April 8, 1999

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 590, as amended, with emergency clause, enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, First Session, 1999.

This bill proposes to provide additional funding for several highway projects authorized last year. It does this once again by extracting more from the public. If this bill were to become law, the petroleum products loading fee would increase immediately. The promised repeal of one cent of the gasoline tax in July 2003 would no longer be operative. Further, by stripping the Tire Recycling Fund of its revenue source, a delayed tax hike would be built in when the Fund runs out of money.

Our highways do need attention and funding. The proper way, however, is to focus road-related revenues on highway purposes. The ad hoc approach adopted by this bill is just another version of the same old story—cobble some money together from whatever source seems handy. Not only does it unnecessarily raise taxes and but it fails to build any sort of rational structure to support these activities in the future.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor