Get moving on session

Even Gov. Susana Martinez is coming to accept the inevitability of a special legislative session to deal with New Mexico’s budget issues. She is realizing that “monitoring” state spending is no longer enough. It’s time for action.

Tough decisions must be made given that the state overspent its $5.9 billion budget some $150 million to $200 million in the just-ended fiscal year and that more shortages — perhaps as great as $500 million — are likely in the current year. The governor is right to ask that legislators identify solutions before they meet so as to keep the session short. She would like only a four-hour session, with the deal already made before legislators return to Santa Fe.

Such presession dealmaking would leave the public largely out of the discussion, however. Citizens deserve to be part of the debate. Four hours is an unreasonable goal, especially if the governor won’t budge on finding new sources of revenue. Cutting spending alone will not plug the holes in this budget. The governor understands a special session is necessary. That’s progress. Now, she must be persuaded to find new revenue sources. And not only a one-time fix of raiding the state tobacco fund, but ways to bring in recurring revenues.

Get to work soon, before the chatter of an election year drowns out important discussion on how to shore up New Mexico’s flagging budget. Time’s a-wasting.