February 2, 2017
Senate Democrats Blast Governor’s Veto of Emergency Funding for Courts, Juries
(Santa Fe, NM) – Senate Democratic Majority Leader Peter Wirth today responded to Governor Martinez’s reckless, irresponsible, and mean-spirited veto of funding for the judicial branch.
“For the third time, Governor Martinez now has rejected the Administrative Office of the Court’s urgent warnings that it will run out of money to pay jurors in one month’s time. Make no mistake, there will be severe consequences resulting from the Governor’s irresponsible veto of more than $800,000 that the Legislature passed in House Bill 1 (HB 1) to fund juries across our state. As a former prosecutor, Governor Martinez knows better.”
“Without additional funding, our state will be far less safe because of the Governor’s veto today. The coming chaos in our courts system can be placed squarely at the feet of this Governor,” said Senator Wirth.
“Sadly, this action is typical of a chief executive who prefers playing political games than actually doing something about the serious problems facing New Mexico today, and our worst-in-the-nation unemployment rate,” added Sen. Wirth.
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