April 5, 2001

HOUSE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 84

The Honorable Ben Lujan and

Members of the House of Representatives

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable Speaker and Members of the House:

I have this day VETOED and am returning HOUSE BILL 721, enacted by the Forty-Fifth Legislature, First Session, 2001.

This bill enacts the Public Employee Bargaining Act to provide public employees with the ability to employ collective bargaining. I have vetoed similar legislation in the past, and do so again. Collective Bargaining for Public Employees sunsetted on July 1, 1999. Since that sunset state employees have not been harmed. In fact state employees are already protected by a host of federal and state laws, not to mention employee-friendly state agency and office policies. If New Mexico is to continue to take a businesslike approach to state government, it must be able to hold its employees accountable.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:

Time: _____________________ By:_____________________________

Secretary of State

Date ______________________

Time:______________________

Date_______________________ By:_____________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

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