REP. BURPO LOSES FAVOR WITH GOVERNOR OVER DRUG ATTACKS

SANTA FE - Gov. Gary Johnson has turned his back on a key Republican
legislator who was ready to fight the governor's battle to cut income taxes.

Johnson parted ways with Rep. Rob Burpo, an Albuquerque Republican, on the
tax cut issue because Burpo is waging a public fight to kill Johnson's drug
reform package, said Dave Miller, the governor's legislative liaison.

"The governor found it intolerable for Rob (Burpo) to be leading the charge
on tax cuts, but leading the charge against the governor's drug package,"
Miller said. "It's inconsistent and contradictory.

"It would have made a laughingstock out of our office because these (tax
cuts and drug reform) are two of our biggest issues."

Miller said Johnson believes Burpo is politicizing the drug reform issue in
his bid to win the Republican nomination for governor later this year.

Burpo went on a four-city tour earlier this month to publicize his
opposition to Johnson's much-heralded attempt to ease drug laws. He issued
a statement saying he will "do whatever I need to do in the Legislature" to
put a stop to Johnson's drug reform package.

Burpo faces four potential candidates in the Republican primary next June:
Rep. John Sanchez, Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley, former radio talk show host
Larry Ahrens and retired military officer Gilbert Baca.

Burpo and Sanchez have said they disagree with the governor's stance on
drugs, especially his attempt to decriminalize the possession of small
amounts of marijuana.

Bradley is open to changing some drug laws, but he is opposed to Johnson's
desire to legalize some drugs.

Johnson will leave office at the end of the year after serving two
consecutive terms as governor - the maximum allowed under the New Mexico
Constitution.

Burpo said Wednesday that he was asked by the governor's staff last month
to write and carry a bill to cut personal income taxes. Burpo carried a
similar bill last year for the governor.

But Burpo said he received a call from Miller on Monday saying the governor
had changed his mind.

"They said, 'Because you're opposing us on the drug bills, you're no longer
carrying the governor's tax bill,'" Burpo recalled Miller saying.

Burpo said he interpreted the governor's change of heart as punishment for
his opposition to changing drugs laws.

Miller said the governor still respects Burpo personally and politically.

He said Johnson was worried about the perception that he might be handing
out political retribution.

"This isn't about power politics, arm-twisting or vetoing someone's pork,"
Miller said. "This is simply Johnson saying, 'We're going to go our own way.'"

Johnson has now turned to Rep. Joe Mohorovic, also an Albuquerque
Republican, to sponsor his tax cut bill. Mohorovic said he supports some of
the governor's drug reform agenda, but he won't take a position on any of
the bills until he reads the final versions.

But even without the governor's support, Burpo is still sponsoring a bill
that would cut personal income taxes by 4 percent across the board. He said
the $30 million it would take to offset the cut could come from state reserves.

Rep. Sanchez, who is carrying a portion of Johnson's education reform
package, said Johnson has not tried to tie the two issues - education
reform and drug reform - together during their conversations.

"I have thanked the governor for opening the debate (over drugs), but I
emphasized that I would not be supporting any of his bills," Sanchez said.

Miller said the difference between Burpo and Sanchez is Sanchez is not
actively trying to kill the governor's legislation. He said legislators can
disagree with the governor on the drug issue and vote against his bills.

"The bright line is, as long as you're not leading the charge against us,
on any of the main issues, I can't believe Gary (Johnson) would have a
problem," Miller said. "But, I mean if you're holding a press conference,
that's different."