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Third, its time for New Mexico to join the rest of the nation and set strict campaign contribution limits---23 hundred dollars for non-statewide candidates and 5 thousand dollars for statewide candidates.
Fourth-we need same-day voter registration.
If you are a law-abiding citizen and resident, you should be able to register the same day you vote, cast your regular ballot, and be confident your vote will count.
Last--it's time for public financing of statewide political campaigns.
Six years ago and every year since, my administration and this legislature have convened to do the work of the people.
We didn't agree on everything-and sometimes it seemed like we couldn't agree on anything-but we did agree on one thing. We agreed to believe in ourselves and our state.
Today, we no longer accept the belief that the problems we face are too complex, too difficult, too intractable for us to make a difference.
We no longer accept drunk driving as an unchangeable truth in New Mexico.
We ran statewide super-blitzes, tightened drunk driving laws and imposed ignition interlocks for repeat offenders, and alcohol related fatalities are down by 34%--the lowest in state history.
We reject the cynics who said we couldn't build a commuter rail from Belen to Albuquerque, and Albuquerque to Santa Fe-and if we did no one would use it. Well, we built that rail line-faster and cheaper than any commuter rail in US history-and so far a million and a half riders have used it. And perhaps long after I’m gone, while many of you are still here, we will see the RailRunner expansion north to Colorado, south to Las Cruces, and to other communities in our state.
We remain proud of our traditional economy that depends on what we produce from our farms, mines and wells.
But today our economy also depends on what we can invent with our intellect what we can produce with our skills, and what we can harness from the wind and sun.
We have a difficult climb ahead---filled with tough choices and great sacrifice.
We will weather this storm.
New Mexico always has.
Today, a new administration headed by President Obama has taken the reigns and offers new hope and change for our nation's future.
