Sen. President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, just sat down after giving a speech that stopped the Senate cold. Jennings, who often clashes with Gov. Bill Richardson, basically wondered aloud in sometimes colorful language what the Legislature is doing in Santa Fe.

"This whole process is just plain screwed up," Jennings said. "I just wonder why we are here. I have no earthly idea. Other than for political purposes of this governor. Damnit it is true. We all know it. But we’re too afraid to say it."
 

Many around the Capitol, whether Democrat or Republican, will tell you in the hallways that they believe the governor called the Legislature into special session to give him some good news as he heads into the Democratic National Convention in Denver, where he is scheduled to speak.
 

Jennings said that the $58 million health care expansion bill actually did nothing because the kids it is purported to cover already are covered. "They only need to be signed up," Jennings said.

Jennings continued: "I am going to sit here and am going to decide whether I am going to vote for anything," Jennings said. "The only thing  that could help people is rebates. Everything else in this call is not necessary. And that’s where we are. I think we should look at what we’re doing here."

Jennings continued:

"Everything we talk about is for show. What’s really bad is when I stood up I didn’t intend to say this," Jennings said. "I think we need to stop and do something very simple. What we are doing is almost a fraud on the public."

After Jennings sat down, Sen, John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, stood up and continued the attack on the governor.

"He is leaving. You are staying," Grubesic said . Don’t trust the governor on this thing," said Grubesic. "Ther is nothing bold about this legislation. It’s a rip off."

Grubesic finished by saying that accepting on faith the administration’s argument for the health care expansion bill "is like accepting a dinner invitation from Hannibal Lecter."

Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque, agreed with Jennings and Grubesic and said that one of the reasons the Legislature is here is because "the governor has a speech to make and he wants a headline."