Reaction to Gov. Lujan Grisham’s State of the State

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued her State of the State address on Jan. 16, laying out her priorities for the 2024 legislative session.

The legislative priorities are supported through the governor’s FY25 Executive Budget Recommendation and encompass initiatives in housing and homelessness, health care and behavioral health, education and child wellbeing, public safety, economic development, infrastructure and tax reform.

The governor also announced plans to dedicate $43 million for statewide cleanup and beautification efforts.

Around 100 people were escorted out of the Roundhouse by police after they interrupted Lujan Grisham’s address by protesting bloodshed in Palestine and the climate crisis.

They chanted repeatedly during the speech before law enforcement escorted them out of the building.

One local legislator respnded to a request for a reaction from the governor’s speech.

“All State of the Union addresses are broad, so I will not know what is not covered until the governor releases her call list,” state Rep. Kathleen Cates said. “I was very impressed about her inclusive patience and grace over the numerous protests in the gallery. It was great she acknowledged that this country was founded on protest, and the voice of the young are essential as we create the future we all want. I wanted to thank the Roundhouse police and Sergeant at Arms that made sure we were all kept safe while respecting the protester.”

The Republican Party of New Mexico also responded, saying Lujan Grisham’s address “painted an idealized picture of a dire situation in New Mexico, where education, public safety and economic opportunity are ranked lowest among the states.”

Amy Barela, the Republican Party of New Mexico first vice chairwoman and Otero County commissioner, issued the following statement in response:

“New Mexicans do not need the governor to tell them the ‘state of the state.’ Every day, the education system is failing our students, more families are struggling to afford basic necessities, homelessness is increasing, fear of being a crime victim has become a daily concern, small businesses are closing or leaving the state, there is a health care shortage, worker shortage, and dependence on the government continues to grow.

“Gov. Lujan Grisham and the Democratic legislature are pushing priorities that are out of touch with the issues that matter most to New Mexicans,” including, she said, spending millions of tax dollars on electric vehicle charges when New Mexicans are struggling to make ends meet.

“The governor reiterated she is content to repeat the insanity of throwing more tax dollars at the same decades-old, failed policies instead of promoting new prosperity-producing approaches like school choice, using the billion-dollar surplus to refund money to taxpayers, keeping criminals behind bars, strengthening our border security, and supporting New Mexico’s energy independence,” Barela said.

She said the most troubling issue was that Lujan Grisham’s public safety measures “continue to try to disarm law-abiding citizens, leaving families defenseless while hoping criminals will obey her orders. There is nothing ‘common sense’ about that.”

She said instead of throwing more money at the problems that state faces, policies should instead be crafted to support small business, teachers, health care workers, the oil and gas industry and the rights of citizens.