7-23-2024 11:55am

The Legislative Session that Wasn't: New Mexico's Odd Legislative Cycle

Chris Edwards Editor

Large states such as California with a budget that exceeds most nations of the world the jiv od Governor and of legislators is a full time position to ensure constituent services are being offered and the championing of legislation

New Mexico on the other hand has a nonprofessional legislature that meets for a 30 day session and it shows. As New Mexico crime spikes, state educational outcomes falter except in some extraordinary schools, and infrastructure projects sputter along less respect is offered by the public of the legislature and its members.

An odd quirk in the New Mexico constitution allows the governor to call a "special session" but legislators can then assemble, review the agenda and all but end the session. Thst is exactly what occurred this past week. Thursday, July 18, 2024, a special legislative session, convened by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to address public safety was started and ended. The session started at noon, and ended before the day was over.

Legislators actually did do one thing, passing the session’s feed bill for $103 million, of which $100 million was slated to help victims of the South Fork and Salt fires in Ruidoso and Mescalero.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement regarding lawmakers adjourning the special session without addressing any public safety issues:

This legislature just demonstrated that it has no interest in making New Mexico safer. Not one public safety measure was considered. Not one, despite the bills having the backing of police chiefs, public safety unions, mayors, prosecutors, businesses, tribal leaders, crime victims and others who have seen firsthand the erosion of public safety that has deeply damaged the quality of life in our state.

Today I visited a neighborhood that is being ravaged by dangerous activity and everyday petty crime. Families can’t walk in the park, employees are scared to go to work, and businesses are shuttering. For the legislature to ignore these stark realities is nothing less than a dereliction of duty.

The legislature as a body walked away from their most important responsibility: keeping New Mexicans safe. But it is noteworthy that a majority of Republicans would have passed many or all of these bills — they were blocked.

The legislature should be embarrassed at their inability to summon even an ounce of courage to adopt common-sense legislation to make New Mexicans safer. For those of you who go home to the sound of gunshots, who see hypodermic needles in your parks, and the families desperate to get a loved one living on the street the help they deserve, I’m sorry that most of our elected officials didn’t even try.

This was one of the most disappointing days of my career, and the public should be outraged. My promise to you is that I will not stop fighting to protect you and your families.

In followup the Governor is coming to Las Cruces she will be hosting a town hall on public safety in Las Cruces on Thursday.

“Ensuring the safety and security of every New Mexican remains my top priority,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “The town hall in Las Cruces this Thursday is an opportunity to hear directly from New Mexicans grappling with the state’s crime problem and collaborate as a community on effective strategies to enhance public safety statewide.”

The town hall is on Thursday, July 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the Las Cruces Convention Center located at 680 E University Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88001. The public is invited to attend.

The event will be streamed live online on the Governor’s Facebook page and open to the media.

Additional town hall events focused on public safety will be taking place around the state in the near future.