Santa Fe, NM –Today, Speaker of the House Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) opened the 2nd session of the 54th New Mexico Legislature with remarks asserting House priorities for the 2020 Legislative Session. Here is a statement from the NM House Democrats:
Focused on passing a responsible budget that continues investing and uplifting a generation from poverty through education, House Democrats are also committed to securing a better future through economic diversification and to prioritizing infrastructure throughout the state. Citing his recent Jobs Listening Tour through central and southeastern New Mexico, Speaker Egolf declared special attention must be paid to comprehensive efforts to develop New Mexico’s workforce and to secure a better, more secure economic future for hardworking New Mexicans.
“Over the next 30-days, the House is focused on making big progress for the State of New Mexico and hardworking families,” Egolf said. “From improving educational opportunities and increasing teacher salaries, to diversifying our economy and leading the nation on transitioning to a green energy economy, I believe we’ve set the stage to see some big things come out of this session that improve the lives of New Mexicans.
Continuing their push to uplift a generation of New Mexico’s kids from poverty, House Democrats are prioritizing increased teacher pay and large investments in early childhood education. Additionally, House Democrats are focused on diversifying New Mexico’s economy through increased investments in economic development programs.
“This year, we are focused on passing a budget that is responsible and a budget that makes targeted and substantial investments in the next generation of New Mexicans,” stated Representative and House Appropriations and Finance Committee Chair Patricia Lundstrom (D-Gallup). “We have an unparalleled opportunity to put our state on a more secure economic footing while also making strong gains in education, infrastructure and economic diversification.”
“Now is the time to invest in all New Mexicans from our kids to our seniors,” said Representative and former Secretary of Aging Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque). “With the Governor’s leadership, we’re proposing investments to early childhood education and greater protections for our seniors. We’re ready to set our state down a path that will set us apart and change the lives of countless kids.”
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also announced her intentions for the upcoming year, settling clear goals: to establish an Early Childhood Trust Fund; to climb the state out of the lost decade of job growth with investments in economic development; to provide free college for New Mexico’s students through the Opportunity Scholarship; and to legalize the recreational use of cannabis.
The second session of the 54th Legislature opened today at noon and will conclude at noon on February 20th.