Gov. Susana Martinez
Some worried that Gov. Susana Martinez would veto bills that would require payday lenders to file annual reports with the state and allow wineries to ship directly to New Mexico residents because major campaign donors opposed them.
Others thought the Republican would nix a controversial bill opposed by many social conservatives that would ban corporal punishment in schools.
But on Wednesday, Martinez signed all three pieces of legislation – bills sponsored by Democrats – into law.
Asked if the governor considered whether signing the bills might upset some supporters, Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said she did not.
“The governor is keeping her word to always do what she believes is best for New Mexico,” Darnell said.
Ending corporal punishment
The only of the three bills Martinez commented about directly was House Bill 172, sponsored by Rick Miera, D-Albuquerque. The law bans corporal punishment in schools.
“The decision on whether or not to use corporal punishment on a child is one that is best left to a parent,” Martinez said in a news release.
The governor said corporal punishment was already banned in 53 of New Mexico’s 89 school districts, but there were still 705 incidents of corporal punishment in New Mexico schools in 2006.
The bill narrowly passed the House and Senate this year.
Wine shipments
Martinez also signed Senate Bill 445, sponsored by Phil Griego, D-San Jose. The bill, which easily passed the House and Senate, would allow New Mexico wineries to ship to residents as long as they are of legal age. It’s designed to help the industry.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Mack Energy Corp., an Artesia oil company, lobbied against the legislation – allegedly, a wine industry lobbyist said, because some Mack Energy employees “have some kind of a wine club and they were concerned that the bills would stop them from getting their wine from out-of-state wineries.”
Mack Energy gave at least $117,500 to Martinez’s gubernatorial campaign last year.
Payday lending
Finally, Martinez signed House Bill 337, sponsored by Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, which requires the annual reports from payday lenders and fines them for not complying.
Martinez came under fire during last year’s gubernatorial campaign when Democratic nominee Diane Denish released a printout of an invitation to a fundraiser for Martinez hosted by a payday lending lobbyist.
From The New Mexico Independent:
“The document Denish was referring to, forwarded to The Independent by Denish’s campaign, was an e-mail from Hal Stratton, an Albuquerque Republican who served as a New Mexico state representative, attorney general and former chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. He wrote:
“‘Gentlemen:
“‘As you know we have a governor’s race on here in New Mexico. The Democrat, Diane Denish, is out to end consumer lending. The Republican, Susana Martinez, we are assured is not for ending or further limiting consumer lending. Fortunately, Susana is ahead and is going to win.’
“The e-mail went on to invite the recipient to a reception for Martinez at the Albuquerque Country Club.”
Lundstrom’s bill passed the House and Senate unanimously.