Heath Haussamen
When people ask what motivates me to publish this site, I point to instances like the exchange I had with two senators while I was in Santa Fe last week.
Senators passed a rule that gives them the authority to quiz someone who wants to photograph or film a public committee meeting and then decide whether to allow them to do it. The rule – and the enforcement of it, as illustrated by the questions asked of me last week – is simply not constitutional.
I detest attempts, intentional or otherwise, to shut the public out of the public’s business. So I devote a great deal of time to promoting government transparency and accessibility. Last week, that included calling senators out for their attempt to decrease accessibility.
It also included publicly challenging the governor to webcast meetings of the State Investment Council, and it was rewarding to have her respond by announcing that she would do just that.
Transparency and accessibility are critical to creating a government that serves the people, and they’re critical to the mission of this site.
That mission is twofold: to hold government and political leaders accountable through hard-hitting but fair reporting, and to encourage policy and political debate that promotes the common good.
Without access and transparency, journalists and the public can’t effectively hold our society’s leaders accountable, and we the people can’t participate in the public debate in an influential way.
That’s what motivates me: A desire to improve the process by helping give the public a greater ability to hold its leaders accountable and participate in the debate in an influential way.
NMPolitics.net needs your help
But this site can’t function without your help. NMPolitics.net is currently in the middle of its annual fundraising drive. I’m trying to raise $12,000 by April 30.
A third of the way through the fundraising drive, NMPolitics.net has raised $4,800, putting this site at 40 percent of that goal.
In one month, 51 people have contributed. Last week, that included Philip Banks of Las Cruces, Denise Tessier of Cedar Crest, Lee Ann Rael of Santa Fe, and Colleen Cayes of San Jose, Calif.
I’m so grateful for the support of those who have given. And I’m asking the rest of you to make a donation today. You can do so by visiting nmpolitics.net/contribute.
You can make a one-time contribution in any amount or sign up to make automatic, monthly contributions of $10 or $20. Those who sign up to make monthly contributions or give a one-time contribution of at least $120 will receive a monthly newsletter containing exclusive analysis and interesting tidbits about what’s happening in New Mexico and news about NMPolitics.net.
Please, visit nmpolitics.net/contribute today and make a donation.
Questions? E-mail me at heath@haussamen.com.