Only three states score higher than D+ in State Integrity Investigation; 11 flunk
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Annual investigation finds trouble at the statehouse: secrecy, questionable ethics and conflicts of interest in New Mexico and elsewhere. Continue Reading
Pension-stripping law needs fixed. Do officials want to fix it?
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A law enacted in 2012 was touted as an anti-corruption measure that could cause misbehaving public officials to lose their pensions. But neither side in the case of former Secretary of State Dianna Duran thinks the law applies. Continue Reading
It’s time to pay our state legislators
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Too expensive? At say $25,000 a year for each of our 112 legislators, it’s roughly $3 million — not much out of an $18.3 billion budget. Continue Reading
We shouldn’t accept conflicts in our legislative system
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When they’re doing legislative work, we deserve to know our lawmakers are acting in the interest of their constituents, not their employers. Our current system gives us no such assurances. Continue Reading
Government in New Mexico is at an ethics tipping point
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It’s time for a public outcry. With scandal after scandal, the reputation of our state deteriorating by the day. Continue Reading
We must end New Mexico’s culture of corruption
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We’ve been prosecuting public officials for a decade. We’ve approved piddly, incremental reforms. We’re still plagued by corruption. We need to push our government to embrace widespread, systemic reform. Continue Reading
What you can do to improve our government
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If you desire to improve our government, focus on the root of the dysfunction, institutional corruption. Here is a model I have found effective for implementing an ethics plan with the City of Albuquerque. Continue Reading
Illustrating the need for campaign reform
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The controversy surrounding Sen. Phil Griego’s campaign spending is one of three situations brought up during the current primary election season that raise ethical questions and point to the need for reform. Continue Reading
Sunland Park among cities requiring no campaign disclosure
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Sunland Park has no public records detailing who funded the mayoral campaign of the indicted Daniel Salinas. It’s one of many cities, towns and villages across the state that requires no disclosure of campaign donations and expenditures. Continue Reading
Heinrich, Balderas oppose Citizens United decision
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Martin Heinrich calls the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision ‘a slap in the face to average Americans;’ Hector Balderas says corporations ‘don’t deserve to have such an outsized influence over our election process.’ Continue Reading
Wilson, Sowards talk about money in politics
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Heather Wilson says candidates should be “directly responsible and accountable for their campaigns” but supports allowing super PACs “until they are banned for everyone,” while Greg Sowards opposes restrictions on political spending. Continue Reading
Dem CD1 candidates oppose Citizens United
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All three Democratic candidates for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District seat in Congress support overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which tossed out limits on political spending by corporations and unions. Continue Reading
GOP CD1 hopefuls disagree about Citizens United
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Janice Arnold-Jones says the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which tossed out limits on political spending by corporations and unions, has been “detrimental to our electoral system,” while Gary Smith opposes efforts to overturn the court’s decision. Continue Reading
Retiring senators talk about ethics and transparency
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VIDEO: Retiring state Sens. Mark Boitano and Dede Feldman reflected this week on their efforts to pass ethics and transparency legislation during their tenures and other topics during an interview with New Mexico In Focus. Click on the headline to watch. Continue Reading
Jennings’ actions prove need for ethics commission
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The Senate president pro tem has inappropriately used government resources to campaign twice in the last week. I wish the Legislature and governor would wake up to the fact that an independent ethics board is needed to address such conduct. Continue Reading