NMI liveblog transcript from N.M. Senate Rules Committee

NMI was webcasting live from the Senate Rules Committee again today as part of our ongoing coverage of ethics reform. Many ethics reform bills have been introduced so far this session, and several are still waiting in Rules. Unfortunately, no ethics bills were discussed today, but several important elections bills were heard. Read the transcript for details.

<a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&#038;task=viewaltcast&#038;altcast_code=a9fdf932c7″ mce_href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=a9fdf932c7″ >Senate Rules Committee 3-6-09</a>

Thank you to videographers/bloggers Mark Bralley of What’s Wrong With This Picture and Ched MacQuigg of Diogenes’ Six for providing the fine video stream today. And be sure to check out Bralley’s take on ethics reform, along with lots of great photos from the committee, here. On Thursday, Gov. Bill Richardson again urged legislators to work on ethics reform. He applauded the Senate Rules Committee for moving forward with limits on campaign contributions but complained that the bill’s reforms, as worked out by the committee, wouldn’t take effect until 2011 and would sunset — or disappear — two years later. He also said he wanted these seven reforms, in particular, to happen this year:

• Set contribution limits for candidates and PACs.
• Establish an independent ethics commission.
• Prohibit campaign contributions from corporations, contractors and lobbyists.
• Require contractor registration and information disclosure.
• Establish public financing for statewide candidates.
• Establish stricter and more frequent campaign reporting.
• Set legislator-to-lobbyists rules.

Several bills that would establish an independent ethics commission are still being considered by the Senate Rules Committee, which is working toward a compromise between them, called a committee substitute.