New Mexico State Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), best known this session for squandering public funds on a one-line constituent letter and burning bridges with her own party, is now blaming her embarrassing performance on one thing: the lack of a paycheck.
In a stunning display of entitlement, Cadena, who chose to send taxpayers a single sentence reading “The people of New Mexico deserve better” as her only official communication after the session, says it’s all because the legislature doesn’t provide her a cushy, taxpayer-funded salary.
At one point during the session, Cadena (who has the lowest attendance record of any legislator) angered House Democrats so much that she drove home during the legislative session and abandoned constituents on key votes due to her temper tantrum. Her latest antics, including attacks on legislators of both parties, could very well cost her a vice-chair seat on the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. It also would not be surprising if the Democrat Party fields a candidate to primary challenge her in the 2026 election, if she decides to run.
“Who we send to Santa Fe does not represent the incredible depth and diversity and insight and expertise of families across our state,” Cadena complained to KRQE News, arguing that only the “powerful, wealthy, or retired” can afford to serve in New Mexico’s citizen legislature. But critics say that’s just a cover for her lackluster work ethic and political ambition.
Her one-liner letter came after weeks of alienating her Democratic colleagues and voting against key legislation supported by her own party. Rather than owning up to her decisions, she’s playing the victim and lobbying for a paycheck, turning the ideal of public service into a career track.
“That body, in my perspective and insight, does not represent the New Mexicans that I try to show up for every day,” she added, even as she failed to do just that. Ironically, her own actions—minimal constituent engagement, burning political goodwill, and spending public money for essentially nothing—are the very example of what New Mexicans don’t want from their representatives.
State Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), the editor of the Piñon Post, wrote in response to her letter, “Honestly, shame on her. The taxpayers fund these letters, and she wasted it by writing one single line — a line, mind you, that FALLS ENTIRELY ON THE DEMOCRAT PARTY WHO HAVE BEEN IN POWER FOR NEARLY A CENTURY — because she’s lazy and didn’t want to write a REAL letter, like I did to my constituents,” sharing photos of his robust correspondence to those he represents in contrast to hers.
Rep. Angelica Rubio, another Democrat who backed the failed legislative salaries push, co-sponsored HJR 18 and SJR 1 this year. Both bills aimed to add legislative pay in a state that has proudly maintained a volunteer legislature since its founding. Their efforts failed, with SJR 1 not even making it to a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee.
Democratic Sen. George Muñoz (D-Gallup), who chairs the committee, pushed back strongly on the idea. “I see a wide variety of people there. I see teachers who have jobs that leave the schools for 60 days. I see non-profit organizations that have people that are elected, I see retirees, I see ranchers,” Muñoz said. He argued that paying lawmakers wouldn’t enhance representation—it would attract people looking for a paycheck, not those looking to serve.
“Now, will it open it up to an array of people? Sure it will,” Muñoz said. “It will get people running for a job, and it will not be for service to the state or for service to their constituents.”
That statement hits especially close to home for Cadena and Rubio, who seem more focused on padding their resumes than doing the people’s work. Their push to transform the Roundhouse into a salaried political class undercuts the very spirit of citizen government, replacing service with self-interest.
Her words and actions and lack of positive work done for New Mexico proves she deserves NO PAYCHECK!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is a JOKE.
Your correct Marilyn. I wish I could say the entire State government was a JOKE but the Democrats are not funny at all as they ruin our once great State. Salaries or not, our State cannot afford to keep electing these people. However, unfortunately, I do not see any change coming.
I agree with George Munoz on the legislative salaries. We want people in the roundhouse to serve the people, not for a paycheck.
Although you are no my representative John, I appreciate that YOU and Harlan Vincent send me your updates frequently. These letters help keep me informed (as well as this post). THANKS so much.
Another liberal dembocrap wanting a participation trophy and a free paycheck! It is suggested she step down and go away whilst she has a little saving grace.. and you people who vote her type in are proving how uneducated in your candidates backgrounds -it makes you look pretty stupid.. WAKE UP!
She’s right, the people of New Mexico DO deserve better! Unfortunately, they keep voting for the likes of MLG and Micaela Lara Cadena. Ugh.
You all want change? Vote for a conservative that knows what they’re doing. 🇺🇸
Folks there are two sides to paying our legislators. One we can pay our legislators and maybe they can spend time working for the citizens. I mean how many of us can afford to not work? Without a salary who do we get, power hungry folks that make money by making deals? Currently we have the states largest cities determining where NM is going. Most NMs are against abortion, the schools pushing sex changes on our children, the funding of illegals, a hand up not a hand out (teach me to fish do not give me a fish everyday), and the majority favor 2A rights. I currently only have a county commissioner as my only representation of my believes. The rest are dumb ass dems, hooked in the power of the big cities and signing up with what ever the lefties push. Will salaries work? If we do salaries they must be tied to something that allows citizens to pull the salaries if things do not get better. (citizens revote salaries if 200,00 citizens sigh a petition). NM is going far right, we are a mini California and most NMs are not happy about it. If we do not do something different we will only continue to rinse and repeat.
As of now our Legislators receive per diem during their stay in Santa Fe. I doubt very seriously if it covers the cost of staying there. I would support raising the amount given to cover their costs. Can’t expect them to go broke while they’re there. Maybe it should be dependant on the amount of days they actually show up!!
I say pay the legislators. It would mean that better and more knowledgeable people than Cadenas and Rubio would run and defeat them. Problem solved.
Yeah….. it’s working so well in California. You need to do some research. They pay an aggregate of $15,385,800.00 PER YEAR for a full-time legislature that sits all year round just thinking up new laws. Don’t be stupid.
Totally agree. I say absolutely NO to salaries.
Was she not smart enough when she registered to run for the position to find out that it was not a paying job and so NOW she realizes she can’t afford to fulfill the requirements without pay? She is not doing her job representing her constituents and citizens of New Mexico.
Well, the US Congress and senate are full time paid positions and the amount of graft and corruption are beyond ridiculous. Is that what New Mexicans want? Unfortunately career politicians have not proven to be any better than citizen legislators and in the case mentioned, worse. people should not be penalized for doing a civic duty but remember like Congress they can give themselves pay raises whenever desired regardless of the economy. Politicians have always been able to parlay public trust into private gain. Fair compensation coupled with term limits and voting on paper ballots would weed out the career politicians that the founding fathers considered so detrimental to the republic!
In New Mexico, legislators are not paid a salary; instead, they receive a per diem (daily allowance) and mileage reimbursement for expenses related to attending legislative sessions. The per diem is based on the Internal Revenue Service rate for Santa Fe, and the mileage reimbursement is at the standard Internal Revenue Service rate.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Per Diem:
Legislators receive a daily allowance, which is the Internal Revenue Service’s per diem rate for Santa Fe, for each day they attend legislative sessions.
Mileage:
They also receive a mileage reimbursement at the Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate for each mile traveled to and from Santa Fe by the usual route, once per session.
Limited to this:
The New Mexico Constitution states that this is the only compensation they are allowed to receive, with no other perquisites or allowances.
Session Lengths:
The legislature has regular sessions, which are 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in even-numbered years, held in Santa Fe.
She is relying on people who are actually poor to relate to her BS narrative that it’s “oppressive” to have to take time off of work. Classic democrat move, use the emotional response of your voter base to trick them into voting against their interests.
I’m pretty sure it’s more time consuming to get elected than to actually do the job, anyone with the time and money to run for state office can afford to take the few weeks out of the year to go move the political needle in their preferred direction. That’s supposed to be the deal with public service, you donate your time and energy, you get what you want written into law, you shut up and go home. Paying them would just create more lifelong politicians, which is exactly who has ruined NM, regardless of political party.
She doesn’t campaign or didn’t campaign this last election. She has run unopposed at least the last two elections. She is the only name on the ballot.
No checkie -No workie. That is what she (Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena) is all about.