Republicans block debate on Voting Rights Act in New Mexico Senate [View all]

Senate Republicans pulled a legislative maneuver Saturday to block debate on a governor-backed bill advocates say will expand voting rights in New Mexico but that opponents contend Democrats are using for political gain.

The procedure, a stalling tactic known as
a “call of the Senate,” requires every member of the chamber to be physically present in the Capitol for a bill to be considered.

Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, unleashed the maneuver on Senate Bill 8, known as the New Mexico Voting Rights Act, at the start of the floor session before the bill was even brought up for debate.
“Sergeant-at-arms, round up the members and lock the doors,” Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, who was presiding over the floor session, said after Brandt made the motion for a call of the Senate.

Around 3:30 p.m., Stewart said
Sens. Gregg Schmedes, a Republican from Tijeras, and
Jacob Candelaria, an independent from Albuquerque who has missed every day of the 30-day legislative session except one, could not be located. About two hours later, Stewart told senators Schmedes and Candelaria were still missing.

“We still have two senators that are not accounted for, not returning our calls and not contacting [the sergeant-at-arms] when she leaves them a message,” she said.