The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
After receiving criticism from some Democratic legislative leaders that she had put too much on their plate for the 30-day session that’s in progress, Gov. Susana Martinez plans to scale back the scope of the session later today.
Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said a final list of messages allowing the consideration of various topics should be published today on the governor’s website, and it will include the rescinding of most of the more than 40 messages the governor sent to the House last week.
He gave no clues about what would be cut.
During 30-day sessions that are designed to focus on the budget, other topics can only be considered with the governor’s approval. Martinez sent about 80 messages to the House and Senate allowing consideration of other topics last week.
As reported by The Santa Fe New Mexican, some were upset by that.
“She just expanded a 30-day session to a 60-day session in one day,” Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, was quoted by The New Mexican as saying.
Darnell said the list of topics Martinez initially allowed to be considered came from “working for months with Democratic and Republican” lawmakers.
“We agreed with the Legislature from the beginning to take a very accommodating approach and grant messages that would, in many cases, allow their legislation to be heard,” he said.
Now that Democratic leaders’ complaints have led to the list of approved topics being scaled back, Darnell said, “their members will need to address it with their leadership – not with the Governor’s Office – when their legislation is not allowed to be heard.”