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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Gov. Richardson Releases Proposed Ethics Reform Package
Here's a pdf of the press release. Gov. Bill Richardson will be pushing for legislation in January in the following areas:
- Establish an independent ethics commission
- Limits on gifts
- Set campaign contribution limits
- “Clean Elections” public financing
- Better campaign reporting
- Amend Governmental Conduct Act
As always, the devil will be in the details, a few of which are provided in the press release. I haven't looked at the proposals much but what jumps out at me initially is that public financing for candidates beyond the currently applicable PRC races will be extended only to contested judicial contests. I find that very disappointing since reform activists have been pushing for voluntary public financing for all candidates in all races. It's certainly important to get special interest money out of judicial races, but I think that special interest money is much more suspect in other more competitive races.
No gifts over $250 would be allowed generally, with a $100 limit during legislative sessions. Campaign contribution limits would be $2,100 per individual, per election in statewide races, with $1,050 limits for PRC and District races, and a ban on cash of more than $100 from one person.
An independent ethics commission would have "strong powers to investigate and discipline, including the ability to fine, censure, and reprimand public officials, state employees, lobbyists, contractors and officials." I don't know if that would include the power of subpoena witnesses.
Check out the press release and feel free to leave your comments on the Governor's proposals. I'm not sure how they match what his task force on ethics and campaign finance recommended, but I'll be looking at that soon.
December 20, 2006 at 04:56 PM in Ethics & Campaign Reform | Permalink
Comments
The proposed package from the governor actually tracks pretty well with the task force recommendations in the areas of gift restrictions, limits on campaign contributions, reporting and the development of an independent ethics commission. The package does not go quite as far on the public financing front, but this is where advocates can take the ball and make a much bigger push. Bringing public financing to judicial races would be no small accomplishment. There is an alarming trend moving across the country in which national big monied special interests are spending millions to influence state appellate court races. We need to stop this before it starts in NM.
Overall, this is a solid package. As I stated earlier, though, we will need to push hard on the public financing front.
Posted by: | Dec 20, 2006 5:09:44 PM
Always good to get the response of the man from Common Cause NM! Satisfying to hear you think it's mostly an excellent package.
Posted by: > | Dec 20, 2006 5:13:57 PM
Wonder if Richardson's package will include some ethics reform for hiring practices for Governors???
Posted by: VP | Dec 21, 2006 7:33:52 AM
I think I remember the task force also recommended that the state auditor and treasurer be appointed and that we pay legislators a salary and these aren't in the governor's package. Does anyone know where we can see a copy of the task force report?
We have to be ready to push hard for Richardson's package if we want it to pass. Many legislators don't want to give up the gravy train and I think they will do anything they can to kill this. We should track and publicize the names of those who won't support this and shame them in public.
Posted by: I Vote | Dec 21, 2006 10:43:03 AM
Hey I Vote. You can link to the full report from the center column of our web page: www.commoncause.org/nm.
Posted by: | Dec 21, 2006 10:48:16 AM
Don't complain that this isn't the whole thing at once -- maybe it should be broken up even more. You don't want the whole thing to go down because there is a problem with part of it. Conversely, more pieces of legislation means more overhead to get it through all the steps to passage.
Posted by: Michelle Meaders | Dec 22, 2006 1:09:02 PM
"this isn't the whole thing at once" WHY NOT, either Richardson is serious about ETHICS or not, the fact that he wants change speaks volumes about the lack Ethics we all know exists but some refuse to acknowledge. IMO Richardson should "SH**" or get off the pot, if we have legislators who would vote against cleaning up the corrupt way they do business then let them reveal themselves. After 6 years of the CORRUPTION we have seen in Washington, this would be a great opportunity for our State Government to set an example that the Fed Government could emulate.
Posted by: VP- | Dec 23, 2006 9:03:10 AM
