[LWVNM Action] New Mexico Deserves a paid legislature

[Paul Stokes]

Thank you, Dick.  This by far the best explanation I have seen about why legislators shiould be paid.  It needs to be seen by the public.  You have probably already thought about an editorial in the newspaper.

Paul

> On Sep 17, 2026, at 12:32 PM, Richard Mason via Action <action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
> 
> Yes, in the New Mexican
> 
> On Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 10:00:27 AM MDT, LWVNM Action <action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
> 
> V. Good letter. Did this get published? Im travelling, not watching the Journal.
> 
> Nandini 
> Nandini Pillai Kuehn
> 1-505-270-4574
> 
> On Wed, Sep 16, 2026, 5:59 PM Richard Mason via Action <action at mailman.swcp.com <mailto: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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