SENATE RESOLUTION 2

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Lynda M. Lovejoy

A RESOLUTION

AMENDING THE SENATE RULES TO REQUIRE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO PROPORTIONALITY AND FAIRNESS OF CERTAIN CUTS OR REVERSIONS.

     WHEREAS, Senate Rule 24-1 provides that the rules of the senate may be amended by a two-thirds' vote of all the members of the senate or by a majority vote of the members of the senate upon the recommendation of the rules committee; and

     WHEREAS, some in the senate propose to cut and revert tribal capital outlay projects without a full analysis of whether such cuts and reversions are proportional, fair, right or equitable; and

     WHEREAS, a budget based on a mistaken understanding of facts and history can be devastating to local populations relying on the legislature for its fair judgment of the merits of cuts to and reversions of capital projects; and

     WHEREAS, in general, the senate should be well-informed on the fairness and equity of budgets;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE

OF NEW MEXICO that a new Senate Rule 9-14 be adopted to read:

"9-14     The senate finance committee shall consider an analysis of and report on the per capita fairness of a cut to or reversion of funding for a capital project prior to producing a committee report on the bill proposing such a cut or reversion. The analysis shall be made by the legislative finance committee. The analysis shall consist of a comparison of the per capita fiscal impact upon the county in which the capital project is located with the per capita fiscal impact of other capital projects in the state's other counties.".

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