On Tuesday, in an unusual turn of events, the far-left editorial board for the liberal Santa Fe New Mexican chastised Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over the extravagant raises she gave her staff, averaging a 22 percent increase per high-level staffer.
The board wrote, “Take top employees in the Governor’s Office. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has awarded members of her staff whopping salary increases, with raises averaging 22% in recent months. The employees are poised to get another raise in July under the state’s budget, which includes funding for average 6% pay increases across the board.”
“Raises in the Governor’s Office seem especially generous,” the board continued, noting that “it’s not the first time the governor has been generous with taxpayer dollars to reward her favorite colleagues. In 2021, her employees received raises of $7,500 to $12,000 during the pandemic. The increases came at a time when private sector workers were facing pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs.”
“[S]uch hefty raises — done with little notice to the public — can’t be justified in a state as poor as New Mexico. Big raises deserve discussion and, when necessary, pushback. That way, salaries remain within sensible boundaries.”
The board concluded, “Pay increases for statewide elected officials, which we supported, had to be scrutinized through the legislative process. That resulted in a decision to increase salaries for most statewide officials to $144,714 this year, with the governor’s raise from $110,000 to $169,714 postponed until 2027, after Lujan Grisham is out of office.” However, Lujan Grisham vetoed pay increases for judges.
The median income in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office is $131,950.00, with the lowest-salaried person, a constituent services deputy director, receiving $41,600.00 with the next-highest salary being $58,760 for a “special assistant.” The highest-paid positions in the office are tied at $185,000.
The median household income in New Mexico is $54,020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Even the leftist Santa Fe New Mexican editorial board couldn’t ignore the stark disparity between Lujan Grisham’s office and the average New Mexican.
Someone needs to see what she’s doing with the covid relief funds left over. She’s using them to help build a low income housing unit at hotel circle. Is this legal?
Go woke, go broke.
Congratulations to all of the useful idiots who voted for the communists destroying the state and will continue voting for them and their ilk no matter what they do. There is a reason they are called useful IDIOTS.
Nancy, thank you for telling it like it is!
The Governor doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, she got what she wanted. Hopefully New Mexico will wake up. Save New Mexico vote the Democrats out for good.
I disagree with the statement …can’t be justified in a state as poor as New Mexico. The state is not poor, it’s citizens are poor.
Loserjan has a reputation of stealing from the poor and abuse of Gov’t funds. This is just one example. She needs escorted out of the roundhouse in handcuffs!!
We had the chance to jail her after Fort Bayard. 8 elderly people died on her watch! Her response was to cry the blues and say that “it was very hard.” She was NEVER suitable for any leadership role and now we’re getting about what we can expect out of her. Keep voting Democrat and enabling Democrats in office and this is what happens.
All the little trumpets blowing the Donald’s horn. And they mention shame
That lady takes all the money from the south end of the state and oil field and can’t show what she’s doing with it. The roads suk down here bad and the infrastructure up both in alb and Santa Fe are the same, what’s she doing with all the money!!!?
This proves how crooked she is. If you’re in her inner circle you have it made $$$$$.