Comments on: Richardson announces ethics reform proposals http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals New Mexico news and politics Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Harold Hill http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-23058 Harold Hill Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:57:30 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-23058 Bah, more humbug. <br><br>Note that one of the provisions of the bill to establish a NM Ethics Commission includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential. Section 16 of the proposed bill states: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both” - which is a prohibition that's broader than the laws governing grand jury secrecy. Also under the proposed reform legislation incumbents who are candidates for re-election are totally immune from any action by the commission until after the election and their possible re-election. <br><br>See <a href="http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/roundhouse-roundup-protecting.html" rel="nofollow">http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/r...</a> and <a href="http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analysis-proposed-ethics-reforms-give-politicians-unprecedent-protection-from-public-scrutiny/" rel="nofollow">http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analys...</a> Bah, more humbug.

Note that one of the provisions of the bill to establish a NM Ethics Commission includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential. Section 16 of the proposed bill states: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both” – which is a prohibition that's broader than the laws governing grand jury secrecy. Also under the proposed reform legislation incumbents who are candidates for re-election are totally immune from any action by the commission until after the election and their possible re-election.

See http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/r… and http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analys…

]]> By: GimmieAMilk http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-23059 GimmieAMilk Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:38:36 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-23059 Richardson wants ethics reform? Really? We're going to legislate ethics from public officials? Denish is "leading" on ethics reform? Really? How about we legislate how we go to the restroom too? Richardson wants ethics reform? Really? We're going to legislate ethics from public officials? Denish is “leading” on ethics reform? Really? How about we legislate how we go to the restroom too?

]]> By: commando73 http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-23060 commando73 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:37:09 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-23060 This plan, like Denish's, suffers from the same problem. Any statutory program will have limited or no authority over other constitutional offices. Misconduct or complaints against the Treasurer, Secretary of State, etc., will still ultimately have to go to the Attorney General. Because we do not have an initiative process, getting ethics reform into the State Constitution can only come through the Legislature. Clearly they have not been and are not inclined to cede ethics oversight to the public in any meaningful way. This just adds another level of delay compared with filing a complaint directly with the AG. This plan, like Denish's, suffers from the same problem. Any statutory program will have limited or no authority over other constitutional offices. Misconduct or complaints against the Treasurer, Secretary of State, etc., will still ultimately have to go to the Attorney General. Because we do not have an initiative process, getting ethics reform into the State Constitution can only come through the Legislature. Clearly they have not been and are not inclined to cede ethics oversight to the public in any meaningful way. This just adds another level of delay compared with filing a complaint directly with the AG.

]]> By: ray6789 http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-23061 ray6789 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:23:28 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-23061 So the LEGISLATURE, you know that government body with LEGISLATIVE, fails time and time again to pass LEGISLATION and it's the Governor's fault? <br>Way to let them off the hook. The reason that meaningful ethics bills never make it out of the legislature is because frankly they don't them to and since the media doesn't hold them accountable for it, why should they? So the LEGISLATURE, you know that government body with LEGISLATIVE, fails time and time again to pass LEGISLATION and it's the Governor's fault?
Way to let them off the hook. The reason that meaningful ethics bills never make it out of the legislature is because frankly they don't them to and since the media doesn't hold them accountable for it, why should they?

]]> By: Harold Hill http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-18322 Harold Hill Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:57:30 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-18322 Bah, more humbug. <br><br>Note that one of the provisions of the bill to establish a NM Ethics Commission includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential. Section 16 of the proposed bill states: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both” - which is a prohibition that's broader than the laws governing grand jury secrecy. Also under the proposed reform legislation incumbents who are candidates for re-election are totally immune from any action by the commission until after the election and their possible re-election. <br><br>See <a href="http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/roundhouse-roundup-protecting.html" rel="nofollow">http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/r...</a> and <a href="http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analysis-proposed-ethics-reforms-give-politicians-unprecedent-protection-from-public-scrutiny/" rel="nofollow">http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analys...</a> Bah, more humbug.

Note that one of the provisions of the bill to establish a NM Ethics Commission includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential. Section 16 of the proposed bill states: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both” – which is a prohibition that's broader than the laws governing grand jury secrecy. Also under the proposed reform legislation incumbents who are candidates for re-election are totally immune from any action by the commission until after the election and their possible re-election.

See http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/r… and http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analys…

]]> By: Harold Hill http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-13826 Harold Hill Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:57:30 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-13826 Bah, more humbug. <br><br>Note that one of the provisions of the bill to establish a NM Ethics Commission includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential. Section 16 of the proposed bill states: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both” - which is a prohibition that's broader than the laws governing grand jury secrecy. Also under the proposed reform legislation incumbents who are candidates for re-election are totally immune from any action by the commission until after the election and their possible re-election. <br><br>See <a href="http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/roundhouse-roundup-protecting.html" rel="nofollow">http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/r...</a> and <a href="http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analysis-proposed-ethics-reforms-give-politicians-unprecedent-protection-from-public-scrutiny/" rel="nofollow">http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analys...</a> Bah, more humbug.

Note that one of the provisions of the bill to establish a NM Ethics Commission includes a provision intended to keep all material related to an investigation confidential. Section 16 of the proposed bill states: “A person who discloses any confidential complaint, report, file, record or communication in violation of the State Ethics Commission Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both” – which is a prohibition that's broader than the laws governing grand jury secrecy. Also under the proposed reform legislation incumbents who are candidates for re-election are totally immune from any action by the commission until after the election and their possible re-election.

See http://roundhouseroundup.blogspot.com/2009/12/r… and http://newmexico.watchdog.org/2009/12/10/analys…

]]> By: GimmieAMilk http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-13817 GimmieAMilk Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:38:36 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-13817 Richardson wants ethics reform? Really? We're going to legislate ethics from public officials? Denish is "leading" on ethics reform? Really? How about we legislate how we go to the restroom too? Richardson wants ethics reform? Really? We're going to legislate ethics from public officials? Denish is “leading” on ethics reform? Really? How about we legislate how we go to the restroom too?

]]> By: commando73 http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-13814 commando73 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:37:09 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-13814 This plan, like Denish's, suffers from the same problem. Any statutory program will have limited or no authority over other constitutional offices. Misconduct or complaints against the Treasurer, Secretary of State, etc., will still ultimately have to go to the Attorney General. Because we do not have an initiative process, getting ethics reform into the State Constitution can only come through the Legislature. Clearly they have not been and are not inclined to cede ethics oversight to the public in any meaningful way. This just adds another level of delay compared with filing a complaint directly with the AG. This plan, like Denish's, suffers from the same problem. Any statutory program will have limited or no authority over other constitutional offices. Misconduct or complaints against the Treasurer, Secretary of State, etc., will still ultimately have to go to the Attorney General. Because we do not have an initiative process, getting ethics reform into the State Constitution can only come through the Legislature. Clearly they have not been and are not inclined to cede ethics oversight to the public in any meaningful way. This just adds another level of delay compared with filing a complaint directly with the AG.

]]> By: ray6789 http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-13808 ray6789 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:23:28 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-13808 So the LEGISLATURE, you know that government body with LEGISLATIVE, fails time and time again to pass LEGISLATION and it's the Governor's fault? <br>Way to let them off the hook. The reason that meaningful ethics bills never make it out of the legislature is because frankly they don't them to and since the media doesn't hold them accountable for it, why should they? So the LEGISLATURE, you know that government body with LEGISLATIVE, fails time and time again to pass LEGISLATION and it's the Governor's fault?
Way to let them off the hook. The reason that meaningful ethics bills never make it out of the legislature is because frankly they don't them to and since the media doesn't hold them accountable for it, why should they?

]]> By: Nestor152 http://newmexicoindependent.com/43319/richardson-announces-ethics-reform-proposals#comment-13786 Nestor152 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:26:18 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=43319#comment-13786 So how many is a few? I've lost track of the number of the scandals that the governor's political campaign contributors, friends and members of his administration have been involved in so far. So how many is a few? I've lost track of the number of the scandals that the governor's political campaign contributors, friends and members of his administration have been involved in so far.

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