On the opening day of the 2007 Legislature, comments by the governor and speaker of the House may reveal the fight to come over ethics reform.
Richardson has proposed a comprehensive package of reform proposals that include the creation of a powerful state ethics commission, limits on gifts and campaign contributions, more frequent and detailed campaign finance reporting and public financing for judicial races.
Richardson pointed out that some legislators sat on the task force that made recommendations to the governor that served as the framework for his proposal. House Majority Leader Ken Martinez of Grants was among those who endorsed the task force recommendations after sitting on the committee for months.
“These recommendations are now before the Legislature,” Richardson said in today’s state of the state address. “I know that you will fully want to review these proposals. This time, though, there are no excuses. The time for ethics reform is now.”
Speaker of the House Ben Lujan didn’t sound so certain. Though he endorsed some of Richardson’s proposals in remarks made shortly after he was re-elected speaker, Lujan sounded lukewarm about ethics reform.
“We will consider the recommendations and act upon them as we deem necessary,” was all he said about the governor’s proposals on ethics reform.
Lujan also said during his speech that maintaining public trust is important. He has said in the past that he believes New Mexico is a state with an ethical government that can be trusted.
Proponents of ethics reform expect a tough battle in the next 60 days.
On the opening day of the 2007 Legislature, comments by the governor and speaker of the House may reveal the fight to come over ethics reform.