New Mexico Gov. Richardson vows to go ‘100 miles an hour’ during final year in office

NM governor will remain active in final year

SANTA FE, N.M. — Gov. Bill Richardson plans to keep his foot on the gas and his hands firmly on the steering wheel of New Mexico’s state government during his final year in office.

The Democratic governor, known for his boundless energy, intends no letup in pushing his administration’s initiatives during the upcoming legislative session and afterward.

Richardson also insists he will finish his second and final term this year and has no plans to leave in coming months for another job in Washington, D.C., or elsewhere.

“I am going to lead this last year. I am going to be an activist governor as I’ve been — going 100 miles an hour,” Richardson said in an interview with The Associated Press at his Capitol office. “I am no lame duck. No one should mistake this last year as a lame duck year.”

He promises to keep a low profile in New Mexico’s upcoming elections “so that nobody accuses me of being political the last year.”

However, he expects to remain involved in international affairs while serving as governor. He frequently has served as an unofficial diplomatic troubleshooter and since taking office in 2003 has traveled to North Korea and helped secure the release of an American journalist held in Sudan.

In New Mexico, the first order of business for Richardson and the Legislature is to balance the state’s more than $5 billion budget when lawmakers convene Jan. 19.

Revenues are projected to fall well short next year of what New Mexico is spending this year on schools and government services. That means budget cuts and possible tax increases in the coming year.

“I am concerned that, because of the shortfall, that there will be a headlong rush to raise taxes,” Richardson said.

He has proposed $200 million in unspecified tax increases as part of his budget recommendations to the Legislature. However, he opposes raising personal income and capital gains taxes and repealing tax incentives for businesses — proposals that Richardson said could hurt the economy.

Richardson suggested that lawmakers limit any tax increases to three years, after which they would automatically expire unless the Legislature and governor approved an extension.

Richardson said he will negotiate an acceptable tax and budget package with the Legislature and try to provide political assistance for legislators who make tough votes for tax measures and spending cuts. All 70 members of the House are up for election this year. Senate terms run through 2012.

“If we come out with a budget that is broadly based and is bipartisan and if some members have taken a political hit, I will try to be helpful,” he said.

The governor said he’s encouraged that budget proposals by his administration and the Legislative Finance Committee “conceptually are not that far apart.”

The LFC’s spending blueprint left $200 million to be filled with tax increases or deeper budget cuts. However, Richardson said he has “serious reservations” about an LFC proposal to cut salaries for educators and public employees by 2 percent.

After the Legislature adjourns in February, Richardson said he plans to focus on economic development, creating jobs, encouraging the production of clean energy and improving the state’s 60 percent high school graduation rate.

“I really believe the state is going to be left in very good shape,” Richardson said.