RichardsonForPresident.com
 Presidential Election Portal  Affiliation: Democrat 
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Bill Richardson for President
Biography
Born:
- November 15, 1947 Pasadena, California to William Richardson and Maria Luisa Lopez-Collada. Bill's younger sister, Vesta is a pediatrician.
- Bill's family relocated to Mexico City where Bill lived until 1961 when he left to attend high school in Massachusetts.
Education:
- MA, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 1971
- BA, Tufts University, 1970.
Professional Experience:
- Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2001
- Teacher, United World College, 2001
- Businessman, 1978-1982
- Staff, United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 1975-1978
- Staff, United States Department of State, 1973-1975
Political Life:
- Governor, State of New Mexico, 2002-present
- Secretary, United States Department of Energy, 1998-2001
- United States Ambassador to the United Nations, 1997-1998
- Democratic Chief Deputy Whip, United States House of Representatives, 1997
- Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1983-1997
- Democratic Nominee, United States House of Representatives, 1980
- County Democratic Party, 1978
- Chair, 2004 Democratic National Convention
- Executive Director, New Mexico State Democratic Party and Bernalil.
Quotes
On Iraq
- "I would withdraw all of our forces without any residual troops by the end of this calendar year." Richardson's address to the Campaign for America's Future
On Education
- "Ignorance has always been the weapon of tyrants; enlightenment the salvation of the free. Education enables people and societies to be what they can be." -- Bill Richardson Inaugural Addresss as Governor of New Mexico January 1, 2003
On the Military
- "Few needs are more pressing, or more deserving of our attention, than taking care of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces." -- Bill Richardson New Mexico State of the State Address 2005
On the Energy Crisis
- "For more than 30 years, the United States has been living in an energy crisis. The energy crisis didn’t end when the gas lines disappeared at the end of the 1970s….
- "The reason it won’t end is that this nation has failed to make structural changes in its energy policy that will create diverse, sustainable energy sources for a nation that runs on energy." -- Governor Richardson's Keynote Address to North American Energy Summit, April 14, 2004
Read Quotes from Other Candidates
On the Issues
The important issues and how the Governor stands on them, according to his website:
- Iraq -- Supports a plan to de-authorize and war and withdrawal all the troops by the end of 2007; redirecting that funding to education, health care, global warming and security threats to the U.S.
- Health Care -- Plan includes new ways to expand affordable coverage to all Americans, without raising taxes.
- Energy -- Calls for an "energy and climate revolution" to make America a Clean Energy State.
- Environment -- Fighting for more conservation.
- Immigration -- Calls for immigration reform and enforcing more effective border control and security. Plan includes reform that would allow undocumented workers the ability to gain legal status through fines, learning English, paying taxes and more.
- Economy -- Points to his history as Governor in creating 80,000 new jobs in New Mexico while providing tax credits to companies paying above the prevailing wage as well as giving a tax holiday to start up high tech companies.
- Foreign Policy -- Is critical of the current administration and it's lack of realistic objectives and outcomes. Promotes hard work and moral strength and strong diplomacy and alliances key components to the path of American leadership.
Debate Transcripts
- Transcript of October 30, 2007 debate held in Philadelphia
- Transcript of Monday, July 23, 2007 debate held at the The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.
- Transcript June 3, 2007 deabte held in New Hampshire
- Transcript of April 26, 2007 debate held in South Carolina
Voting/Policy History
As a member of Congress (1983-1997), Representative Richardson:
- Consistently voted for the right to choose in abortion, including:
- the Medicaid Funded Abortions Amendment (1996), allowing for the continuation of Medicaid funds to be used in abortions in cases of rape or incest.
- The Military Abortion Amemdment (1995), providing for the continuation of policies allowing for privately funded abortions at overseas Defense Department medical facilities (provided the patient pays for the procedure).
- A dissenting vote on the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (1995), which prohibited specific types of late term abortions known as "partial-birth abortions."
- Backed legislation for campaign spending limits.
- Voted for legislation defining marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman, but also voted for the amendment to that bill that the federal definition of marriage can be suspended by individual states. (1996)
- Repeated voted for initiatives to improve education issues including:
- Funding increases for Head Start, Drug-free Schools, Eisenhower Teacher Training, Handicapped Education, Perkins Loaks, Summer Youth Jobs (1996)
- National Service Bills (1993)
- Against Immigration Reform bills (1996)
- Voted for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy (1993)
As a Governor, Gov. Richardson:
- Extended civil rights to homosexuals and transgendered people
- Helped promote initiatives offering health insurance to every child in New Mexico under five years old.
- Provided tax relief focusing on putting people to work and in investing in alternative energy development.
- Helped make New Mexico the first state to provide a higher life insurance benefit for National Guard soldier from the state.
- Toughened DWI and sex offender laws
- Promoted mandatory jail time, especially for repeat offenders
- Supported the death penalty laws in New Mexico
- Opposed legalization of drugs, while supporting drug courts and treatment in some cased instead of incarceration
- Pushed for increases in teacher salaries, equipment for education, and charter schools.
- Supported fair trade
- Continued to support second amendment rights to bear arms
- Promoted pathways for legalization of illegal immigrants providing they pay taxes and learned English.
- Pushed to make New Mexico a "Clean Energy State"
For complete histories, see:
- Vote-Smart.org: Complete Voting Record as a Representative
- Vote-Smart.org: Gubernatorial Veto History
- OnTheIssues.org Summary of quotes and actions on various issues
Did You Know?
While campaigning for governor of New Mexico in 2002, Bill Richardson shook 13,392 hands in an 8 hour period, squelching the previous record set by Theodore Roosevelt, inauguration day in 1907.
Address
- 811 St. Michaels Dr.
- Suite 206
- Santa Fe, NM 87505
Contact
- Campaign Headquarters
- 811 St. Michaels Dr.
- Suite 206
- Santa Fe, NM 87505
- PHONE: 505-982-2291
- FAX: 505-982-3652
- EMAIL:
- Albuquerque Office
- 111 Lomas Blvd. NW
- Suite 200
- Albuquerque, NM 87102
- PHONE: 505-828-BILL
- EMAIL:
Languages
- English
- en Español
External Links
Social Links
AboutUs Featured Wiki Page
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Featured Text -- With New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's announcement today officially launching his presidential campaign, it seems like a good moment to prompt the AboutUs community to check out our 2008 Presidential Election Portal for information about the upcoming election. The portal features information on candidates, quotes and areas for community discussion on the various issues, people, and events leading up to the election. Of course, as it's still in progress, there's lots of work to do, so click around and be sure to hit the "edit" button and add constructive information on your favorite candidates! As far as Governor Richardson's individual WikiPage goes, check out highlights of his Voting/Policy history, as well as read about his stance on issues.
