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.
In what she described as a “first step” towards greater state government transparency, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish earlier this week unveiled a new government Web site designed to show all government contracts over $20,000. The site is scheduled to launch today.
“With the technology that is available to people in this country and in New Mexico, I don’t believe that there is any reason that we should not be able to provide as much openness and transparency and information as possible,” Denish said at a press conference Wednesday morning.
“This Web site will allow the public to see every contract of $20,000 and more. Importantly, it will allow you to see [multiple] purchases with one vendor that total $20,000 as well,” she said.
The Web site shows government contracts for the 2009 fiscal year, but contracts for fiscal year 2010 will be available on the Web site after they are finalized, Denish said.
The site represents what Denish called a “first step in moving to that full sunshine portal” which would provide more detail than the current Web site does. This could include putting versions of government contracts online, according to project coordinator Karen Baltzley.
The Web site was created after the passage of HB 546 in the 2009 regular session. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Al Park, passed with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.
