AND GAS TAX MONEY INTO THAT FUND THAT CERTAIN THRESHOLDS WERE MET.

WELL, LORENE, IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AS A RESULT OF THOSE THRESHOLDS, THAT FUND HAS GONE FROM 300 MILLION TO $5 BILLION.

SO THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND IT WILL SPIN OFF A PERCENTAGE EACH YEAR FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD.

THESE ARE THE TYPE OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO START MOVING THE NEEDLE ON ALL THESE ITEMS YOU POINT OUT.

SO TAKING NOW MONEY, MAKING IT FUTURE MONEY IS A BIG PHILOSOPHICAL CHANGE THAT YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET AND YOU KNOW, I'M DOING THAT ACTUALLY WORKING WITH STEVE NEVILLE ON A CONSERVATION ISSUE, ANOTHER FUND LIKE THAT.

>>LORENE: WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT, SB1, THE WATER TRUST FUND, AND ALSO SB 111 TO PROTECT THE STATE WATERS.

WHAT IS THE CONSERVATION LEGACY FUND, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE, AND WATER IS ONE OF THEM.

>>PETER: IT IS AND SO THE CONSERVATION LEGACY FUND WE CREATED LAST YEAR AND IT WAS EXACTLY THIS IDEA, HOW CAN WE TAKE ONE TIME MONEY AND CREATE A CORPUS THAT THEN SPINS OFF TO A WHOLE STRING OF EXISTING STATUTORY PROGRAMS, THINGS LIKE FOREST AND WATERSHED RESTORATION, RIVER STEWARDSHIP, YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION, PROGRAMS THAT GO THROUGH SIX DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

THEY WERE ALL ON THE BOOKS AND WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE A FUND THAT WOULD THEN SPIN OFF MONEY THAT WOULD BE RECURRING FOR THEM IN PERPETUITY.

LAST YEAR WE GOT $100 MILLION INTO THAT FUND, THIS YEAR WE HAVE $300 MILLION GOING INTO THE PERMANENT CORPUS OF THAT PLAN.

SO IT'LL HAVE $350 MILLION, WHICH WILL MEAN IT'LL SPIN OFF BETWEEN 15 AND $20 MILLION A YEAR, WHICH GETS ALLOCATED AMONGST ALL THESE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALL THE GOOD THINGS WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE JUST HAD TROUBLE GETTING RECURRING DOLLARS IN THERE AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT THAT WORKS.

>>LORENE: AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NOT SO POPULAR SOURCES OF WATER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REDEEM, SOME OF THE OIL AND GAS PRODUCING WATER THAT IS STILL WATER BUT IS CONTAMINATED AND THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF WATER, TOO, BRACKISH WATER, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND HOW ARE WE ABLE TO MAGICALLY SEE THE ALCHEMY, YOU KNOW, THE MAGIC OF ALCHEMY AND SCIENCE MAKE THAT POTABLE.

>>PETER: YEAH, SO IT'S IN THE LEVEL AT WHICH IT GETS TREATED IS ONE OF THE BIG DISCUSSIONS, BUT GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM HAS REALLY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING WITH BRACKISH WATER AND HER IDEA THIS YEAR WAS TO BASICALLY SET ASIDE SOME SEVERANCE TAX BONDING MONEY TO CREATE A FUND TO INCENTIVIZE THE TYPE OF INNOVATION THAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO BASICALLY MAKE BRACKISH WATER RISE TO A LEVEL OF NOT NECESSARILY PORTABILITY FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY.

SO GREEN HYDROGEN, WHEN YOU CONSTRUCT WIND TOWERS, IT TAKES A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER, YOU KNOW WHY IN THE WORLD ARE WE USING FRESHWATER FOR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>PETER: IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

NOW, PART OF THAT DISCUSSION HAS ALSO GOT INTO THE PRODUCED WATER FROM OIL AND GAS, THAT DOES CAUSE ME SOME RESERVATIONS, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL THERE.

SO THAT'S AN IDEA THAT'S KIND OF OUT THERE BEING EXPLORED, ONE OF MANY THINGS WE'RE DEALING WITH IN THIS SESSION.

>>LORENE: YEAH, IT'S AMAZING, I'M SO GLAD YOU'VE COME.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER BILLS THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OR OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING.

>>PETER: SO THE OTHER, YOU MENTIONED WATER AND THE OTHER SB1 IS ATTEMPTING TO PUT IN AN ADDITIONAL $100 MILLION INTO OUR WATER PERMANENT FUND.

THIS WAS CREATED UNDER GOVERNOR RICHARDSON IN 2006 WITH $40 MILLION, WE ADDED $15 MILLION IN 2007 AND THEN NOTHING UNTIL LAST YEAR.

FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR, WE PUT ANOTHER $100 MILLION IN AND IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT THAT SPINS OFF WATER FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE WATER PROJECT FUND, WHICH IS THE MONEY THE WATER TRUST BOARD ALLOCATES TO ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT WATER USERS, LARGE AND SMALL, AND SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CORPUS LIKE THAT FOR WATER, I JUST THINK IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, ONE OF THOSE INVESTMENTS NOW WE'RE MAKING THAT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>>LORENE: WELL, ESPECIALLY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE NOW, BECAUSE IT'S MANIFESTING ITSELF SO QUICKLY AND SO KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE WATER IS YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET, WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE LOOK FOR, BUT HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INVOLVED?

>>PETER: SO, YEAH, SO GOOD, TWO THINGS.

ONE IS ANOTHER THING I'M WORKING ON WHICH YOUR VIEWERS SHOULD KIND OF TUNE INTO BECAUSE IT'S AN OMNIBUS TAX PACKAGE.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE SOME PERSONAL INCOME TAX REDUCTIONS FOR THE MIDDLE BRACKETS AND THEN ALSO SOME ENVIRONMENTAL TAX CREDITS.

WE HAD A BILL LAST YEAR THAT WAS HUGE, OVER $1,000,000,000, AND THE GOVERNOR VETOED MOST OF IT, SO WE'RE WORKING HARD THIS YEAR BETWEEN BOTH CHAMBERS TO COME UP WITH A PACKAGE THAT WILL HAVE TAX RELIEF FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

IN TERMS OF GETTING INVOLVED, I LIKE TO SAY IT'S THE MOST ACCESSIBLE LEGISLATURE IN THE COUNTRY, I TELL MY CONSTITUENTS AT TOWN HALLS, YOU CAN COME RIGHT ON TO THE SENATE FLOOR BEFORE WE GAVEL IN AND BRING YOUR ISSUES TO ME AND I ALWAYS JOKE THAT I'D MUCH RATHER SEE MY CONSTITUENTS THAN THE LOBBYISTS WHO HAVE FIGURED IT OUT.

SO THEY ARE ALL DOWN WAITING FOR ME, BUT IF THERE'S CONSTITUENTS THERE, I ALWAYS TALK TO THE CONSTITUENTS.

>>LORENE: ABSOLUTELY.

>>PETER: AND PARTICIPATE.

THE THING IS, YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN HEARINGS, BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS SOMETHING WE VALUE.

AND SO AGAIN, YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS PROCESS AND I'VE SEEN BILLS CHANGE BASED ON INVOLVEMENT FROM CONSTITUENTS AND FROM THE PUBLIC.

>>LORENE: AND SO I WANT OUR VIEWERS TO GO NMLEGIS.GOV AND THERE'S A BUTTON, A LINK TO CLICK ON CALLED THE WEBCAST AND YOU CAN SEE EVERY COMMITTEE HEARING, YOU CAN SEE EVERY FLOOR SESSION AND IT'S SET UP SO THAT VIA ZOOM, YOU CAN ACTUALLY ASK QUESTIONS AT A COMMITTEE HEARING.

I MEAN, NEW MEXICANS, WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT YOU MAKE THIS SUCH A TRANSPARENT, THIS IS A STATE WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL CAN MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE, I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>>PETER: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME, I MEAN, IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT AND THE FIREARMS AND POLLING PLACES CAME TO ME RIGHT FROM CONSTITUENTS.

AND OVER THE 20 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PASS A LOT OF DIFFERENT BILLS, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE PERHAPS THE MOST MEANINGFUL ARE THE ONES WHERE CONSTITUENTS CAME WITH A PROBLEM, WE WORKED ON A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION AND GOT IT DONE.

SO IT'S JUST SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S ALL OF US, WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND I NEED TO HEAR FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT VOICES I REPRESENT AND ALL THE VOICES AROUND THE STATE.

I ASSURE YOU, I GET LOTS OF EMAILS AND CALLS, ETC.

>>LORENE: AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE SITTING AROUND THE DINING ROOM TABLE SAYING THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW, WELL THEN DO THE NEXT STEP, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AND IT'S VERY EASY TO FIND OUT WHO YOUR LAWMAKERS ARE, JUST GO ONLINE TO NMLEGIS.GOV AND THEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY WRITE THEM AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL HERE HAS SUCH AN EFFECT ON OUR GOVERNMENT.

SO I KNOW YOU WERE VERY, VERY OPEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND OTHER PEOPLE'S CONSTITUENTS, THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW, YOU KNOW, AND THEN YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>>PETER: THAT'S THE PROCESS AND AGAIN IT'S FUN TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, TO SEE OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WORK.

AND I JUST THINK THAT YOU TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE BIPARTISANSHIP IN THE SENATE, I MEAN, LAST YEAR WE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION AND SENATOR BACA AND I WERE NAVIGATING THROUGH THE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ISSUE AND BOY, IT TOOK EVERY OUNCE OF EVERYTHING THE TWO OF US HAD AND THE GOVERNOR HAD TO KIND OF GET TO A COMPROMISE ON THAT.

WE HAD REPUBLICANS WORKING ON THE PATH TO TAX PACKAGE AND IT JUST WASN'T ONE PARTY, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HAVE THE NUMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATS, BUT I JUST THINK THAT YOU NEED TO LISTEN AND WHEN YOU LISTEN, YOU GIVE THE MINORITY A CHANCE TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS, THAT'S HOW WE MAKE BETTER LEGISLATION.

>>LORENE: ONE THING THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM MY YEARS OF HAVING THE OFFICE IN THE CAPITOL IS THAT OUR LAWMAKERS ARE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT WILL HELP BRING IT TO YOUR LAWMAKER.

SO WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME, I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR COMING HERE.

OUR GUEST TODAY, SENATOR PETER WIRTH, A DEMOCRAT FROM SANTA FE, WHAT IS YOUR DISTRICT?

>>PETER: 25.

>>LORENE: DISTRICT 25.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU'VE COME AND INVITED OUR CITIZENS TO GET MORE INVOLVED AND TO TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON.

>>PETER: THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE, >>LORENE: YOU BET, YOU BET, THANK YOU.

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