{"id":405928,"date":"2017-08-11T14:29:27","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T20:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=405928"},"modified":"2017-08-13T16:17:32","modified_gmt":"2017-08-13T22:17:32","slug":"judge-rules-10-vetoed-bills-should-become-law-martinez-could-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2017\/08\/judge-rules-10-vetoed-bills-should-become-law-martinez-could-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge rules 10 vetoed bills should become law; Martinez could appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Roundhouse\"

Heath Haussamen \/ NMPolitics.net<\/p>

The Roundhouse in Santa Fe<\/p><\/div>\n

A district judge agreed on Friday with lawmakers’ argument<\/a> that Gov. Susana Martinez didn’t follow constitutional requirements when she vetoed 10 bills during the legislative session earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Essentially, First Judicial District Judge Sarah Singleton ruled that Martinez didn’t provide an explanation for her disapproval in the time required by the N.M. Constitution and the bills should become law.<\/p>\n

But that doesn’t mean the decision is final. Paul Kennedy, the governor’s attorney, planned to request a stay to delay the bills from becoming law while he appealed the ruling, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported<\/a>. The judge asked the attorneys to draft a written order that’s due in three weeks. That’s the earliest the secretary of state would be ordered to take the final procedural steps to make the bills law.<\/p>\n

Still, Democrats celebrated the ruling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very pleased that the voices of New Mexicans in the Roundhouse were restored,” said Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces.<\/p>\n

“The Court\u2019s decision today is a clear victory for our state Constitution, and for the principle that no branch of government is above the law,” said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe.<\/p>\n

Among the bills in question are legislation to allow industrial hemp research, expand broadband internet, and allow computer science to count toward high school math and science requirements.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis case was about computer science opportunities for school kids, economic development in agriculture, and defending the state\u2019s Constitution,” said House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe. “Today\u2019s ruling is a victory for our youth, our farmers, our communities and our Constitution.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Here’s a full list of the vetoed bills:<\/p>\n