Gov. Bill Richardson is drawing sharp criticism and heavy lobbying after saying on Friday that he hasn’t decided whether to sign a bill that would create a veterans museum in
Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces and the sponsor of Senate Bill 349, said
“How can he not honor his word? This should in itself be the end of the discussion,” Rawson wrote in an e-mail. “His commitment and word are evidenced by the fact that both the secretary of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the secretary of the Department of Cultural Affairs were actively testifying in support of the bill.”
The Las Cruces Sun-News urged
Here are the facts: Six of the state’s eight museums are north of Interstate 40. One third of
That’s why the Legislature approved the bill. That’s why
So what’s going on?
It’s no secret that Rawson and Richardson have been at odds with each other for years, but their relationship has been especially contentious this year as the Senate and executive are locked in a power struggle.
He’s meeting with Senate leaders on Thursday to try to work out an agreement on when to hold a special session for health-care reform. Rawson, the minority whip, told me he won’t even attend the meeting.
“Why should I go to
Rawson isn’t alone. Few believe a special session, at this point, would lead to serious health-care reform.
In the meantime, the state’s veterans have been promised a museum. The majority of legislators and two of the governor’s cabinet secretaries have already agreed that
Update, 1 p.m.
State Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, who carried a mirror version of Rawson’s bill in the House, said Richardson told him and Rawson he supported making Doña Ana County the home of the state veterans museum. Steinborn said it was he who crafted the legislation along with the state’s Cultural Affairs Department.
“Nobody has done more for the veterans of
“I’m hopeful that the governor will continue to be supportive of