New Mexico governor's tense tenure with lawmakers nears end
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The rocky relationship between New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and state lawmakers is coming to a close as the Republican governor prepares to leave office and both sides ponder what might have been.
Democratic leaders said they wished there had been better communication with Martinez and wondered if more could have been done years ago to resolve grinding difficulties related to unemployment and crime.
Martinez told reporters last week that she regrets lawmakers didn't pass more of her major proposals during her tenure, describing unfulfilled initiatives to simplify the tax code, hold back students in third grade who cannot read at grade level and enhance criminal penalties.