Citing cost, Martinez vetoes Native American students bill
Governor signs legislation to cleanup state lands, protect military personnel
Susana Martinez vetoed a bill Wednesday evening that would have required some public school districts to more closely study and plan for the needs of Native American students, who have long fallen behind their peers in the education system.
In action on other legislation, Martinez signed into law measures to fund cleanups of state trust land and to protect the jobs of military personnel serving outside New Mexico.
Martinez, in vetoing the bill dealing with Native American students, said that while she supported the bill’s aim of assisting districts in better serving Indian students, it would have come at too high a cost for districts amid a state budget crisis.
The bill did not include funding for school districts to carry out the needs assessments it would have required.
“Schools that are truly committed to serving their students and community already take steps to support their students as they strive to reach their potential. They do not need permission from a bill that would mandate duplicative programming and drive up costs,” the Republican governor wrote in a veto message.
But the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, said some school districts are not making the most of funding and initiatives intended to support Native American students. Lente said his bill would have moved districts to identify ways of better preparing Indian youths.
The bill won broad bipartisan support, passing the House without opposition and the Senate with only a few “nay” votes.
Of the veto, Lente said: “I think it’s a disservice to Native American students across New Mexico.” The freshman lawmaker said he will propose it again.
Martinez cited the state’s budget crunch in vetoing another bill. Senate Bill 382 would have allowed the State
Treasurer’s Office to take a greater share of fees it collects that currently flow to other areas of New Mexico government through the general fund.
The State Treasurer’s Office said it needed the money, about $178,000 annually, to hire a chief investment officer and a financial risk officer.
But in her veto message, the governor said taking money from the general fund would be inappropriate.
Meanwhile, the governor signed:
House Bill 24, which will pay to clean up and restore state trust lands. Backed by State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn, the measure won support from a coalition that included the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association and the Nature Conservancy. Sponsored by Reps. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, and Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park, the bill will pay for restoration projects by taking 1 percent of the money paid to the commissioner’s office for leases on millions of acres of state trust lands.
House Bill 34, which changes how the state’s pension systems pay some retirees. Retirees who receive benefits from both the Public Employees Retirement Association and the Educational Retirement Board currently may get a check from just one of the programs for their combined benefits. One retirement association then reimburses the other. But the practice could end under this bill, sponsored by Reps. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Taos, and James Smith, R-Albuquerque. Workers who retire after July 1 may get separate checks from each program. An analysis of the bill by legislative staff found it could be more efficient but acknowledged it might also be inconvenient for retirees.
House Bill 83, which would protect the jobs of military personnel who are part of units in other states, such as the National Guard or reserves. Sponsored by Rep. Debbie Rodella, D-Española, the bill would extend the benefits of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act to National Guard personnel in New Mexico, regardless of where they serve.
The governor has until noon April 7 to take action on some of the biggest legislation passed during the 60-day session of the Legislature that ended in midMarch, though some major bills reached her desk only this week.
She has vowed to reject the Legislature’s budget, veto all tax increases and call lawmakers back to the Capitol to draft a new spending plan.