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

[Barbara Calef]

Ann,

HJR 2 would change the legislative sessions.  The joint resolution for
paying salaries to the legislators has not been filed yet.  I have not seen
a bill for paid staff, either.

Barbara

On Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 8:53 AM Ann LePage via Action <
action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> No bill number yet?
>
> Ann
>
> On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 1:00 PM Richard Mason via Action <
> action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/opinion/editorial/2023/01/13/new-mexico-needs-a-modernized-legislature/69802908007/
>>
>> *New Mexico needs a modernized Legislature*
>>
>>
>>
>> *Kathy Brook and Eileen VanWie*
>>
>> Co-Presidents, League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico
>>
>> View Comments
>>
>>
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> 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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>>
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