NM Supreme Court sides with legislators, dealing a crippling blow to MLG

According to multiple reports from the New Mexico Supreme Court, the Court has ruled against scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Michelle Lujan Grisham and in favor of two legislators who sued the Governor over her unilateral use of federal funds during the pandemic.

Lujan Grisham spent $1.7 billion in federal funds without legislative approval, which sparked the lawsuit from Sens. Greg Baca (R-Valencia) and Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo).

According to the Albuquerque Journal, “The ruling, which was announced after the state’s highest court heard arguments from attorneys and deliberated for roughly one hour, clears the way for the Legislature to appropriate nearly $1.1 billion in allocated money received under the American Relief Plan Act in the coming months— though the governor would still have the ability to fully or partially veto any legislative spending plan.”

Even Lujan Grisham-appointed justices, such as Justice David Thomson, agreed with the two senators over the Governor, saying it is clear in the Constitution what role the legislature has regarding appropriation of funds. “I learned that in second grade — they control the purse strings,” Thomson said.

“I’m excited to see the court side with the people and the Constitution,” Baca told reporters following the ruling.

In a statement, Baca wrote, “In one of the most significant rulings in decades, the New Mexico Supreme Court today preserved the appropriating authority of the legislature and affirmed the separation and balance of powers enshrined in our Constitution. As legislators, we are the representative body of government and we are accountable to our constituents for the spending of their tax dollars. The Governor’s attempts to assume unilateral control of our state by bucking the authority of her office and the state constitution are an egregious power grab, and we are thankful that the high court has ruled in favor of the people.”