Ken Martinez
At the midpoint of the 2010 legislative session, House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, D-Grants, is still waiting to see what Congress will do with federal matching money in the Medicaid program (FMAP) and how new revenue projections will impact lawmakers efforts to balance the state’s budget.
“It’s akin to spinning plates,” Martinez said about the uncertainty. “There’s some indication that a health bill filibuster could hold every state’s medicaid budget hostage.”
With FMAP in limbo, Martinez said it’s difficult for state legislators to “set our targets.”
“I think every single state will be very nervous about making sure that stream is not cut off during that debate (in Washington),” Martinez said.
In the meantime, Martinez told NMPolitics.net the Democrat House Caucus is “working toward a balanced approach of closing the budget gap.” He said he hopes the Republican caucus joins them at the table “to be part of the solution.”
Martinez said Republican leaders “have taken a party pledge and won’t vote for any type of tax increase,” but “they should not just dismiss all the tax proposals that have been introduced.”
“You can’t really balance the budget without looking at both sides,” Martinez said. “I think that most of us agree that we have taken a very precise difficult scalpel to the expenditure side… so I think they should recognize that we need to also look at revenues.”
“I’ve gone and talked to them about it,” Martinez said. “I said even if you will not vote for any type of revenue enhancement I think you can have a hand in the policy making by just giving us your good ideas.”
Martinez NMPolitics.net that Democrats are prepared to pass bills without Republicans.
“We do have significant support in the House to pass what we need to govern without the Republican caucus vote,” Martinez said. “In the special session we passed that bill without their vote. It would be better if they joined us in governing, but if they don’t… we’ll adjust accordingly and act accordingly.”
Martinez said his caucus members are looking “very seriously at saving services for those people most in need,” and said he believes the Republican caucus is “making sure that any tax increase that comes about doesn’t hurt the economic viability of the state by way of maybe turning business or hurting business.”
To hear why the House Majority leader wants lawmakers to finish their work during the regular session – and avoid a special or extraordinary session later in the year – listen to the rest of the interview here or by clicking on the play arrow in the bar below.