ABQJOURNAL OPINION/EDITORIALS: Can SF Hear Call for Ethics Reform Now?

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Handling of Pit Appeal Calls for a Time-Out

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Can SF Hear Call for Ethics Reform Now?

          The Democratic Party of New Mexico says Gov. Bill Richardson has received "total vindication" from the Justice Department now that a pay-to-play investigation has concluded without charges. Meanwhile, the state Republican Party is intimating politics overshadowed legal and law enforcement judgments. Predictable political posturing notwithstanding, there are some lessons we can take away from this affair.
        There is no total vindication when the U.S. Attorney finds "pressure from the Governor's Office resulted in corruption of the procurement process so that (a generous political contributor) would be awarded (financial investment) work." By gently closing instead of slamming the door on the pay-to-play probe, by reserving the right to re-open it later, by telling defense attorneys in a letter that the decision "is not to be interpreted as an exoneration of any party's conduct," the U.S. Attorney's Office has validated something New Mexicans have known for years.
        Lt. Gov. Diane Denish summed it up Thursday when she said "the fact remains that public confidence has been eroded by the numerous investigations into possible wrongdoings by other government officials. We need strong ethics reform to make state government more open and accountable."
        Not to mention legal and respectable. Two former state treasurers are convicted felons. So is the former Senate president pro tem. A former secretary of state is facing a 50-count indictment involving embezzlement, conspiracy and money laundering. A current Public Regulation Commission member has been indicted on embezzlement, conspiracy and other charges. A former school bilingual coordinator is on probation and paying restitution for defrauding taxpayers. An ex-superintendent of insurance retired amid a pay-to-play probe, and his top deputy was sentenced to four years and restitution for shaking down insurance companies for contributions to charities the two were involved with.
        Earlier this year, at Richardson's direction, the State Investment Council banned finder's fees on deals and contributions from people seeking state investment business to elected officials or candidates who might have influence over the State Investment officer and the council staff. All this happened after the son of one of Richardson's closest associates shared in more than $20 million in finder's fees related to state business. Those deals are still under investigation. Meanwhile, Federal Securities and Exchange Commission regulators voted unanimously last month to bar investment firms from giving advice for two years after making contributions to someone with sway over who gets which contracts.
        But while that will preclude future deals like the one that put Richardson in a law enforcement spotlight and scuttled his U.S. Commerce secretary nomination, there are still miles to go before New Mexico government is transparent and thus accountable.
        The 2009 Legislature needs to demand and fund a functional electronic database for real-time campaign disclosures. To extend campaign disclosure laws to school board and municipal elections. To require lobbyists to disclose how much individual clients pay them to kill or support legislation. To eliminate the ability of special interest groups to hide behind the label of nonprofit while grooming political candidates, orchestrating negative campaigns and avoiding public disclosure and contribution limits. To strengthen the Inspection of Public Records Act. To adequately fund the offices of Attorney General and Auditor so officials can thoroughly and expeditiously investigate and prosecute public corruption. To revoke pensions for and levy fines on any public official convicted of public corruption.
        It's important to note that while Richardson is the highest-profile state official to be investigated for corruption, he is by no means the first. This muck we now call our state government makes it clearer than ever it's time for real reform that helps make him one of the last.

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