League of Women Voters of New Mexico

Ethics Bill Signed by the Governor

March 28, 2019:

League President Judy Williams was invited to the bill signing establishing an Independent Ethics Commission. This is an important milestone for New Mexico. The legislature has struggled for a decade to create such a commission, and received a boost when 75% of voters approved a commission in 2018. The legislature and the advocacy groups were well-represented. Common Cause, which took the lead; the Thornburg foundation, Ethics Watch and NM First.

Voting Bill Signed by the Governor

March 27, 2019:

Voting bill signed by the Governor! The League was there when Governor Lujan Grisham signed into law SB672, which was a League priority. It will make it mush easier for voters to have their voices count in New Mexico elections. It was a momentous occasion, since for the last decade this legislation has languished. The bill will make voter registration automatic when people apply for driver licenses; make it possible to register during early voting; and in 2021, will institute same-day registration.

LWVNM Deplores Gutting Major Funding Bill

March 17, 2019:

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico deplores the New Mexico Senate action that gutted HB6. It is time for New Mexico to generate the revenues needed to fund essential services, including early childhood and those revenues should come from those who can most afford it.

The version of the bill passed by the New Mexico House would have set New Mexico on the path to a broader, more reliable source of funding. But the New Mexico Senate removed much of the revenue generation and eliminated almost all of the fairness features of the House version.

More details: LWVNM Deplores Gutting the Major Funding Bill.

League of Women Voters of New Mexico Decries Vote to Defeat HB 51, Repeal of Abortion Prohibition Law

March 15, 2019:

The League of Women Voters is deeply disappointed that the New Mexico Senate voted against HB 51, which would have repealed the outdated law making abortion a crime. New Mexico women deserve to know that a full range of healthcare will remain available to them even if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The League believes that in a pluralistic society such as ours the individual's right to make reproductive choices, including abortion, must be affirmed.

"This should have been a no-brainer for legislators. It means now New Mexico's women have lost a very important guarantee that they, their doctors and families can make their own choices about reproductive rights," said NM League of Women Voters President Judith Williams. "A vote against this bill is a vote against women's rights."

Voting against the bill in the Senate were all Republicans and Democratic Sens. Pete Campos of Las Vegas, Carlos Cisneros of Questa, Richard Martinez of Española, George Muñoz of Gallup, Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces, Gabriel Ramos of Silver City, Clemente "Meme" Sanchez of Grants and John Arthur Smith of Deming.

More details: League of Women Voters of New Mexico Decries Vote to Defeat HB 51, Repeal of Abortion Prohibition Law.

LWVNM Urges Governor to establish a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census

September 4, 2018:

An accurate Census count is of critical importance to New Mexico, as the results are the basis for the $6.1 billion coming into the state each year for health care, education, transportation and more in New Mexico. The state uses the census data to plan roads, public safety, elections and its own apportionment of legislative districts.

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico asks Governor Martinez to immediately sign an executive order to establish a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census.

Read the full letter: LWVNM Urges Governor to establish a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census.

For older news items, see the LWVNM News Archive.