Bill Richardson: I have done here in New Mexico ... what I can do as president ...

[bigtree]

Richardson says he'll call special session to work on rejected proposals

Associated Press
Saturday, March 17, 2007

SANTA FE —

"We're on a roll, so let's continue that roll," Richardson told a room full of bleary-eyed legislative leaders and cabinet secretaries just after the 60-day session ended, by law, at noon.

"I have done here in New Mexico ... what I can do as president ... make a difference in the lives of the American people," Richardson said.

Richardson laid out a broad agenda for the session, and the Legislature went along with most of it.

Lawmakers voted to raise the hourly minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.50 by January 2009, while Washington is "mired in partisanship and gridlock," said the governor, sounding a campaign theme.

The Legislature approved a $5.6 billion state budget, $700 million in capital projects, medical marijuana legalization, a statewide smoking ban, surface owners protection from oil and gas drilling, payday lending restrictions, a lottery scholarship funding fix, a cockfighting ban, and an ethics measure limiting gifts to state officials.

Also endorsed: more than $80 million in tax cuts for businesses and individuals. They include tax breaks targeted to health care providers, renewable energy projects and economic development initiatives.

http://abqtrib.com/news/2007/mar/17/richardson-says-hell-call-special-session/

[TygrBright]

1. Um. Speaking as a NM resident...

...I wouldn't want that brag to be dissected too closely.

Richardson has made great improvements in many areas. He's a decent Goob and has taken on some tough issues and worked them through, horsetrading with GOPpies where needed. BUT...

New Mexico is still only a coupla steps from a third-world country, politically. We still have plenty of people in public service jobs who are there because of their name or who their parents/grandparents are; we still have plenty of public servants who are diligently lining their own and their family members' pockets using the resources of their office.

And Mr. Bill has never seriously told a big, well-heeled corporation that wants to screw the public (while making a few placatory gestures, of course) to take a flying leap off Sandia Peak. And he's done nothing to reduce the state's cooperation with the private-sector nutjobs who are now in charge of America's largest nuclear research lab. We still have some of the worst contaminated soil and watershed issues in the country. None of that is his fault, but he's done nothing with his office to rein it in or clean it up.

On balance? I think he's a decent Goob who'd make a competent President. But if I were he, I wouldn't brag too hard about his "accomplishments" in New Mexico.

Maybe... just MAYBE... if he manages to wring some real, meaningful reform measures from the lege during the special session, he can brag a little.

cautiously,
Bright

[skipos]

4. Richardson is the only "2nd tier" candidate who wins his homestate

in primary polls. That would indicate that people who know him best are pretty interested in his presidential prospects. I think it is a pretty big deal that he is spearheading medicial medicine, as plenty of governors won't touch that one with a 10 foot pole.

I am not discounting your opinion by the way.

[bigdarryl]

2. He's got more experience than Obama Clinton and Edwards put together so all this...

B/S about experience is nothing but talk if that was important than Richardson would be the front runner. now the pundits are saying he's trying to get the Vice Presidential slot. he said in fact he will not except the Vice Presidential slot over being Governor.

[bigtree]

3. He hasn't claimed he's solved every problem NM has

he has more than a few accomplishments that I've highlighted here which speak to his intentions, determination, and effectiveness, notwithstanding others' own personal observations.