May 21, 1999

SENATE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 8

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 FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 20, as amended, enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, First Special Session, 1999.

While this bill may contain appropriations which I would consider approving, however, it also contains a clause which would presumably extend collective bargaining pursuant to the Public Employee Bargaining Act (PEBA). I believe that I have made it abundantly clear during and after the regular legislative session as well as during the special session that I would not approve any bill which attempted to extend the provisions of collective bargaining under PEBA which the legislature scheduled for repeal on July 1, 1999. Extending the life of collective bargaining should properly be addressed and voted on by the legislature in a separate bill. The legislative process envisions legislation passing or failing on its own merit rather than by being attached to totally unrelated legislation.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor