NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF JUST A FEW STATES WITHOUT AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION…BUT THAT MAY BE CHANGING. AN ETHICS COMMISSION IS A STEP CLOSER TO REALITY. A BILL CREATING A PANEL TO LOOK INTO COMPLAINTS AGAINST STATE OFFICIALS IS NOW HEADED TO THE SENATE FLOOR AFTER WINNING APPROVAL IN THE RULES COMMITTEE.
IF GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE ISSUE WOULD GO BEFORE NEW MEXICO VOTERS IN 2018.
IN RECENT YEARS, EFFORTS TO CREATE AN ETHICS COMMISSION HAVE BEEN BLOCKED IN COMMITTEE IN SANTA FE.
