Governor calls special session

The rotunda at the New Mexico State Capitol Building. Photo by Matthew Reichbach

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she will call legislators into a special session on Oct. 1. She also outlined some of what will be on the call, but what was not on the main bullet point list and left for the end of her press release is as interesting as what is in the main list.

In a special session, the governor outlines what legislation is germane to be discussed. Legislators cannot pass legislation not part of the call (which will come formally when the special session begins), though some legislators may choose to grandstand and introduce unrelated legislation.

The topics that the governor listed Thursday are:

Funding to the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to allow stabilization grants for quality health care providers.
Taking action to make health insurance premiums more affordable in the marketplace and for New Mexicans losing Medicaid coverage.
New investments in food assistance for children, seniors and families in need.
Funding for public broadcasting.
Additional resources to help the Health Care Authority prepare for upcoming Medicaid enrollment changes.

Lujan Grisham says these are necessary because of the deep cuts to state funding from Trump’s megabill Republicans passed earlier this year. That bill cuts funding for healthcare for millions of lower income workers, while providing large tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and giving immigration authorities an unbelievably large budget.

“New Mexicans should not be forced to shoulder these heavy burdens without help from their elected officials,” Lujan Grisham said Thursday in a statement. “After discussions with legislative leaders, we’ve resolved to do everything possible to protect essential services and minimize the damage from President Trump’s disastrous bill.”