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Wednesday, October 07, 2009
'Gloom and Doom' or Fiscal Reality?
By Dan Boyd
Of the Journal
Gov. Bill Richardson might have a new nickname for two of his frequent adversaries in the New Mexico Legislature.
Speaking to reporters Monday after a news conference in Santa Fe, Richardson voiced frustration with Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming.
"I don't want this gloom and doom that is coming from certain quarters," Richardson said.
Although they weren't mentioned by name, Jennings and Smith were the senators who recently sent a strongly worded letter to superintendents statewide that detailed New Mexico's budget problems and showed what a 10 percent spending cut would look like in each school district.
The letter drew a rebuke from the Governor's Office, which described it as creating panic and confusion around the state.
"Gloom and doom" have fired back however, with Jennings saying Monday that Richardson's plan to balance the state budget would leave a "huge mess" for the state's next governor.
Richardson announced Monday that a special budget-balancing session will start Oct. 17.
BOWLING FOR SCHOOLS? A New Mexico education union that's organizing a Friday rally against potential state government education cuts is still waiting on a high-profile guest of honor.
The American Federation of Teachers-New Mexico e-mailed left-leaning filmmaker Michael Moore last week, inviting him to speak at the demonstration at the state Capitol.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the two sides had been in contact but no commitments had been made, a spokesman for the union said.
Moore, who directed such films as "Bowling for Columbine," "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Sicko," could increase the profile of the protest.
However, event organizers say they're already expecting at least 2,000 people to attend the rally.
Instead of spending cuts, AFT-NM and a coalition of other unions, religious organizations and social advocacy groups are pushing for lawmakers to repeal 2003 income tax cuts and changes in the way corporate income taxes are reported.
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