FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2021
Contact: Joaquin Romero
(505) 506-5798
Senate Republican Leaders Lament One Year of COVID-19 in New Mexico
SANTA FE – New Mexico Senate Republican leaders today released the following statement, lamenting the one-year mark of COVID-19 in New Mexico:
“One year ago, we had no idea what impact COVID-19 would have on our health. Upon orders from the Governor, we did our best to slow the spread by staying home and serving our neighbors. From day one, our position has always been to follow science, and at the onset of the pandemic, we believe the Governor did what she believed was best for our state. However, as weeks turned to months, and as we learned more about the virus, the Governor did not adapt her strategy. She did not change her thinking. Even as other states safely returned students to school, reopened businesses, and reignited their economies, New Mexico remained locked down.”
“In retrospect, it is now clear that the Governor kept our state under her thumb until it was no longer politically expedient to do so. She executed, renewed, and expanded public health orders unilaterally with no input from the Legislature or the people of our state. While she interviewed for a job in the Biden cabinet, gave her staff five-figure raises, and lived lavishly on the taxpayer dime, our students, small business owners, and hardworking New Mexicans suffered.”
“Today, the Governor and her administration are doing a victory lap, applauding one another and patting themselves on the back. Though as we look back on this past year, we are disheartened – disheartened that our students have lost a year of education, that many of our citizens have lost a year of employment, and that too many New Mexicans have lost everything they have ever worked for.”
“Our state is in desperate need of new vision and leadership. However, the citizens of New Mexico are resilient and we have no doubt that they can overcome the challenges before us. The only question is, will Democratic leaders let them?”
Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (District 29-Bernalillo and Valencia)
Republican Whip, Senator Craig Brandt (District 40-Sandoval)
Republican Caucus Chair, Senator Mark Moores (District 21-Bernalillo)
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