The Real Bill Richardson.

• Author: Gessing, Paul J.
• Position: Letters - Letter to the editor

The fact that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is being embraced by fiscal conservatives ("The Real Bill Richardson," August/September) says more about the demise of the Republican Party on fiscal matters and the abject lack of fiscal restraint among mainstream Democrats than it does about Richardson's record.

Richardson has indeed cut income and capital gains taxes, as the article noted, though the positive effects of these cuts have been offset somewhat by tax hikes in other areas. What the article fails to mention is the massive expansion of New Mexico's government in the four years since Richardson took over from our previous governor, Gary Johnson. General fund spending has increased by more than 36 percent in the five years since Richardson took office. This includes an 11 percent increase this year alone.

Among the wasteful projects Richardson has made a high priority is a $400 million...