Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez signed House Bill 1, known as the Feed Bill, which provides funding for the New Mexico Legislature through this year’s session as well as the interim period preceding next year’s session.

The Governor also exercised her line-item veto power Thursday on a $19,100 appropriation for the Senate Rules Committee. The Senate Rules Committee has a backlog of 85 nominations awaiting hearings for confirmation, some of which have languished for years, including public safety, law enforcement and other positions. The Senate Rules Committee continues to refuse to bring these appointments to a hearing for a vote.

“New Mexicans expect us as leaders to work together and do our jobs,” Martinez said. “The Senate Rules Committee refuses to do so, and I’m not going to permit them to waste almost $20,000 of taxpayer money while they continue to drag their feet on their constitutional responsibility.”