[LWVNM Action] New Mexico Deserves a paid legislature

[Barbara Calef]

Good letter, Dick.

Barbara

On Wed, Sep 16, 2026 at 6:59 PM Richard Mason via Action <
action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> My View Richard Mason – Santa Fe New Mexican
> New Mexico deserves a salaried Legislature
>
> September 12, 2026
>
> As a longtime advocate at the New Mexico Legislature, I urge New Mexico
> voters to vote yes on Constitutional Amendment 4: legislative salaries.
>
> In my 22 years as a volunteer advocate, I have had ongoing interaction
> with New Mexico legislators and have come to appreciate that being a New
> Mexico legislator involves far more than participating in the 30-day and
> 60-day sessions. Here is what else it involves.
>
> Attending interim committees: Starting in May or June of each year, the
> legislators have to attend interim committee meetings. Usually, four
> meetings for each committee and each legislator is assigned at least two
> committees. They are held at various locations throughout the state. That
> time commitment is even greater for those legislators who are members of
> the interim Legislative Finance Committee or the interim Legislative
> Education Study Committee.
>
> Then there is time spent on capital outlay. Each legislator gets capital
> outlay money to allocate to government entities in their districts for
> projects. Legislators have to meet with local and county governments to
> identify and prioritize needs. They also provide oversight to be sure the
> outlay project is being properly implemented;
> government results and opportunity money (GRO)— in the last seven years,
> each legislator gets money for special smaller projects. This money needs
> to go through a government entity but can be directed towards community
> groups. The legislator needs to meet with groups to identify and prioritize
> needs:
>
> Serving constituents — meeting with constituents, answering
> questionnaires, doing community forums and helping constituents on issues;
> developing legislation — working with Legislative Council Service and
> community members to draft legislation.
>
> Furthermore, providing legislative salaries would broaden the number of
> people who could run for office. Given the workload noted above, it is
> difficult for people to run for the Legislature who are not retired, do not
> have a job that allows them flexibility or who has an employer that allows
> them considerable time off. The latter factor also could lead to conflict
> of interest.
>
> For all those reasons I urge voters to vote “yes” on Constitutional
> Amendment 4 in the fall election.
>
> *Richard Mason is a volunteer advocate for health care reform, good
> government and fair taxation.*
>
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