Legislative update 3/2

Greetings,

The budget bill was voted on in the house today.
It was approved in its existing state with the program limit at $45 million.

Brian Egolf introduced an amendment to restore the limit to $60 million.
The amendment was debated on our behalf by Al Park, James Magdalena, Eleanor Chavez, Moe Maestas, Gail Chasey.
We can also thank Ray Begaye, Richard Vigil, and Mimi Stewart for their positive contributions in debate.

The primary voices against the film industry were republicans Donald Bratton, Dennis Kintigh, Candy Ezzell, and Nora Espinoza,
We lost by 3 votes:  Democrats Sandra Jeff and Donna Irwin, and Andy Nunez (DTS) voted against us.
All the republicans voted against us.

Al Park introduced an amendment to move the effective date of the cap to July 1, 2013; this was tabled.
Park also introduced a motion to refer it back to committee; this was also tabled.

This vote revealed only 9 people that thought we should discuss it further in committee:
Eliseo Alcon, Gail Chasey, Eleanor Chavez, Brian Egolf, Moe Maestas, Rudy Martinez, Bill O'Neill, Al Park, and Mimi Stewart, who deserve a special thanks.

Ben Lujan said that he regretted not giving the film industry a voice in the decision to cut the program to $45 million.
Lujan voted to restore the program to $60 million, even though in committee, he approved of the $45 million and stated that "we will take what we get".
Sandra Jeff continues to vote against us, even after much effort on our behalf, including a pile of hand delivered letters from the native community.

We must focus our efforts now on the Senate.
Special thanks given ahead of time to Phil Griego, Peter Wirth, and Gerry Ortiz y Pino.