SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on a special legislative session in New Mexico (all times local):
12:40 p.m.
The New Mexico Legislature has adjourned from a special legislative session without considering a measure to reinstate the death penalty and other criminal justice initiatives backed by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
The Democrat-led Senate adjourned Thursday without taking up stricter sentencing provisions approved by the House or Representatives.
New Mexico repealed the death penalty in 2009. Martinez and allies in Legislature have pushed for stricter criminal sentencing as a response to the recent killing of two police officers and the August sexual assault, killing and mutilation of 10-year-old Victoria Martens in Albuquerque.
Many Democrats said it was inappropriate to consider the weighty issue of capital punishment during an abbreviated special session.
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12:20 p.m.
The New Mexico Legislature has approved a package of budget solvency measures aimed at closing a major budget deficit.
The New Mexico House of Representatives adjourned Thursday after approving a package of budget solvency measures that were quickly confirmed by the Senate.
The deficit reduction plan would shore up the state’s general fund by cutting agency spending by $172 million, sweeping money from agency accounts, collecting money from stalled construction projects and closing tax incentive loopholes.
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6:00 a.m.
The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved a bill to reinstate the death penalty.
The House voted 36-30 on Thursday morning after deliberating through the night on whether to restore capital punishment by lethal injection for killers of police, children and corrections officers.
The Democrat-controlled Senate has yet to take up the issue during a special legislative session aimed at closing a major state budget shortfall. The Senate adjourned last week after approving a slate of solvency proposals and returns to Santa Fe on Thursday.
New Mexico repealed the death penalty in 2009. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez is pushing for stricter criminal sentencing in response to the recent killing of two police officers and the August sexual assault, killing and mutilation of 10-year-old Victoria Martens in Albuquerque.
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3:10 a.m.
The New Mexico House of Representatives is debating whether to reinstate the death penalty by lethal injection for killers of police, children and corrections officers.
The debate began Thursday in the pre-dawn hours. Democratic lawmakers protested the decision to hold the floor debate without advance notice at a time when most people are asleep, and were overruled.
The Legislature has been working long hours this week to fix a major state budget shortfall.
It was unclear whether the Democratic-controlled Senate would consider the capital punishment bill when it reconvenes Thursday morning. The Senate adjourned last week after approving a slate of solvency proposals.
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2:10 a.m.
Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives are protesting efforts to open deliberations on reinstating the death penalty in the early morning hours after midnight without prior notice.
House Republicans prepared Thursday to take up consideration of a bill to restore the death penalty for convicted killers of police, children and corrections officers. Democrats described the timing of the floor debate as a maneuver to avoid public scrutiny.
New Mexico repealed the death penalty in 2009. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and allied lawmakers are pushing for stricter criminal sentences including the death penalty in response to the recent killing of two police officers and the sexual assault, killing and mutilation of a 10-year-old girl in Albuquerque.
The Legislature is meeting in a special session to address a major budget shortfall.
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