New Mexico – Page 2 – National Freedom of Information Coalition

New Mexico law meant to increase transparency leaves gray area for lobbyists

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Lobbyists could end up reporting far less of their spending on lawmakers under a bill lauded for improving the state’s campaign finance system.

House Bill 105, signed into law by Gov. Susana Martinez on Monday, aims to make it easier for the public to access information about campaign contributions and lobbyists’ reporting. But the bill also ends a requirement that lobbyists report cumulative spending on lawmakers, and it increases the limit for reporting to $100 from $75 per event. The original legislation struck the cumulative total requirement.

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New Mexico governor endorses new online campaign database

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A new law that overhauls New Mexico’s online clearinghouse for information on political contributions and lobbying expenditures has been signed by Gov. Susana Martinez.

The Republican governor signed legislation Monday designed to standardize electronic reporting so that filings by candidates, lobbyists and political committees can be searched, cross-referenced or downloaded for analysis.

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Money woes, political distractions in New Mexico kept ethics on the sidelines this session

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State legislators passed a budget, created a REAL-ID driver's license fix, cracked down on DWI and child porn and advanced bail reform. But did they do anything to reverse the tide of indicators that New Mexicans have lost faith in state government?

Guests on the KUNM Call In Show argued Thursday that lawmakers' achievements this session were limited by New Mexico’s budget crisis—and political distractions— making it difficult to focus on anything else.

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New Mexico Senate committee kills ethics and transparency reform measures

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In less than an hour Tuesday morning, the Senate Rules Committee killed two good-government proposals, helping cement the Senate’s reputation as the place where ethics and transparency legislation goes to die.

One proposal, HJR 5, would have asked voters in November to create a state ethics commission, an idea the New Mexico Legislature has contemplated since 2007.

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New Mexico campaign finance open data bill advances

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The public could have a much clearer picture of money in politics if a bill adding open data features to the state’s electronic campaign finance system is successful. The proposal was advanced Monday the Senate Rules Committee.

The bill (HB 105), would require candidates to go online to submit information about their fundraising and spending. It would also make it easier for the public to verify information in campaign finance reports by adding cross-referencing features to the state’s electronic campaign finance reporting system.

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New Mexico open-government group questions secret budget talks

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House Republican and Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico have been gathering in closed-door committee and subcommittee meetings over the last two weeks to discuss how to allocate more than $6 billion in state money, without the public scrutiny that comes with most committee hearings.

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New Mexico AG promises more FOI enforcement

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New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has created an Open Government Division within his office to beef up enforcement of New Mexico’s freedom-of-information laws, and though the process has had a few hiccups, transparency advocates are optimistic that the office will be more aggressive.

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has long complained that the office, through several administrations, has never prioritized enforcement of the state’s laws guaranteeing access to public records and meetings.

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Editorial: Koch schooled NM, UNM on good, open government

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There is perhaps no better way to honor a lifelong public servant, especially a fiscally responsible public servant, than to do the math.

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New Mexico library joins GPO program as all-digital member

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The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has designated The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), a land-grant institution of higher learning in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as the newest all-digital member of GPO’s Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The Institute will provide patrons with digital-only access to federal government publications at no cost.

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Editorial: An opportunity for more transparency

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Dianna Duran still doesn't get it.

Duran was New Mexico's Secretary of State until her abrupt resignation Thursday night. She has been under fire since August when state Attorney General Hector Balderas filed charges against her that included embezzlement and falsifying campaign finance reports.

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