Senators: More info needed from the Gov

SANTA FE (KRQE) – Some lawmakers say a recent Larry Barker investigation into the governor's hiring practices has given them important information they need to make financial decisions.

Every lawmaker News 13 spoke to said they need more of that information to decide how much to cut government and how much to increase taxes.

"If we can't get the accurate information then we can't make the decision as whether we should be exercising more cuts or more furloughs or whether it's already been taken care of," Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, said.

"So we're looking at us as a legislature trying to find out where this balance if the executive is not paying attention, not wanting to participate than to me where's the balance there is no balance at this point," Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, said.

Senators said they've been having problems fulfilling their duties of financial oversight for years because of Gov. Bill Richardson's Administration.

Last year, legislators unanimously passed a bill that would have made it more difficult for Richardson to refuse to give out the details of state contracts and employment.

Richardson vetoed the bill.

Two days ago, senators voted to override the veto. That override is now pending in the house.

Some House Democrats echoed the reactions of their Senate counterparts, but didn't want to go on camera.