I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Another good-government advocate is weighing in on a potential silver lining coming out of Gov. Bill Richardson’s decision to withdraw his nomination to be the nation’s next commerce secretary and remain as governor instead.
Matt Brix, policy director for the Center for Civic Policy, tells the Independent he’s hopeful that the ongoing federal investigation into how CDR Financial Products won more than $1.4 million in state contracts could lead to new momentum for enacting ethics reform legislation in New Mexico.
“I certainly hope the Legislature will see fit to approve much-needed ethics reforms like contribution limits, an independent ethics commission and an expansion of public financing,” Brix wrote in an e-mail to NMI. “After all, New Mexico is one of the last remaining states without contribution limits and independent oversight of both the executive and legislative branches.”
Brix has lobbied for both in recent years, only to come up empty despite strong public support. Asked why he thinks New Mexico politicians have been resistant to basic reforms like contribution limits — or even a more ambitious system of public financing of campaigns — as a way to assure a cynical public that big moneyed interests don’t always control the political process, Brix gave the following explanation:
It’s been difficult because ethics reform is fundamentally about changing the rules of the game. Well-positioned elected leaders have not been interested in changing the rules of the game over the last several legislative sessions. Advocates have had a particularly difficult time advancing reforms like contribution limits, an independent ethics commission and public financing in the Senate.
