ALBUQUERQUE — The Rio Grande Foundation is again tracking all the legislation introduced in the 2010 legislative session through its recently launched NewMexicoVotes.org Website.
RGF launched the site with the opening of the 2008 special session in order to provide a more transparent window for New Mexicans to follow what happens in state government. The site, www.newmexicovotes.org, is free and open to the public.
With plain English bill information, the site also reveals the missed votes of every legislator; links that show everyone who has donated to each legislator and the amount of each donation; and a whole host of features that those who want to track what happens in Santa Fe will find useful. It even features House floor votes, which are not available online at the state legislative Website.
New for 2010: Newspapers can subscribe to alerts on local legislative votes by sending an email to: newmexicovotes@riograndefoundation.org.
Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation, said of the new public service, “With more alleged corruption in New Mexico making national headlines, the need for more transparency in state government is becoming ever increasingly important. ‘Votes’ is part of our organization’s efforts to bring more transparency and accountability to New Mexico state government.
“We want everyone to be able to find out, with a few clicks of a mouse, what his or her legislator is doing, to be able to sign on and read plain English descriptions of what each bill does in a way that the average person can understand, and know immediately what our tax money is being spent on, or whether the bill increases or decreases taxation, regulation, or government transparency.”
Gessing noted that pre-filed bills for the 2010 legislative session are already being added to the site.
The Foundation has ambitious plans for the site, planning to add in stages more features and information. “We want this site to become an invaluable tool for candidates, the media, and – perhaps most importantly – the everyday New Mexico citizen,” Gessing said.