The Richardson Solution

Richardson signs strongest consumer protection from oil and gas drilling

Today Bill Richardson signed into law the strongest nation-wide private property protection against oil and gas drilling:

The law, effective July 1, requires that companies notify landowners 30 days prior to drilling-related operations, describe in detail what will go on and propose an agreement covering compensation for the use of _ and any damages to _ the land

It goes further:

Landowners would have 20 days to accept or reject the agreement. If no agreement was reached, operators would have to post a bond before drilling wells. The law also requires reclamation of the property. Richardson said the new law shows that New Mexico is "an energy producer with sensitivity to the land and property rights and property owners." "We consider it to be the strongest landowner bill in the country," said Gwen Lachelt, director of the Oil and Gas Accountability Project, a Colorado-based advocacy organization for landowners that participated in the negotiations.

This is a serious boon for New Mexico and private property owners within our state. It also highlights an important aspect of Bill Richardson - his ability to bring parties together to broker serious agreements that benefit consumers but also allow for the continuity of economic and resource development. The article continues to highlight some of the major benefits that surface-owners recieve:

...New Mexico's law is notable for the extensive information that must be provided the landowner, the scope of damages that can be recovered _ for loss of agricultural income, or loss of land value, for example _ and for the reclamation requirement, she said. The new law also allows landowners to collect triple damages in court under some circumstances if operators enter land to drill wells without giving notice or having agreements or posting bonds. Gallagher described the legislation as fair and balanced and said it wouldn't impede production. He said companies already are doing much of what the new law requires.

Since you can't take at face value that all drilling operations will just naturally play by the rules, it is imperative that we create standards and regulations that create a fairer playing field for the entire operation. Richardson for President - it just makes sense. If you want someone with a history of building serious consumer and environmental protection and also creating economic opportunity then he is your candidate.

NM finds massive budget surplus

What do you know? Being fiscally responsible (and enjoying some great revenue streams) pays off:

Study the state's economic outlook, its revenue forecast, its gross receipts tax trends and one thing will be clear: Gov. Bill Richardson has some serious cash in the bank.

The money - a just-announced boost for the next fiscal year of $723 million more than this year - no doubt will help Richardson appease the wants of 112 lawmakers in the upcoming 60-day session...

Richardson already has outlined parts of his wish list for the 2007 session. He got some input on his health care, homeland security, education and energy ideas at a closed-door retreat with a group of policy advisers, consultants and former governors from New Mexico and across the country on Monday...

On the list from Republicans and Democrats: More police officers to enforce DWI laws. Additional cash in the trust fund for water projects. Millions more for Medicare, health care, teachers. Expedited income tax cuts. And overall, avoid creating new programs that will take money each year...

Richardson said he wants $100 million in tax cuts. The relief among other things is aimed at helping New Mexicans make paying for college more affordable, helping clean energy companies and assisting working families.

"The consistent strength of our economy gives me confidence that we can cut taxes, invest in our schools and make health care available to more New Mexicans, while maintaining prudent cash reserves," he said in a statement.

TRS Focus:

1 - Tax cutting that helps out regular folks and clean companies just makes sense. This is such an excellent frame for the national debate - not a tax raiser, but a tax invester - that usually falls along such predictable lines.

2 - Richardson should take the Governor's scapel and cut some program costs right now when he has the chance. Being fiscally responsible means making tought choices and he's done it in the past. He might as well prove his mettle even more now while he has the money and resources.

3 - Be innovative. Experiment with some new ideas at the local level to increase resource (energy, water) conservation or development controls. Again, he's been doing this for awhile but more can't hurt.

Eminent Domain

The Governor supports restrictions on Eminent domain:

Gov. Bill Richardson endorsed proposed legislation Tuesday that would restrict the ability of local governments to exercise powers of eminent domain.

Under the proposal, eminent domain powers would be removed from the Metropolitan Redevelopment Act, and both the Urban Renewal Law and the Community Development Law would be repealed. It would not interfere with traditional uses of eminent domain in other existing law...

Eminent domain is the power of local governments to condemn a property and pay the owner fair market value. Typically, it's used to clear the way for necessary infrastructure such as for roads or utility lines, or to clean up blighted areas.

But in 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that eminent domain could also be used to condemn property to make way for commercial development. That sparked both controversy and a flood of legislation at the state level seeking to restore protection for property owners.

The Governor originally vetoed a bill along similar lines that did not include protections for small communities. This paves the way for a broader re-organization of this policy in New Mexico and, not without opponents, hopefully the Governor can build a necessary consensus to get this passed.

Business Student Investment Program

Throughout the course of diaries here at The Richardson Solution, we will focus on policies that the Governor has produced over his tenure in New Mexico, as Energy Secretary, UN Ambassador and Congressman.

It is our contention that Bill Richardson's innovative and often dynamic approach to public policy has served the citizens of New Mexico well during his tenure. So, by exploring his accomplishments we will build the "information database" here at TRS, so any interested voter or activist can have access to relavent information.

Here is a very good example:

"The University Investment Partnership is an innovative hands-on program that will provide UNM and NMSU's top business students a training ground rarely offered outside the professional world," said Governor Richardson. "By providing this kind of educational opportunity, we will grow New Mexico's investment talent pool, and keep the next generation of financial leaders at home."

Top finance and business students at each school will manage a $5 million portfolio of publicly traded stocks and bonds under the careful guidance of college faculty and portfolio managers at the State Investment Council. State Investment Officer Gary Bland said the SIC will retain veto rights over all transactions to ensure overall protection of the funds.

"With the Governor committing to this kind of investment in human capital, we can build a deeper bench for the future," said Bland. "We believe that this kind of program will help give some of our best and brightest the tools they need for a financial career right here in New Mexico."

By giving state students resources like this, Bill Richardson has done a few things directly:

1 - Increased the experience level of top business students at New Mexico schools which a)increases the reputation of New Mexico business schools and b)increases the reputation of New Mexico business students

and

2 - Will actually create a living resource of New Mexico business students for generations. This one time investment will probably balloon in size with proper management and be around for students for years. The power of a one time investment in this sort of field is great.

Just another solution-oriented example of Bill Richardson.