State of New Mexico

Michelle Lujan Grisham

Governor

May 19, 2020
Dear New Mexico Senate Republicans,

I am in receipt of your letter dated May 18 in which you without evidence claim that the ?effects?
of the pandemic, which has killed thousands more Americans than the Iraq War and
the War in Afghanistan combined, ?have not risen to the levels initially thought? by ?many experts
and leaders.? I am unaware of any public health experts who view 90,000 deaths and rising
every day -- as a mild or moderate outcome. I am unaware of any of the hundreds of heartbroken,
grieving families in New Mexico who have lost a loved one -- a father, a mother, a grandfather or
grandmother, indeed even men and women, our neighbors, who were only in their 303, 405 and
503 who would consider the outcome of this heinous virus to be primarily a tragedy of ?economic
shortfall,? as you put it. These are your constituents as well as mine. Any framework for moving
forward amid this pandemic that suggests hundreds and even potentially thousands of deaths
is of relatively little consequence and may be or indeed must be swept aside in favor of heedless
talking points prioritizing economic stagnation over preventable death on a mass scale is a false
choice and is unacceptable. For what it?s worth, the supposedly mild ?effects? you describe of this
pandemic at this stage are attributable to the decisive and early actions I took to protect New
Mexicans and thus alter the initial trajectory of the virus and thus put us in a position to
disseminate safety guidelines for reopening businesses, as we have done, as you fully know.

I notice your letter does not cite the reporting or study of any public health experts or any scientific
or epidemiological leaders. That is because no public health expert or epidemiologist could or
would or does support what you describe as a simple ?common sense? approach to this
unprecedented public health crisis an approach that would be better described as utter failure
and un?inching surrender to the virus ravaging our your communities, those you
represent, whether you believe in the danger of this disease or not.

I further notice your letter elides the glaring fact that New Mexico?s relative success in combating
this virus is due to the fact my administration has taken strong steps to protect New Mexicans from
precisely the kind of proudly anti-scienti?c bluster and misjudgment encapsulated in your letter. I
notice your letter does not acknowledge the clear and data-driven steps my administration has
taken to keep New Mexicans -- your constituents safe and healthy as we work every single day
to move forward in balancing our recovery from the devastating economic effects of this pandemic
with the mandate to prevent illness and save lives. As you fully know New Mexico is largely ?re?
open,? with all retail businesses able to operate and only a few exemptions because of the high-

State Capitol Room 400 - SantaFe,NewMexico 87501 505-476-2200

New Mexico Senate Republicans
May 19, 2020
Page 2

risk nature of the services at those establishments. As you fully know I have outlined a plan to
move even those services back into operation in the very near future -- consistent with the
transmission data of this virus demonstrating continued progress -- and, again, as you fully know,
our ability to move forward safely under those guidelines in a COVID-positive world, one in which
your lives and the lives of your families and your constituents are protected from this heinous
disease, depends upon your support for physical distancing measures. I notice you did not and have
not publicly supported any of the public health measures and guidelines my administration has
taken that have in the same breath saved lives and now allow New Mexico businesses to move
forward safely and with less risk of disease transmission and death, not in this letter nor anywhere
else. I notice you have not at any stage advocated for small business support at the federal level or
in any fashion used your platform to support the federal disbursement of relief funds the state has
secured for New Mexico business-owners and entrepreneurs; nor have you used your platforms or
of?ces to advocate the federal government or White House for restoring state budgets and funds,
which will be essential as we move forward economically. You are fully aware of my
administration?s unequivocal commitment to a thriving and well?rounded economy -- as evidenced
by the remarkable job-creation and diversification success we saw in 2019 and I will assume
your stated concern for the state?s economy in this letter signals your aggressive support for my
administration?s continued work on that front moving forward.

We do not yet fully understand this disease. We do not yet understand why men and women as
young as their 305 are dying of sudden strokes. We do not yet understand why children in other
parts of the country and across the world are suddenly becoming sickened, and some losing their
precious young lives, by a rare working in concert with the coronavirus. Indeed, in New
Mexico, our rate of children and teenagers who have contracted 9 is frighteningly high
in comparison with other states.

What we do Lmderstand is that when individuals are sickened with this virus, they die alone.
Mothers and fathers leave for the hospital short of breath and never return. Grandmothers and
grandfathers, our tribal brothers and sisters, our neighbors all across this state are grappling with
the awful trauma of losing loved ones without getting to say goodbye. Your reckless demand for
a full?scale w. which, again, ignores. the plain facts of the crisis and the actions my
administration has taken to effectively countenance them serves only to in?ame misinformed
public opinion, which is to risk further illness and likely death, death that will be lonely and all the
more tragic because it was and is within our power to prevent.

Thank you for your correspondence, and I greatly look forward to your support for and leadership
on initiatives that will provide meaningful relief for New Mexico businesses and industries

affected by this awful pandemic during the forthcoming special session.

Kindly,

Governor Michell uj an Grisham