State Blue Book resembles family album

SANTA FE (KRQE) - There's a family photo album of sorts that's causing quite a stir because this family scrap book was printed at taxpayers' expense.

Secretary of State Mary Herrera's job includes publishing the New Mexico Blue Book, a 400-page catalog of state politics and culture.

It includes information on the state bird, the official song and a list of who is running the state, county and city governments. The book has been in print since 1917.

The current 2007-2008 edition cost taxpayers $70,000. Tucked in the all that official state business is something quite personal.

"When I saw it I was quite surprised," state Rep. Jimmie Hall, R-Albuquerque, said. "We could have cut pages out or put more meaningful info in there about the state of New Mexico."

Madame Secretary has added a personal touch to the Blue Book. She included three pages of her personal family photos, of her great-grandparents, her uncles and her parents.

"I was very proud to put my family in here." Herrera, a Democrat, said. "That is the culture of New Mexico. The first thing you are asked when you meet new people is what family are you from? Where are you from?"

There are also two pages dedicated to Deputy Secretary of State Don Francisco Trujillo.

The state published 15,000 copies of the latest Blue Book. When it was released in 2007, the state wasn't in a budget crisis.

Sen. Bill Payne, R-Albuquerque, argued it's small excess spending here and there that got the state into the current budget crunch.

"There are all kinds of nice-to-have things that are not need-to-have things, and we need to get serious about cutting them," he said. "It should probably be put in another form rather than the official Blue Book."

Herrera said that because of budget constraints the next Blue Book will be delayed. It is scheduled to come out at the end of the summer and won't include her family photos.

She also said she has no intention of reimbursing taxpayers saying it's all part of the Blue Book that is good for tourism.