N.M. legislative session ends with nearly three-hour filibuster

[left-of-center2012]

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico's 30-day legislative session is over. Lawmakers wrapped up at noon. In the Senate,
Republicans killed a voting rights bill with a three-hour filibuster – after the House pulled an all-nighter trying to get that bill to the finish line.

The bill would have restored voting rights to felons, allowed 17-year-olds to vote in certain elections and create protections for poll workers. Republicans opposed the bill, and
Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, filibustered for nearly three hours – talking about baseball and the price of hotdogs. He ran the clock down, blocking the last critical vote to pass the legislation.

Democrats were upset with the outcome.

"Shameful," Speaker of the House Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said. "To deny an opportunity to New Mexicans to have easier access to the ballot, making a mockery of the process by reading rules of baseball. It's a joke, it's sad. He should be ashamed."

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/legislative-session-ends-with-nearly-three-hour-filibuster/6397061/?cat=500

[jimfields33]

1. Why add 17 year olds to vote? Unnecessary.

It would have passed otherwise.