NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is slamming state lawmakers leading her own party. Vetoing a handful of bills on Friday, the governor claimed Democrats wasted their time on license plates and naming a state bread while ignoring or rushing serious issues like crime and tax reform. “We came into this legislative session ready to move quickly to deliver results on public safety,” said Rep. Javier Martinez, Speaker of the House.
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After ending the legislative session, Democrats said they were happy with the bills passed, especially around crime. But on Friday, it’s a different and defiant tune from the governor. She vetoed three Senate bills, including making the tortilla the state bread, and new low rider and New Mexico United license plates.
The governor said those bills are an example of what the legislature shouldn’t be focused on. She said at one point in a veto message that, “this was not just a misuse of opportunity, it was a misuse of time and priorities.”
However, some lawmakers say this hasn’t been an issue before. “We did the smell last year in a 30-day session, and so was the governor quoting that as a waste of time when she signed that into law? I don’t think so. I mean, she’s come full force around,” said Senator George Muñoz (D) Gallup.
A key Democrat on the budget committee, Sen. Muñoz, challenged the idea that lawmakers didn’t accomplish a lot this session. “The legislature rose to the occasion in the first 30 days of the session. We did behavioral health, we did a crime package. and we did that within the 30 days and got it to her desk; those weren’t bills that she introduced,” said Sen. George Muñoz.
The governor also vetoed a House tax bill, criticizing it as “thrown together,” but Senator Muñoz said the governor wasn’t perfect either after she didn’t introduce many crime bills herself. “I think there’s a little looking in the mirror before you can say the legislature didn’t do their work,” said Sen. Muñoz.
KRQE News 13 reached out to both House and Senate leaders on Friday, but they weren’t available. House Democrats sent this statement pushing back against some of the governor’s assertions:
House Democrats entered this session with a clear focus on improving public safety, making life better and more affordable for your family, and improving child well-being. We worked quickly and efficiently in the 60-day session to deliver an integrated crime package and other public safety solutions, rebuild New Mexico’s behavioral healthcare system, lower costs for families, and make critical reforms to CYFD.
We made significant progress on these goals, but are disappointed that some important measures did not get across the finish line this year, including our balanced approach to juvenile justice that passed the House but died on the Senate Floor. Additionally, the Governor vetoed legislation to eliminate state income taxes for over 100,000 hardworking New Mexicans, expand tax cuts for hundreds of thousands more, and provide tax credits for foster parents. However, our work to address the issues facing New Mexicans does not start or end with the legislative session, and will continue in the months ahead.
It is the responsibility of the legislature, as a separate and equal branch of government, to thoroughly vet and pass laws that will impact New Mexicans’ lives. House Democrats take that responsibility seriously and we know that the people of our state are better served by a careful, thoughtful approach to lawmaking than a reactionary one.
We also believe that encouraging young people to participate in the legislative process and honoring New Mexico’s unique culture and heritage are worthy of time and attention. These occasional moments of civic engagement and celebration do not detract from our work to address pressing issues.
“House Democrats entered this session with a clear focus on improving public safety, making life better and more affordable for your family, and improving child well-being. We worked quickly and efficiently in the 60-day session to deliver an integrated crime package and other public safety solutions, rebuild New Mexico’s behavioral healthcare system, lower costs for families, and make critical reforms to CYFD.
We made significant progress on these goals but are disappointed that some important measures did not get across the finish line this year, including our balanced approach to juvenile justice that passed the House but died on the Senate Floor. Additionally, the Governor vetoed legislation to eliminate state income taxes for over 100,000 hardworking New Mexicans, expand tax cuts for hundreds of thousands more, and provide tax credits for foster parents. However, our work to address the issues facing New Mexicans does not start or end with the legislative session and will continue in the months ahead.
It is the responsibility of the legislature, as a separate and equal branch of government, to thoroughly vet and pass laws that will impact New Mexicans’ lives. House Democrats take that responsibility seriously, and we know that the people of our state are better served by a careful, thoughtful approach to lawmaking than a reactionary one.
We also believe that encouraging young people to participate in the legislative process and honoring New Mexico’s unique culture and heritage are worthy of time and attention. These occasional moments of civic engagement and celebration do not detract from our work to address pressing issues.”
Camille Ward, House Democrats Spokesperson