March 11, 1998

The Honorable Manny M. Aragon and

Members of the Senate

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable President and Members of the Senate:

I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE BILL 79, as amended, without emergency clause, passed by the Forty-Third Legislature, Second Session, 1998.

This legislation creates an eight member "Gaming Oversight Committee" as a joint interim legislative committee. This bill is vetoed for two reasons. First, the legislature has already established a Gaming Control Board consisting of five members, confirmed by the Senate, to establish policy with regard to as well as oversee gaming in the State of New Mexico. As a state agency, this board is reliant on the legislature for appropriation for its budget. As such, the Gaming Control Board will be subject to legislative oversight and therefore, this "Gaming Oversight Committee" would prove duplicative and unnecessary. Second, if this legislature believes this committee is necessary they have the power to form an interim study committee through the legislative council.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

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