‘It is not a good use of taxpayer dollars’: Some New Mexico lawmakers still against special session

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Monday is just three days away from the special session on public safety, and tension in the Roundhouse is brewing.

Democratic lawmakers held a news conference on Monday saying, it’s a waste of time and taxpayer money to hold the special session at this point.

They’re claiming after they had just weeks to look over the bills, and there isn’t any consensus on how to move forward.

Leading Democratic lawmakers at New Mexico’s state capitol took a moment Monday afternoon to applaud the governor: “We appreciate the important issues that the governor has raised, calling this special session, particularly around the nexus of behavioral health care and public safety,” stated Speaker of the House Representative Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque).

However, the praise ended there: “As state lawmakers, we also have a constitutional duty as a separate and coequal branch of government to fully consider the legislation that comes before us and the potential impact it may have on New Mexicans,” Martinez went on.

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Martinez claimed over the past few weeks since the special session was announced, legislators have spoken with stakeholders—like law enforcement, judges, and advocates—at length about the five proposed bills relating to public safety and crime.

“Unfortunately, what several weeks of these meetings and conversations have also shown us is that the proposed policies are not the kind of meaningful solutions that we need right now.”

This is in opposition to what Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham told News 13 on Friday —saying, lawmakers have had months to go over this proposed legislation.

The proposals include changes to the court system regarding commitment and mental competency; increased penalties for felons with guns; making it illegal to stand on certain kinds of medians on busy roads; and requiring data sharing from law enforcement and other agencies across the state.

Leaders of the Democratic House and Senate said there is no consensus on these bills.

“Special Sessions only work when the bills are cooked. We thought we had an agreement with the governor when she first indicated she wanted to call a special [session], that she wouldn’t proceed unless there was consensus. The governor went ahead and called that session, called this session, before we had even started working on these bills; that’s certainly her prerogative,” stated Majority Floor Leader Senator Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe).

“We have worked hard to try and find bipartisan consensus on the bills that were proposed. As the speaker said, we’re just not there,” Wirth says.

What lawmakers do agree on is that there isn’t enough time. “We do not believe these concerns can be effectively remedied in a very condensed special legislative session,” Martinez says.

“It’s simply too important to rush into this and risk harming that will take up more of our time down the road to unwind and repair,” expressed President Pro Tempore Senator Mimi Stewart, (D-Albuquerque).

Lawmakers said, without that consensus, there’s a risk this special session could go on for many days. “It is not a good use of taxpayer dollars; it is not a good use of time for any of us,” Martinez claimed.

With the legislative and executive branches at odds over this special session, it begs the question: what happens now?

“It’s the governor’s prerogative, and she has the right, and we will be here on Thursday; we’ll be here on Thursday, and we’ll see what the proclamation looks like, and we’ll proceed accordingly from there,” Wirth said.

Meanwhile, Senate and House Republicans are ready to get to work and even want to introduce more bills during the special session.

“Once again, progressive Democrats have failed to take the New Mexico crime problem seriously. House Republicans are prepared with a tough-on-crime package and are ready to work. New Mexicans are relying on their elected officials to ensure their safety. However, this chaos in the Roundhouse is disheartening and leaves New Mexicans feeling less secure than ever.”

Representative Rod Montoya, House Republican Leader (R-Farmington)

“Despite all of the voices of detractors on the prospect of improving our state, anything we can do to make our families safer is worth our time. We have many bills we are ready to introduce during this special session that we believe would make a measurable impact in the lives of the people of our state and we are ready to work with anyone to meaningfully address public safety.”

Senator Greg Baca, Senate Republican Leader (R-Belen)

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