The New Mexico "Credit Card Loophole" is a gap in their Campaign Finance Laws that allows Individuals, including Foreign Sources, to make Anonymous Donations to Political Campaigns using Untraceable Prepaid Credit Cards. Individuals can use the Loophole to mask their Identity and evade Contribution Limits.
The New Mexico State Legislature unanimously passed a Bill (SB 50) that Closes the Credit Card Loophole at the State Level. Remarkably, that vote took place just Five days after it was messaged by Governor Susana Martinez, passing through both the Senate and House. SB 50 now goes back to Governor Martinez for her Signature to turn it into Law.
SB 50 Adds a necessary Layer of Security and Integrity to the State’s Campaign Finance Laws.
Bridge Alliance's Director of Development, Doug Nickle, played a key role in championing this Bill and shepherding it through the New Mexico Legislature.
His role in SB 50 started when he testified in front of the Courts, Corrections, and Justice interim committee last summer, in HIS capacity at Take Back our Republic, and spoke on a range of Campaign Finance related issues.
The eventual Sponsors of the Bill, Senator Cisco McSorley (D-16th District), and Representatives Bill Rehm (R-31st District) and Jim Dines (R-20th District), focused on the Online Credit Card Campaign Contribution Loophole and requested more information. Over the next couple of Months, he worked with Dare To Be United’s National Programs Director, Joe Livoti, to draft proposed Legislation.
Senator McSorley took the lead and filed what ended up becoming SB 50. Leading up to the short Legislative Session, Common Cause New Mexico was extremely diligent in promoting SB 50 as the Common Sense, Nonpartisan Campaign Finance Reform that it is. Additionally, they received tremendous Support and Guidance from New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse-Oliver and her Staff, who are keenly focused on Election Transparency and Disclosure issues.
This process was an astoundingly successful Collaborative effort. Fundamental, Contributions came from Joe Livoti of Dare To Be United, Heather Ferguson of Common Cause New Mexico, and the Team at Take Back Our Republic.
Proof that Representative Democracy can work efficiently if we engage as Citizens, we owe gratitude to the Bipartisan Spirit and Leadership of Senator McSorley, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, Representative Rehm and Representative Dines, and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse-Oliver and her Staff. It was a hugely successful Bipartisan Collaboration, linking the Commitment and Good Will of Reformers and Elected Officials.
The Bridge Alliance was founded on the Principle that we can achieve much more together than any one of us can achieve on our own, and SB 50 is a great example of that Philosophy in Action.
Looking forward to working with all of Member Organizations to achieve many more successes in all areas of Political Reform throughout 2018 and beyond.
CLICK HERE to read more about the Loophole on Bridge Alliance,
Take Back Our Republic'swebsite.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment