The State legislators are upset that Governor Martinez chose to veto the balanced budget that they crafted and sent to her. They are upset, in spite of the fact that she told them she would not raise taxes. They did so anyway, to the tune of 350 million dollars.

I, for one, support Governor Martinez.

When I was a working person, 10 years in a variety of jobs and then 40 years in the mines, I had to live on what I was paid. If I didn't have the money for something, I had to go without or adjust the budget. Or, of course, go into debt.

Since the State constitution requires a balanced budget, the legislators chose to raise taxes to accomplish that.

To repeat, as a working person, I had to live on what I was paid. If I went to my employer and said, I am raising my pay, they would have laughed at me, to say the least.

Now that I am retired, I still have to live on what my retirement has earned me. I can't go to my pension program from the mining company or social security and say, I need more money for whatever it is I want to do, so I am raising my retirement. I am increasing my medical insurance and cutting my premium. Nope, they don't work that way.

Where do the legislators think we the people are going to get the extra 350 million dollars to pay for whatever freebie they think many of the people need?

There are so many programs that can be cut or done away with. There is so much waste in State government that can be cut, and sometimes they just have to buck up and do what needs done.

Say sorry, but we can't keep giving away freebies to everyone that wants something and look at what is really necessary. Sure, take care of the truly, and I repeat TRULY NEEDY, but so many are not.

So, to Howie Morales, John Arthur Smith and the rest of the legislature, forget the law suit and go to work doing what you were elected to do.

Gary Hulsey
Tyrone, New Mexico