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>> MANY THINGS PASSED IN THE SESSION BUT MANY THINGS DID
NOT. AMONG THE MOST NOTABLE FAILS,
A NEW GAMING COMPACT WITH THE NAVAJO NATION; A BAN ON
SELLING E CIGARETTES TO MINORS, AND AN ONGOING EFFORT
TO TAP THE STATE'S LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND FOR EARLY
CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. EFFORTS TO REFORM CHILDREN,
YOUTH AND FAMILY DEPARTMENT MOSTLY FAILED AS WELL, DESPITE
THE HIGH PROFILE DEATH OF NINE YEAR OLD OMAREE VALDEZ.
YOU COVERED THE SESSION FOR THE GALLUP INDEPENDENT.
NAVAJO PRESIDENT BEN SHELLY SAID THE COMPACT FAILED TO
SHOW RESPECT FOR FOLKS OUT THERE, TO HIS PEOPLE.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN, THOUGH, FOR THE TRIBE NOT GETTING THIS
COMPACT. WHAT WAS ON THE LINE HERE FOR
THIS COMPACT? >> WELL, TO THEM THEY HAVE
PLANS THAT NEED TO GO FORWARD. THEY NEED TO BORROW MONEY.
THEY NEED TO GET FINANCING SO A LOT OF IT IS BUSINESS BUT
WHAT HAPPENED, THE HEARINGS, TO ME, SAID A LOT.
I THINK AND I HAVE WRITTEN THIS IN A COLUMN.
I THINK THE NAVAJOS GOT A RAW DEAL.
I THINK THE OTHER GAMING TRIBES WHO HAVE COMPACTS ARE
UP FOR NEGOTIATIONS ALSO GOT A RAW DEAL.
AND, WHAT YOU HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE HEARINGS WAS
TEMPLATE. THIS WORD KEPT COMING UP AND
FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE ADMINISTRATION CHOSE TO
NEGOTIATE ONLY WITH THE NAVAJOS.
NOW, MAYBE THEY WERE THE MOST WILLING TO NEGOTIATE, MAYBE
THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, FIRST OUT OF THE CHUTE, BUT, BY
NEGOTIATING WITH ONE, IT SET UP ENORMOUS MISTRUST WITH THE
OTHERS. AND, SO, THEY FELT LIKE THEY
WERE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH WHATEVER THE NAVAJOS
NEGOTIATED. AND THE REALITY IS THEY ARE
VERY DIFFERENT GROUPS AND PUEBLOS ONE FROM THE OTHER.
THEIR FACILITIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
SOME OF THEM HAVE DESTINATION RESORTS, SOME OF THEM JUST
HAVE LITTLE FACILITIES LIKE ACOMA THAT PULLS TRUCK DRIVERS
OFF THE ROAD. SO, THEY SHOULD HAVE COMPACTS
THAT REFLECT ALL OF THEIR NEEDS AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE
SAW AND WHAT DID HAPPEN WAS THAT THE OTHER TRIBES PUT UP
AN ENORMOUS RESISTANCE. AND A VERY EFFECTIVE
RESISTANCE. THE WAY IT ALL SHOOK OUT WAS
THAT YOU HAD -- IT PITTED ONE TRIBE AGAINST THE OTHER WHICH
I REALLY HATE TO SEE THAT. YOU KNOW.
I HATE TO SEE THAT. IT IS VERY SAD AND I THINK THE
ONLY WAY THIS IS GOING TO WORK IS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO
COME BACK AND SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE WITH
EVERYBODY. YOU KNOW.
SO, THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE COMPACT THAT THEY NEED.
NOW THE NAVAJOS STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BUT THEY
ARE REALLY PUSHING THE LIMIT AND IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO
THEM TO GET THAT DONE THIS SESSION.
>> IT SEEMS FRAUGHT FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN WITH THAT
SET UP YOU JUST MENTIONED DEALING WITH ONE TRIBE, OF
COURSE, THE OTHER TRIBES ARE GOING TO REACT AND THAT WOULD
CAUSE A GOOD BIT DIFFICULTY, SHADES OF GARY JOHNSON A FEW
YEARS AGO WHEN ALL THIS STARTED.
>> HAVING NEGOTIATIONS WITH POJOAQUE.
THEY BROKE DOWN BECAUSE POJOAQUE FILED A LAWSUIT LAST
SUMMER OR LAST FALL. >> EXACTLY RIGHT.
IT IS INTERESTING, RACHEL, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE
THINGS THAT DID NOT PASS. E CIGARETTES, INTERESTING, I
THOUGHT THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE, AUTOMATICALLY, OF COURSE, THEY
ARE GOING TO DO THIS. WHAT HAPPENED THERE?
>> THAT ONE, I THINK, JUST THAT AREA HAS SEEN SUCH
EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, SUDDENLY, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HEAR
EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT THE POPULARITY OF E CIGARETTES.
SO I THINK PROBABLY THAT WAS JUST SUCH NEW GROUND IN A LOT
OF WAYS, PROBABLY ONE THAT IS GOING TO SHAKE OUT FOR A
WHILE. >> I WAS SURPRISED THAT
DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T HEAR ANY GREAT OUTCRY AGAINST THE BILL.
IT HAD BIPARTISAN SPONSORSHIP AND, USUALLY, SOMETIMES WHEN
THERE IS SOMETHING NEW IT SCARES PEOPLE -- REMEMBER A
FEW YEARS AGO, 30 YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY PASSED LEGISLATION
AGAINST CLOVE CIGARETTES AND THEY GOT VERY LITTLE DONE THAT
SESSION BUT THEY DID BAN CLOVE CIGARETTES, BY GOLLY.
I THINK IT PROBABLY WILL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
>> SOME PEOPLE WHO USE E CIGARETTES TO QUIT CIGARETTES,
I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM, BUT MINORS ARE ANOTHER THING
ALTOGETHER. IT IS A DIFFICULTY BUT THEY
HAVE THEIR PLACE IT SEEMS IN SOCIETY.
>> WE STARTED TO TOUCH ON THIS, EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION, I AM INTERESTED ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ANGLES,
WHERE LEADERSHIP CAME OUT ON THIS.
IS IT GOING TO REAPPEAR? MY GUESS IS I AM SURE IT WILL,
BUT AGAIN IN AN ELECTION YEAR, DOES THIS HELP OR HURT
SOMEBODY NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THIS THROUGH?
>> A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT ON THE
BALLOT TO BRING OUT VOTERS AND IT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE FEEL
PASSIONATELY ABOUT IN THE SENATE.
JOHN ARTHUR SMITHY IN THE SENATE FINANCE, LEADING THE
OPPOSITION, BUT OTHERS AS WELL, FEELING THAT RAISING THE
DISTRIBUTION FROM THAT PERMANENT FUND TO 7% WOULD BE
TOO HIGH. THERE IS DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER
WE NEED IT NOW FOR THESE PROGRAMS OR SAVOR IT FOR THE
FUTURE. I THINK THAT ONE WILL BE BACK
AND THERE IS STILL -- ALSO, THE DISTRIBUTION RATE FOR THAT
FUND IS SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, I BELIEVE,
TO LOWER RATES. SO THERE IS KIND OF A SEPARATE
DEBATE ON WHETHER TO KEEP THAT CURRENT RATE IN PLACE OR LET
THAT IT GO DOWN. >> ON THE SAME SUBJECT,
INTERESTINGLY, SEEMED LIKE A MILLION YEARS AGO, EARLY ON
STATE CHAIRMAN SAM BREGMAN WEIGHED IN ON THIS ARGUMENT
AND THE REACTION -- BASICALLY SAYING, PARAPHRASING THEM,
JOHN ARTHUR SMITH SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT BEING A
REPUBLICAN, CAN'T QUITE GET ON BOARD WITH THIS.
INTERESTING TO WATCH THE BODY PROTECTING ITSELF.
>> FIRST DAY OF THE SESSION, MICHAEL SANCHEZ MADE A SPEECH
ABOUT THAT AND OTHER SENATORS, OTHER MEMBERS, KIND OF ALSO
SAYING THEY DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE ATTACKS AGAINST SENATOR
SMITH AND USED THAT AS DEFENSE FOR THEIR VOTES.
>> IT IS INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT THAT DUST UP, BECAUSE I
CAN'T IMAGINE THE PARTY CHAIRMAN, YOU KNOW, IT IS A
BEDROCK THING FOR DEMOCRATS, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE DYNAMICS HAVING THE STATE
PARTY CHAIR IN THAT MANNER, WAS IT EFFECTIVE?
>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBABLY SAID, WELL, THAT IS
SAM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HE IS JUST A GUY WHO IS KIND OF OUT
THERE. HE IS VERY OUTSPOKEN.
BUT, HE REALLY DID STEP IN IT AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE THEM
RALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR EACH OTHER AND THERE WERE A LOT OF
DEMOCRATS WHO THOUGHT THAT WAS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE BUT, YOU
KNOW, WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT IT IS MORE OF AN URBAN-RURAL
ISSUE. OUTSIDE OF THE RIO GRANDE
CORRIDOR THOSE PERMANENT FUNDS ARE SACRED.
PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS DO NOT WANT TO TAP THE FUND AND THE
LAST TIME THEY HAD TO VOTE ON IT, THE VOTING WAS VERY STARK.
THEY WERE OPPOSED IN RURAL AREAS.
THEY WERE IN SUPPORT OF IT IN ALBUQUERQUE AND SANTA FE AND
LAS CRUCES, IF I RECALL. I THINK THE KERFUFFLE WAS
REALLY JUST KIND OF BREGMAN AND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
ABLE TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW. >> SHERRY'S RIGHT ABOUT THE
FACT IT WASN'T JUST LEGISLATORS, DEMOCRATS, COMING
TO JOHN ARTHUR'S AIDE ON THAT, A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THE
SESSION, I SAW FORMER GOVERNOR TONY ANAYA AT THE ROUNDHOUSE,
I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE"?
HE SAID, "I AM GOING TO GO DOWN AND SEE SENATOR SMITH AND
TELL HIM I SUPPORT HIM." >> THE BODY DOES PROTECT
ITSELF. VERY INTERESTING.
CYFD HAD NEEDS AND ISSUES, A LOT OF THINGS THAT FOLKS WERE
LOOKING AT, KIND OF A MIXED BAG COMING OUT OF IT FROM
CYFD'S PERSPECTIVE. A LOT OF LEGISLATORS WANTED TO
KNOW METRICS, TRACKING NUMBERS, ALL THAT KIND OF
THINGS. THAT TAKES MONEY TO DO THESE
THINGS. >> UH-HUH.
>> ELECTION YEAR, WHERE DO WE STAND ON CYFD.
AND WHAT COULD FOLKS EXPECT? >> THAT IS A TOUGH ONE WITH
SUCH AN EMOTIONAL CASE, SO MUCH IN THE HEADLINES, WITH
THE OMAREE CASE. I THINK IT IS TOUGH TO COME
OUT OF THE SESSION AND NOT POINT TO A LOT OF DECISIVE
ACTION AT A TIME LIKE THAT. >> KIND OF BOUNCED AROUND IN
THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE SESSION.
>> I AGREE, SOME OF THAT, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO HAVE
KNEE JERK RESPONSE AND KEY ISSUES ARE DEEPLY ROOTED.
YOU'RE TALKING STAFFING LEVELS, RECRUITMENT,
RETENTION, NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,
IN THE JOB AND PAY THEM ENOUGH MONEY.
THOSE ARE THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE OVER NIGHT.
I THINK PEOPLE WOULD FEEL BETTER IF YOU COULD PASS A LAW
THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN, BUT
PROBABLY NOT THAT EASY. >> LESS THAN 30 SECONDS,
CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS ON MARIJUANA.
INTERESTING, LEGISLATORS HERE SAID, WE NEED TO WATCH
COLORADO BEFORE MAKE A DECISION HERE.
>> OKAY, I AM GLAD YOU SAID THAT, WHAT WAS INTERESTING
ABOUT THAT WAS WITHIN A DAY OR SO OF THE GOVERNOR OF COLORADO
ANNOUNCING THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE 30 MILLION MORE IN TAXES
THEY ORIGINALLY PROJECTED, IT IS LIKE, I WOULD IMAGINE
PEOPLE WATCHING THAT WOULD GET YOUR ATTENTION.
WHERE IS MARIJUANA IN NEW MEXICO AT THIS POINT?
>> I SHOULD MENTION, I AM A NATIVE COLORADOAN, SO, I HAVE
BEEN WATCHING THIS CAREFULLY AND ONE OF THE THINGS
COLORADO -- >> 10 SECONDS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS COLORADO DID FIRST IS THAT THEY HAD A
GOOD SOLID PROGRAM OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND I THINK WE NEED
THAT GROUNDING HERE AS WELL BUT AS FAR AS THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, I THINK THAT ACTUALLY WAS A PLOY
TO HAVE A REASON TO DRAW YOUNGER VOTES INTO THE NEXT
ELECTION. AND, I HAVE HEARD DEMOCRATS
SAY THAT, NOT ON RECORD. >> ABSOLUTELY.
IN A MINUTE BACK TO LOOK AT HOW POCKETBOOK ISSUES AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS FAIRED AT THIS LEGISLATIVE
SESSION.