Diane Denish
‘This online database marks a new day for openness and transparency in New Mexico,’ Denish said
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish gave reporters a preview today of a new online database Web site that will allow the public to view any state contract valued at $20,000 or more.
The new Web site — http://contracts.gsd.state.nm.us — will officially go live on New Year’s Day.
“Now every citizen in our state will have access at their fingertips to see how the state is spending large sums of money through contracts,” Denish said. “This is an important start towards creating the transparent government New Mexicans deserve, but I will not stop until we have a full sunshine portal that puts the state’s entire checkbook online for the public to see.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4xUbpwzV5Y[/youtube]
The Web site is the result of a HB 546, which was approved by the Legislature earlier this year in Santa Fe with broad bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Bill Richardson.
In July, when Denish announced her ethics reform proposals, she indicated that she wants the state’s entire checkbook put online for the public to access. Today, said she’ll continue to fight for the “sunshine portal” to be passed into law when the Legislature meets in January.
St. Cyr is a contributing writer for this site and a reporter at 770KKOB.com. He can be reached at peter.stcyr@gmail.com.