Our legal counsel is currently dissecting every aspect of both our bill and the governor's bill. They control who sits on which committees. They decide which committees hear what bills and, whether they like to admit or not, they each command at least a handful of votes. They can kill a bill by banishing it to hostile committees, or they can sit on it and refuse to put it on the calendar. Special issues, those backed by powerful legislators or high-dollar businesses, get special treatment.
Special bills hurdle committees.
Amendments are discouraged. Chits are called in. The gambling bill is very special. If it passes, it is all but guaranteed that horse racetracks and veterans and fraternal clubs will be allowed to plug in slot machines. It could bring millions of dollars a year in taxes to New Mexico, the tribes would be able to keep the casinos that have brought some their first prosperity, the struggling racetracks could cling to life a little longer.