Contact: Isaac Padilla
505/264.6512
Isaac.Padilla@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Senator Padilla Blasts Gov. Martinez’s Attempt to Divert Attention from Failing Economy, Budget and Schools Crisis’ with Push for Death Penalty
(Santa Fe, NM) –Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla (D-14-Bernalillo) today sharply criticized Governor Susana Martinez’s recent announcement that she will make it a priority to reinstitute the death penalty in New Mexico during the next legislative session in January. He called it a cynical attempt to distract attention from the real problems of growing unemployment, K-12 classrooms ranked 50th worst, and a pressing state budget shortfall. The death penalty was abolished in 2009 after years of public discussion and debate. Despite having been long resolved, the Governor made the surprise announcement on the issue suddenly last week in the midst of a flurry of bad reports for the state.
“Our greatest desire is for democrats and republicans to come together for our state and solve serious issues with bipartisan solutions,” said Sen. Padilla. “At a time when New Mexico is seeing increasing unemployment rates, now at 6.4 percent, Governor Martinez instead chooses to focus on reinstating the death penalty, when we should have a laser focus on creating jobs, improving our schools, and solving our state budget crisis.”
The Governor certainly had reasons to try to change the subject with her call for reinstatement of the death penalty:
The U.S. Labor Department released official figures on Friday showing that New Mexico’s unemployment rate rose from 6.2 to 6.4 percent last month, still among the worst in the nation. By comparison, the national unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent. The state remains stalled at 50th in job growth.
On Thursday, results from the national PARCC exam of students showed that despite small increases, the majority of New Mexico students are not proficient in reading and math. Two weeks earlier, WalletHub, a personal finance website, issued the results of a high-profile report showing that New Mexico ranked 49th on math test scores, 50th on reading test scores and 50th in dropout rates.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the State is likely to be short between $300 million to $500 million to pay its operating expenses this year. It also spent $150 million more than it had budgeted in the fiscal year just passed.
Senate Democrats tried during the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions to jumpstart jobs and tax revenues by bringing forward a “Ready To Work” jobs plan that would have created 73,000 jobs. Instead, Governor Martinez and House Republicans ignored New Mexico’s jobs crisis, opposed the package of bills, and chose in the 2016 meeting of the legislature to focus on a ‘crime all the time’ agenda.
“Senate Democrats have developed a solid job creation plan that focuses our time and energy on workforce development, supporting New Mexico small businesses, improved broadband speeds and access in rural New Mexico, building public private partnerships that result in public ownership, and eliminating what doesn’t create jobs in our tax code. It is long overdue that the Governor join us in putting this needed plan into action,” Sen. Padilla added.
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