Vindictive MLG vetoes ‘State Bread,’ license plate bills to punish Dems

In a dramatic and unmistakably vindictive move, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham unleashed a political tantrum on Friday, vetoing a slate of bills—most notably Senate Bill 315, which would have designated the tortilla as New Mexico’s official state bread. The veto wasn’t about bread, though—it was about revenge.

The governor’s veto message dripped with frustration as she lashed out at the Legislature, blaming Democratic leadership in both chambers for failing to move forward with her policy priorities. Instead of working collaboratively or responsibly, the governor torched legislation ranging from cultural designations to tax relief and public safety funding—effectively using her veto pen to punish lawmakers who didn’t do her bidding.

“I am vetoing this legislation to send a clear message,” the governor fumed, pointing to what she claimed was a failure to prioritize “urgency” in the final hours of the session. But the message was clear before she wrote a word: if the Legislature won’t pass her bills, she’s willing to sabotage even bipartisan efforts, including those introduced by children.

The tortilla bill, inspired by Las Cruces student Adaline McIntosh, was a heartfelt proposal intended to celebrate the state’s rich culinary heritage. But the governor instead reduced it to political collateral damage. In a feeble attempt to soften the blow, Lujan Grisham added a perfunctory line praising McIntosh’s civic engagement—but it rings hollow after turning the student’s dream into a bitter example of gubernatorial spite. Lujan Grisham claimed that because New Mexico has a “state cookie, a
state amphibian, two state vegetables, a state song, a Spanish language state song, a state ballad, a
state bilingual song, and a state cowboy song,” that the veto is justified.

The veto came with a slew of additional casualties. Among the dozens of bills killed:

• HB 14: Expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, which would’ve delivered relief to working families.
  
• HB 120: Accessibility upgrades for state agencies.
  
• HB 143: Strengthened lobbying transparency.
  
• HB 191: Critical funding for wildfire preparedness.
  
• HB 494: Tax exemptions for veterans.
  
• SB 142: The Grid Modernization Roadmap, essential for updating aging infrastructure.
  
• HB 219: Creation of the Slot Canyon Riverlands State Park.
  
• SB 327 and SB 377: License plates celebrating lowriders and New Mexico United.
• H.B. 36: Critical change to allow health care access to rural New Mexicans who have to drive long distances for ophthalmology care.
  

All were axed not because of policy objections, but because of perceived legislative disloyalty. The vetoes weren’t about principle—they were about punishment.

For New Mexicans looking for leadership in times of crisis, this kind of performative petulance is the last thing the state needs. Instead of working across the aisle or finding compromise, Lujan Grisham chose political theatrics—derailing cultural recognition, environmental progress, and even tax breaks for veterans just to make a point.

With this veto spree, the governor has made her priorities crystal clear: her agenda comes first, and if the Legislature dares to question it, the people of New Mexico will suffer the consequences. Whether it’s tortillas or tax relief, nothing is safe from her scorched-earth strategy.

Now, with an election year looming, Democrats who aligned with the governor may find themselves in hot water with constituents who wanted action—not petty politics.