[LWVNM Action] New Mexico needs a modernized Legislature - LWVSNM

[Ann LePage]

No bill number yet?

Ann

On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 1:00 PM Richard Mason via Action <
action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

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> https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/opinion/editorial/2023/01/13/new-mexico-needs-a-modernized-legislature/69802908007/
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> *New Mexico needs a modernized Legislature*
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> *Kathy Brook and Eileen VanWie*
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> Co-Presidents, League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico
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> View Comments
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> As the 2023 session of the New Mexico legislature begins, actions to
> “modernize” the state’s law-making body will likely be considered.
> Discussions about modernization occur in the context of a state whose
> population has grown by a factor of more than six since statehood, giving
> individual members of the House and Senate constituencies of 30,000 and
> 50,000 respectively.  Additionally, New Mexico remains geographically large
> and demographically diverse.  The Legislature needs to address complex
> challenges, including poverty, economic diversification, disposal of
> nuclear waste, and limited access to health care and internet services.
> The League of Women Voters and other civic organizations support
> lengthening the sessions, hiring permanent year-round staff, and creating
> salaries for members.
>
> Currently New Mexico’s sessions are among the three shortest in the
> country (alternating between 60 days in odd-numbered years and 30 days in
> even-numbered years).  The scope of the short session is limited to the
> budget and topics specified by the governor.  Proposed changes involve
> expanding, at least the short session, to allow more time for bills to be
> studied and debated with consideration of a greater range of topics.
> Hopefully a longer session would also discourage delaying tactics of
> “running out the clock,” leaving bills to die at the end of the session.
>
> Now the legislature’s work is supported by a permanent staff of about 168
> (about 1.5 per legislator) and most legislators do not have dedicated
> staff.  Having access to more staff throughout the year would assist
> legislators in researching and analyzing bills. Staff can also aid in
> providing improved oversight of executive agencies. Having more staff would
> also decrease legislators’ reliance on paid lobbyists for information on
> bills and would better serve constituents.
>
> A third area of modernization involves paying legislative salaries, as is
> done in the other 49 states.  New Mexico legislators do receive mileage and
> per diem payments to attend sessions and interim committee meetings, but
> lack of salary seriously limits the ability of a large part of the
> population to serve in the Roundhouse.  Those financially most able to
> serve are retired (with various kinds of pensions), independently wealthy,
> or self-employed in businesses that can be more easily combined with
> legislative work.  Younger people, essential workers, those with young
> children, and those with full-time jobs find service in the legislature to
> be far more difficult.  If there is a decision to pay salaries, the level
> of salary can be set in a variety of ways, including by an independent
> body.  Representative Angelica Rubio and others plan to introduce a bill
> creating a legislative salary commission.
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> If the legislature approves changes in the length of sessions and
> legislative compensation, those issues will be put before the voters as
> Constitutional amendments.  Increased staffing may be approved by the
> legislature.  A modernized legislature would enhance the capacity of the
> legislators to perform their role in the policy-making process.  The League
> of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico encourages you to contact your
> legislators to support bills that improve fairness to legislators and the
> functioning of the legislative body.
>
>
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