Civil Rights Bill Sparks Fear Of Financial Calamity From Local Governments Across New Mexico
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
SFNM
A civil rights bill that has sparked fears of financial calamity from local governments across New Mexico and ensnared the top-ranking Democrat in the state House of Representatives in an ethics complaint narrowly cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 5-4 vote late Wednesday.
The committee chairman and Senate sponsor of House Bill 4, Sen. Joe Cervantes, broke a tie vote after a nearly 2 1/2-hour discussion and debate on the contentious measure.
“Do I see a 4-4 vote?” the Las Cruces Democrat asked the committee secretary just before 9 p.m. “I vote yes.”