Senate committee moves into ethics overdrive

Posted 2/10/2009 09:56:00 PM

After getting a late start, the committee that’s key to all ethics reform proposals in the Senate is scheduled to move into ethics overdrive this week.

But don’t expect the myriad of bills that will be heard this week to have an easy time. Ethics reform proposals have died en masse in the Senate in recent years.

The ethics hearings begin Wednesday morning, when two Republican reform proposals get their first committee hearing.

The Senate Rules Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 141, which would allow a judge, in the case of an elected official who commits a felony connected to his office, to impose a fine no greater than the elected official’s salary and benefits in addition to the standard sentence. Senate Bill 261 would establish a process for the forfeiture of retirement benefits for state employees and state retirees convicted of felonies “arising from conduct related to” their public employment.

The first is sponsored by William Payne, R-Albuquerque, and the second is sponsored by Sue Wilson Beffort, R-Sandia Park.

The rules committee is scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. in room 321 at the Roundhouse. No bills will be heard until after several confirmation hearings are held.

Payne’s bill, according to a GOP news release, is one he’s introduced for years that has never been granted a hearing.

“Public officials who violate the public trust while receiving a salary from taxpayers should receive a greater punishment than just the basic sentence,” Payne said in the release. “Being fined the amount of their salary and benefits might make these corrupt officials think twice about violating corruption laws.”

Beffort said her bill, meanwhile, will “put people on notice there is a lot at stake if they choose to act unlawfully.”

Ethics Friday

Meanwhile, Friday is shaping up to be the primary ethics day -- the day a number of reform proposals get their first hearing in front of the Senate Rules Committee. Here’s a list:

• Senate Bill 94, sponsored by Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, and Senate Bill 163, sponsored by Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, which would both prohibit lawmakers from becoming lobbyists for one year after they leave office.

• Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque; Senate Bill 262, sponsored by Beffort; and Senate bill 346, sponsored by Bernadette Sanchez, D-Albuquerque, which would all enact campaign contribution limits.

• Senate Bill 128, sponsored by Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, which would require that candidates file reports of expenditures and contributions twice a year in off-election years. Currently, the law requires that annually.

• Senate Bill 258, sponsored by Tim Keller, D-Albuquerque, which would ban all campaign contributions to statewide elected officials from state contractors or prospective contractors.

• Senate Bill 263, sponsored by Beffort, and Senate Bill 296, sponsored by Feldman, which would both require that prospective and current state and local government contractors disclose their campaign contributions.

Friday’s meeting of the Rules Committee is also scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.