Candidate Profile: Bill Richardson
November 30, 2007
Governor Bill Richardson has had a varied political career, including serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., the U.S. Secretary of Energy, and the Governor of New Mexico. He was born in California, grew up in Mexico City, and attended school in Massachusetts. Here are the facts:
Born: California, 1947
Current Home State: New Mexico
Party: Democrat
Pre-politics Career: State Department employee, staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee (these positions were not political appointments or the results of an election)
Political Experience: U.S. Representative (New Mexico), 1982-1996; U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., 1997-1998; U.S. Secretary of Energy, 1998-2001; Governor of New Mexico, 2002-Present
The Issues:
Iraq
“I have a one-point plan on the Iraq War — END IT.
“We must get all of our troops out quickly and safely so that a new political process can begin.”
(Official campaign website)
Illegal Immigration
“Building a fence will not increase security, just as attempting to deport 12 million illegal immigrants is not feasible or reasonable. I believe a realistic immigration reform plan must address the problem from all sides — securing the border, penalizing employers for knowingly hiring illegal workers, offering a tough but reasonable path to legalization, engaging Mexico in the reform process, and improving our current immigration quota system.” (Official campaign website)
Health Care
“All Americans will have personal responsibility for obtaining coverage, employers will be required to do their fair share to contribute to a healthy and covered work force, a sliding-scale tax credit will be available for Americans who need help affording coverage, American families will get immediate relief from high interest rates for medical debt placed on credit cards.” (Official campaign website)
Tax Reform
“There’s no question that there’s tax unfairness in this country, but we have to rebuild the economy. Yes, the Bush tax cuts have to go. But I would replace those Bush tax cuts with tax cuts for the middle class.” (Democratic debate in Washington, D.C., June 2007)
Energy/The Environment
“The Clean Water Act is the primary vehicle for preserving America’s rivers, lakes, and streams and it must be restored.”
“We must fund federal programs and states to identify violations of the Clean Air Act by industrial facilities. We should also expand the Clean Air Act to include protections from old and dirty power plants and provide incentives for the use of cleaner fuels.”
“Polluting facilities must report on the release of toxic chemicals at least once a year.”
“Accurate scientific data must be used in assessing Endangered Species Act issues and ensure that corporations and other special interests adhere to the law when challenging ESA.”
“Give preference to funding for sites that comply with Smart Growth guidelines.”
“…we should encourage a national recycling system by making federal funding contingent on participation. This will help create a national market for recyclables as well as a new industry and jobs on the process.”
(Official campaign website)
Abortion
“I am pro-choice and will continue to support abortion rights and medical privacy for women. I am… [committed] to appoint only judges who consider Roe v. Wade settled law.” (Official campaign website)
Same-sex Marriage
“I would have domestic partnerships. I would have civil unions.” (Democratic debate in New Hampshire, June 2007)
“He strongly believes that we don’t need constitutional amendments designed to exclude supportive, devoted couples. We need to extend the rights due to all of us as Americans: The right to visit a sick or dying partner in the hospital, The right to make necessary legal and financial decisions when a partner can no longer do so.” (Official campaign website)
