Readers split on who should rule spending
Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.
LAST WEEK’s QUESTION: The state Supreme Court is being asked to settle an ongoing dispute between Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state lawmakers over who should decide how to spend federal relief funds. Should the governor have authority over spending the federal funds or should the money go through the traditional legislative appropriation process?
“I believe that the Legislature should spend the money. It is taxpayer money that is given to the state by the feds. It is not a gift to the governor to do as she pleases with it.”
— Bill Boedeker, Los Alamos
“The governor without a doubt. Legislators should butt out unless they’re willing to work 24/7/365 and always render decisions within 24 hours. Do they even understand what the word ‘emergency’ means?”
— Larry Collier, Albuquerque
“I believe that the Legislature should determine this key question. The amounts are so large. We need a diversity of interests represented to make wise decisions about these funds — not just those of the governor.”
— Julie Fulcher, Albuquerque
“I believe legislators should submit detailed requests to (the) governor, thus both (are) involved in the distribution of the funds.”
— Edwina La Grange, Velarde
“We feel that the governor will distribute the relief money fairly without the bickering and political-influenced Legislature. Poor counties with needs and little political pull will lose out.”
— Bill and Lynda Griffin, Tucumcari
“One person should not have supreme authority over spending any amount of taxpayer dollars, whether that money is taken from the federal government or the state. That’s not how democracies work. The People’s House allocates spending. The executive approves it.”
— Nicholas Wilbur, Albuquerque
“Federal relief funds should be divided between legislators and the governor. That way, legislators could address local funding issues and the governor could fund statewide initiatives.”
— Omar Durant, Albuquerque
“The governor. She puts the state’s best interests first.”
— Clare Culpepper, Albuquerque
“Money that gets spent on state matters should go through the state Legislature. Spending $1.1 billion of public money should not be decided by one person. The governor claims these are federal dollars. Then why should a state governor have the authority, but not a state Legislature?”
— Dominick Burlone, Rio Rancho
This week’s question: Should children 5 and older be required to have COVID-19 vaccinations, along with other required immunizations, to attend public schools in New Mexico?
Want to participate in Top of Mind? Send your thoughts in 50 words or less with your name and city to question@ abqjournal.com. Look for reader responses in this space next week.