FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 10, 2019
Contact: Yvette Perez (505)986-4882
PAIR OF SENATE BILLS IMPROVING STATE’S CAMPAIGN FINANCE SYSTEM ABOUT TO BECOME LAW IN NEW MEXICO
LEGISLATION LEVELS PLAYING FIELD FOR PUBLICLY FINANCED CANDIDATES & REQUIRES MORE DISCLOSURE BY DARK MONEY ORGANIZATIONS
Santa Fe, NM–Two important campaign finance reform bills have passed the Senate and House and are now on track to become law.
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth led the charge on Senate bills 3 and 4 and is a longtime champion of reforming New Mexico’s campaign finance system. SB 4 passed the Senate 34-1 earlier this session and passed the House in a unanimous vote on Saturday. The bill makes changes to the state’s Voter Action Act, which provides for public financing for statewide judicial candidates and candidates for the PRC. It is very similar to Senator Wirth’s SB97 from 2017 that easily passed the Senate and House, but was vetoed by then-Governor Susana Martinez. Today the Senate concurred with the amended bill that came back from the House, and it now goes to Governor Lujan Grisham for her signature.
Senate Bill 4 has also been a priority for Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver in this legislative session. “People from all backgrounds and walks of life should have the ability to run for public office, not just the wealthy and well-connected,” said Toulouse Oliver after the measure passed the House. “The passage of Senate Bill 4 by the New Mexico House of Representatives is a great step toward a better and better-funded public financing system for elections which will give more ordinary New Mexicans the ability to serve their communities.”
Senate bill 3, also sponsored by Senator Wirth, brings much-needed transparency, and clarity, to campaign spending by shining a light on dark money sources. Currently, individual donations to political candidates have to be reported publicly, while contributions from organizations do not always have to be disclosed. SB3 would correct this loophole and adjust the limits on the size of campaign contributions. It would also strengthen, and put into statute, rules put into place by the Secretary of State.
For information, visit:
https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?Chamber=S&LegType=B&LegNo=4&year=19
https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?Chamber=S&LegType=B&LegNo=3&year=19
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