The Santa Fe Reporter has a good article (ok, maybe I’m partial to articles that quote me) on Governor Richardson’s attempt to avoid criticism by pocket vetoing several important bills.
Nevertheless, there are common threads among the pocket vetoed bills: oversight, transparency and executive branch autonomy, particularly regarding health care.
Sen. Steven Neville, R-San Juan, had no illusions about what would happen to SB 460, his bill to strip Richardson’s control of the State Investment Council and create more oversight.
“The day it was passed, I figured it would be vetoed,” Neville tells SFR. “Most of us who were involved with the bill pretty well felt that the governor would not want to lose that control over the Investment Council.”
In an April 22 press release, Neville demanded Richardson explain the pocket veto in light of allegations of “insiders” kickbacks from the SIC for steering contracts.
“I’ve had no official word at all from the governor’s office,” Neville says. “That’s the beauty of the pocket veto. They don’t have to comment either way.”
With all of the scandals hitting the media regarding state investments, you’ve got to wonder how Governor Richardson thinks he can get away with pocket vetoes?