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Santa Fe – Last night a KRQE Channel 13 news story by anchor Michael Herzenberg, who was on special assignment at the Roundhouse, revealed several New Mexico Democrat legislators solicited contributions on www.ActBlue.com during the legislative session.  In addition, Rep. Jeff Steinborn, District 37, and Rep. Ben Rodefer, District 23, were soliciting on their own.  New Mexico law prohibits the solicitation of contributions for a political purpose during any regular or special legislative session.  

 

Prior to the current legislative session, each legislator in the New Mexico House and Senate received a letter of warning from Secretary of State Mary Herrera dated October 16, 2009.  The first lines of Herrera’s letter reads, “Please be reminded that pursuant to Section 1-19-34.1 of New Mexico Statutes Annotated, it is unlawful for legislators to knowingly solicit contributions for a political purpose during any regular or special legislative session.”  A copy of the letter is attached.

 

In Herzenberg’s report, Sec. of State Herrera was quoted as saying of the rule-breakers, “They will have to explain to me why they were on this web site soliciting funds.” 

 

“The law is clear and this fundraising abuse is a blatant disregard for the law,” said Republican House Leader Tom Taylor.  “It is shocking that the legislators who were caught abusing this law were members of leadership.  For the most part, it was not rookies who made the mistake, it was legislators who chair committees, help govern their party, and certainly know better.”

 

“This latest offense is unfortunately one more incident in a long tradition of Democrat legislators in New Mexico abusing the law.  It is unfortunate that these legislators cannot be trusted to adhere to basic laws regarding financing, especially after all of their talk this session about ethical behavior.” said Republican Whip Keith Gardner.  

 

The list of legislators who posted campaign contributions include the eight legislators listed below.  No Republican legislators were found to have violated the fundraising law. 

 

House Speaker Ben Lujan, District 46

House Majority Leader, Ken Martinez, District 69

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Cisco McSorley, District 16

Senator Michael Sanchez, District 29 

House Appropriations and Finance Chair Henry “Kiki” Savedra, District 10

House Representative Jeff Steinborn, District 37

House Deputy Chair of Appropriations and Finance Luciano “Lucky” Varela, District 49

House Judiciary Committee Chair Al Park, District 26