Richardson speaks on budget cuts

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - It's increasingly likely that Gov. Bill Richardson will veto some of the budget cuts passed during October's special legislative session to curb a $650 million shortfall.

Richardson has until Thursday to sign or veto the measures.

The governor said he has made no final decisions about the budget and will use all the time he has to look at every line in the budget. However he said there are definitely cuts he can't support.

Before the session, Richardson said that he didn't want any cuts to education. Lawmakers argued that they couldn't spare it because education makes up such a large part of the budget.

Richardson said he may be able to live with the cut if districts can find a way to cut money from administration costs without hurting classrooms, programs or teachers' salaries.

He said one cut that really worries him is a proposed slash to the New Mexico Department of Corrections. The DOC said they would have to shut down two prisons and possible release hundreds of inmates early.

"There are probably going to be some line item vetoes where I think cutting certain important programs—prisons, Medicaid, children's healthcare—that I am not going to be part of that," Richardson said.

Monday, Richardson took action on House Bill 3, which took nearly $110 million of unused money from various state funds. He line item vetoed cuts to Pre-K, domestic violence, 911 enhancement and money from the state auditor's office.

The biggest cut in that bill was a $68 million cut from the College Affordability Endowment fund which provides scholarships to lower income New Mexicans.

The governor was an outspoken critic of cutting that money, but in the end he reluctantly agreed to it.