Thread: New Mexico Gov Richardson to free up money for LULAC

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Richardson to free up money for LULAC


Last Update: 08/22/2006 10:07:01 AM
By: Associated Press


SANTA FE (AP) - Governor Richardson said Monday he will free up money to keep an Albuquerque education center open.

The League of United Latin American Citizens’ center benefits low-income, first generation New Mexicans preparing to enter college.

Richardson says the $80,000 will come from a federal fiscal relief fund.

The US Department of Education recently denied more than $3.4 million in grants to LULAC.

That forced centers in Albuquerque and 16 other cities to announce they would shut their doors unless they received additional funding.

Here are a couple of earlier threads on LULAC funding getting cut.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ight=lulac

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ight=lulac

Richardson says the $80,000 will come from a federal fiscal relief fund.

Another instance of helping their own people. Even though LULAC was denied the grant from the federal government, isn't the money being given to LULAC by Richardson still tax payers' money?

The League of United Latin American Citizens’ center benefits low-income, first generation New Mexicans preparing to enter college.

Richardson says the $80,000 will come from a federal fiscal relief fund.

The US Department of Education recently denied more than $3.4 million in grants to LULAC.

Isn't federal fiscal relief fund money supposed to be used to satisfy revenue shortfalls? So are we to assume Gov. Richardson is taking money that was originally allocated elsewhere, accounted for in his state budget, and directing those funds to the LULAC project. If I'm correct in my assumption, then the governor would request $80,000 from the federal fiscal relief fund to make up for his budget shortfall. In my opinion, it sounds like Governor Richardson is gaming the system. I guess when you can't successfully run up the middle, you carry the ball around the end.

Wouldn't this sort of funding require approval from the state legislative body?