TURN OF EVENTS: HB356 ADVANCES TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE!

All the community members who attended Tuesday's committee meeting were very upset on how the meeting was conducted. It was obviously conducted very one-sided. Some of the community members re-grouped last night and decided that we had spoken our peace as it relates to our community situation but this was something much bigger. Therefore we had the statement below, ready to go in case we were asked to speak once more.

Many realize that this Bill may not be the solution, in fact it was stated that it may only force a very difficult and complex situation to be discussed by our state and federal leaders.

The few in our community that attended this morning were prepared for this Bill to get "tabled". The Chair, J. Roger Madalena stated that he would not let anyone speak further except one person that asked for more time on the opposed side. After a 25 minute presentation, the Chair spoke of the accusation of "conflict of interest" and said he was merely a member of Jemez Pueblo, a life long council member and not involved in the JMEC negotiations. He did not let anyone in the committee speak and stated how this Bill would separate communities and violate rights. He then announced he was tabling the Bill. Some of the committee members were shocked and asked why they were not given a vote. He refused until Representative Nate Gentry demanded a vote, stating that the Chair did not have the power to table without their vote once a bill was presented. It was seconded by Representative Alonzo Baldonando. A vote was taken and in seconds it passed to the next committee, which is Business and Industry.