Bush Drilling Plan Brings Foes Together

The Los Angeles Times ^ | February 11, 2004 | Julie Cart

[CedarDave]

OTERO MESA, N.M. — The governor of New Mexico — leading an unusual alliance of ranchers, environmentalists, hunters and property-rights activists — has launched an election-year challenge to the Bush administration's energy policies, vowing to block a plan to drill for gas on a vast expanse of desert grasslands here.

Gov. Bill Richardson's opposition represents the strongest signal to date that the Rocky Mountain West, long dependent on energy production, is having second thoughts about the administration's aggressive advocacy of oil and gas drilling.

"The federal government just got notice that, if they want to drill in Otero Mesa, this governor and this state are going to fight them," Richardson said at a rally in Albuquerque last week.

[CedarDave]

Long article, a good read, some photos and the obligatory hits against President Bush and Vice-President Cheney.

[CedarDave]

Another short excerpt from the middle of the article:

Last week, Richardson signed an executive order making it state policy to protect Otero Mesa. The governor's authority over the area is limited. But he said he would seek to prevent new energy leases on state land, strengthen rules regarding the disposal of mine waste, and take steps to limit the issuing of crucial water permits to drillers. New Mexico is the nation's second-largest producer of natural gas from onshore wells and the fifth-largest producer of oil. Taxes and royalties from the energy industry are by far the largest component of the state's $12-billion permanent fund, which is used primarily to finance education.

[Southack]

So Richardson can explain to NM's poor taxpayers that he wants less oil tax revenue?!

Talk about a one term Governor!

[CedarDave]

PING!!

[38special]

Look for Bill Richardson to be a VP candidate for Kerry. Gotta get the latino vote ya know.

[CedarDave]

Richardson wants more of our tax money to fund increases in teachers salaries but opposes a ready source of income that will provide both jobs and money for education. He will be a two-term governor unless he runs for VP under Kerry in 2004 or Hillary in 2008. And many New Mexicans, especially in the ABQ/SF area are too dumb (undereducated??) to realize what impact oil and gas revenues have on the state budget, that existing fields are playing out, and that new fields/wells are needed to keep the goose laying her golden eggs.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[writer33]

Having lived in the area, I know that this area is rich with Natural Gas. There are many Natural Gas plants, keeping people employed throughout the region. It is a poor state and this can only help.

[LS]

Don't count on it. This guy is very clever. His tax cut right off the bat made him very popular there.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[SierraWasp]

Drill Richardson!!! He's more fulla GAS, than all of NM!!!

[farmfriend]

lol!

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks, I'm having a great day, and I will take your word about what the LA Slimes has to say.

[kaktuskid]

Richardson is as Latino as Taco Bell!

[Grampa Dave]

These Enviral Watermelon Jihadists want America to be Green their way, with no oil, gas, nor coal and totally jobless unless you work for the government.

[Stultis]

I hope Karl Rove saw this article and is scheduling and theming appropriate campaign events and speeches in New Mexico.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Isn't Richardson the one who made an oil deal with Russia when he was a Clintonite? Also he was negotiating terms with the North Koreans.

Another Clintonite not to trust.

[talleyman]

...Taco Bell

Is that the Mexican phone company?

[Southack]

"Don't count on it. This guy is very clever. His tax cut right off the bat made him very popular there."

Forgive me. I was being too subtle. My "one term" joke was innuendo that Richardson is signaling that he wants to be back in Washington, (say, as VP) rather than get re-elected to his Governor's post in NM.

[CedarDave]

Subtlety that went right over my head, too!! LOL