March 11, 1998

The Honorable Raymond G. Sanchez 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 77, as amended,

passed by the Forty-Third Legislature, Second Session, 1998.

This legislation would have established additional magistrate and metro judgeships. I have vetoed this legislation because its fiscal impact is significantly greater than the appropriation it contains. Additional metro court judgeships require added district attorney and public defender staffing. These costs should have been addressed by this legislation. Secondly, the legislation also does not recognize the added staff which will be required by the new magistrate judgeships which the bill mandates. Finally the bill establishes drug courts at the metro court level. The effectiveness and advisability of a metro drug court appears to be uncertain at best.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

Chief Clerk of the House h133vH077