Gov Richardson's 3% solution.

Governor Bill Richardson has laid on the table; across the board 3% spending cuts as a solution for the current budget crunch.

In the alternative, someone might propose a 3% revenue enhancement (higher taxes), as the solution.

Not on the table; 3% waste cutting as the solution; the
Balderas Plan to eliminate waste through adequate
forensic auditing.

Richardson wants to solve the problem without hardship
to any of his political cronies who are milking the system for
what could very well be, hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Noteworthy; Democracy for New Mexico, link, reports that there are people who are trying to get the ongoing shortfall meeting opened to the public.

"In a letter ... to the Governor and Legislators, groups from across the political spectrum today called on the state's leaders to open up current meetings on the state budget shortfall. Groups representing faith, small business, unions and advocates requested that the "legislative-executive working group" openly negotiate a solution to address the $433 million budgetary shortfall for the current fiscal year."

They argue that according to the spirit of the law which opened conference committee meetings to the public, these meetings should be open as well.

I concur.

Perhaps in public meetings, it might be suggested and then
discussed, that the place to start solving the problem of the
spending deficit, is in ending the culture of waste.




photo Mark Bralley