The Richardson Record of Achievement

Moving New Mexico Forward

Throughout his career, Governor Bill Richardson has always worked hard to create a better quality of life for ALL New Mexicans. Governor Richardson has a long record of accomplishments:

Improving our Schools

• Traveled the state in 2003 promoting the adoption of two Constitutional Amendments passed by voters which:
° Increased accountability by creating a Secretary of Education who is ensuring that money is spent in the classroom, not administration, and implementing a plan to close the opportunity gap
° Invested an additional $600 million in new education funding to pay our teachers professional salaries while demanding accountability and results tied to tough licensing standards
• Invested $430 million in modernizing schools and creating smaller classrooms across the state – tackling more than 1,200 projects in three years
• Targeted money for struggling schools in order to close the opportunity gap
• Addressed the pervasive poverty in our state by making free, statewide full-day kindergarten available to every 5-year-old
• Took the first crucial steps toward increasing access to pre-kindergarten to all of New Mexico’s 4 year olds

Creating Higher-Paying Jobs

• More than 47,000 new jobs created state-wide (since January of 2003)
• Recruited new quality companies to NM , including,
° Southwest Cheese, Clovis, 200 jobs, $200 million facility
° Tempur-Pedic, Albuquerque, 300 jobs, $90 million facility
° Monarch Litho, Santa Teresa, 110 jobs, $41 million facility
° CI Direct, Taos, 100 jobs, $3 million facility
° Merillat Industries, Los Lunas, 700 jobs, $36 million facility
° Eclipse Aviation, Albuquerque, on track to employ 2,000 in the next three years
° Sento, Albuquerque, 800 jobs by 2008
• Unemployment rate of 5.2%, the 34th lowest rate in the country (Spring 2005)
• Growth in personal income of 6.2%, the 18th highest in the country (2003-2004)
• Creating a vibrant film industry
° Attracted 35 major film productions since 2002 with an economic impact of $500 million, and 35 films since he took office Invested over and started a statewide film training program that will provide certification to New Mexicans who wish to assume high-paying jobs in New Mexico’s film industry
• Launching New Mexico’s aerospace industry by working on building high-paying aerospace jobs

Cracking Down on DWI, Drugs and Gangs

• First Governor to be recognized nationally by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his outstanding efforts to crack down on the DWI problem in New Mexico.
• Fought for and signed new laws to: increase penalties for providing alcohol to minors, require mandatory treatment for second and subsequent DWI offenders, make ignition interlocks mandatory for all convicted DWI offenders in New Mexico, and increase the penalties for bars and restaurants that violate the Liquor Control Act by selling to minors
• Making a difference: Increased the number of DWI arrests by 31% between 2003 and 2004. DWI arrests have risen steadily from 2001 to 2004, protecting innocent victims.
• Championed legislation that restricted access to the chemicals used in manufacturing methamphetamines, which led to a decrease in meth labs and reduced exposure of children to meth
• Increased the amount of methamphetamine lab prosecution and shut down over 400 meth labs
• Increased funding for the New Mexico Gang and Terrorism Task Force to suppress gang activity in rural New Mexico
• Has decreased the number of deaths caused by drug overdoses through a partnership between law enforcements, community leaders and first responders

Eliminating Domestic Violence and Prosecuting Sex Offenders

• Prioritized funding to ensure access to domestic violence shelters and programs statewide
• Cut down dismissal rate for domestic violence offenders to get them into treatment or behind bars
• Increased the classes of sex offenses that require registration notification and increased the length of time a sex offender must register for
• Increased funding for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners statewide who help rape victims and collect evidence which can be used in cases to put more sex offenders behind bars
• Expanded use of electronic devices with GPS capability to keep track of sex offenders for 24 hour tracking
• Created additional sex offense crimes against children to ensure that those who are victimized are protected

Protecting Our Environment and Promoting Renewable Energy Development

• Named the Nation’s leading "Clean Energy" Governor by:
° Enhancing renewable energy tax credits,
° Setting strict targets to reduce greenhouse emissions in New Mexico,
° Committing state government to renewable fuels,
° Eliminating the sales tax on hybrid vehicles, and
° Establishing the nation’s first state-wide "Clean Energy Bond" for energy efficiency and renewables in public buildings
• Fought for hunting, fishing and recreation in New Mexico by increasing Game and Fish funding and hunter access programs, while expanding the state parks system.
• Challenged the Bush Administration’s environmental rollbacks by challenging the "New Source Review" Clean Air Act rule intended to reduce cleanups at coal plants
• Leading advocate for protecting public lands
• Only Governor committed to protecting every "roadless" acre in his state
• First Governor to challenge the Interior Department’s "drill-drill-drill" approach to public lands, by suing to protect Otero Mesa
• Strong supporter of closing the Valle Vidal to oil and gas development
• Governor Richardson has been recognized as environmental leader of the year by the National Environmental Trust, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Natural Resources Council of America

Increasing Access to Health Care

• Created "Insure New Mexico" that provides employers and individuals more affordable options
• Implemented the State Coverage Insurance Program, expanding health insurance Lowered the cost of insurance premiums in the Health Insurance Alliance
• Allowed dependents to stay on their parents’ insurance policies longer
• Provided opportunities for part-time employees to get health insurance
• Invested in outreach to get more eligible children enrolled in Medicaid
• Using sound fiscal management, increased health care spending by $80 million or 16%.
• Increased the rate of fully- immunized children -, moving us to 15th from 48th in the nation.
• Collected more than $1.6 million in Medicaid fraud and abuse and $4. 2 million in overpayments
• Increased number of people served by Women Infants and Children food program by 4.2 percent since January 2003
• Has a plan so that by 2010 every New Mexico child five and below will have health insurance

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Find out about the 2006 governor’s race at the New Mexico elections page

See the latest campaign news at billrichardson2006.com

Get the latest news from New Mexico at the Governor’s official state website

Read Gov. Richardson’s 2006 State of the State Address

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