Press Release

Governor Bill Richardson's (D-NM) campaign for president comes to Los Angeles today, where he will cut the ribbon opening a bank focused on assisting small to mid-size Latino businesses.  This stands in stark contrast to his 36.7% career rating from the US Chamber of Commerce.   

In addition, Richardson's proposed targeted taxes on his state's neediest residents does not represent the values held by the Latino community that he claims to be a member of.

Hector M. Barajas, Press Secretary, California Republican Party

As Congressman, Richardson Received Poor Ratings From Anti-Tax Groups For His Congressional Career:

The National Taxpayers Union Gave Richardson A Failing Grade Every Year He Was In Congress.(National Taxpayers Union)

The Chamber Of Commerce Gave Richardson An Average Rating Of 36.7% For His Congressional Career.(J. Michael Sharp, Directory Of Congressional Voting Scores and Interest Group Ratings, 2000, p.1204; Michael Barone And Grant Ujifusa, "The Almanac Of American Politics," 1986, p.886; Michael Barone And Grant Ujifusa, "The Almanac Of American Politics," 1988, p.781; Michael Barone And Grant Ujifusa, "The Almanac Of American Politics," 1990, p.793; Michael Barone And Grant Ujifusa, "The Almanac Of American Politics," 1992, p.822; Michael Barone And Grant Ujifusa, "The Almanac Of American Politics," 1994, p.851; Michael Barone And Grant Ujifusa, "The Almanac Of American Politics," 1996, p.893)

Gov. Richardson Wanted To Instill A Tax On Patients In Nursing Homes And Hospitals (The "Bed Tax"):

In Order To Provide Funds For Medicaid The Governor Proposed Raising Taxes On Those Receiving Care. "As for where those taxes might come from, the administration is asking for a $5 per day nursing home bed tax, a $2 per day hospital bed tax and an increase in the health insurance premium tax paid by those on commercial insurance, from 3 percent to 4 percent." (Dan Shingler, "Health Policy To See Revamp," Albuquerque Tribune, 1/19/04)

• "Even With The Tax Boost, The State Will Soon Require Medicaid Recipients To Pay $3 Toward Their Prescriptions And $5 For A Visit To A Doctor's Office. A $25 Per Family Medicaid Enrollment Fee Is Also Planned."(Dan Shingler, "Health Policy To See Revamp," Albuquerque Tribune, 1/19/04)
  

Richardson Wrong About Being First Latino To Run For President:

"Gov. Bill Richardson Said On The National 'Latino USA' Radio Program Last Week That He Was Proud To Be The First Latino To Run For President."(Leslie Linthicum, "Richardson Is Not Quite The First," Albuquerque Journal, 2/7/07)

• Richardson: "I'm the first Latino - we checked this - to run for president." (Leslie Linthicum, "Richardson Is Not Quite The First," Albuquerque Journal, 2/7/07)
  

"Benjamin Fernandez, A California Financial Consultant, Ran In The Republican Presidential Primary In 1980, Saying He Was The First." (Leslie Linthicum, "Richardson Is Not Quite The First," Albuquerque Journal, 2/7/07)

• "Fernandez Got Close To 1 Million Votes Nationally, Enough To Send Three Delegates To The Republican Nominating Convention In 1980."(Leslie Linthicum, "Richardson Is Not Quite The First," Albuquerque Journal, 2/7/07)