The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
While a number of high-profile ethics and transparency measures died as the clock expired on the regular session last week, the New Mexico Legislature also sent a number of significant proposals to the governor for action.
Ethics and transparency measures that were approved include a whistleblower protection law, reform of the State Investment Council, the creation of a so-called “Sunshine Portal” and an expansion of webcasting in the House of Representatives.
“Every one of those seems to be a really good measure. And the positive thing is, the good ones seemed to make it through and the bad ones didn’t,” said House Minority Whip Keith Gardner, R-Roswell.
Gardner cited the proposal to create a state ethics commission as a measure that was appropriately killed, saying the secrecy provisions in that legislation – which cost the bill the support of ethics activists – made it unworkable.
While activists were disappointed about the deaths of some ethics and transparency proposals, the sunshine portal is one important piece of legislation that passed, said Steven Robert Allen, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico. He said another important move toward greater transparency was the House’s expansion of webcasting to include video from the floor and audio and video of committee meetings.
“One thing that we saw in last year’s session was this great move to increase openness over the entire process of government in New Mexico,” Allen said. “At the time, a lot of advocates were saying, once this door is open, it’s just going to get wider. I think we saw that this session, in particular with the sunshine portal and the expansion of webcasting to House committee rooms.”
“I think some very important things were accomplished,” Allen said, adding that he’d like to see the Senate expand webcasting as well.
The Legislature also sent the governor a bill that would reform the scandal-plagued SIC. The legislation would de-centralize authority at investment agency, taking power from the state investment officer and giving it to the council.
Approval of that legislation came after a great deal of debate.
“This bill is the result of best practices that decentralize and eliminate the many structural conflicts of interest that have been woven into the governance of these funds over time,” Sen. Tim Keller, D-Albuquerque, said about the bill, which he sponsored.
And the Legislature sent two bills to the governor that would enact a whistleblower protection law. Both pieces of legislation would protect public employees from retaliation for exposing wrongdoing by their employers.
“We’re pleased on both counts and we feel that this is another step forward in maintaining good government,” said Phil Sisneros, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office. “We fully intend to encourage the governor in a formal way – in terms of a letter – to sign the bills.”
The webcasting expansion came through changing House rules, so action from the governor wasn’t required. The other ethics and transparency bills all awaits Richardson’s action, which must come within 20 days of the end the session.