The Latest: New Mexico Senate can't overturn higher ed veto

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on efforts by New Mexico lawmakers to resolve a state budget crisis (all times local): 12:45 p.m. The New Mexico Democratic-controlled Senate has failed to override Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's veto of funding for all colleges and universities. The Senate voted 26-15 Wednesday on the first day of a special session to overturn the governor's veto of funding colleges and universities as well as hospitals and other programs under their umbrella. But the vote failed short of the votes needed. Sen. John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat, says the governor's veto of higher education funding has had a devastating effect on the state. But some Republican senators said overriding the veto still didn't solve the state's revenue problem thanks to a drop in oil prices. Democrats are pushing for tax increases while the GOP wants overall tax reforms. ___ 12:40 p.m. Democrats in the New Mexico Legislature are calling for a vote to override vetoes by Gov. Susana Martinez that defund the Legislature and all state colleges and universities in the coming fiscal year. Sen. John Arthur Smith and Rep. Daymon Ely on Wednesday introduced a motion to override vetoes by the Republican governor. A two-thirds majority is required to override a veto. Martinez last month rejected a variety of tax increases, while vetoing $765 million in state spending. The state Supreme Court has declined requests from lawmakers to rescind those spending cuts. ___ 12:20 p.m. The New Mexico Legislature has convened in a special session to resolve a state budget crisis linked to faltering tax revenues and a weak state economy. The state Senate and House of Representatives gathered Wednesday at the state Capitol to consider legislation designed to restore vetoed spending cuts and shore up depleted state reserves. The state's Republican governor and Democratic-led Legislature have outlined competing proposals to restore vetoed funding for the Legislature and all state universities for the fiscal year starting July 1. Martinez last month rejected a variety of tax increases, while vetoing $765 million in state spending. The state Supreme Court has declined requests from lawmakers to rescind those vetoes. ___ 11:00 a.m. A public employees union in New Mexico is pushing back against a Republican plan to shore up state finances by withdrawing pension money earmarked for lawmakers. Carter Bundy of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said Wednesday that the proposed withdrawals would affect retirement savings of most state workers and not just legislators. He also warned that the plan to claw back $12.5 million in retirement contributions would threaten the tax-exempt status of the New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and GOP lawmakers say that a legislative retirement plan is overfunded, too generous and should be used to plug a budget deficit for the coming fiscal year. State pension managers say that would be illegal. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees represents about 10,000 state workers in New Mexico. ___ 3:00 a.m. New Mexico lawmakers are converging on the state Capitol for a special session in hopes of resolving a budget crisis. The session begins at noon Wednesday with a focus on restoring vetoed funding to all state colleges and universities. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and the Democratic-led Legislature have been feuding for months over how to fill a shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year. Martinez in April vetoed tax and fee increases that most lawmakers say are needed to bolster funding for public schools, courts and critical government services after repeated rounds of cuts to state agencies. The governor favors further government belt tightening, along with legislation to wipe away tax breaks. Lawmakers are contemplating quick ways to boost finances by taxing more online sales, imposing taxes on nonprofit hospitals and suspending infrastructure projects.