NM may close state parks because of budget cuts

State parks may be closed and there could be fewer environmental inspections of oil and gas wells because of looming budget cuts, Gov.

[Border Native-American]

All scare tactics. Close the parks then, then we can use our bolt cutters to open them back up. Better yet, quit spending OUR money hand over fist on Dmeocratic programs that are only designed to keep Democrats in power.

[C Lee Nickel]

Let's cut the salaries and perks for every state-level elected official, starting with Governor Bill Richardson.

That, along with the state park admission fees, should be more than enough to keep the parks open.

Regardless, the state parks belong to the people, not the government. They do not have the legal right to "close" our lands, even if they think they do.

[Sapo]

The Governor didn't allow the legislators to raise taxes, so all that is left is to cut expenditures. Shouldn't Richarsdon be kicking himself in the rump for causing this mess? He is basically saying, "ooh, legislators, don't raise taxes, but don't cut anything either."

[Orchardmom]

Maybe we should close the Governor's office and make him stay in New Mexico instead of traveling all over the world to advance his political career at our expense.

[C Lee Nickel]

Sapo wrote:

The Governor didn't allow the legislators to raise taxes, so all that is left is to cut expenditures. Shouldn't Richarsdon be kicking himself in the rump for causing this mess? He is basically saying, "ooh, legislators, don't raise taxes, but don't cut anything either."

Raising taxes is never the answer. Cost cutting is. However, there are a lot of things that can be cut from the state budget long before getting to the state parks.

Let's start with Richardson's pet "Rail Runner" project, which will likely never pay for itself, let alone make a profit, and only serves folks in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

[Spaceport]

C Lee Nickel wrote:

<quoted text>

serves no one except the cement contractor. Not even built yet.

Railrunner is useful now and will be even more in the future.

[intheknow]

railrunner is the biggest waste of money. It only helps people in the rio grande corrorder.Also the state is shooting itself in the foot-people riding that state /taxpayer payed for ride are not paying any gas taxes.The rest of us across this state are paying for those rides.No wonder ol Bill is running in the RED.

[Boot]

Cut the budgets of the federal and state prisons. Make these guys work in the prisons. Feed them the bare basics for survival. No TV. No radio. No education. No rehabilitation. Just time. Time to think about what they've done. No appeals. No public lawyers. No medical. Nothing. You will find a pile of money there.

[C Lee Nickel]

Boot wrote:

Cut the budgets of the federal and state prisons. Make these guys work in the prisons. Feed them the bare basics for survival. No TV. No radio. No education. No rehabilitation. Just time. Time to think about what they've done. No appeals. No public lawyers. No medical. Nothing. You will find a pile of money there.

Agreed. Unfortunately, the ACLU and other anti-American coalitions have successfully sued in court over and over concerning the "rights" of convicted criminals, and they have won more often than not.

Most of the cushy benefits convicts enjoy are now guaranteed by legal precedent. 100 years ago, prison directors would have scoffed at the idea of courts telling jailers how to humanely treat prisoners. The courts used to be there to judge and sentence criminals. But today officials actually take stock in the nonsense coming from courts, even though there is no Constitutional authority for the court's rulings.

To take it even further, courts now issue rulings based on precedent that was unconstitutional in the first place, thus we get precedent law that is ever more radically leftist, with absolutely no legal basis whatsoever, Constitutionally speaking.

[Looney]

C Lee Nickel wrote:

<quoted text>
.

toon

[Boot]

Put the supporters in prison with the criminals. You lose your rights when you go to prison. End of story.

[Farmington Daily Lies]

C Lee Nickel wrote:

Let's cut the salaries and perks for every state-level elected official, starting with Governor Bill Richardson.

Fine! All in agreement, say I!

[dotcom]

C Lee Nickel wrote:

<quoted text>
Agreed. Unfortunately, the ACLU and other anti-American coalitions have successfully sued in court over and over concerning the "rights" of convicted criminals, and they have won more often than not.
Most of the cushy benefits convicts enjoy are now guaranteed by legal precedent. 100 years ago, prison directors would have scoffed at the idea of courts telling jailers how to humanely treat prisoners. The courts used to be there to judge and sentence criminals. But today officials actually take stock in the nonsense coming from courts, even though there is no Constitutional authority for the court's rulings.
To take it even further, courts now issue rulings based on precedent that was unconstitutional in the first place, thus we get precedent law that is ever more radically leftist, with absolutely no legal basis whatsoever, Constitutionally speaking.

Would these harsh prison measures include future inmates who are serving time for lackikng health insurance ..... as is a provision in our newly House-approved health care bill?

These vicious no-insurance criminals need to think over what they've done.

[The Boot]

It's funny how we spend so much money on the waste of America and very little on the future.

It costs something like $40,000/inmate/year. It costs on the order of $8,000-$10,000/student/year. This is a national average, but I think it's much lower. I had read a number like $1,500/student/yr.

You all have any problems with this thinking?

[C Lee Nickel]

The Boot wrote:

It's funny how we spend so much money on the waste of America and very little on the future.
It costs something like $40,000/inmate/year. It costs on the order of $8,000-$10,000/student/year. This is a national average, but I think it's much lower. I had read a number like $1,500/student/yr.
You all have any problems with this thinking?

In my opinion, we should have Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of Maricopa County Arizona, running the prison system.

Surplus food, tent camps, chain gains are the rule. "Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time."

Prison should be a work camp, not rest and relaxation.

[History]

Gov. Bill Richardson has signed the first bill in a deficit-reduction package sent him by lawmakers, sweeping up $68 million from a college scholarship fund and more than $40 million sitting in other state accounts.

On Nov. 9, Richardson used his line-item veto power for the state budget to ensure that $800,000 targeted for transfer to the state general fund remained in the trail safety fund. He noted the program "is funded by fees and designed to protect the safety of outdoorsmen and other New Mexicans who use off-highway vehicles."

Let's see......College Educations on the chopping block. But to "protect outdoorsmen". Agh..Does anyone besides me think this is just WRONG?
I am serious, how do we get rid of this drain on our future?

[History]

During the Revolutionary War. We fought against taxation without representation. I would say we are long overdue. Not a full out war, but a full out change in the way our officials represent us. Fiscal responsibility should be the easiest subject on which to judge whom to vote for.
Richardson ruined our economy, a productive O&G producing state, and now intends to produce a generation of uneducated, government dependent paupers.
Am I wrong?

[Yes]

History wrote:

.
Am I wrong?

you are.

[Kewl]

The Boot wrote:

It's funny how we spend so much money on the waste of America and very little on the future.
It costs something like $40,000/inmate/year. It costs on the order of $8,000-$10,000/student/year. This is a national average, but I think it's much lower. I had read a number like $1,500/student/yr.
You all have any problems with this thinking?

There needs to be a new sheriff in town. Look at Maricopa County Arizona. Sherrif Joe is saving tax dollars. New Mexico needs to stop electing people just because they are Democrat, elect people who have a resume of knowledge and wisdom. Bill Richardson and his cronies have taken us to poverty to elevate Bills political future. We are at the bottom of every category from education to income. Our government doesnt know how to manage money, our money.

[C Lee Nickel]

History wrote:

Gov. Bill Richardson has signed the first bill in a deficit-reduction package sent him by lawmakers, sweeping up $68 million from a college scholarship fund and more than $40 million sitting in other state accounts.
On Nov. 9, Richardson used his line-item veto power for the state budget to ensure that $800,000 targeted for transfer to the state general fund remained in the trail safety fund. He noted the program "is funded by fees and designed to protect the safety of outdoorsmen and other New Mexicans who use off-highway vehicles."
Let's see......College Educations on the chopping block. But to "protect outdoorsmen". Agh..Does anyone besides me think this is just WRONG?
I am serious, how do we get rid of this drain on our future?

Since that $800,000 was paid in fees by sportsmen expressly for the purpose indicated, it's not a "drain". The money wouldn't be there if sportsmen, off-roaders, ATV users, etc. didn't pay it. I'm no fan of Richardson, but his decision regarding the fees was the correct one. Sportsmen pay the fees believing they will be used for trail upkeep. Raiding that fund and using the money for something else would have been wrong, causing outrage among sportsmen who would likely not pay the fees in the future.

Taxpayers are upset enough as it is. Taking what amount to a "tax" on the use of land that already belongs to us and using it for purposes it wasn't intended for would only aggravate an already pissed-off electorate.