By Victor Reyes, Campaigns Director for ProgressNow New Mexico.

This week, New Mexico elected leaders did something politicians don't do anymore. They compromised. The $295 million capital outlay bill in the special legislative session to fund critical tribal, education and senior programs Democrats sought to protect was combined with a tax-cut package Republicans felt they couldn't live without.

But this week's happy ending didn't come without unnecessary drama (and expense to taxpayers).

It's ironic that after repeatedly trying to characterize Democratic legislators as promoting "Washington-style gridlock," the Republican Party appeared very comfortable engaging in "hostage politics" - the holding hostage of much-needed legislation for the sake of scoring political points, a move straight out of the Tea Party playbook.

After spending months carefully evaluating proposals and identifying those most in need, Republican and Democratic leaders agreed earlier this year to a bill to keep our most important programs like senior meal programs and tribal student education, while also funding the governor's request for new road funding in (mostly) oil and gas country.

In the final 48 hours of the 2015 session, however, House Republicans held ransom funding for nearly every county and constituency - replacing the compromise bill (which passed with overwhelming Democratic and Republican support in the Senate) with a new bill entirely of their own design with less than 48 hours to go in the winter session. After the clock ran out, they continued to hold up its passage for nearly three months in an attempt to attach more tax giveaways for their wealthy friends.

Much like their colleagues in Washington who have held everything from presidential nominations to nutritional assistance for pregnant women and infants hostage in order to advance their own political agenda, Republicans in Santa Fe seem content with using New Mexico families, seniors and tribes as leverage to pass legislation that seems more focused on pleasing their campaign supporters than moving New Mexico forward.

And it wasn't long before Susana Martinez and House Republicans began complaining about the refusal of Democratic legislators to pay a ransom that would cost New Mexico's communities far too much.

The hijacking of $77 million worth of funding, all for the benefit of special interests, was not enough. House Republicans were adamant about including a new tax break for wealthy out-of-state trust fund recipients. While everyday New Mexicans worried about how they would find a job that would allow them to support their families, House Republicans stalled a public works package that would create jobs because they felt wealthy people outside of New Mexico needed more tax breaks.

Thankfully, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate put people before politics. They stood strong for months for seniors who depend on their community senior centers for their daily meals, students who seek job training that will help them move their families forward, and Native communities looking to build needed infrastructure for their people.

After Democrats drew the line and refused to allow New Mexicans to take a backseat to polluting special interests, a deal was finally able to be reached. While not perfect, because of their efforts our elderly, students, and Native American communities were protected from the dangerous Republican cuts.

Hostage politics are no way to govern. Stunts like this won't create jobs and it doesn't help move our state forward. In fact, the Republicans' ploy did nothing but cost the state thousands of dollars to call a special session after jeopardizing funding our communities need.

After the past three months a few things are clear: Republican leadership is willing to do anything to score political points and please their political donors; Democratic legislators will not go along with political hostage taking; and Republican hostage taking politics have no place in our state.