Government can open the door but can't create the jobs. That's why the business community needs to be a partner in this undertaking. He's right about that, of course, but it must be said that government needs to be an active, supportive partner, an arrangement with which in recent years it has not been overly familiar. The plain fact is that the new plan is going to require major funding in a number of areas and business should not be expected to pick up the tab for that-that's the function of government. Bills need to be written, introduced, passed and signed, which is no simple task in this state.
Money needs to be found.
And the governor needs to approve it. That's some undertaking. Fortunately, he understands what compromise is and is sufficiently engaging to win over even the most recalcitrant and suspicious of legislators, if given the opportunity. If the plan fails, we just move down one slot. Bob Cochnar is editor of the New Mexico Business Journal.