The Senate approved this afternoon a bill that would allow a judge to fine an elected official convicted of corruption related to his or her office.
On a vote of 29-12, senators sent Senate Bill 141, sponsored by Minority Whip William Payne, R-Albuquerque, to the House for consideration. It’s the most visible piece of ethics reform approved so far this year by the Senate.
Under the bill, a judge could impose a fine when an elected official commits a felony connected to his position. The fine could be no greater than the elected official’s salary and benefits, and would be an additional penalty on top of the standard sentence the official receives.
There was little debate before the Senate approved the legislation.
The bill had been heavily pushed by the Senate Republican caucus as an important ethics-reform proposal. Before today’s vote, Payne said in a news release that enacting the bill “might make these corrupt officials think twice about using their office for criminal purposes.”
“Because they were receiving a salary from taxpayers when they were acting illegally, they should have to pay some of that salary back to the public, and they should not receive their fringe benefits like pensions,” Payne said.
All Republicans voted for the bill except Rod Adair, who was absent. Here’s how Democrats voted:
Voting against the bill
Mary Jane Garcia
Phil Griego
Linda Lopez
Linda Lovejoy
Richard Martinez
Howie Morales
George Munoz
Cynthia Nava
Bernadette Sanchez
Michael Sanchez
John Sapien
David Ulibarri
Voting for the bill
Pete Campos
Carlos Cisneros
Tim Eichernberg
Dede Feldman
Stephen Fischmann
Eric Griego
Tim Jennings
Timothy Keller
Cisco McSorley
Gerald Ortiz y Pino
Mary Kay Papen
John Pinto
Nancy Rodriguez
John Arthur Smith
Peter With