New Mexico House Democrats speak Wednesday morning about their budget priorities. The full House on Wednesday afternoon sent along a $10.18 billion budget to the Senate. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann / Source NM)
The New Mexico House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to send its nearly $10.2 billion spending plan to the Senate, a budget that its Democratic sponsors tout as a historic investment in state programs but also one that reflects the end of record revenues the state enjoyed in recent years.
After one hour of introduction and two hours of debate, the bill that will fund state government for the next fiscal year passed 53-16, with a handful of Republicans joining the heavily Democrat majority. It now goes to the Senate.
“We are continuing to make new investments in the places that matter most for New Mexicans from economic diversification and new jobs, to health care professionals, our education system, public safety, infrastructure and housing,” Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces) told fellow lawmakers in asking for their votes at the end of debate. “This budget reflects all of those priorities in a considered and collaborative way.”