>>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

WE ARE JUST STARTING THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WE ARE HONORED TODAY AS A SPECIAL GUEST TO HAVE THE SPEAKER OF THE NEW MEXICO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN EGOLF.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>>BRIAN: WELL IT IS MY PLEASURE AND IT HAS BEEN A FEATURE OF MY SERVICE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO BE WITH YOU EVERY FEW YEARS AND I AM GLAD THAT WE CAN DO IT, I WISH WE COULD DO IT TOGETHER IN YOUR STUDIO AS WE HAVE BEFORE BUT THIS IS THE NEXT BEST THING.

IT IS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>>LORENE: IT IS WONDERFUL AND LET ME POINT OUT YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT FROM SANTA FE AND YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE HOUSE SINCE 2009.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE CANNOT BE IN OUR STUDIO TOGETHER TALKING IS BECAUSE WE ARE SUFFERING SO MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF LOCKDOWN BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE IS A LOT OF VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH PROTOCOLS AND THEN WITH THE THREAT OF CIVIL UNREST AFTER THE INSURRECTION AT THE NATIONAL CAPITOL, WE ARE LOCKED DOWN LEST SOME ROWDY PEOPLE TRY TO COME AND ATTACK OUR CAPITOL TOO.

SO ONE OF THE REASONS, SINCE YOU ARE IN A WAY ONE OF OUR HOSTS IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING, WOULD YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS SESSION LOOKS AND OPERATES DIFFERENTLY.

TELL US WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE PUBLIC, NOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS NOT ALLOWED TO COME IN AND I GRIEVE FOR THAT, NOT TO COME IN BUT FOR HEALTH REASONS WE CAN'T.

SO TELL US WHAT IT MEANS TO THE PUBLIC THE WAY WE HAVE TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY?

>>BRIAN: YEAH, WELL, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD HAVE EVERYONE SAFELY IN THE BUILDING.

WE STARTED THIS PROCESS THINKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC, OF THE STAFF AND OF LEGISLATORS AND IN THAT ORDER.

WE COMMISSIONED THE LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY TO DO A BUILDING SPECIFIC STUDY OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING AND THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO HAVE THE PUBLIC IN THIS BUILDING IN A WAY THAT IS SAFE.

SO WE HAVE HAD TO CLOSE IT TO THE PUBLIC.

WE HAVE ALWAYS PRIDED OURSELVES ON HAVING THE MOST ACCESSIBLE LEGISLATURE IN THE COUNTRY, SO THIS IS A BIG CHANGE.

BUT IT IS DONE AS YOU SAID, CORRECTLY, FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS.

WE ARE ADOPTING A FEW NEW CHANGES TO MAKE THIS AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE CAN'T BE PHYSICALLY HERE.

ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES IS ALL OF OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS NOW WILL OPERATE ON ZOOM AND THAT MEANS THAT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC FROM ANYWHERE, NOT JUST IN THE STATE, BUT REALLY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND A COMMITTEE MEETING, OFFER COMMENTS, SPEAK TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND OFFER TESTIMONY ABOUT ANY BILL THAT IS BEFORE THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE IS DOING THE SAME THING.

SO IT MEANS YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO STAND IN THE ROOM WITH THE LEGISLATORS AND TALK ABOUT A BILL, BUT IF YOU LIVE IN SILVER CITY OR HOBBS YOU CAN AVOID THE FIVE OR SIX HOUR DRIVE TO SANTA FE, STAY HOME AND SPEAK TO THE COMMITTEE THAT WAY.

WE ARE ALSO ADDING WAYS FOR COMMITTEES TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST A PHONE LINE, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED A COMPUTER OR A SMART DEVICE.

AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MEETINGS IS ON THE AGENDAS THAT WE PUBLISH AT THE LEGISLATURE'S WEBSITE.

YOU JUST PULL UP THE LIST OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS, FIND A COMMITTEE THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AND THERE IS A CLICKABLE ZOOM LINK ON THE AGENDA AND YOU WILL BE RIGHT INTO THE COMMITTEE JUST LIKE THAT.

>>LORENE: AND LET ME ADD, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO WRITE THIS UNDERNEATH HERE, TO GET TO THE LEGISLATIVE WEBSITE, YOU GO TO WWW.NMLEGIS.GOV THERE IS A TAB TO CLICK FOR WEBCAST, THERE IS A TAB TO CLICK FOR THE CALENDARS FOR ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND SO DON'T BE PUT OFF BY THIS.

ONCE YOU HAVE DONE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT IS EASY AND YOU CAN ALSO WRITE LETTERS, YOU CAN WRITE EMAILS ALTHOUGH THEY GET AN AWFUL LOT OF THOSE AND YOU CAN TELEPHONE AND YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ZOOM CONFERENCES WHICH MOST PEOPLE ARE ALREADY DOING WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR AT WORK.

SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, IT WAS A TOUGH CALL BUT WE ARE NOT OVER THIS PANDEMIC YET AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HAVE REALLY SCIENTIFIC PUBLIC HEALTH RULES AND TO KEEP US ALL SAFE AND THEN NEXT YEAR I HOPE EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE AGAIN.

SO YOU, DAMON ELY, AM I SAYING HIS NAME RIGHT, THE HOUSE PARLIAMENTARIAN PUT UP SOME RULES FOR THE VIRTUAL SESSION AND IT WENT TO THE RULES COMMITTEE, BEING A RULE, THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES ABOUT THIS AND I FOLLOWED THIS VERY CLOSELY.

I WATCH THE ARGUMENTS, BUT TO ME HEALTH HAS TO COME FIRST, HEALTH HAS TO COME FIRST.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT WHERE THAT STANDS, I THINK IT IS COMING ON THE FLOOR ON MONDAY TO BE VOTED ON WHETHER WE WILL HAVE THESE RULES AND GIVE US A LITTLE THUMBNAIL SKETCH.

>>BRIAN: SO THE RULES PACKAGE WILL BE ADOPTED MONDAY AND IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO MAKING SOME COMMON SENSE, SIMPLE CHANGES TO HOW WE OPERATE SO THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE AS INVOLVED AS POSSIBLE AND SO THAT THERE WILL BE AS MUCH TRANSPARENCY AS TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW.

SO WE WILL HAVE MEMBERS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN A FLOOR SESSION WHEN WE ARE VOTING ON BILLS, THEY MIGHT WANT TO BE OFF THE FLOOR BUT IN THEIR CAPITAL OFFICE OR THEY MIGHT WANT TO BE AT HOME IN LAS CRUCES OR IN FARMINGTON.

THE RULES THAT WE ARE ADOPTING WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SECURE MEANS FOR THEM TO VOTE REMOTELY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE DEBATE AND PARTICIPATING.

IT IS CHANGE AND SOME OF THE FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE I THINK RESISTING CHANGE JUST FOR SAKE OF RESISTING CHANGE.

WE DID HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF THE RHETORIC OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT CASTING DOUBT ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PANDEMIC OR THE NEED TO WEAR MASKS AND STAY PHYSICALLY APART, WHICH WAS UNFORTUNATE TO HEAR THAT FALSE RHETORIC AND THOSE MISTRUTHS REPEATED, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON ON THE 6 OF JANUARY AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS BUT THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT LINGERING AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET THAT SLOW US DOWN AND WE ARE GOING TO MEET ON MONDAY AND GET THESE NEW RULES ADOPTED AND GET RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS.

>>LORENE: I HAVE A COUPLE OF LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING NOTES I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT.

RUMOR HAD IT THAT DURING THE LAST TWO SPECIAL SESSIONS THAT THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO REFUSED TO WEAR MASKS IN THE FLOOR SESSIONS, IS THAT TRUE?

>>BRIAN: WELL, THEY DIDN'T REFUSE TO WEAR THEM, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD YOU KNOW LET THEM SLIP AND I OFFERED SOME GENTLE REMINDERS TO EVERYONE THAT THEY HAVE GOT TO HAVE A MASK ON AND IT HAS TO COVER THEIR MOUTH AND THEIR NOSE WHEN THEY ON THE FLOOR EVEN WHEN THEY ARE DEBATING.

AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING MEMBERS NOT TO EAT ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE, OF COURSE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF YOU ARE WEARING A MASK.

WE HAVE ALSO PUT UP PLEXIGLASS BARRIERS, BETWEEN ALL THE SEATS ON THE FLOOR, FOR THOSE MEMBERS WHO INSIST ON BEING PRESENT, SO THAT THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURE IN PLACE.

>>LORENE: TWO OTHER RUMORS I NEED DISPELLED.

THERE WAS A RUMOR THAT BOTH HOUSES MIGHT PUT A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT THE LAWMAKERS COULD INTRODUCE JUST SO THAT IN A 60-DAY ALL SORTS OF THINGS COME UP AND IT CAN BE A DISTRACTION AND TAKE A LOT OF EXTRA TIME IS THAT TRUE OR FALSE?

>>BRIAN: IN THE HOUSE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LIMIT AND IT IS GOING TO BE FIVE BILLS PER MEMBER.

NOW THERE MAY BE SOME MEMBERS WHO INTRODUCE MORE THAN FIVE AND THESE ARE SORT OF LIKE SLOTS SO I, FOR EXAMPLE, DON'T INTRODUCE BILLS ANY LONGER BECAUSE I SERVE AS SPEAKER.

SO I WILL GIVE MY FIVE ALLOTTED BILL SLOTS TO OTHER MEMBERS AND THIS IS REALLY BECAUSE OPERATING REMOTELY PRESENTS MULTIPLE LAYERS OF COMPLEXITY AND MAKES THE PROCESS MORE DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE STAFF IF WE COULD REALLY WORK TO PRIORITIZE BILLS, YOU KNOW, THAT NEED TO GET INTRODUCED AND PASSED AND HEARD.

AND LEAVE THE OTHER ONES THERE MIGHT BE A SECOND OR THIRD TIER OF IMPORTANCE FOR A LATER SESSION.

>>LORENE: THEN MY LAST QUESTION ALONG THESE LINES IS MEMORIALS.

THERE WAS ALSO A RUMOR THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE MEMORIALS TO THE BASKETBALL TEAM AND TO THE, I KNOW THERE ARE LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO BE MEMORIALIZED BUT IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

IS THERE A LIMIT ON MEMORIALS?

>>BRIAN: WELL, THE FIVE BILL LIMIT IS REALLY A LIMIT ON FIVE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO USE ONE OF YOUR SLOTS FOR A MEMORIAL, YOU KNOW, THAT IS UP TO THE MEMBER TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY RELUCTANT TO PUT MEMORIALS UP FOR A VOTE ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF FLOOR TIME IN THIS SESSION BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE PREFERENCE, THE STRONG PREFERENCE FROM THE MAJORITY IS THAT WE SPEND OUR TIME PASSING BILLS NOT DOING MEMORIALS AND A NUMBER OF THE CEREMONIAL THINGS THAT WE DO, WE ARE NOT GOING TO CANCEL THEM, BUT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO POSTPONE THEM FOR THE SESSION THIS FALL ON REAPPORTIONMENT.

SO THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE LIKES EVERY YEAR LIKE YOU KNOW AG FEST OR THE PRESENTATION FOR THE NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE AND THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE HALLMARKS TO THE SESSION, YOU KNOW, GALLUP MCKINLEY COUNTY DAY AND LAS CRUCES DAY.

>>LORENE: NATIVE AMERICAN DAY, AG FEST.

>>BRIAN: AG FEST AND AMERICAN INDIAN DAY, WE ARE LOOKING AT MOVING THOSE TO SEPTEMBER SO THAT WE CAN ALL HOPEFULLY BY THAT POINT, WE WILL ALL ABLE TO BE TOGETHER IN A NORMAL TYPE SETTING AND IT WOULD BE NICE FOR THE CEREMONIAL THINGS TO OCCUR DURING THE REDISTRICTING SESSION.

>>LORENE: AND JUST ONE MORE THING, REMIND PEOPLE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MAKEUP OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.

>>BRIAN: THAT'S RIGHT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN THE HISTORY OF NEW MEXICO AND ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE IS A MAJORITY OF WOMEN.

SO THAT'S NEVADA BEAT US TO THAT BY TWO YEARS, BUT IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC, IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR EFFORT UNDER OUR CAMPAIGN SIDE OF THINGS TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN WOMEN TO RUN CAMPAIGNS AND RUN FOR OFFICE.

IT HAS BEEN A CENTRAL GOAL FOR ME TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE HOUSE AND HERE WE ARE, IT IS FANTASTIC, I BELIEVE, I NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK, BUT I THINK A MAJORITY OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS ARE WOMEN.

I JUST APPOINTED ANGELICA RUBIO FROM LAS CRUCES TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE SO I THINK THAT PUTS US OVER HALF.

BUT ALSO OUR APPROPRIATIONS, OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS AND OUR JUDICIARY COMMITTEES ARE ALSO CHAIRED BY WOMEN.

SO WE HAVE GOT A GREAT AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY'S LEADERSHIP ON THE FLOOR ARE ALL WOMEN OF COLOR AND NEW MEXICO IS THE FIRST STATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO ACHIEVE THAT.

>>LORENE: WELL, GOOD FOR US.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN EGOLF WHO IS THE SPEAKER OF THE NEW MEXICO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE ARE TAPING EARLY IN THE SESSION AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET ORIENTED.

I ALSO URGE YOU IF YOU WANT TO GET PERSONAL UPDATES FROM THE SPEAKER, IF YOU GO TO LOOK FOR HIM ON FACEBOOK HE DOES REALLY GOOD SUMMARIES AND KIND OF UPDATES SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THE LAST ONE THAT YOU HAD UP THERE YOU SAID, I ASK WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR THE SESSION AND YOU SAID RECOVERY, RECOVERY, RECOVERY, SO WHAT ARE THE SESSION PRIORITIES?

>>BRIAN: WELL THAT IS IT, I AM GLAD THAT THE MESSAGE STUCK.

RECOVERY, RECOVERY, RECOVERY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME THIS SESSION.

AND WE TALK ABOUT RECOVERY IN HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND THE ECONOMY.

THE HEALTHCARE RECOVERY THE NEEDS ARE EVIDENT THAT WE NEED MORE INVESTMENT IN VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, WE STILL NEED TO KEEP UP WITH OUR TESTING REGIME AND FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS NEED SUPPORT.

AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LEGISLATION THAT WILL HOPEFULLY PASS AND GIVE THEM A BIT OF A FINANCIAL BOOST AS WELL, SO THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, I HAVE GOT TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I AS THE SPOUSE IN OUR HOME THAT IS MOSTLY AT HOME OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, I CAN TELL YOU THAT DISTANCE LEARNING DOESN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO BEING PHYSICALLY IN THE CLASSROOM WITH FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES.

I WANT THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL JUST AS QUICKLY AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

SO THERE WILL BE LEGISLATION TO TRY TO ACCELERATE THE RETURN TO SCHOOL BUT TO DO SO IN A SAFE WAY AND WE ARE HOPEFUL WE WILL START TO SEE TEACHERS GETTING VACCINATED SHORTLY, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE SCHOOL REENTRY SOONER AND EASIER AS WELL.

AND THEN ON THE ECONOMY, WE HAD TWO SPECIAL SESSIONS LAST YEAR ONE IN JUNE, ONE IN NOVEMBER THAT PUT NEARLY A BILLION DOLLARS INTO NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY EITHER THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS, EXTREMELY LOW INTEREST LOANS TO SMALL BUSINESSES, EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES, WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT IN THIS SESSION WITH MORE.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK TO MAKE CHANGES TO LEDA, WHICH IS OUR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT, TO ALLOW THE RELIEF GRANTS TO BE GIVEN TO BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM SECTORS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY DEVASTATED BY THE DROP IN TOURISM AND BY THE INABILITY TO HAVE IN-RESTAURANT DINING SO IT WILL GIVE HELP TO THEM.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER ROUND OF DIRECT SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS AS WELL AS SOMETHINGS THAT WOULD ALLOW RESTAURANTS TO ADD AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TO ITEMS THAT WOULD BE DELIVERED TO A PERSON'S HOME.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE SINCE JUNE, I THINK WE WILL GET THAT DONE AND JUST GENERAL CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION.

IT IS GOING TO BE A KEY POINT ALONG WITH EXPANDING OF BROADBAND IN A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY THIS SESSION.

THE THREE AREAS OF RECOVERY, IN EACH ONE WE SEE THE LACK OF ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY AND HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN NEW MEXICO AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOP FOCUS FOR US IN THIS SESSION.

>>LORENE: WELL SO I SEE TWO ELEMENTS HERE IN RECOVERY, RECOVERY, RECOVERY.

YOU HAVE GOT THE SHORT-TERM IMMEDIATE HELP TO NEW MEXICANS WHO ARE HUNGRY, WHO ARE IMPERILED OF LOSING THEIR SHELTER, WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THE WHOLE CARES ACT THING WAS REALLY HELPFUL AND I AM GLAD THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BUILD ON THAT.

BUT STEPPING BACK AS A BROADER PICTURE, I SEE THAT ALL THESE ELEMENTS ARE STEPS TO LONG-TERM BUILD NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY AND TO HELP US RECOVER ON ALL THESE LEVELS, IT IS NOT JUST A SHORT-TERM FIX.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE, THANKS.

>>BRIAN: YEAH, WE HAVE GOT TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS BUT ALSO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND YOU KNOW WE WILL SEE OVER TIME, THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A DRIVING FORCE OF OUR ECONOMY FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, THAT THAT INDUSTRY MAY NOT CONTINUE TO OFFER THE SAME SORT OF ECONOMIC BENEFITS IN A LONG TERM BASIS.

IN A STATE WHERE DEPENDING ON THE YEAR, BETWEEN 35 AND 50 PERCENT OF OUR STATE BUDGET COMES FROM OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS, EITHER THROUGH DIRECT OR INDIRECT TAX AND SEVERANCE PAYMENTS.

WE HAVE GOT TO FIND ADDITIONAL INDUSTRIES TO BEGIN TO REPLACE THAT REVENUE BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY AND HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ALL THE THINGS THAT A STATE GOVERNMENT DOES.

WE NEED TO FIND A NEW WAY TO PAY FOR THAT AND END OUR RELIANCE ON A SINGLE INDUSTRY FOR NEARLY HALF OF OUR STATE'S BUDGET.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE INVESTING IN AEROSPACE, THAT IS WHY THE SPACEPORT IS SO CRITICAL FOR OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

FILM AND TV, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE SEEN NETFLIX IS NOW UPGRADED ITS PRESENCE HERE.

WE HAVE GOT A BIG NEW INVESTMENT THAT STARTED FROM AMAZON AND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS BUT THERE IS MORE GOOD NEWS TO COME ON THAT.

WE HOPE THAT WE EXPANDED FOOTPRINT THERE, BUT WITH FILM AND TV, AEROSPACE, BIOTECH, THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STATE.

WE HAVE, I THINK FOR TOO LONG, THOUGHT OF OURSELVES AS A POOR STATE THAT CAN'T ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS AND THE REALITY IS THE OPPOSITE.

NEW MEXICO HAS EVERYTHING WE NEED TO BE THE NEXT "IT" STATE IN THE COUNTRY WHETHER IT IS OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, OUR GREAT PEOPLE, WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY ENJOY TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.

IT JUST TAKES FOCUS AND DETERMINATION AND FOLLOW THROUGH AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THESE THINGS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

NOTHING WOULD MAKE ME HAPPIER THAN IN 10 YEARS THE WORLD WOULD SEE THAT OIL AND GAS IS FIVE PERCENT OF OUR STATE REVENUE AND WE HAVE GOT OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO A VERY DIVERSIFIED REVENUE STREAM FOR OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.

>>LORENE: WELL NEW MEXICANS ARE TOUGH AND RESILIENT AND VERY, VERY CREATIVE SO WHEN YOU PASS THEM THE BALL, THEY ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO RUN WITH IT.

BUT I WANT YOU TO TAKE THE BALL THIS TIME BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR OWN PERSONAL PRIORITIES FOR THIS SESSION.

>>BRIAN: SURE.

WELL, ONCE WE HAVE DEALT WITH COVID RECOVERY, I AM GOING TO BE SPENDING A LOT OF MY TIME THIS SESSION WORKING ON THE NEW MEXICO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

NEW MEXICO'S CONSTITUTION HAS QUITE A FEW AREAS WHERE THE RIGHTS GRANTED BY THE STATE CONSTITUTION ARE BROADER OR MORE PROTECTIVE THAN THE RIGHTS GRANTED OR RECOGNIZED BY THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO ENFORCE IT, SO IF YOU SUFFER A LOSS OF YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION, YOU DON'T GET YOUR DAY IN COURT.

I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN WRONGED, IF GOVERNMENT MISCONDUCT HARMS YOU IN SOME WAY OR TAKES AWAY YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK, YOUR RIGHT TO PRACTICE YOUR RELIGION, YOUR RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS OF LAW, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COURT AND HAVE THAT WRONG CORRECTED.

EVERYONE WANTS THEIR DAY IN COURT BUT NEW MEXICO LAW SAYS, "RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE."

SO THE NEW MEXICO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND WILL ALLOW CLAIMS TO BE BROUGHT IN STATE COURT SO THAT PEOPLE WHO SUFFER WRONGDOINGS DON'T HAVE TO GO TO FEDERAL COURT, IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

THE CASES CAN COME TO OUR STATE HERE AND IF WE DO THINGS LIKE PASS THE GREEN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION OR WANT TO SEEK ENFORCEMENT OF PROVISIONS OF STATE LAW, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WITH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, IF THERE IS A FEDERAL PROHIBITION UNDER THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION ON ABORTION AND A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A NEW MEXICO CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN PLACE SO THAT WE ESTABLISH UNDER OUR STATE CONSTITUTION THAT A WOMAN HAS A RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND ACCESS THE FULL RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

BUT UNLESS WE HAVE A CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO I THINK IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE AND I AM WORKING WITH GEORGENE LOUIS, THE CHAIR OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE ACOMA PUEBLO AND JOSEPH CERVANTES, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, IS OUR SENATE SPONSOR.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM PUT TOGETHER AND WE ARE GOING TO START MONDAY EXPLAINING TO MEMBERS WHY WE THINK THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND WHY WE THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PASSED.

>>LORENE: IT'S CRITICAL AND IT'S INCREDIBLY TIMELY.

>>BRIAN: IT IS.

>>LORENE: WITH ALL THE VOTING STUFF THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND ALL THE SHELL GAMES, FEDERALLY, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE US ENFORCE OUR OWN LAWS HERE, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WELL, LOOK, I WOULD LIKE US TO END WITH ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO GET INVOLVED IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES.

WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THE PANDEMIC, WE DIDN'T ASK FOR THE THREATS OF VIOLENCE AND CIVIL UNREST, BUT TOGETHER, WE CAN WORK THROUGH THIS.

NEW MEXICANS ALWAYS DELIGHT AND ASTONISH ME WITH THEIR RESILIENCE AND THEIR COURAGE AND THEIR PASSION.

SO I WANTED AGAIN TO SAY IF YOU GO TO WWW.NMLEGIS.GOV, YOU WILL FIND WONDERFUL MENUS.

YOU CAN GO TO EVERY COMMITTEE HEARING, SEE THE VOTES ON THE FLOOR, WE ARE NOT SHUTTING YOU OUT, WE JUST HAVE TO BE SURE EVERYBODY IS SAFE.

SO GIVE US A CALL TO PARTICIPATE, WOULD YOU MR. SPEAKER?

>>BRIAN: PLEASE.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AGAIN, IT IS VERY USER FRIENDLY.

OUR WEBSITE AND I AM ACTUALLY A BIT OF LEGISLATIVE NERD, I LOOK AT THE WEBSITES OF OTHER STATES' LEGISLATURES, OURS, I THINK, REALLY IS THE BEST.

IT ALSO HAS A FEATURE WHERE YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO FIND A BILL YOU CAN SEARCH FOR BILLS BY TOPIC, BY KEYWORD, IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO DO SO.

AND YOU CAN JUST WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, SIGN UP AND GET ALERTS TO YOUR EMAIL IN BOX ANYTIME A BILL IS SCHEDULED IN COMMITTEE OR FOR VOTE ON THE FLOOR, IT MAKES IT VERY EASY TO FOLLOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THAT'S ALSO WHERE YOU GO TO THE MAIN PAGE, CLICK THE LINK THAT SAYS, WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND IT WILL SHOW YOU ALL THE MEETINGS, ALL THE SCHEDULES OF THE COMMITTEES AND ON THE FLOOR AND IF YOU CLICK ON THE WEBCAST, IT WILL SHOW YOU EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING LIVE THAT YOU CAN WATCH AS WELL AS ALL THE RECENT RECORDINGS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND FLOOR SESSIONS, IF THE LIVE BROADCASTS DON'T FILL YOUR NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES.

BUT IT IS VERY EASY TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WAY AND WE VERY MUCH WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THIS IS A SESSION UNLIKE ANY OTHER, NO ONE, MYSELF INCLUDED, WANTS TO DO THIS BY ZOOM, NO ONE WANTS THE BUILDING TO BE CLOSED RIGHT NOW, NO ONE WANTED FOR THERE TO BE RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T WANT BUT WE HAVE TO DO THEM BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, LORENE, THEY ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

OVER 400,000 AMERICANS ARE DEAD FROM COVID-19 WITH A TERRIBLE PREDICTION THAT BEFORE WE GET TO THE END OF FEBRUARY, IT IS GOING TO BE HALF A MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL HAVE DIED FROM THIS DISEASE, IT MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

BUT, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONTINUE AND DO OUR WORK AND WE WERE ELECTED TO COME TO SANTA FE OR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SESSION SO THAT WE CAN DO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING ON THIS INTERVIEW.

THE PEOPLE NEED SOME HELP, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE IT AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET THE PANDEMIC CANCEL OUR SESSION AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET A BUNCH OF INSURRECTIONISTS AND RIOTERS GET IN THE WAY OF US DOING OUR WORK.

AND WE WILL DO IT SAFELY AND WE WILL DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AND SO PLEASE, AGAIN, WWW.NMLEGIS.GOV, SWING ON OVER AND GET SIGNED UP AND GET INVOLVED.

>>LORENE: AND JUST REMEMBER THAT PUBLIC INPUT, YOUR INPUT, IS A VITAL PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

SO WE WANT YOU AND YOU CAN ALWAYS WRITE A HANDWRITTEN LETTER AND MAIL IT TO YOUR LAWMAKER IF YOU ARE REALLY OLD SCHOOL.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GUEST TODAY, MR. SPEAKER, BRIAN EGOLF, FROM SANTA FE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FILLING US IN ON ALL OF THIS.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE LAWMAKERS WHO COME HERE, REMEMBER IT IS A VOLUNTEER LEGISLATURE AT SOME RISK TO THEIR HEALTH AND THEY INVEST THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR SOULS AND ALL THE STAFF IN THE CAPITAL AND ALL THE WONDERFUL SECURITY AND STATE POLICE, YOU KNOW WE ARE WELL PROTECTED HERE AND I JUST WISH US ALL THE BEST.

THANK YOU, >>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

>>ANNOUNCER: REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO, AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO BELIEVE THAT INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE, FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM