Lawmakers ask Lujan Grisham to explain pandemic spending

Top New Mexico legislators sent a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday, asking her to explain the legality of her decision to unilaterally authorize COVID-19 emergency spending “in excess of the statutory limits.”

The letter, signed by House Speaker Brian Egolf and Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen cites state law allowing appropriations of $750,000 “for each eligible and qualified applicant” when the governor declares an emergency.

It then calls attention to a March 27 executive order by Lujan Grisham to make available $20 million in emergency funds, an April 8 order to allocate $10 million more, as well as other unspecified orders to appropriate more than $750,000 each.

“Against this statutory and constitutional backdrop, the New Mexico Legislative Council respectfully requests a response from your office addressing the legal basis for any and all executive orders issued by your office that directed the Department of Finance and Administration to make available funds in excess of the statutory limits,” Egolf and Papen wrote.

Read more: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/coronavirus/lawmakers-ask-lujan-grisham-to-explain-pandemic-spending/article_2f839d48-c849-11ea-8061-abd2b311329d.html