Martinez Adds Food-Stamp Funding To Special Session Agenda

Gov. Susana Martinez says she will call for legislation to address a lack of funding for New Mexico’s supplemental food stamp program to be placed on the agenda for next month’s special session.

A $650,000 request for the state’s supplement to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was not approved during the regular legislative session that ended in March.

The governor’s office says that resulted in New Mexico’s supplemental food stamp assistance to certain low-income, elderly and disabled residents running out at the end of June.

Martinez committed unused federal stimulus funds to keep the program going through September.

Also up for debate during the special session will be New Mexico’s policy of granting licenses to undocumented immigrants and the solvency of the state’s unemployment compensation fund.