Contact: Erika Martinez
(505) 986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2014
Senate Majority Whip Tim Keller Chosen as Finalist for National ‘New Ideas Challenge’
Santa Fe, NM — Senator Tim Keller (D-26-Bernalillo) was chosen from a competitive field as a finalist for the New Ideas Challenge, for his ideas to bring transparency and accountability to tax expenditures (incentives, dedications, exemptions, loopholes etc.) in the tax code, by requiring annual return on investment (ROI) and jobs created reporting. Two honorary chairs of the national selection organization, Developing Exceptional American Leaders (NewDEAL), Governor Martin O’Malley and Governor Jack Markell, announced the finalists this week.
Sen. Keller was chosen as one of 16 elected official finalists out of a total of 60 applicants by an esteemed panel of judges who are thought leaders in the policy arena. The winner will be announced in December. “I am honored to be a nominee for the New Ideas Challenge and look forward to championing this idea both in the legislature and the State Auditor’s Office,” said Sen. Keller. “My idea assures that our focus is on impactful programs that move the needle for economic development and that funds can be saved by sunsetting non-value added programs, while wasteful, redundant and out of date programs are shifted to higher return on investment areas.”
This is the first ever New Ideas Challenge sponsored by the Developing Exceptional American Leaders (NewDEAL) organization, and was developed to give recognition to smart, reasonable solutions that are being developed and tested by state and local leaders across the country. At a time of national gridlock, this network of leaders is offering applied solutions from the front lines of government.
More information about the NewDEAL can be found at www.newdealleaders.org.
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