By CCNM Executive Director Mario Jimenez

CCNM News:

Modernizing the legislative process, with more staff, longer sessions and compensation for legislators is the top priority for Common Cause New Mexico (CCNM) in the upcoming session. The non-partisan good government group will also push for continued fixes to the campaign finance and disclosure acts, and protection for election officials against intimidation.

“This year we have a historic revenue surplus, so there is no time like the present to make some lasting institutional changes in the legislative process to benefit the citizens of New Mexico with additional constituent services, more solid policy making and more opportunities for citizen input into the often opaque, convoluted process,” CCNM Executive Director Mario Jimenez said.            

Jimenez stressed the importance of providing professional staff for hard-pressed legislators who—for most of the year– are answering their own phones, doing their own research and spending “all-nighters” in order to get the work done during short legislative sessions.

“The people of New Mexico deserve better,” he said.

In Oct. 2022, Common Cause’s annual poll revealed that 67 percent of likely voters support paid staff, 70 percent support longer sessions, 64 percent support paying legislators and 84 percent support more disclosure of incomes by legislators and their families. Support was broad based and included responses from both parties and all parts of the state. 

Two of the reform measures will require constitutional amendments. A measure to put the question of lengthening the session on the ballot will be carried by Rep. Natalie Figueroa as HJR 2. 

Rep. Angelica Rubio will be carrying measure to create a citizen commission on legislative salaries to set and limit salaries for legislators subject to a voter referendum. Legislation to fund personal staff for legislators is being drafted. It does not require a constitutional amendment.

Other bills on Common Cause’s priority list:

• A bill to tighten the Campaign Reporting Act to require more disclosure of loans to campaigns, carried by Sens. Peter Wirth and Katy Duhigg;
• A bill to protect election officials and employees of county clerks and the Secretary of State from intimidation carried by Sen. Katy Duhigg;
• HJR 1, sponsored by Rep. Natalie Figueroa, to amend the constitution to provide a truly independent redistricting commission; and
• A Senate bill carried by Sens. Peter Wirth and Kay Duhigg to enact tighter disclosure requirements for legislators and other elected officials.

Other bills supported by Common Cause create open primaries where “decline-to-state” (independent) voters could select either a Democratic or Republican ballot, and additional disclosures to reveal lobbyist activities and compensation.