Politics

Earlier this week, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, vetoed millions in funding for small projects in each legislator’s district. Some of these projects included funds for the Special Olympics, senior centers, food banks, acequias, equipment to solve child abuse cases, and more. 

The bill, which each legislator worked on to provide funding to their individual districts, impacts those who counted on the funding to help New Mexico families. The Governor’s veto could have been in retaliation for the Legislature not passing many of her left-wing policies, such as a 35 to 50 cents-per-gallon gas tax, a radical pro-voter fraud bill, anti-gun measures, and more. Democrats and Republicans are now plotting a potential extraordinary session of the Legislature, which would take three-fifths of the lawmakers in each chamber to support it.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported, “[T]here is “great concern” in the Senate Democratic caucus over the governor’s veto of the so-called junior bill — which would fund an array of initiatives across the state in a year when the state expects record-high revenues — a spokesman for the Senate Majority Office said Democrats would be meeting soon to discuss their options.” 

Rep. Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup), the chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said she was “incredibly disappointed” in the governor’s veto of the junior bill. “Those were all very good projects, both on the House and the Senate side, and I hope we do something about it,” she said.

Lujan Grisham erroneously claimed the projects in the bill were not properly vetted, which was a reason for her veto.

“If they hadn’t been vetted, how would [the governor] know that?” Lundstrom asked. “C’mon now. Give me a break. … I think legislators know what’s best in their own darn communities, and they should be able to fund some of those smaller projects.”

She added, “There are very specific guidelines that are given to the members before they put the request in. There is absolutely vetting and guidance on this. It’s not just throwing a dart at a dartboard.”

Rep. Derrick Lente, (D-Sandia Pueblo), said, “I don’t understand why the political fight would want to be taken.” He supports overriding Lujan Grisham’s veto. 

Even far-left Rep. Roger Montoya (D-Velarde) blasted Lujan Grisham, who endorsed him, for her betrayal of the people. 

“As an unpaid legislator, my team and I drove thousands of miles over the last year, met with leaders from every community that I represent in District 40 — a district that spans 6,000 square miles — and together we identified programs and needs where junior money would have significant and immediate impacts to enrich the lives of my constituents,” he said.

He added, “$360,000 of junior funding that my communities were counting on are gone in the stroke of a pen.”

“It is astonishing to see how weak this Governor has become over the last year,” said House Republican Whip Rod Montoya (Farmington).  “Democrat members of the Legislature were at her beck and call for three years and are now willing to, in an unprecedented manner call themselves into a special session, during the Governor’s first term, to override her vetoes. We typically only see actions like this when dealing with a lame duck Governor who no longer holds sway over their political party.”

Now, as the walls are closing in on Lujan Grisham, her press secretary Nora Sackett claimed in an email to the New Mexican, “The governor’s responsibility is to ensure that New Mexico’s investments directly and meaningfully benefit New Mexicans while maintaining fiscal responsibility, given the once-in-a-generation revenue we have available.”