Legislative roundup, Feb. 26, 2019

Feb. 26-- Feb. 26--Days left in the session: 18

Confirmed: The Senate on Monday voted 34-0 to confirm Jackie White as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

White, 44, previously worked as a captain for the Albuquerque Fire Department. She heads the agency responsible for coordinating the state's response to emergencies and natural disasters.

It is a big job in a state that has to grapple with wildfires, flash floods and the threat of terrorist attacks.

Moreover, the department courted controversy under the administration of then-Gov. Susana Martinez, coming under scrutiny amid financial problems and allegations that some staff forged training certificates.

White's first task may be providing some stability to an agency that has seen high turnover.

Born in Canada, White was an Olympic athlete for her home country, competing in softball in the Sydney Summer Games of 2000 and in Athens, Greece, in 2004.

White originally came to the state to play softball with the University of New Mexico team. She became a U.S. citizen in 2015.

Freshmen sing: With less than three weeks to go before the legislative session ends, you hear lots of comments around the Capitol that lawmakers are not moving quickly enough to get things done.

Nonetheless, the House of Representatives found time to offer up a couple of songs Sunday night courtesy of two freshmen legislators, Reps. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo, and Micaela Cadena, D-Mesilla.

It's long been a tradition in the House that when a new member introduces his or her first bill, he or she must sing a favorite tune.

Herrera chose The Impossible Dream, interspersing commentary between bars to tie the song's theme of persevering under difficult odds to include references to lawyers and lobbyists getting in the way of legislation. Cadena, accompanied on guitar by House Sergeant At Arms Lenny Roybal, sang a Spanish-English version of One Day at A Time.

Both legislators saw their bills clear the House. Herrera's would allow New Mexico residents to enter state parks for free on Sundays starting in November. Cadena's would require the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance to set minimum standards for benefits available under short-term plans, meaning those of less than three months.

The House has 19 freshmen, which means there may be more singing to come.

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