New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has become the
ROBERT STEUTEVILLE    APR. 1, 2006
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has become the first governor to veto legislation curtailing eminent domain. Since the US Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. New London last June, more than 40 states have passed or considered legislation to cut down on the use of eminent domain, especially for private economic development. Richardson, a Democrat, blocked eminent domain legislation in New Mexico but promised to establish a task force to study the issue and propose legislation in the next session.