Richardson meets with taxpayers over proposed cuts

Posted at: 11/04/2009 6:19 PM
By: Stuart Dyson, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

Governor Bill Richardson took his show on the road today, talking with taxpayers in Las Cruces and Albuquerque on Wednesday about budget cuts approved by the legislature.

Richardson is walking a tightrope over a pit that's $650 million deep, trying to avoid cuts in public schools and Medicaid spending with one hand, while the other clutches the budget-chopping meat axe.

Office hours with the governor in Las Cruces and Albuquerque today, Richardson saying he's relieved to get out of the capitol— at least for a while— to hear from New Mexico taxpayers.

Richardson said for the first time this week he thinks tax increases are inevitable when the legislature comes back in January. If he expected an outraged reaction, he didn't get much of it in Albuquerque.

"My husband will kill me for this - but I'm willing to pay more taxes - we need more development and I know there are things in this state that need looking at again," said Carol Chapman.

Fellow taxpayer Jim Templeton agrees.

"I personally have no objection to some tax increases - if there is some meaningful - not just political spin - about addressing the budget deficit in the long run," Chapman said.

Richardson has until next Thursday to decide on using his line item veto power to rule out some of the spending cuts the legislature approved in last month's special session.

"And we have to make some cuts, but I'm not gonna make cuts to education, to the most vulnerable citizens - Medicaid - senior citizens that are desperately in need of meals," Richardson said.

Richardson is remaining consistent with his message— even though protecting big ticket items like education and Medicaid means even deeper cuts elsewhere in state spending.

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