New Mexico State Senator William Sharer said that the New Mexico Senate rejected a bipartisan amendment requiring lawmakers to disclose monetary payments to increase public transparency. "Twenty-five Democrats voted against it," he said in an email on February 12.
"NASCAR drivers wear patches to show the world who sponsors them," said Sharer. "It makes perfect sense that New Mexico residents know."
Senate Bill 85, currently under consideration in the New Mexico Legislature, seeks to mandate elected officials to disclose all monetary payments received. The bill aims to inform the public about potential financial influences on lawmakers by mandating annual reporting of such payments. Sharer asserted that this measure would enhance accountability in government.
Several states have stricter financial disclosure laws than New Mexico, requiring elected officials to report income, gifts, and financial ties to prevent conflicts of interest and unethical influence. California’s Fair Political Practices Act enforces comprehensive financial disclosures to promote government accountability and transparency. These regulations help prevent corruption by ensuring that public officials disclose potential financial influences that could impact their decision-making, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).
The U.S. Department of Justice reported that former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison for leading a $60 million racketeering conspiracy related to a nuclear plant bailout. Prosecutors demonstrated that Householder used dark money groups to conceal bribes funding his political campaigns, personal expenses, and efforts to block a ballot initiative against the legislation. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office described it as one of the largest public corruption cases in Ohio history.
According to the New Mexico Senate Republicans, Senator Sharer, a New Mexico native and former U.S. Army officer, has represented Farmington and surrounding areas in the State Senate since 2001 while also running successful local businesses.
