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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Governor Could Miss Convention If Special Session Drags On


Associated Press
       SANTA FE — A slow moving legislative session could cause Gov. Bill Richardson to skip the Democratic National Convention next month.
    Richardson said Thursday he wouldn't attend the presidential nominating convention if the Legislature was still meeting in a special session.
    "I'll stay here. This is my priority," Richardson said at a news conference.
    The governor is calling lawmakers back to work in a special session starting Aug. 15. Richardson wants lawmakers to consider universal health care, economic assistance proposals, including a tax rebate, and highway financing.
    The Democratic convention is Aug. 25-28 in Denver. The special session could last seven to 10 days, according to House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe.
    The governor learned last year that presidential politics and special sessions don't always mix well. Richardson angered some lawmakers, particularly Republicans, when he left Santa Fe for an out-of-state presidential campaign trip shortly after the Legislature convened in a special session he had called.

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