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Transparency Victories for New Mexico Citizens

Santa Fe – Today HR3, which provides for the posting of roll call votes on the New Mexico State Legislature’s official web site, and HR1, which officially allows for the webcasting of The House Floor, passed the New Mexico State House without opposition.

Roll call votes include all the votes taken on the House Floor.  The House rules stipulate that changes to the rules become effective the following day they are made.  Posting of the roll call votes is expected to begin next week.  Votes are to be posted within twenty-four hours of the last vote being cast. 

“While past attempts to post roll call votes on the web as a matter of procedure were met with opposition from Democrat state representatives, it is important to note that it could not have become a reality today without their votes,” said Rep. Zachary J. Cook (Lincoln, Otero) who implemented the changes.  “I commend my colleagues for embracing greater transparency in the legislative process and working across the aisle to make sure that it becomes a reality.”

“The passing of HR3 and HR1 reflects years of hard work on behalf of greater transparency,” said Republican Whip Keith Gardner (Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Roosevelt).  “This is a victory for New Mexicans and the democratic process.”

HR1 follows Rep. Janice Arnold Jones’s (Bernalillo) successful effort in the previous 60 day session to set up webcasting in committee hearings.

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