March 11, 1998

The Honorable Manny M. Aragon and

Members of the Senate

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable President and Members of the Senate:

I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE BILL 205, as amended, passed by the Forty-Third Legislature, Second Session, 1998.

The primary effect of this legislation would be to remove the sunset provision of the Collective Bargaining Act which applies to public employees. This bill has been vetoed because, in my opinion, public employee collective bargaining has yielded little if any value to either the affected employees or the citizenry in general. I am not aware of any productivity gains resulting from public employee collective bargaining that have benefited the taxpayers or the users of public services.

Moreover, public employees are protected by federal law as well as state and local laws, regulations and personnel systems. Public employees rightfully and successfully address salaries, benefits, working conditions and other issues before the state legislature, local governing bodies and boards of regents.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

Chief Clerk of the Senate s070vs205