Shea Andersen: At the Roundhouse

Budget: A little something for you, Foley

Gov. Bill Richardson today signed the $4.7 billion budget into law, with what can only be described as very mild veto action.

"He didn't do much at all," said Secretary of Finance and Administration James Jimenez.

The numbers: $350,000 worth of recurring spending vetoes.

But over in the "junior budget bill," it was a different story.

Among $1.4 million in vetoes of nonrecurring projects, Richardson focused his veto pen most squarely on a project in Chaves County, the home of one Rep. Dan Foley.

Richardson vetoed $330,00 that Foley and his colleagues hoped would be used by the Public Education Department for a pilot project to allow free admission to school athletic events.

It was the largest single veto in that bill.

When he heard the news, Foley leapt to his feet on the floor of the House with these choice remarks:

"It's an example of how partisan the fourth floor can be," Foley said. "He'd rather put partisan politics ahead of the kids of New Mexico. He continued to veto the stuff coming out of Chaves County."

As he has before, Foley linked Richardson's actions to his potential future candidacy for the White House in 2008.

"His desire is to fund everything that will get him to New Hampshire on time, and not worry about the state of New Mexico along the way," Foley said.

Posted by sandersen at March 17, 2005 01:38 PM