Legislative tidbits: Measure would prohibit texting while driving

Days remaining in session: 27

Now that was a short week:

Both the House and Senate, which began work on Tuesday, have recessed until Monday. For a look at which committees are meeting today, check out www.nmlegis.gov.

No more texting while driving:

Rep. Antonio Lujan, D-Las Cruces, is carrying a measure (HB 10) backed by Gov. Bill Richardson that would prohibit texting while driving and talking without a handsfree device statewide.

Under the proposal, most drivers would be able to use hands-free devices while behind the wheel, but public transport drivers such as school bus drivers would be prohibited from talking on the phone at all — something 17 states already have outlawed.

The measure is on top of hand-held cell phone bans in several cities, including Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

The bill makes the offense a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200.

Note to candidates: keep your originals

The Secretary of State’s Office is asking candidates to keep copies of their campaign finance reports dating back to October of 2009 as the office transitions to a new online filing system.

The system is expected to be available for filing in late March, the office says in a note on its Web site. The next campaign reports are due April 12.

“Once the new system is ready for deployment, Secretary of State personnel will assist individual candidates and campaign staff with uploading their data to the new (campaign finance reporting) system,” a message on the site says.

Although there don’t appear to be any bills related to the office and its chronic computer problems yet this session, expect lawmakers to be paying attention to how the transition to the new system works, given the years of glitches the system has faced.

Measure would prohibit certain campaign contributions:

Lobbyists and contractors would be prohibited from making campaign contributions to candidates or political committees under a measure carried by Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa.

The measure (HB 118) also prohibits people seeking targeted subsidies from making contributions.

The think tank Think New Mexico is supporting the measure and has said seven other states have laws banning contributions from contractors and lobbyists,

“This is a reform that will cost nothing to implement and will reduce the influence of lobbyists and special interests and strengthen the voices of regular New Mexicans in the political process,” Campos, a candidate for lieutenant governor said in a statement.

“Transparency in government is critical and removing donations from lobbyists, contractors, and potential contractors is a must.”

Get your Friday night Legislative fix:

If you haven’t had enough of the Legislature this week already, check out KNME-TV, Channel 5 on Friday. The New Mexico in Focus show will feature analysis of Richardson’s state of the state address by a panel of current former lawmakers. The show — usually on at 7 p.m. — will instead air at 9 p.m. this week only because of a special program on Haiti.

In addition, check out interviews with Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, and House Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, on Report from Santa Fe, which airs on KNME on Friday at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 a.m.

Looking ahead:

Members of the Catholic Church today will mark the 37th anniversary of the Roe V. Wade decision with a conference from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the auditorium of the Cathedral School. At noon, there will be a mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, followed by a 1:30 p.m. procession to the Roundhouse. At 2:30 p.m. Catholics will rally at the Capitol and visit legislators on pro-life issues.