wrote:
Rand Simberg wrote:
Eric Chomko wrote:

How does state government money end up backing commercial spaceflight?

New Mexico is investing over $200M in a commercial spaceport.

Please source this, including the specific tracking data on the bill
passed by the NM legislature investing this money, or the official
goverment department that cut the check or is planning to do so.

In fact, Rand, there's really no point in you posting anything without
sourcing it.

Never mind - if this is the source of your claim

http://www.space.com/news/060102_nm_spaceport.html

then please note that as yet the state of NM has not appropriated any
such sum of money for a spaceport. At this moment it's all possible
proposals, and relies on -adding a tax burden to the residents of New
Mexico- to support the project that is already spending taxpayers
money.


From the above article:

"New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced on December 14 that he
will work with the state legislature to secure a three-year commitment
for a total of $100 million for the state's share of the funding to
build the world's first commercial spaceport to be built in southern
New Mexico.

Richardson's funding package will be the keystone of a larger $225
million financial construction package that includes local, state and
federal funding to build New Mexico's spaceport in Upham.

Homans said the additional funding is expected to come from a
combination of sources, including: Federal earmarks and appropriations
over the next three fiscal years; Southern New Mexico cities and
counties, by a proposed local option gross receipts tax that will be
decided by the voters; and other state sources, including future
transportation funding and money that has already been approved by the
state legislature for construction of the spaceport."