Budget special session must wait for COVID-19 to flatten

In recent weeks, some have called for a special session of the Legislature to address the urgent challenges facing New Mexico.

I share their sense of urgency. New Mexico - along with the rest of the world - is facing a public-health emergency unlike anything we have ever seen. The COVID-19 pandemic has wrought extraordinary economic damage and that reality - along with the recent drop in oil prices - will require us to consider major questions about our state’s future. 

Unfortunately, however, it isn’t yet safe to hold a special session of the Legislature. 

As public-health experts have told us time and again, defeating this virus means adopting a four-fold strategy: slowing the spread through physical distancing, testing everyone we can, isolating positive cases and giving our healthcare system time to build capacity over the longer term.

Right now, we are in the middle of that crucial work. State health officials have indicated we haven’t hit our surge yet, much less our peak. Gathering 112 legislators in one place - plus staff, press, and members of the public - runs counter to every element of our strategy, and it would have serious public health consequences. It would also undo the extraordinary work that our healthcare workers, childcare professionals and other essential personnel are doing every day.

In addition, we don’t yet have all the information we need to make smart, forward-thinking decisions for New Mexico. 

Here’s what we do know: businesses and workers across our state are hurting - and it’s heartbreaking. We also know that the last federal stimulus package provided far too little support to businesses and workers in New Mexico. And we know that another federal package is coming - and we are working hard to ensure that Congress and the President address New Mexico’s true needs. 

But we don’t yet know what that package will look like. We also don’t yet know which kinds of targeted economic relief initiatives would have the support of the Legislature.

When we have more clarity about exactly what New Mexico’s businesses and workers need - and what the federal government and our own Legislature will be willing to do to meet them - then we will be ready to meet. And if our public health experts tell us it’s safe, that’s exactly what we will do.

We look forward to that moment. All of us - Republicans and Democrats - ran for office because we care about our state and want to serve. And right now, serving means working through our public-health strategy, keeping our communities safe, listening closely to their needs and preparing as thoughtfully as we can for a rebuilt - and more resilient - New Mexico economy.  

Small businesses are the cornerstone of that economy. Now is the time to start planning, so when the time is safe, we can hit the ground running moving with great velocity and aggressively reopen businesses. If we do the work in front of us in the right order - defeating the virus first, then rebuilding our economy in a smart and inclusive way - then small businesses will be able to reopen with confidence and seize the opportunities in front of them, and our state will be stronger for it.

Rep. Doreen Gallegos serves as House Majority Whip.