Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham | Facebook
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham | Facebook
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham exceeded her emergency authority by imposing excessive fines on businesses, the New Mexico Business Coalition reported.
It has filed a “friend of the court” brief in a lawsuit challenging the fines.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas ruled that fines issued by the governor could not be more than $100, the coalition said. One business was fined, $60,000, it said.
“In the first weeks of the statewide lockdown that saw closures of nearly every business, the governor issued fines of $5,000 per day upon businesses with alleged violations of Public Health Act orders,” the group said in a statement.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas ruled that fines issued by the governor could not be more than $100, the coalition said.
The New Mexico Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.
“NMBC agrees that Gov. Grisham has limited authority under public health emergencies and we are pleased that the NMAG has provided this clarity in advance of the NM Supreme Court hearing on this exact issue,” the coalition said.
Alerts Sign-up