HEADING TO THE GOVERNOR: A $6.2 billion budget was passed by the New Mexico House of Representatives on Wednesday.
By Rob Nikolewski │ New Mexico Watchdog
SANTA FE – After nearly a week of concern that a budget deal was in jeopardy, the New Mexico Legislature passed a compromise measure on the day before the 30-day legislative session ended.
On a 58-8 vote on Wednesday afternoon, the House of Representatives passed a budget about 16 hours after the state Senate unanimously passed a $6.2 billion set of appropriations that will now head to the desk of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
“There is something in this budget for everyone,” said Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela, D-Santa Fe.
“This is what you call compromise,” said Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, who last week voted against the original House version of the budget, which ended up getting blocked in a 34-34 tie and led to the compromise plan to come out of the Senate instead.
The budget bill sets aside $17.5 million in educational programs favored by Gov. Martinez. There is nearly $7.3 million for initiatives — such as merit pay for teachers — although there is question about the language in the bill that would allow local school districts to opt out of those programs.
Martinez has the right to line-item veto portions of the budget bill and has 20 days to review the legislation sent to her desk.
New Mexico Watchdog sent an email to the governor’s office for its reaction to Wednesday’s vote. As soon as we hear back from them, we’ll post their response. Update 6:01 p.m.: Enrique Knell, spokesman for Martinez, emailed New Mexico Watchdog: “The Governor has met regularly with legislators from both parties since the beginning of the session to discuss budget priorities and details and she appreciates the willingness of legislators to find middle ground and believes this budget represents a good compromise. This budget properly prioritizes the importance of investing in education reforms and key job creation efforts, as well as efforts to expand New Mexico’s healthcare workforce in rural areas. Of course, as noted yesterday, the Governor remains concerned about the overall spending growth in this budget and its adverse impact on the state’s reserves and will evaluate the budget line-by-line, as New Mexicans expect.”
All eight votes against the budget on Wednesday came from Republicans.
House Minority Leader Don Bratton, R-Hobbs, was concerned about the amount of spending in the bill and Rep. Jimmie Hall, R-Albuquerque, was worried there are “not adequate monies for emergency supplementals” to help rural school districts. Hall eventually voted yes, though.
While he voted in favor of the budget, Rep. Larry Larrañaga, R-Albuquerque, said he didn’t like trend showing a reduction in the percentage of the state’s cash reserves.
“We gotta get an overload permit because this truck is weighted down,” Larrañaga said. “I hope we’re more careful next year and in coming years.”
Under the budget passed Wednesday, state employees — including public school teachers — will receive a 3 percent in pay.
Among other features:
*$28 million for early childhood initiatives
*$11.5 million to shore up the ailing New Mexico Lottery Scholarship program
*$2.7 million for a tourism department marketing program
*$1.5 million for job training and recruitment
*$5.9 million for expanding nursing education, and $9 million for county Medicaid programs.
Overall funding for education increased 6.6 percent for public schools and 5.8 percent for higher education and leaves a reserve in the general fund of more than 8 percent.
Contact Rob Nikolewski at rnikolewski@watchdog.org and follow him on Twitter @robnikolewski
