NEW MEXICO WILL SOON HAVE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION. GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM ON THURSDAY SIGNED A BILL CREATING AN ETHICS PANEL THAT WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY LAST YEAR.
THE MEASURE THE GOVERNOR SIGNED WASN’T APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE UNTIL THE FINAL DAY OF THE SESSION. THE COMMISSION WILL INVESTIGATE CLAIMS OF WRONGDOING BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, LOBBYISTS AND STATE EMPLOYEES. IT WILL START HEARING COMPLAINTS NEXT JANUARY.
