April 12, 2000

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 SIGNED HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL 29, enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, Second Special Session, 2000 but have VETOED the following item or items, part or parts:

1. On page 1, I have vetoed all of lines 17 and 18 and on line 19, I have vetoed through "advertising;".
2. On page 1, line 25, after "Rio Grande", I have vetoed "; and" and on page 2, I have vetoed all of line 1 and I have vetoed line 2 through "uplift".
3. On page 2, I have vetoed all of lines 14 through 17.
4. On page 2, I have vetoed all of lines 22 through 25 and I have vetoed all of lines 1 through 5 on page 3.
5. On page 3, I have vetoed all of lines 10 through 15.
6. On page 4, I have vetoed all of lines 2 through 25 and on page 5, I have vetoed all of lines 1 through 17.
7. On page 5, line 21, after "(1)", I have vetoed the remainder of the line and all of lines 22 through 25.
8. On page 6, I have vetoed all of lines 1 through 3 and on line 4, I have vetoed "(2)",

and on line 6 after the semi-colon, I have vetoed "and" and all of lines 7 through 12.

 

 

 

9. On page 6, line 16, after "(1)", I have vetoed the remainder of the line, I have vetoed

all of line 17 and on line 18, I have vetoed "(2)".

10. On page 6, line 24, after "1972", I have vetoed the semi-colon, all of line 25 and on

The foregoing vetoes strike a number of special appropriations for various purposes in this bill. These appropriations are undoubtedly inspired by the best of intentions. Unfortunately, their removal is necessary to ensure that the projected General Fund Operating Reserve is maintained at a minimum level.

I believe there is consensus within the legislature and executive that the operating reserve be held to no less than five percent of general fund spending. When all appropriations approved by the legislature are taken into account, the operating reserve level is projected to be $157 million. This is $17 million less that the minimum requirement, necessitating the vetoes presented above.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor