Richardson orders furloughs
Posted at: 11/12/2009 12:47 PM
| Updated at: 11/13/2009 7:35 AM
By: Reed Upton, KOB.com
Bill Richardson issuing his veto message Thursday
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Thursday ordered budget cuts across state government, although less than the legislature wanted, and announced all state employees in the executive branch will be furloughed for five days.
Richardson also issued line-item vetoes of some legislative cuts calling them drastic and saying they would result in the loss of medical services and the release of prison inmates. He, instead, instituted his own cuts.
“In addition to agency cuts, I am also ordering five mandatory furlough days for all state employees in the executive branch,” Richardson said at a Roundhouse news conference. “I strongly urge the legislature and other branches of government to implement furlough days, as well.”
Richardson noted that there are currently 2,900 unfilled positions in state government after a hiring freeze was implemented. He said that he plans to permanently eliminate 1,000 of those positions.
Richardson also strongly criticized lawmaker proposals to use stimulus money to patch the state’s $650 million budget shortfall.
Use of executive order questioned
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