Gov. Bill Richardson signed today the state’s $5.6 billion budget, but not before vetoing about $57 million in spending.
You can read the version of the budget submitted by Richardson today by clicking here. Lawmakers have until noon on Saturday to override his vetoes.
Richardson returned from a presidential-campaign trip to the East Coast late Wednesday, and sources say he worked through the night on the budget. It was submitted to the secretary of state’s office at 6:57 a.m. – not long before it would have taken effect without his signature.
Richardson has yet to return the capital outlay bill to the Legislature.
Richardson vetoed language attached to two funding items related to the commuter rail that he wrote inappropriately circumvented executive operations and set policy. The spiraling cost of the rail has been a sore spot for many lawmakers, primarily in the Senate, and the language was likely an attempt to place some controls on the situation.
Richardson’s veto of that language may give steam to a push for veto overrides.
So might Richardson’s veto of another bill. He killed today Senate Bill 363, sponsored by Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen. The bill would eliminate the requirement that candidates file campaign disclosure reports electronically, and move the state away from better disclosure of money that influences elections. I’ve written previously about the problems with this bill.
Despite those problems, the bill was approved with widespread support in the House and Senate, so there might be enough support for a veto override. Sanchez will obviously be upset it was vetoed, as will many others.
Gov. Bill Richardson signed today the state’s $5.6 billion budget, but not before vetoing about $57 million in spending. 