SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The New Mexico legislature approved the creation of an independent ethics commission during this years legislative session, but there are many unanswered questions about how it will work. <\/p>\n
Lawmakers approved the framework for an ethics commission during the 60-day session that ended in March, with the assumption that its powers and procedures would defined later. <\/p>\n
Some groups are pushing lawmakers to start talking about the details in interim legislative committee hearings this summer and fall, the Albuquerque Journal reported (http:\/\/bit.ly\/2rGbkUv<\/a> ) Thursday. <\/p>\n It is unlikely the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee will recommend legislation when it meets in coming months, said Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque. <\/p>\n I think we will probably spend some time on it, Chasey said. But the ethics commission doesnt go to voters until next year. <\/p>\n As currently proposed, the seven-member independent ethics commission would review complaints against elected officials and certain government employees. <\/p>\n Other details about the commissions day-to-day operations would have to be determined by the Legislature in 2019, if statewide voters approve a constitutional amendment creating the commission in the November 2018 general election. <\/p>\n The commission would have the ability to subpoena records and compel witness testimony, Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, said. <\/p>\n But it is not clear whether the commission would be able to initiate investigations after receiving complaints or if it could do so on its own. <\/p>\n New Mexico is one of eight states without an ethics commission, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n See original here:<\/p>\n New Mexico ethics commission remains work in progress - Washington Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The New Mexico legislature approved the creation of an independent ethics commission during this years legislative session, but there are many unanswered questions about how it will work. Continue reading