Richardson orders freeze on capital projects

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered a freeze on capital outlay projects around the state. Richardson says unless state agencies or local governments had contracts in place as of last Friday - with contractors or engineers, for example - projects will be put on hold. The freeze announced Monday will remain in place through the next legislative session, which starts in January. Richardson said lawmakers did not do enough in last week's special session to cut so-called pork spending. He said the goal of the freeze is to come up with as much as $150 million in savings. The Legislature did not cut any capital spending in the recent session. Instead, it ordered that $150 million in dormant projects be identified for possible cuts in January. AP