Anyone who just can’t take anymore of the poisonous atmosphere this administration has brought to the political life of Washington should spend some time following the action in the states. A relative political newcomer such as George W. Bush is being taken seriously as a presidential contender, for instance, because he’s dime serious things as governor of Texas. But he’s hardly unique. Governors in many states are behaving like strong, responsible chief executives. Today’s exhibit comes from a state a lot of people like to visit, New Mexico.

New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is a triathlon runner who trains several times a week. His biggest challenge right now is convincing the public he was justified in vetoing the legislature’s $3.3 billion state bud get. The issue on the table, as in so many places, is New Mexico’s schools.

"New Mexico ranks last by some measures in school performance, he says. “I’ll sign for the money but only if we see real reform.” He favors a voucher program for all children that would be phased in over four years, as well as a $100 million income tax cut.

Governor Johnson has taken some inspiration from the record of Arne Carlson, Jesse Ventura’s predecessor as governor of Minnesota. In 1997, Governor Carlson vetoed a $6.7 billion education budget and called for a special legislative session to consider his plan to expand the state’s tax credit program for private schools. Mr. Carlson took his denied that opportunity to their con- stituents. Just before the special session was set to begin, a compromise was reached allowing parents earning less than $33,500 a year to take a tax credit for public or private school expenses.

With New Mexico’s legislature scheduled to adjourn on Saturday, Governor Johnson says he is “dead serious” about forcing a special session to have his ideas considered. Democrats accuse him of being an “obstructionist” and note he vetoed 200 bills during his first term. But Governor Johnson won 54% of the vote last November, which he says shows majority sentiment for changing the state’s tired tax and education policies.

The arguments raised against Governor Johnson’s voucher program show the intellectual bankruptcy of the status quo. Critics say it would be unconstitutional. Democratic Rep. Rhonda King claims that “somebody could set up a satanic school” and redeem vouchers. Lawmakers also complain the state could be liable to lawsuits filed against private schools using vouchers.

All of these arguments fall flat. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings indicate it would uphold vouchers as constitutional, just as it has education tax credits because the benefit goes to the parents. Successful voucher programs in Wisconsin and Ohio have safeguards against outrageous schools being set up. And just as a welfare recipient wouldn’t be able to sue the state if she used her check to buy tainted food, the state wouldn’t be liable for the actions of private schools.

Last year, President Clinton’ called on Congress to approve federal funds to gradually hire 100,000 new teachers. Governor Johnson would instead broaden educational opportunity in his program’s first year by giving 100,000 of his state’s kids the chance to attend schools with a track record of success. Not only would the Governor’s approach have a much more immediate impact on children, the resulting competition would challenge the public schools to reform so that all teachers might be liberated to bring out that which is the best in their students.