Community Groups Seeking True Representative Government – Advance Path to a Paid Legislature
JOIN THE
MODERNIZATION
MOVEMENT! – We deserve an effective, responsive, and reflective state legislature with adequate resources to serve the people of New Mexico.
Organization Press Release – Coalition of Organizations (list of groups at end of press release).
Continuing the path to a paid legislature via a constitutional amendment
Albuquerque – With a 60-day session of the New Mexico legislature beginning in Santa Fe
yesterday, a coalition of community groups from across the state is poised to advocate for a more representative Roundhouse — one which will provide salaries to legislators.
Senate Joint Resolution 1 (SJR1) was read in and will start the process as soon as this week.
As ratified in 1912, New Mexico’s state constitution currently prohibits state legislators from
collecting compensation for their service in office. Changing this would require the legislature to advance a constitutional amendment lifting that restriction, which would then go on the ballot for the voters to decide. This is precisely what the coalition of organizations focused on modernization hopes to accomplish this session.
New Mexico is the only state that does not pay its legislators a salary, instead offering only a
modest per diem and travel stipends for regular 30-day and 60-day sessions in alternating years — and any number of additional special sessions that the governor may call. This has real
consequences on who decides to run for office and who can continue to serve.
After the election last fall, the NM legislature now has, for the first time, more women than men serving in the Roundhouse.
While this shift in the gender makeup of legislators is encouraging to representative democracy advocates, the fact remains that in recent years several women in the legislature have been compelled to resign.
They simply did not have the time or the financial resources to continue. Advocates say these pressures create a lost opportunity for these duly-elected legislators and their constituents and an opportunity denied for many others who are preemptively excluded from running for office for these same reasons.
For these dedicated community groups, a paid legislature is foundational in a democracy more reflective of and responsive to the complex needs of New Mexico’s diverse communities.
The coalition points to New Mexico legislator workloads and responsibilities which have grown by leaps and bounds since statehood.
The state population has increased by 50% over the past 50 years, and the state budget has doubled in less than two decades. Policy issues are becoming more complex, and finding the right solution for New Mexico requires the undivided, year-round attention of New Mexicans from all walks of life.
The coalition argues that the state needs to open service in the legislature to those with
experience and expertise in healthcare, natural resources, education, law, technology, and beyond.
Additionally, the coalition emphasizes that this pool of talented potential legislators should not be limited to only the well-off and well-connected nor should service be postponed into after
retirement from careers in these industries.
While institutional change may be difficult, advocates for legislative modernization say this
change is essential to move the state forward.
“New Mexicans deserve a legislature that is truly representative of their communities and their
values.” says Molly Swank, Executive Director of Common Cause New Mexico, the
democracy-focused, nonpartisan organization that is leading the effort for a paid legislature.
“Without provision for legislative salaries, only the rich, retired or the very resourceful are able to serve because only they have the financial position and the time to do so. An unpaid legislature excludes many New Mexicans with the desire, drive, and expertise to serve. This has to change.”
Should this legislation pass and the constitutional amendment approved by voters, plans for
determining fair compensation for the NM legislature includes the convening of an independent commission to study and propose salaries for sitting legislators.
“Legislators’ actions and decisions year round impact everyone, especially those from the most
underserved and vulnerable communities, including immigrants and refugees,” adds Huong
Nguyen, Director of Community Engagement with the NM Asian Family Center.
“We support … the establishment of an independent salary commission that will determine and set salaries for legislators. We need our legislators to be compensated for their hard work, and to be more representative of our community needs, strength, and voices.”
Sila Avcil, Executive Director of NM Voters First, says, “We support modernizing the NM legislature because serving in public office should be accessible to all. Modernization would create fair access to serve for all NM communities. We need to join the 49 states who pay their legislators some form of salary. We need more responsive elected officials who are more representative of their constituents, New Mexicans deserve it.”
“As environmentalists, we understand that we cannot have a healthy planet without a healthy
democracy. That’s why Conservation Voters New Mexico is standing shoulder to shoulder with
advocacy groups across the state to pass a bill this 60-day session that ends prohibition on
legislator salaries. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we pass laws at the state-level that protect our air, land, water and way of life as New Mexicans. We must lower the financial barriers to public service that have excluded people from Roundhouse for far too long. Paying our legislators is a foundational step to building a Legislature that better reflects the concerns and commitments of New Mexico’s diverse communities.” says John Martinez, Director of Campaigns & Civic Engagement at Conservation Voters New Mexico.
“Having a legislature that truly reflects our communities would mean better solutions to problems New Mexico families are facing everyday. Being the last state that does not pay our legislators means that serving in public office at the Roundhouse is out of reach for so many people who could bring a wealth of knowledge and lived experience to lawmaking. We are proud to be a part of this coalition pushing to update our outdated legislature and look forward to positive changes this legislation will bring to New Mexico,” said Abraham Sanchez, Inclusive Democracy Project Director at the Center for Civic Policy.
The coalition will be hosting a modernization day of action at the Roundhouse on Tuesday,
February 11th from 10 – 11 a.m. It will include a press conference and opportunities for community members and supporters to participate in conversations with their elected officials about why they support the measure to pay NM legislators.
For more information on how the modernization of the legislature by allowing for legislator
salaries will create a reflective democracy for New Mexicans and about the day of action, visit
https://modernnm.org
Community groups in support of this measure include:
Common Cause New Mexico
Center for Civic Policy
Conservation Voters NM
Equality NM
League of Women Voters
Lutheran Advocacy Services
NM Asian Family Center
NM Open Elections
NM Voters First
NM Working Families Party
ProgressNow NM
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