Breaking: House signs off on $5.9 billion budget despite governor’s veto threat

One day after Gov. Susana Martinez suggested she would veto a $5.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year if the bill was not changed, the Democratic-controlled House forged ahead on the big-ticket spending plan in its current form.

House members voted 37-33 to concur with Senate changes to the budget, meaning the bill could be sent to the governor’s desk at any time for final consideration.

All 33 House Republicans voted against concurrence, citing concerns over Senate changes to education funding in the budget. Meanwhile, the lone House Democrat to oppose concurrence was Rep. Sandra Jeff of Crownpoint.

Several Democratic lawmakers pointed out the spending plan was approved unanimously yesterday in the Senate. Meanwhile, Rep. Henry “Kiki” Saavedra, D-Albuquerque, defended the budget, saying, “I feel there’s nothing wrong with this bill.”

If the House had not concurred with the Senate’s changes to the budget bill, the two chambers would have had to try to hammer out their differences in a conference committee.

Click here to read more about the $5.9 billion budget proposal.

And check tomorrow’s Journal for more.