0001|                       SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 57
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0002|     43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                            LINDA M. LOPEZ
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0005|     
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0006|                                   
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0007|     
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0008|     
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0009|     
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0010|                           A JOINT MEMORIAL
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0011|     REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE TO CONDUCT A STUDY
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0012|     OF BACKGROUND STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CABINET POSITIONS
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0013|     IN OTHER STATES.
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0014|     
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0015|          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Executive Reorganization Act all
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0016|     cabinet secretaries in New Mexico are appointed by the governor
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0017|     with the advice and consent of the senate, serve in the
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0018|     executive cabinet and hold office at the pleasure of the
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0019|     governor; and
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0020|          WHEREAS, there are no minimum requirements or standards in
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0021|     place in New Mexico regarding cabinet positions, with the
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0022|     exception of the secretary of finance and administration
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0023|     position, with the only requirement in statute being that "The
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0024|     secretary shall be well versed in governmental finance"; and
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0025|          WHEREAS, the governor appoints and the senate consents in
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0001|     our system of checks and balances, but as we just witnessed
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0002|     with the senate declining the appointment of corrections
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0003|     secretary-designate Dona Wilpolt, decisions to reject an
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0004|     appointee can certainly be based on directly related job
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0005|     experience and expertise;
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0006|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
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0007|     STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative council service be
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0008|     asked to conduct a study of other states' criteria in selecting
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0009|     candidates for cabinet-level positions; and
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0010|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
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0011|     transmitted to the director of the legislative council service
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0012|     and the New Mexico legislative council.
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0013|                              
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