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The Latest: New Mexico governor defends vetoes in court

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FILE - In this March 27, 2017 file photo, Gov. Susana Martinez speaks about the recent legislative session to a group of business leaders and real estate developers during a luncheon in Albuquerque, N.M. Republican New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez ordered a special session of the Legislature on Friday, May 5, 2017, to resolve a grinding state budget crisis, with no sign of a compromise with leading Democratic lawmakers. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, file)

SANTA FE, N.M. – The Latest on New Mexico’s state budget crisis (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is urging the state Supreme Court to stay out of a budget standoff with state lawmakers.

The Martinez administration filed a briefing Friday with the high court that defends the governor’s decision to veto funding to the Legislature and state institutions of higher education for the coming fiscal year.

It says the GOP governor never abolished the Legislature or any state educational institutions and notes her decision Friday to call a special legislative session to rewrite the budget.

The Democratic-led Legislature says the governor’s vetoes have upset the balance of powers between branches of government outlined in the state’s constitution. Their lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to rescind the line-item vetoes.

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1:40 p.m.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is calling a special session of the Legislature in an attempt to resolve a state budget crisis.

Martinez issued a proclamation Friday ordering lawmakers to return to the New Mexico Capitol on May 24. The decision comes as the Supreme Court weighs accusations that the Republican governor overstepped her authority by defunding the Democratic-led Legislature and all state universities and colleges.

Lawmakers are locked in a standoff with Martinez over how to resolve the state’s grinding budget crisis. The governor has rejected tax and fee hikes that lawmakers say are necessary to shore up funding to public schools, courts and essential public services.

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3:00 a.m.

Time is running out for New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez to submit a legal defence of her decision to defund the Legislature and all state universities and colleges.

Martinez has until the end of Friday to respond to accusation she overstepped her constitutional authority by vetoing funding for the Legislature and all institutions of higher education starting July 1.

The New Mexico Supreme Court is weighing a request to rescind the vetoes. The GOP governor and Democratic-led Legislature are locked in a standoff over how to resolve the state’s budget crisis.

Martinez has rejected proposed tax and fee increases from lawmakers and favours further government belt-tightening. She plans to call lawmakers back for a special session to fix a budget shortfall linked to energy prices and economic malaise.

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Abbey Westbury

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