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Governor Bill Richardson – Democrat (New Mexico) - Campaign Website
 Bill Richardson, born November 15, 1947, in Pasadena, California.
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| On Abortion - |
- Stem cell research as part of preventive healthcare. (Jul 2007)
- Supreme Court model cannot be justice who dissented on Roe. (May 2007)
- Resist any effort to weaken a woman's right to choose. (Oct 2002)
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| On Budget & Economy - |
- Mortgage industry needs more liquidity & more transparency. (Aug 2007)
- Grow the trade link to Mexico and attract Hollywood business. (Jan 2004)
- Supports Balanced Budget Amendment. (Nov 1996)
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| On Civil Rights - |
- Same-Sex Couples – Same-Sex marriage should not be allowed, but same-sex couples should be able to enter into civil unions with the same rights as marriage. (Dec 2007)
- Focus on achievable civil unions as a path to full inclusion. (Aug 2007)
- Voted for DOMA, but now regrets vote; repeal it. (Aug 2007)
- Included transgender in hate-crimes law. (Aug 2007)
- Apologizes for "maricon" comment; but look at the record. (Aug 2007)
- The country isn't there yet on gay marriage. (Aug 2007)
- Homosexuality is a choice, but it's not an issue of science. (Aug 2007)
- Full civil unions with full marriage rights. (Jul 2007)
- Diversity isn't just talking points; it's facts of life. (Jun 2007)
- For hate crimes law, domestic partnerships, civil unions. (Jun 2007)
- Let gay and lesbian servicemembers serve openly. (Jan 2007)
- Added sexual orientation & gender identity as NM civil right. (Jan 2007)
- Defeated DOMA in NM by tying it to civil union legislation. (Jan 2007)
- Voted for federal Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. (Jan 2007)
- New Mexico is first "majority minority" state. (Nov 2005)
- Supports minority preferences for government contracts. (Nov 1996)
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| On Corporations - |
- Government is needed to keep markets competitive. (Oct 2007)
- Reward companies that pay over the prevailing wage. (Jun 2007)
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| On Crime - |
- Pushed "Marissa's Law"--tougher penalties for sex predators. (Nov 2005)
- Toughened DWI and sex offender laws. (Jan 2004)
- Domestic violence incidents start with drinking. (Jan 2004)
- Mandatory jail time, especially for repeat offenders. (Oct 2002)
- Supports death penalty: zero tolerance for heinous crimes. (Oct 2002)
- Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals. (Nov 1996)
- Voted NO on maintaining right of habeus corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
- Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995)
- Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment. (Apr 1994)
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| On Drugs - |
- Treatment & education over enforcement & incarceration. (Mar 2007)
- Pushed "War on DWI"--you drink, you drive, you lose. (Nov 2005)
- Crack down on illegal drug labs. (Jan 2004)
- No legalization: drugs play an insidious role in crime. (Oct 2002)
- Drug Courts and treatment instead of incarceration. (Oct 2002)
- Mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. (Nov 1996)
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| On Education - |
- Minimum wage for our teachers: $40,000 per year. (Aug 2007)
- One-point plan on No Child Left Behind: Scrap it. (Aug 2007)
- Scrap No Child Left Behind; it doesn't work. (Jul 2007)
- Help failing schools; don't penalize by defunding them. (Jul 2007)
- Minimum wage of $40,000 for teachers. (Jul 2007)
- Nobody asks how we pay for war; why do we ask on education? (Jun 2007)
- Eliminate junk food in schools; statewide smoking ban. (Mar 2007)
- Equip every 7th grader with a laptop computer. (Jan 2004)
- Increase the salary of school teachers. (Jan 2004)
- A plan that can reach straightforward education goals. (Jan 2004)
- Charter schools show tremendous promise. (Jan 2004)
- Expand the lottery scholarship program for college students. (Jan 2004)
- No vouchers: they abandon public schools. (Oct 2002)
- Provide parents with vouchers, even for religious schools. (Nov 1996)
- Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer. (Mar 1994)
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| On Energy & Oil - |
- Supernova of clean energy policy in New Mexico. (Oct 2007)
- 2020 Vision: An energy revolution in 5 simple steps. (Oct 2007)
- Bush won't follow the Kyoto treaty, but my state does. (Jun 2007)
- Buying carbon offsets not enough; sacrifice for common good. (Jun 2007)
- Claimed too early that secrets were safe at nuclear labs. (May 2007)
- Supports nuclear energy, but not waste storage at Yucca Mt. (May 2007)
- Cap-and-trade CO2 emissions, including 50-mpg cars by 2020. (May 2007)
- Sacrifice for Apollo-like program for renewable fuel. (Apr 2007)
- Mandatory emissions reductions to make US energy-independent. (Feb 2007)
- Oversaw Dept. of Energy during nuclear lab security breach. (Nov 2005)
- Tapped Strategic Oil Reserve to pierce bubble in oil prices. (Nov 2005)
- $6M for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. (Jan 2004)
- Develop alternative energy, including wind & solar. (Oct 2002)
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| On Environment - |
- Global Warming - Believes we should create a cap-and-trade system that limits carbon emissions companies are allowed to produce. Companies that emit below the limits earn credits to be sold to companies that don't meet the limits. (Dec 2007)
- Lack of Katrina response by our government was inexcusable. (Jul 2007)
- Katrina response "disgraceful"; reform FEMA & insurance. (Jun 2007)
- Require renewable technologies and ask for conservation. (Jun 2007)
- Expand and create new state parks. (Jan 2004)
- Develop a comprehensive water management plan. (Jan 2004)
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| On Families & Children - |
- Supports paid family leave; voted for Family & Medical Leave. (Sep 2007)
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| On Foreign Policy - |
- Be tougher on China; it's a strategic competitor. (Aug 2007)
- UN troops in Darfur, & UN-enforced no-fly zone. (Jul 2007)
- Pressure China & Europe to enforce no-fly zone in Darfur. (Jun 2007)
- Talking to your enemies can produce results, like N. Korea. (Jun 2007)
- Israel is less safe with Bush's policies. (Jun 2007)
- Strategic interests in Russia: loose nukes & Chechnya. (Apr 2007)
- Being stubborn isn't a foreign policy--diplomacy is. (Apr 2007)
- Re-evaluate embargo for post-Castro Cuba. (Apr 2007)
- Bad guys like Richardson; he can make peace with enemies. (Feb 2007)
- When negotiating, focus on goals, not locale or format. (Nov 2005)
- First to visit Aung San Suu Kyi under Burmese house arrest. (Nov 2005)
- Negotiated with Castro to halve fee to emigrate from Cuba. (Nov 2005)
- Clinton administration negotiated North Korea nuclear freeze. (Feb 2005)
- US military force only when US territory attacked. (Nov 1996)
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| On Free Trade - |
- No such thing as completely free market; so regulate. (Oct 2007)
- Enforce labor & environmental standards & job safety. (Aug 2007)
- Fair trade includes no slave labor & no child labor. (Jun 2007)
- We need fair trade, not just unabashed free trade. (Feb 2007)
- NAFTA critically important for US as well as Mexico. (Nov 2005)
- Expand regional trade with Chihuahua. (Oct 2002)
- Supports NAFTA, GATT, & WTO. (Nov 1996)
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| On Government Reform - |
- Use regulated free market for food, drugs, land, & energy. (Oct 2007)
- Same-day registration to increase voter participation. (Jul 2007)
- FactCheck: 28 states have verified paper trails, not just 10. (Jul 2007)
- Delayed call for Gonzales to resign until failed testimony. (Apr 2007)
- Instituted all-paper ballots for all N.M. elections. (Nov 2006)
- Focus on eliminating waste and fraud from public spending. (Jan 2004)
- Prohibit PAC contributions; restrict campaign spending. (Nov 1996)
- Supports line-item veto. (Nov 1996)
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| On Gun Control - |
- No guns for mentally ill or those with criminal background. (Jul 2007)
- Assault weapons ban did not work; despite his vote for ban. (May 2007)
- Endorsed by NRA for governor; would accept endorsement again. (May 2007)
- The 2nd Amendment is precious. (Apr 2007)
- Endorsed by NRA; has his own concealed carry permit. (Oct 2006)
- We should ally with pro-gun recreationists in West. (Apr 2005)
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| On Health Care - |
- On Reducing Health Care – Provide incentives for healthy living and reduce chronic care costs. (Dec 2007)
- Cover undocumented workers under health plan. (Jul 2007)
- FactCheck: Correctly estimated that 33% of Medicare diabetes. (Jul 2007)
- Fund fight on HIV/AIDS both nationally and internationally. (Jun 2007)
- NM plan: mandatory; prevention-based; choose your own plan. (Jun 2007)
- Focus on preventive healthcare without raising taxes. (Apr 2007)
- All Americans need same coverage as members of Congress. (Mar 2007)
- State flexibility creates universal coverage without taxes. (Feb 2007
- Shift Medicaid costs back from states to federal. (Nov 2005)
- Secure lower prescription drug costs for seniors. (Jan 2004)
- Focus on raising childhood immunization rates. (Jan 2004)
- Increase access to affordable health care. (Jan 2004)
- Consolidate mental health and substance abuse therapy needs. (Jan 2004)
- Restrain Medicaid costs and maintain benefits. (Jan 2004)
- Affordable access to healthcare for all New Mexicans. (Oct 2002)
- New Mexico Cares: invest in our health. (Oct 2002)
- Supports managed competition & medical savings accounts. (Nov 1996)
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| On Homeland Security - |
- No first use of nukes; but keep options on table. (Aug 2007)
- Voted against don't-ask-don't-tell; get rid of it now. (Aug 2007)
- Focus on international terrorism & fissionable material. (Aug 2007)
- Provide veterans with health care anywhere they want. (Jun 2007)
- Hero's health card gives veterans access anywhere, anytime. (Mar 2007)
- Reorder priorities: shift $400B from war to human needs. (Mar 2007)
- We should not be known for Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. (Feb 2007)
- Convince Muslims by closing Guantanamo & stopping renditions. (Feb 2007)
- 9/11 shifted world focus from nukes to terrorism. (Nov 2005)
- Negotiated for 1994 release of pilots downed in North Korea. (Feb 2005)
- Negotiated for 1995 release of US workers arrested in Iraq. (Feb 2005)
- Spend $250K annually to fight base closures. (Oct 2002)
- Eliminate funding for SDI. (Nov 1996)
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| On Immigration - |
- On dealing with illegal immigration - Believes the federal government should beef up overall border security. (Dec 2007)
- Include same-sex couples in binational marriage sponsorship. (Aug 2007)
- Comprehensive reform needed; but McCain-Kennedy bill flawed. (Jun 2007)
- McCain-Kennedy bill is not amnesty; it has strong standards. (Jun 2007)
- A wall on Mexican border is not America. (Jun 2007)
- A wall divides families and doesn't solve the problem. (Jun 2007)
- The 2007 immigration bill is not an amnesty bill. (Jun 2007)
- Opposes compromise immigration bill: it tears apart families. (May 2007)
- Border fence hasn't worked; border patrols & tech have. (May 2007)
- Driver's licenses & scholarships for illegals; not amnesty. (May 2007)
- Legalization plan, not this stupid wall being proposed. (Mar 2007)
- Declared state of emergency on Mexican border. (Nov 2006)
- Path to legalization if illegals pay taxes & learn English. (Nov 2006)
- Reduce immigration; no automatic citizenship for kids. (Nov 1996)
- Guarantee human services to illegal immigrants. (Nov 1996)
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| On Jobs - |
- Focus our farm policy on renewable fuels. (Aug 2007)
- Would accept minimum wage as president. (Jul 2007)
- Tax credit for creating jobs paying over the prevailing wage. (Mar 2007)
- Increase the minimum wage to $7.50. (Mar 2007)
- Film industry initiatives create jobs. (Jan 2004)
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| On Principles & Values - |
- Lead by example by climate negotiations with the world. (Oct 2007)
- With me, you get both change AND experience. (Aug 2007)
- My sense of social justice comes from being a Roman Catholic. (Aug 2007)
- Decisive political moment: wife agreeing to marry him. (Aug 2007)
- I have the most experience and I represent change. (Aug 2007)
- Running on resume & record, to be president of middle class. (May 2007)
- Offered MLB contract, but mistakenly called that drafted. (May 2007)
- Biggest mistake is impatience, like pushing minimum wage. (Apr 2007)
- I can bring people together. (Apr 2007)
- Pledges to not engage in negative campaigning on Dems. (Feb 2007)
- Richardson's Rules for negotiating. (Nov 2005)
- New Progressivism: combine opportunity with accountability. (Nov 2005)
- In Guinness Book of World Records for most handshakes. (Nov 2005)
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| On Social Security - |
- Stop talking about privatization; stop raiding trust fund. (Jul 2007)
- Focus budget reform like Soc. Sec., avoiding future burden. (Nov 2005)
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| On Tax Reform - |
- Improving the Income Tax – Wants to allow President Bush’s tax cuts to expire for the wealthy and provide more tax breaks or credits for the middle class. (Dec 2007)
- Cut NM capital gains tax & income tax from 8.2% to 4.9%. (Nov 2005)
- Continue to cut taxes and reform the tax code. (Jan 2004)
- Reduce income tax; create Taxpayer Bill of Rights. (Oct 2002)
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| On Technology - |
- Nurture & invest in science and technology. (Oct 2007)
- Partner on rail & smart growth; no privatized toll roads. (Aug 2007)
- 250 science & math academies to limit technical outsourcing. (Jun 2007)
- Pushed R&D tax credit--3 year tax holiday for high tech. (Nov 2005)
- Allocate capital to education and water projects. (Jan 2004)
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| On War & Peace - |
- The government should not continue to fund the Iraq war because the United States is not getting anywhere in Iraq. (Dec 2007)
- Believes we need to set a date for withdrawing most US combat troops. (Dec 2007)
- Believes the United States never should have gone into Iraq because there were no weapons of mass destructions (WMD). (Dec 2007)
- Tri-partite entity within Iraq; reconcile three groups. (Aug 2007)
- Move out troops, through Turkey & Kuwait, in 6-8 months. (Aug 2007)
- Withdrawing from Iraq lets real peace & reconciliation begin. (Aug 2007)
- Iraq has become an endless quagmire. (Jul 2007)
- Long road ahead is hauntingly similar to 1968. (Jun 2007)
- No troops left behind at bases; green zone; or for training. (Jun 2007)
- No long-term Korea-like presence in Iraq. (Jun 2007)
- Obsession with Iraq makes us more vulnerable to al Qaeda. (Jun 2007)
- Dayton-type accord & division of three Iraqi entities. (Jun 2007)
- Sanctions would work on Iran. (Jun 2007)
- De-authorize the war; withdraw during 2007. (Jun 2007)
- Move troops to Afghanistan to fight al Qaeda. (Jun 2007)
- Deauthorize the war; original resolution no longer operative. (May 2007)
- Iraq now in civil war, & US troops are nothing but a target. (May 2007)
- Time for Iraqis to take over their own security. (May 2007)
- Supporting war initially was a mistake. (May 2007)
- Stop funding for Iraq war-it is a disaster and must end. (Apr 2007)
- Withdraw US troops by end of 2007, with no residual force. (Apr 2007)
- Iraq policy is a massive failure; Iraq is in civil war. (Apr 2007)
- Congress should de-fund and de-authorize the war. (Apr 2007)
- Congress authorized this war; now de-authorize it. (Feb 2007)
- Find ways to withdraw from Iraq, but with diplomacy. (Feb 2007)
- Open an ideological front in the war against Jihadism. (Feb 2007)
- Iraq was single biggest issue as Clinton's UN ambassador. (Nov 2005)
- Negotiated with Taliban in 1998 to extradite Osama bin Laden. (Nov 2005)
- Voted against Kuwait war but later regretted it. (Feb 2005)
- Homeland Security Department at federal AND state level. (Oct 2002)
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| On Welfare & Poverty - |
- Strategy to deal with poverty: unions; living wage; EITC. (Jun 2007)
- New Mexico ranked 48th worst in poverty, but moving forward. (May 2007)
- Increase tax deduction for charities. (Nov 1996)
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