Sen. John Arthur Smith (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
One of the state’s most powerful lawmakers, a conservative Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, was largely pleased by what Gov. Susana Martinez had to say during her state of the state address on Tuesday.
“When it comes to fiscal policy, tax issues and things like that, quite frankly, Gov. Martinez used some of my script that I’ve used for three years, so that was music to my ears,” said Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming.
He added that he believes the Republican Martinez’s plans to cut education administration and shift money to classrooms “will be received quite favorably.”
Smith’s reaction may be a sign of bipartisan cooperation to come during the 60-day session that opened Tuesday. Financial bills don’t get through the Senate without going through Smith’s committee, so he holds a great deal of power.
Smith said he has pushed to cap the state’s film incentive program in the past and believes Martinez will “get some traction” on her proposal to cut film subsidies from 25 percent to 15 percent. He said he also likes Martinez’s proposal to create a state police unit focused on public corruption.
“That plays extremely well with me,” Smith said. “Let’s at least make a strong attempt, rather than political rhetoric.”
Smith said he will help push Martinez’s proposed locomotive fuel tax exemption to bring Union Pacific Railroad to Santa Teresa. He said he’s “not the biggest fan of credits and that sort of thing, but you also have to try and move your economy forward, because there will be a day when there will be less military spending in this state.”
Overall, Smith said Martinez struck an appropriately tough tone in her speech that pleased him and showed that she’s on top of things.
“There’s a certain amount of toughness that I want to see in governors,” he said.