Heath Haussamen / NMPolitics.net
Gov. Susana Martinez, shown at the Domenici Public Policy Conference, sounded impatient as she called on lawmakers to debate several bills during next week’s special session and told Sunland Park to uphold its end of a water deal that helps pave the way for development. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
“We have to pull together as Democrats and Republicans and do the right thing. If we don’t, I want to know which legislators are going to tell those children, ‘We’re busy,’” Martinez said during a speech in Las Cruces
Gov. Susana Martinez has been displaying an increasing frustration with elected officials who, in her view, get in the way of bettering New Mexico. Her speech Wednesday at the Domenici Public Policy Conference was no exception.
Martinez sounded impatient. She had harsh words for state lawmakers who express concern that she’s packing too many other issues into next week’s redistricting special session, and for officials in Sunland Park who may be backing away from a water deal with Doña Ana County that helps pave the way for development.
During the speech in Las Cruces, the governor took a shot at Senate Minority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana. Garcia initially pledged support for a bill Martinez is pushing that would require third graders to read at grade level before moving on. The senator waited until Martinez’s news conference earlier this week, which was designed to promote the bill, to tell the governor she had changed her mind.
One reason Garcia cited was the need to focus during the session on redistricting – the redrawing of political lines based on new Census data.
At the Domenici Conference, Martinez said elected officials who “say we’re too busy” and don’t prioritize children “do not belong in leadership positions.”
“We have to pull together as Democrats and Republicans and do the right thing,” Martinez said. “If we don’t, I want to know which legislators are going to tell those children, ‘We’re busy.’”
In an interview following her speech, Martinez confirmed her frustration with elected officials she perceives as putting politics above the needs of New Mexicans. She said her answer is to try to increase citizen involvement through means such as webcasting of legislative hearings so New Mexicans know which elected officials aren’t working for them.
Then it’s up to citizens to hold those officials accountable, Martinez said.
‘We have the time’
This governor is certainly ambitious. She’s added several bills to the redistricting special session that she says are critically important. Near the top of the list is the legislation to end what she calls “social promotion” out of third grade.
“I am not OK with being 49th in the nation in education,” Martinez said during Wednesday’s speech.
Some lawmakers say Martinez is overloading the special session, but Martinez said there’s plenty of time to address issues other than redistricting. During the last special session lawmakers adjusted the budget in three days.
“We have the time,” Martinez said. “We can get this done, because jobs and education and border security are enormously important.”
Martinez also spoke about the deal to move the Union Pacific rail hub from El Paso to Santa Teresa. It’s expected to bring jobs and growth to Southern New Mexico. Martinez said Santa Teresa is “strategically positioned to become the new gateway to North American trade.” Former Gov. Bill Richardson believed the same thing.
The water deal between Doña Ana County and Sunland Park is necessary, Martinez said, because it provides stability that lets businesses know the area is a good place to invest their resources.
The governor said the capitol outlay bill that will be introduced during the special session will include $1.5 million for the area’s water system, but if the state is going to invest in the area, it needs reciprocity from the local governments. She wants Sunland Park to stick to the agreement it made six years ago.
‘People who forget who they work for’
Martinez said what has her so frustrated is “elected officials forgetting what they promised they were going to do when they got elected.” Some lawmakers have criticized Martinez for what they call keeping up the campaign rhetoric even after the election ended. She sees things differently.
Martinez told NMPolitics.net that, after she was elected, one lawmaker told her she had to stop campaigning and start governing. Martinez said when she asked for clarification, the lawmaker told her she should forget the promises she made on the campaign trail.
The governor said she has no intention of doing that.
“That’s why people are considered politicians instead of leaders; they forget what promises they made,” Martinez said. “… That’s my frustration – people who forget who they work for.”
What will she do about it?
“I make sure the people know where their elected officials stand. I bring people into the process,” she said.
During the regular session earlier this year, Martinez’s office webcast legislative hearings on bills she was pushing. She said that webcasting will improve. Eventually people will be able to do word and bill searches to find specific portions of videos more easily.
She said she also hopes to broadcast video her office takes of legislative hearings on cable television across the state.
Over time, Martinez said she expects New Mexicans to become more informed and force change.