March 1, 2001

HOUSE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 4

The Honorable Ben Lujan and

Members of the House of Representatives

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable Speaker and Members of the House:

I have this day SIGNED HOUSE BILL 510, with emergency clause, enacted by the Forty-Fifth Legislature, First Session, 2001.

I am troubled, however, by the appearance of the appropriation in a separate bill instead of the General Appropriation Act of 2001. The bill provides $413,530.00 to the Office of the Secretary of State to cover increased costs from the 2000 primary and general elections. While I can understand that the Secretary of State’s office has a current need for this money to pay its bills on time, I note that other executive agencies are also experiencing current budget shortfalls, yet appropriations for those agencies’ shortfalls are currently contained in the General Appropriation Act.

In my partial veto message of House Bill 1 for this session, I expressed my concerns about increased government spending. I would now add a caution against piecemeal budgeting. Thus it is my expectation that remaining appropriations will be included in the General Appropriation Act, allowing a balanced and responsible review of the entire state budget instead of a patchwork approach to fiscal matters.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

Page 2

House Bill 510, with emergency clause

RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:

Time: _____________________ By:_________________________

Secretary of State

Date: ______________________

Time:______________________ By:__________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

Date:______________________ hem4hb510