By Rob Nikolewski │ New Mexico Watchdog

SANTA FE  – The 30-day legislative kicked off Tuesday with citing a familiar list of her favorite priorities — such as education reform and measures aimed at boosting New Mexico’s lagging economy — but the response from Democrats bluntly called her 47-minute speech “gimmicky.”

Here are some quotes from the respective speeches delivered by Martinez to a joint session of the Legislature and state , who addressed reporters and Democratic supporters in a committee room about a half hour after the governor spoke:

Martinez:

“Our focus must be on two of the most pressing issues – jobs and education.”

Soules:

“We don’t need gimmicky bits and pieces, where you can cherry-pick the data.”

Martinez:

“Washington remains a mess … We cannot bank on that changing, not anytime soon … we should fight equally hard for a more diverse economy.”

Soules:

“If we don’t deal with poverty … then we will always be down near the bottom.”

Martinez: “We’re doing better fighting the headwinds from Washington, but I’m the first to say that we have a lot of work left to do.”

Soules: “Where are the jobs? We continue to be ranked below our neighboring states … The supply-side economics of the past did not work and does not work.”

Martinez:

“We should expect a return on our education dollars … If a child can’t read by the end of the third grade, it’s far more compassionate to give them an extra year of help to catch up, rather than simply passing them on … Let’s not play games. Let’s finally end social promotion.”

Soules:

“I’m a teacher, an educator, I teach statistics. I get tired of hearing how third-graders are four times more likely (to not graduate if they can’t read by the third grade) … She uses false and misleading statistics to make it sound scary.”

Martinez:

“We should support our teachers by providing them with thorough and fair evaluations.”

Soules:

“Merit pay does not work in a system like education.”

Martinez:

“Last year, we saw our graduation rate rise from 63 percent to 70 percent … Let’s continue to choose reform over the status quo.”

Soules on legislation offered by Democrats for a to pay for early childhood education programs:

“We need to do that. We can’t wait.”

Martinez:

“Education spending is now above pre-recession levels, the highest in state history. My budget calls for $100 million more.”

Soules:

“Doubling an insufficient amount does not get you to a sufficient amount … (We call for) local control, so that local school boards have control of those education dollars.”

Martinez:

“I’m once again asking this Legislature to repeal the dangerous law that gives driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.”

Soules:

“The governor is using this issue as a political wedge to separate people by class and to scare people … 10 additional states have begun to issue driver’s licenses to the undocumented.”

Martinez:

“New Mexico is striving to be a business-friendly state. The message is critically important in a global economy. We all know that businesses have choices, and they will locate and grow where they are treated fairly.”

Soules on Democrats proposing a constitutional amendment to raise the state’s minimum wage:

“Modest raises to the minimum wage does not hurt jobs. Basic economics tells us when money moves, the economy improves … It’s time now to pass a living wage.”

Martinez:

“New Mexico’s water infrastructure is in a state of crisis … I’m asking that we invest 60 percent of our capital dollars on critical water projects throughout New Mexico.”

Soules:

“Gov. Martinez has not included the Legislature in how those 60 percent of capital outlay dollars will be spent. She instead says, trust me … (She is) trying to work around us.”

Martinez:

“With great challenges come great opportunities. To seize these opportunities, we must come together.”

Soules:

“We need someone who will lead and govern, not play politics.”

Contact Rob Nikolewski at and follow him on Twitter @robnikolewski