Bill Richardson Political Party Democratic Party Current Position Governor of New Mexico Age 60   (November 15th, 1947) Hometown Pasadena, Calif.; Mexico City, Mexico Religion Catholic Elections Straw Poll   Compare Bill Richardson to:      Joe Biden Hillary Clinton Chris Dodd John Edwards Mike Gravel Dennis Kucinich Barack Obama Bill Richardson Sam Brownback Jim Gilmore Rudy Giuliani Mike Huckabee Duncan Hunter John McCain Ron Paul Mitt Romney Tom Tancredo Tommy Thompson Fred Thompson    Vote for Bill Richardson

PERSONAL

Spouse: Barbara (1972-present)
Children: None

EDUCATION

• Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, M.A, 1971
• Tufts University, B.A. in French and Political Science, 1970
• Middlesex School, Concord, MA

PROFESSIONAL

• Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2001
• Teacher, United World College, 2001
• Richardson Trade Group, 1978-1982
• Staff, United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 1975-1978
• Staff, United States Department of State, 1973-1975
• Teacher, New Mexico State University
• Teacher, University of New Mexico.
• Staff Member, United States House of Representatives.

POLITICAL

• Governor, State of New Mexico, 2002-present
• Secretary, United States Department of Energy, 1998-2001
• United States Ambassador, 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.

• Boasts having resisted any effort to weaken a woman’s right to choose.
  
  
• Opposed a ban on abortions in military hospitals.
  
  
• Opposed a ban on partial-birth abortion.
  
  
• Voted to preserve a law which required states to use Medicare funds to provide abortions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
  
  

• Opposes same-sex marriage but supports legal rights and benefits for same-sex partners.
  
  
• Would not accept position as honorary chair of Boy Scouts due to their stance on homosexuality.
  
  
• Does not believe that same sex marriage is currently achievable, but supports a goal of civil unions with full marriage rights.
  
  
• Passed a hate crimes act that was based on non discrimination; was the first governor to include transgender.
  
  
• Believes homosexuality is a choice.
  
  
• Supports abolishing the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.
  
  
• Says that civil rights can be more important than national security.
  
  

• Pushed tougher penalties for sex predators.
  
  
• Believes that the majority of domestic violence begins with alcohol abuse.
  
  
• Supports the death penalty, citing zero tolerance for heinous crimes.
  
  
• Supports mandatory jail time for DUI, Child Safety, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault, especially for repeat offenders.
  
  
• Believes poverty is the core of gun violence.
  
  
• Says the assault weapons ban did not work, but there should be no guns for the mentally ill or those with a criminal background.
  
  
• Believes the 2nd amendment is precious, and welcomes the NRA’s endorsement.
  
  

• Supports a national ban on smoking in public places.
  
  
• Wants to keep the drinking age at 21.
  
  
• Believes in treatment and education over enforcement and incarceration.
  
  
• Does not support any legalization of drugs, saying that they play an insidious role inc rime.
  
  
• Supports mandatory jail sentences for selling drugs.
  
  

• Advocated income tax cuts as Governor of New Mexico.
  
  
• Advocated for minimum wage increase to $7.50 in New Mexico.
  
  
• Has supported amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget.
  
  
• Wants to grow the trade link to Mexico and attract Hollywood business.
  
  
• Supports same day voter registration.
  
  
• Says raising the Social Security cap would mean a 15% tax on the middle class.
  
  
• Wants to stop talking about Social Security privatization.
  
  
• Supports replacing the Bush tax cuts with cuts for the middle class.
  
  

• Committed to extending the school day and/or year.
  
  
• Wants to start preschool earlier – under 4.
  
  
• Says No Child Left Behind should be scrapped.
  
  
• Supports minimum wage for teachers being $40,000/year.
  
  
• Says students should be able to pay off college loans with national service.
  
  
• As Governor, eliminated junk food in schools and established a statewide smoking ban.
  
  

• Believes we can have Hydrogen cars in 30 years, but we need plug ins and hybrids now.
  
  
• Opposes the gas tax, saying it burdens everyday people.
  
  
• Wants 50mpg cars by 2020, even if it costs $6,000 per car.
  
  
• Supports mandatory emissions reductions to make the US energy independent.
  
  
• Wants to invest in bike lanes and commuter bike facilities.
  
  
• Supports development of a comprehensive water management plan.
  
  
• Says the Katrina response was “disgraceful”; wants to reform FEMA and insurance.
  
  

• Wants to give students incentives to become health professionals.
  
  
• Supports universal health care, and wants to focus on preventative measures without raising taxes.
  
  
• Focused on raising childhood immunization rates.
  
  
• Wants to increase access to affordable health care.
  
  
• Says Veterans should have a “hero’s health card” which provides them health care anywhere they want.
  
  

• Supports comprehensive immigration reform including improved technology, an augmented border patrol force and legal status for some illegal aliens.
  
  
• Opposes the 700-mile fence along the southern border authorized by Congress.
  
  
• Opposes giving state police the authority to detain illegal immigrants.
  
  
• Says driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants helps public safety.
  
  
• Believes the border wall is a horrendous example of misguided policy.
  
  
• Thinks federal raids are ineffective and that they dehumanize immigrants.
  
  
• Wants a path for legalization if immigrants pay taxes and learn English.
  
  

• Voting Record - http://www.vote smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26964
  
  

• Believes the Iraqis must “step up to the plate” and take responsibility for their own security situation.
  
  
• Has said that Iraq is now engaged in civil war, and that our troops should be withdrawn this year because they are targets in that civil war.
  
  
• Believes we must do this because the American people want us out of Iraq, and because the war is detrimental to U.S. national interests.
  
  
• Has said that Congress should end the war through a “deauthorization resolution” which would render the original Iraq war authorization resolution inoperable.
  
  
• Regrets supporting the war initially, says Iraq has distracted us from al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.
  
  
• Says Al Qaeda will target the oil infrastructure until we wean ourselves off oil dependence.
  
  
• Wants to maintain the Geneva Conventions and restrict torture.
  
  
• Says we should rescind the authority to eavesdrop without a court order.
  
  
• Does not want to use nukes first, but wants to keep a nuclear option on the table.
  
  
• Would pledge that under his presidency Iran would not develop a Nuclear bomb.
  
  
• Wants to withdraw all troops from Iraq, saying that the situation is about to implode.
  
  

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