Governor Signs Budget Bill Into Law

SANTA FE (AP) – Gov. Bill Richardson has signed into law a $6 billion budget measure to finance operations of public education and general government next year.

The governor used his line-item veto powers to eliminate a number of provisions in the measure, including one intended to force state employees to use the state’s commuter rail system for government travel.

In his veto message, the governor said that he did not eliminate any appropriation of major significance. The budget provides for a spending increase of about 6 percent in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The vetoed commuter rail provision would have prohibited the use of money in the budget for mileage reimbursements to state employees or travel in government vehicles between cities served by the Rail Runner train.

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