LAS CRUCES - Parents and grandparents of children who died from abuse and neglect filled the committee hearing room several years ago as Baby Brianna’s bill, a law toughening penalties for child abuse, was debated. They brought oversized photos of their lost children and personal stories of unbearable heartache.
After a bill to legalize medical marijuana had failed for the umpteenth time in the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, a frail, deathly ill woman stood up and wailed “Why are you trying to kill me?” as the stunned committee members stared at their shoes.
Those are just two examples from past years as to how passionate the debate can be during legislative committee meetings.