By KRWG News
New Mexico – Republican Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill providing nearly $25 million for operations of the Legislature, but said she's disappointed with the spending approved by lawmakers.
Martinez said Thursday that she signed the so-called feed bill to demonstrate her desire to work cooperatively with the Democratic-controlled Legislature. However, the governor said she would have liked to have seen more fiscal restraint by the Legislature.
The governor made her comments in a written message to lawmakers.
House Speaker Ben Lujan took issue with the governor's criticisms, saying that lawmakers have tried to hold down spending.
The bill allocates more than $8 million for the 60-day legislative session and more than $16 million for year-round operations of the Legislature, including money for redistricting consultants.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.