Dendahl Challenges Richardson's Juggernaut (NM-Bookmark for 2008 Pres. race)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | October 15, 2006 | Trip Jennings

[CedarDave]

As New Mexico's governor, Bill Richardson has embraced a far-reaching agenda and pushed— sometimes at breakneck speed— to make sure it became reality over the past four years.

The former congressman, U.N. ambassador and energy secretary has targeted everything from how New Mexicans are taxed and how they cast ballots to how they may travel in the future.

~~ snip ~~

And for just about every accomplishment the governor cites, there are those who accuse his administration of being better at big-splash announcements— made with an eye toward the 2008 presidential race— than the hard work of governing. Richardson dismisses his detractors as naysayers clinging to the status quo...

The critics rattle off issues to support their case:

• Three years after voters gave Richardson control of the state's public schools, half still fail to meet federal standards.
• The state remains home to one of largest percentages of people in the United States without health insurance, although Richardson has expanded Medicaid eligibility...
• New Mexico raised the gross receipts tax on other items to compensate for lost revenue caused by eliminating the tax on food.
• New Mexico has experienced a net tax increase under Richardson when state fees are factored in, according to a 2005 legislative analysis.
• Hundreds of state employees and state contractors weren't paid on time because of poor planning...
• Some predict the state will have to subsidize a money-losing commuter train for years to come.
• And even some of his allies question the wisdom of investing in a spaceport.

"People in this state believe mistakenly that any high-profile thing that is good for him is good for us. They have gulped that Kool-Aid," said Mark Mathis of Citizens' Alliance for Responsible Energy, a frequent critic of Richardson.

[CedarDave]

Max Coll (a liberal democrat environmentalist, but a financial conservative when it comes to spending the taxpayers money as well my former state representative when I lived in Santa Fe) had this to say: "I think he does things very flamboyantly to get broader recognition beyond the voters in New Mexico. He takes a bow for a lot of things he didn't do. His ego seems to be driving the truck."

Further, Richardson has been doling out state jobs, both existing and newly created, to campaign contributors or family members of financial backers. Many of these 100 plus jobs are high paying and have displaced veteran employees who have diligently performed services for the state for years.

John Dendahl (his Republican opponent for governor, but with little chance of winning) correctly characterizes Richardson as cultivating a "pay-to-play culture" in state government and notes that Richardson is leading New Mexico at a time of big scandals.

This is an excellent article that should be bookmarked for future reference when Richardson's accomplishments are touted when he begins his presidential run.

[fishtank]

"This is an excellent article that should be bookmarked for future reference when Richardson's accomplishments are touted when he begins his presidential run."

.....and his run will start in two or three weeks from now.....