The Senate blew off some steam. Now it’s back to work. 

After several senators unloaded on Gov. Bill Richardson for calling the Legislature into special session, several of their colleagues stood up to advocate for staying in session.

"The discussion whether we need to be here should have taken place two days ago," said Sen. Clint Harden, R-Clovis.
br>One of the issues the Legislature will address in the special session, Harden said, is $200 million for the 2003 road construction program known as Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership. The money, if approved, likely will go toward paying for rural road construction projects across the state.

"We have enough work to keep us here," Harden said.

Sen. James Taylor, D-Albuquerque, agreed.

"We can threaten, make snide comments," Taylor said. "But we have a job to do."

Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, also stood up to support staying in session at the same time he acknowledged that he hasn’t always sided with the governor on issues.

"As has been stated, we have a constitutional obligation when we are here … to do what needs to be done," Sanchez told his colleagues. "That constitutional obligation should go past politics. The politics shold be left behind. Whether we can agree on it or not

This puts me in an "awkward position," Sanchez added. "I havent always been a favorite of the fourth floor. But we’re here. We are hare. We have an obligation to the people of this great state . Whether we like to be here or not is not the issue. Forget the politics for a while." 

It also appears that the Senate hasn’t seen the last of the idea of expanding health care to all kids. Several senators mentioned that the Senate likely would see a substitute legislation from the governor’s office.

At this point, the Senate is debating legislation that would provide $5 million to help provide relief from high fuel costs for the state’s school districts.

The House passed a similar measure on Saturday.