Richardson yet to receive requested legislative approval of priorities left over from 2006 session

Almost halfway through the 2007 legislative session, Gov. Bill Richardson said today he is pleased with the progress of his agenda despite the fact that lawmakers haven’t yet endorsed priorities Richardson wanted approved by Thursday.

In his State of the State address last month, Richardson asked for four of his priorities to be approved within 30 days – by Thursday. They are:

• Raising the minimum wage.

• Creating a state Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to focus on the development of alternative energy in New Mexico.

• Pass GRIP II, which would fund a multitude of road and transportation projects around the state.

• Pass the governor’s proposed tax cuts.

While speaking to a joint session of the House and Senate this morning, Richardson praised lawmakers for working “selflessly” and “hard.” He then joked with them.

“Thirty days have passed. We’ve got 30 to go,” he said with a smile and chuckle. “Start passing my agenda.”

But he wasn’t really kidding with them. In a news conference after the joint session, Richardson said he is pleased that all four items have moved through some committees and, in the case of minimum wage, the Senate, but also said he is “getting a little impatient, because you get into the last 30 days and there’s all kinds of scrambling, there’s all kinds of tension.”

Richardson said, however, that his request for approval by Thursday was nothing more than “artificial deadlines you throw out at the beginning of the session.”

“I’m pleased with the pace of the Legislature on our major initiatives,” Richardson said. “I want to commend the Legislature. They’ve worked hard. They’re doing a good job.”

Early in the session, the Senate passed a bill approving $79 million in capital outlay the governor vetoed last year. Acknowledging the push by the Senate, Richardson said he must receive something in return. He said that, assuming the bill passes the House, he will sign it – if his four priorities for the first half of the session are approved “soon.”

Pressed for a deadline, Richardson said, “Send it to me now.”

Richardson also spoke about a number of other topics. He announced a compromise on payday lending legislation, which you can read about by clicking here. On Minimum wage, he said he hopes the House passes its own version of the Legislation so a conference committee can resolve the differences between the two.

“At the right time, we’ll try to intervene and bring people together,” Richardson said. “… I believe we can work out the differences.”

In addition, Richardson spoke about the House’s approval Monday of legislation that would abolish the death penalty in New Mexico. The Senate killed the House bill in 2005, and Richardson opposed it.

Richardson said today that his position hasn’t changed, but also didn’t close the door on signing the bill.

“I don’t change my positions based on what’s good in primary states,” he said, referring to Iowa, which does not have a death penalty. “I have firm convictions.”

Still, when asked if he might sign the bill, Richardson said, “Let’s see what comes up.”