0001|                       SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 7
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0002|     43RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 1998
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                             DEDE FELDMAN
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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 INTERIM LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO
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0012|     UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM,
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0013|     INCLUDING A REVIEW OF LAWS IN OTHER STATES, OPTIONS FOR
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0014|     FINANCING OF ELECTIONS AND THE IMPACT OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ON
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0015|     CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
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0016|     
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0017|          WHEREAS, the public is increasingly aware that large
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0018|     donations from wealthy individuals and corporate and other
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0019|     vested interests can unduly influence the political system;
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0020|     and
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0021|          WHEREAS, the current system for financing public
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0022|     elections in New Mexico favors wealthy candidates or those
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0023|     with easy access to large donations; and
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0024|          WHEREAS, money should not be equated with political
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0025|     speech; and
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0001|          WHEREAS, it is imperative that we safeguard the rights of
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0002|     workers and other citizen groups to participate effectively in
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0003|     electoral politics; and
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0004|          WHEREAS, comprehensive campaign finance reform measures
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0005|     could enable any citizen to have a reasonable opportunity to
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0006|     run effectively for public office; and
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0007|          WHEREAS, real solutions to achieve these goals will
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0008|     include public campaign financing, campaign contribution
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0009|     limits, spending caps on campaigns, full disclosure and strict
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0010|     enforcement of campaign rules;
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0011|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
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0012|     STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interim legislative ethics
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0013|     committee review campaign finance laws and regulations of
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0014|     states other than New Mexico and consider testimony from
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0015|     interested citizens and organizations; and
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0016|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interim legislative
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0017|     ethics committee study in depth effective options for public
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0018|     financing of elections, contribution limits and spending caps
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0019|     in New Mexico; and
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0020|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interim legislative
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0021|     ethics committee review the potential impact of both federal
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0022|     and state constitutional law on proposed campaign finance
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0023|     laws; and
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0024|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the interim legislative
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0025|     ethics committee report its findings, including any
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0001|     recommendations for legislation to be considered, by the first
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0002|     session of the forty-fourth legislature, to the New Mexico
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0003|     legislative council no later than November 1, 1998; and
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0004|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
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0005|     sent to the New Mexico legislative council, the governor, the
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0006|     secretary of state and the attorney general.
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0007|                              
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