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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.
Money. It’s been called the mother’s milk of politics. But House Bill 118 aims to stop lobbyists and special interests from making contributions or bundling contributions to state candidates.
Common Cause and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops are behind the measure, and no doubt representatives from both groups will be present on Thursday morning when the measure gets its first hearing in the House Voters and Elections Committee.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Jose Campos, and is getting heavy support from Think New Mexico. On Wednesday, Director Fred Nathan told The Independent that the goal of the bill is to lessen the influence of lobbyists and special interests in the state. On top of banning bundled contributions, the bill would require all political organizations, including nonprofits, to disclose where they get their money.
“Basically, [that's] anyone with a conflict of interest,” Nathan said.
Attempts to curb the influence of lobbyists and special interests are nothing new. Opponents argue such measures are an attack on free speech.
But that’s an argument Nathan said the courts aren’t buying.
He pointed to seven states with similar bills curbing donations from lobbyists and seven with laws governing contributions from special interests. Nathan said in those cases, courts have found the laws are narrowly tailored to fight corruption and have been allowed to stand.
Nevertheless, he knows there will be a fight.
“Naturally, whenever the subject of ethics comes up it is instantaneously controversial,” Nathan said, adding “It will be a fight all the way through.”
But the bill has only been assigned to two House committees, meaning it has relatively few hurdles to clear, and it has been and bolstered by support from Governor Richardson.
