Bills flounder on both transparency, secrecy in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. — Residents of New Mexico may be none the wiser when it comes to information about independent political expenditures and everyday spending by lobbyists after key transparency measures were vetoed by Gov. Susana Martinez. At the same time, a long list of anti-transparency initiatives designed to restrict access to government information floundered during this year’s 60 day legislative session.
“Nothing passed that would undermine the public’s access to public records and public meetings,” said Peter St. Cyr, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and a former investigative reporter.
The defeat of a proposal to make more information available about so-called dark money political donations drew broad criticism, with backers including prominent Democrats and local and national policy groups expressing disappointment.
The initiative from Republican Rep. James Smith and Democratic Senate majority leader Peter Wirth would have created rules for disclosing contributions to political committees that do not coordinate directly with candidates. The bill responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United case that opened the door for corporations and unions to make unlimited independent expenditures in elections.
Read more: https://www.abqjournal.com/985702/bills-flounder-on-both-transparency-secrecy-in-new-mexico.html