Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2014
Senate Majority Whip Requests that Governor Consider
“Summit for New Mexico’s Future” Special Session
Addresses Tesla, Behavioral Health, Drought, Jobs, Education, Law Enforcement
Santa Fe, NM – Last Week, Senate Majority Whip Tim Keller (D-17-Bernalillo) sent a letter to Governor Susana Martinez requesting that she consider calling a special session to address issues in need of immediate attention within the state. Issues outlined in the letter include New Mexico’s stagnant job situation, law enforcement training, winning the Telsa plant, behavioral health reform, dealing with the ongoing drought situation and the state’s education system.
“I write you today to ask for your help and in the hopes of working collaboratively in moving the needle on long standing problems holding our state back,” Sen. Keller wrote. “I know we do not always agree on the policy, but I think we can agree on the urgency for unique New Mexico solutions to the problems facing our state…I request your consideration of a potential summer special session, a ‘Summit on New Mexico’s Future.’”
According to Sen. Keller, the letter was written to make a bipartisan effort to proactively propose solutions to the issues plaguing the state. He says over the last few years many ideas have been floated, but there has been little meaningful action. Urgency also stems from concern that waiting until the 2015 regular legislative session, and not being able to see impact until 2016, will be too long.
Keller acknowledged the usual objections that a special session may face including the cost for operations and upcoming elections for state wide offices, noting that “these excuses are the root of our stagnant status quo – this is what perpetuates a government of incremental change, nibbling around the edges of the challenges facing our state. This attitude is the foundation for the kind of political “play it safe” attitude that keeps us at the top of all the bad lists and bottom of all the good ones.”
“It’s time to give the public a set of policies that they can hold us accountable for implementing, as well as something they can be proud of – a proactive government that jumps into action,” Sen. Keller wrote.
###