Senators want more eyes on executive branch

Because of the growth of the state budget and in response to actions by Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration, some senators want to increase legislative oversight of the executive branch.

Sen. Leonard “Lee” Rawson, R-Las Cruces, said he’ll ask for support for the creation of a Senate Executive Committee – similar to the Judiciary Committee – when the Committee’s Committee meets Wednesday.

Citing several factors, including an increase in spending, unauthorized hiring by Richardson and corruption in state government, Rawson said the Legislature has a duty to take a more active role.

“I believe we ought to have a committee whose sole responsibility is to oversee the executive branch,” Rawson said. “This has been an administration that has been plagued with corruption.”

For the committee to become a reality, the Senate would have to vote to approve a rule change on the first day of the session.

The state will have an estimated $5.84 billion to spend for the 2008 budget year. Its current budget is $5.1 billion. The state is in healthy shape financially, and the money the executive branch administers has grown significantly in recent years.

As to the illegal hirings, Richardson gets almost 650 appointments when he takes office, but he has made about 710, and the additional hires, which don’t have legislative approval, have cost the state $3.5 million in taxpayer money. That has earned the governor criticism from Rawson and Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, but the Legislature has not acted to stop it.

Rawson also complained about executive branch staff members giving legislators unreliable information, and said a committee would be better able to examine situations and provide dependable numbers.

When the commuter rail was going through the approval process, Richardson staffers underestimated the cost by more than $200 million. Some legislators believe that was done intentionally in order to gain approval.

Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said he agrees that more oversight is needed, but said he believes the Legislative Finance Committee, not an separate, new committee, is the body to do it. The LFC already has subpoena power.

“When you look at how the money is spent, you would hope it’s in a reliable fashion, but you and I know that’s not always the case,” Smith said, referencing recent scandal in the treasurer’s office. “I think we need to (keep a better eye on the executive branch) then we have in the past when you look at the size of government and what’s been happening.”

But, Smith said, the LFC would need additional resources, including staff members, because legislators aren’t paid and can’t work full-time. He suggested the LFC could be expanded into something like the Government Accountability Office that keeps an eye on the federal government.

“It’s going to take some beefing up, and to do that, we’re going to need support of the executive branch,” Smith said.

I asked a member of Richardson’s public information office whether the governor would support an increase in oversight of the executive branch of government. He said he would get back to me.

Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, hadn’t heard of Rawson’s proposal, but said, “I know where Lee’s coming from.” She said it’s important to use the state’s money wisely.

Still, Garcia predicted, any proposal to increase oversight of the executive branch will split members of the Committee’s Committee.