Governor Continues to Show Contempt for Education Professionals Through Vetoes

Santa Fe, NM – Today, Governor Susana Martinez vetoed Senate Bill 200 by Senator John Sapien which would have encouraged licensed school professionals, such as counselors and school administrators, to improve their professional practice to better meet the needs of New Mexico. Had this legislation been signed, all licensed school professionals would have been eligible for a one-time salary increase for completing certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

“Earlier this week Governor Martinez used her veto pen to show her contempt for New Mexico teachers and today she used it to show her disrespect for other education professionals who are striving to improve their skill set and better serve New Mexico students and their families,” said Senator Sapien. “The Governor should understand that it takes an entire team of education professionals to meet the needs of the New Mexico students but this veto shows her lack of comprehension about what goes on in and out of our classrooms.”

Senate Bill 200 passed unanimously through the New Mexico Senate and by a vote of 68-1 in the House of Representatives. This is the second veto regarding education that passed the legislature nearly unanimously. Earlier this week, Governor Martinez vetoed the “Teachers are Human Too” bill a move that was criticized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.