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Governor of New Mexico, and Now an Envoy for Republicans Governor of New Mexico, and Now an Envoy for Republicans
(about 1 hour later)
SANTA FE, N.M. — If there is one trait of Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, that irks lawmakers on the opposite side of the aisle, it is her reluctance to negotiate. Ms. Martinez handles the Legislature in much the same way that she made a name for herself as a county prosecutor — a tough-as-nails approach that helped carry her all the way to the state’s highest government post.SANTA FE, N.M. — If there is one trait of Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, that irks lawmakers on the opposite side of the aisle, it is her reluctance to negotiate. Ms. Martinez handles the Legislature in much the same way that she made a name for herself as a county prosecutor — a tough-as-nails approach that helped carry her all the way to the state’s highest government post.
On one of the defining issues of her tenure, the fight to repeal the state’s law allowing illegal immigrants to get a driver’s license, her persistence — or intransigence, depending on whom you ask — may have paid off. She immediately embraced a bipartisan bill introduced on Feb. 15 that would do just that; though to hear her tell it, she also gave in by supporting an alternate driver’s license for young immigrants benefiting from deferred deportation. On one of the defining issues of her tenure, the fight to repeal the state’s law allowing illegal immigrants to get a driver’s license, her persistence — or intransigence, depending on whom you ask — may have paid off. She immediately embraced a bipartisan bill introduced on Feb. 13 that would do just that; though to hear her tell it, she also gave in by supporting an alternate driver’s license for young immigrants benefiting from deferred deportation.
Ms. Martinez’s spokesman called it a “very reasonable compromise.” It comes at a perfect time for the governor, who is about to travel the country as an envoy of the Republican Party, recruiting Latinos to run for office or, at the very least, to give the party a second chance. (Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada has also been drafted for the same role.)Ms. Martinez’s spokesman called it a “very reasonable compromise.” It comes at a perfect time for the governor, who is about to travel the country as an envoy of the Republican Party, recruiting Latinos to run for office or, at the very least, to give the party a second chance. (Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada has also been drafted for the same role.)
Ms. Martinez, 53, is by many measures the ideal ambassador: accomplished, charming and not afraid to speak her mind. She took office in 2011 as the nation’s first Latina governor, a distinction that alone qualifies her as a role model. In New Mexico, though, she has faced steady and increasingly vociferous criticism over the disconnect between the tone of her pronouncements and the substance of her policies.Ms. Martinez, 53, is by many measures the ideal ambassador: accomplished, charming and not afraid to speak her mind. She took office in 2011 as the nation’s first Latina governor, a distinction that alone qualifies her as a role model. In New Mexico, though, she has faced steady and increasingly vociferous criticism over the disconnect between the tone of her pronouncements and the substance of her policies.
While Ms. Martinez deplored Mitt Romney’s suggestion of “self-deportation” as a solution to illegal immigration, she also directed police officers in New Mexico to inquire about the immigration status of those arrested, a move described by one immigrants’ advocate as “our mini S.B. 1070,” a reference to Arizona’s restrictive immigration law.While Ms. Martinez deplored Mitt Romney’s suggestion of “self-deportation” as a solution to illegal immigration, she also directed police officers in New Mexico to inquire about the immigration status of those arrested, a move described by one immigrants’ advocate as “our mini S.B. 1070,” a reference to Arizona’s restrictive immigration law.
While she has promoted economic recovery as one of her major goals, Ms. Martinez has almost single-handedly fought for repealing the driver’s license law. And all along she has refused to entertain any deals.While she has promoted economic recovery as one of her major goals, Ms. Martinez has almost single-handedly fought for repealing the driver’s license law. And all along she has refused to entertain any deals.
“The governor is very good at staying on message, but she doesn’t have a diverse message,” said State Senator John Arthur Smith, a conservative Democrat from southern New Mexico and a sponsor of the driver’s license bill endorsed by Ms. Martinez. “The risk for her is that people can get tired of it.”“The governor is very good at staying on message, but she doesn’t have a diverse message,” said State Senator John Arthur Smith, a conservative Democrat from southern New Mexico and a sponsor of the driver’s license bill endorsed by Ms. Martinez. “The risk for her is that people can get tired of it.”
Ms. Martinez said she keeps a list of the promises she made during her election campaign and puts check marks next to those she has fulfilled.Ms. Martinez said she keeps a list of the promises she made during her election campaign and puts check marks next to those she has fulfilled.
“I don’t waver from them,” she said during an interview in her office here, and then went on to recite her foremost accomplishments: raising the state’s dismal high school graduation rate by 7 points, to 70 percent; eliminating a locomotive fuel tax, which was decisive in luring the Union Pacific Railroad from El Paso to southeastern New Mexico, where it is building a $400 million hub; and promoting a program that has made it easier for trucks from Mexico to unload their cargo in New Mexico, resulting in record-setting traffic at two of the state’s border-crossing ports.“I don’t waver from them,” she said during an interview in her office here, and then went on to recite her foremost accomplishments: raising the state’s dismal high school graduation rate by 7 points, to 70 percent; eliminating a locomotive fuel tax, which was decisive in luring the Union Pacific Railroad from El Paso to southeastern New Mexico, where it is building a $400 million hub; and promoting a program that has made it easier for trucks from Mexico to unload their cargo in New Mexico, resulting in record-setting traffic at two of the state’s border-crossing ports.
Ms. Martinez has shepherded legislation creating a letter-grading system for the state’s schools, and last week she scored a victory when the New Mexico House approved a budget that includes a merit-pay system for teachers, another element of her sweeping overhaul efforts. Still, New Mexico has lingered in the bottom five states in student achievement, even though it ranks 18th in the country in per-pupil spending.Ms. Martinez has shepherded legislation creating a letter-grading system for the state’s schools, and last week she scored a victory when the New Mexico House approved a budget that includes a merit-pay system for teachers, another element of her sweeping overhaul efforts. Still, New Mexico has lingered in the bottom five states in student achievement, even though it ranks 18th in the country in per-pupil spending.
Despite her efforts to diversify the economy, the state registered year-over-year job losses every month since June — the worst record in the nation, according to estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.Despite her efforts to diversify the economy, the state registered year-over-year job losses every month since June — the worst record in the nation, according to estimates from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Ms. Martinez is promoting a $65 million package that includes tax credits for small businesses for each worker hired and retained, and a business tax cut of almost three percentage points so New Mexico’s rate would match that of neighboring Arizona. But leaders in the Legislature’s Democratic majority say the proposal does not go far enough.Ms. Martinez is promoting a $65 million package that includes tax credits for small businesses for each worker hired and retained, and a business tax cut of almost three percentage points so New Mexico’s rate would match that of neighboring Arizona. But leaders in the Legislature’s Democratic majority say the proposal does not go far enough.
There is a lot of bad blood circulating in the Legislature this year after a combative campaign season, fueled in large part by stinging ads focused on incumbents who stood in the way of legislation the governor supported.There is a lot of bad blood circulating in the Legislature this year after a combative campaign season, fueled in large part by stinging ads focused on incumbents who stood in the way of legislation the governor supported.
The effort to repeal the driver’s license law drove a wedge in a body that is usually collegial. Last year, Ms. Martinez’s political action committee, Susana PAC, attacked two top Democrats, Timothy Jennings, the Senate president pro tem, and Michael Sanchez, the Senate majority leader, for supporting the 2003 law that allowed illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.The effort to repeal the driver’s license law drove a wedge in a body that is usually collegial. Last year, Ms. Martinez’s political action committee, Susana PAC, attacked two top Democrats, Timothy Jennings, the Senate president pro tem, and Michael Sanchez, the Senate majority leader, for supporting the 2003 law that allowed illegal immigrants to obtain a driver’s license.
Mr. Jennings lost his bid for re-election. Mr. Sanchez won. Harvey E. Yates Jr., who was the state Republican chairman when Ms. Martinez was elected and is known for calling things as he sees them, told New Mexico In Depth, an online journalism organization, that her administration had been “a divisive force rather than a uniting force” in the way it handled the Legislature.Mr. Jennings lost his bid for re-election. Mr. Sanchez won. Harvey E. Yates Jr., who was the state Republican chairman when Ms. Martinez was elected and is known for calling things as he sees them, told New Mexico In Depth, an online journalism organization, that her administration had been “a divisive force rather than a uniting force” in the way it handled the Legislature.
State Representative Antonio Maestas, an Albuquerque Democrat and the House majority whip, said in an interview that the candidates the governor opposed but who won nonetheless had arrived at the Roundhouse, the state’s circular Capitol, “emboldened.”State Representative Antonio Maestas, an Albuquerque Democrat and the House majority whip, said in an interview that the candidates the governor opposed but who won nonetheless had arrived at the Roundhouse, the state’s circular Capitol, “emboldened.”
“Being the first Hispanic governor in a state that takes pride in its Hispanic heritage could have been a powerful force in bringing people together,” Mr. Maestas said. “She chose instead to pander to the anti-immigrant sentiment in her party, and that’s her record.”“Being the first Hispanic governor in a state that takes pride in its Hispanic heritage could have been a powerful force in bringing people together,” Mr. Maestas said. “She chose instead to pander to the anti-immigrant sentiment in her party, and that’s her record.”
Mr. Smith, the conservative Democrat, and State Senator Stuart Ingle of Portales, the Republican minority leader and main sponsor of the license bill, originally wanted to propose a system like Utah’s, where citizens and legal residents get regular driver’s licenses and illegal immigrants get driver’s permits. But once they brought the governor into the discussion, “it became clear she wasn’t going to go for it,” Mr. Ingle said.Mr. Smith, the conservative Democrat, and State Senator Stuart Ingle of Portales, the Republican minority leader and main sponsor of the license bill, originally wanted to propose a system like Utah’s, where citizens and legal residents get regular driver’s licenses and illegal immigrants get driver’s permits. But once they brought the governor into the discussion, “it became clear she wasn’t going to go for it,” Mr. Ingle said.
A competing bill that tightens residency requirements to prevent fraud while still allowing illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses has also been introduced. Ms. Martinez has said that if it passed, she would not sign it into law.A competing bill that tightens residency requirements to prevent fraud while still allowing illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses has also been introduced. Ms. Martinez has said that if it passed, she would not sign it into law.
Mr. Ingle, for his part, did not sound too confident about his bill’s fate, saying, “We’ll see where it goes.”Mr. Ingle, for his part, did not sound too confident about his bill’s fate, saying, “We’ll see where it goes.”
Ms. Martinez says that keeping illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses is a matter of public safety. “We’re not deporting anyone,” she said.Ms. Martinez says that keeping illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses is a matter of public safety. “We’re not deporting anyone,” she said.
She has high approval ratings: 64 percent over all and 56 percent among Hispanics, according to a Colorado College survey released this month.She has high approval ratings: 64 percent over all and 56 percent among Hispanics, according to a Colorado College survey released this month.
Despite polls suggesting that most New Mexicans support ending driving privileges for illegal immigrants, the issue is sure to fuel debate as Ms. Martinez travels around the country. The question, however, is whether it will matter more to Latinos than her record on job creation and education, or whether it is her personality and personal history that will shape their opinions.Despite polls suggesting that most New Mexicans support ending driving privileges for illegal immigrants, the issue is sure to fuel debate as Ms. Martinez travels around the country. The question, however, is whether it will matter more to Latinos than her record on job creation and education, or whether it is her personality and personal history that will shape their opinions.
“What she’s intending to do is craft a message of inclusion, and just in doing that she’s already separating herself from the extreme rhetoric in the Republican Party,” said Christine Sierra, the director of the Southwest Hispanic Research Institute at the University of New Mexico.“What she’s intending to do is craft a message of inclusion, and just in doing that she’s already separating herself from the extreme rhetoric in the Republican Party,” said Christine Sierra, the director of the Southwest Hispanic Research Institute at the University of New Mexico.
It is a “calculated gamble,” Professor Sierra said, but whether it will work “is a book that has yet to be written.”It is a “calculated gamble,” Professor Sierra said, but whether it will work “is a book that has yet to be written.”