Martinez: proud of what's been accomplished

krqe.com
by Katie Kim
Updated: Thursday, 29 Dec 2011, 9:11 AM MST

Video at source link

SANTA FE (KRQE) - It's been a whirlwind from that cold January day in Santa Fe when Susana Martinez addressed crowds for the first time as governor. Martinez, the first female Hispanic governor in the nation, has undergone two heated legislative sessions, as well as a few natural disasters that crippled the state.

"It's been hectic, very hectic," said Martinez.

Since her State of the State address, Martinez made her agenda clear: trim state government, clean up corruption and revamp education.

"I'm very encouraged by what we've accomplished so far," said Martinez.

Katie's Law, which requires all felons to give DNA samples, passed in Martinez's first session. The governor also followed through on selling the state jet, her symbol of government waste. Despite strong push back, Martinez capped the film incentives at $50 million a year. Then there was tackling the budget that was hundreds of millions of dollars in the red.

"We were able to not only balance the budget but protect classroom spending, as well as protect healthcare for those most in need," said Martinez. "And we did it without raising taxes."

Martinez also hailed the tax break measure she signed for Union Pacific Railroad, the company that plans to spend more than $400 million for a refueling facility in Santa Teresa, N.M. Construction is expected to create 3,000 jobs. Six hundred permanent jobs will be created once the facility is operating.

But Martinez also admits there have is much more work to do. Her effort to undo the law that gives driver's licenses to illegal immigrants failed twice. Her push to hold back students who don't read well enough also failed. Martinez's only education reform bill to pass: letter grades for schools.

One of Martinez's toughest critics also graded the governor. Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, gave Martinez a C+.

"Definitely above average but certainly not an A grade," said Ortiz y Pino.

Ortiz y Pino said Martinez spent most of her time campaigning instead of governing.

"(Martinez) was trying to say this is not Bill Richardson's state, this is Susana Martinez's state," said Ortiz y Pino.

But Martinez has had some controversies of her own, including questions over how her Chief of Staff's wife landed a state job and the new 25-year deal with the Downs at Albuquerque. Critics said the governor's political allies pushed the deal through.

"Maybe business as usual hasn't changed that radically in Santa Fe," said Ortiz y Pino.

Martinez disagrees, saying the process was fair and transparent.

One thing the governor and lawmakers agree on is that much more needs to be done to create jobs. Martinez said she'll push tax cuts for small businesses in the regular session that begins Jan. 17 to try to spur job growth. She will also make another go at her bills tackling social promotion and driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politic...Top+Stories%29