Former Gov. Gary Johnson on Thursday backed up Gov. Susana Martinez’s decision to add extra items to the agenda for the Legislature’s redistricting special session but said he didn’t have a problem with lawmakers rejecting the agenda, either.
“I think I had the same criticism (as the governor). I would have called a special session and put stuff on, and whatever I put on was way in excess of what should be addressed,” Johnson said. “I think the governor clearly has the right to put on whatever she wants to put on and, of course, the Legislature has the converse ability to reject it.”
Johnson, who is running for president, was the sitting governor during the last redistricting session, 10 years ago. He did not put any extra items on the agenda during that special session.
Johnson stopped by the Roundhouse to do interviews related to his campaign. He did not address the legislators and was not planning on playing advocate for any issues in the session, which started Tuesday.
Still, he offered his own plan for immigration issues that he said would eliminate the need for the debate over whether New Mexico should issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
He said government should stay out of immigration issues except to efficiently offer work visas to foreign nationals, especially Mexicans, who apply. He said amnesty programs and other efforts by the government have only led to a stalemate that ignores reality.
“Get government out of all of that stuff and just get them in the business of issuing a work visa,” Johnson said.
Johnson has been spending most of his time campaigning in New Hampshire, which Johnson said is the linchpin of his campaign strategy.
“The resources I do have are going to New Hampshire. So, basically, I’m running for president of the United States in New Hampshire,” he said.
Although he has similar polling numbers to presidential contenders who are becoming better-known through national debates, such as Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum, Johnson has been excluded from all but one televised Republican debate.
Johnson has instead made videos responding to debate questions and, on Wednesday night, tweeted his opinions on issues that arose during the NBC-Politico debate.
“It establishes a record through this whole thing. On a day-to-day basis, I’m issuing opinions on everything that is happening,” Johnson said.
— This article appeared on page A3 of the Albuquerque Journal
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