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Sunday, February 20, 2011
Background Checks Protect N.M. Public
By Sen. Linda M. Lopez
Democrat, Albuquerque
In last Sunday's Albuquerque Journal, Harvey Yates, former chairman of the state Republican Party, took exception to the New Mexico State Senate's background check process for high level government appointees. His opinion piece in the newspaper was related to Harrison Schmitt's refusal to comply with the process, and ultimately his decision to pull his nomination for Secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resource Department.
First, I sympathize with Schmitt's and all conferees' discomfort when it comes to the background check process. It is an extensive review that includes a search for any prior criminal convictions and of the federal civil court records; verification of appointees' assertions related to financial circumstances or improprieties such as bankruptcies, tax liens and outstanding loans; and a review of disclosure statements related to potential conflicts of interest and ownership in business entities.
However, the New Mexico State Senate is constitutionally charged with confirming top state government officials because of the tremendous influence, authority and power provided to those individuals in their official government capacity.
The 40 or so individuals we confirm to these top positions are responsible for expenditures in the billions of dollars, investing the state's multi-billion dollar pension funds, and promulgating regulations that impact citizens across the entire state of New Mexico.
The New Mexico State Senate adopted background checks in 2007.
They are part of a procedure that all high-level appointees must undergo as they put themselves forward into positions of public service and public trust.
The review process is in place to protect the public and to provide the citizens of our state with an increased sense of confidence in their government. As such, there should be no exceptions to the background process.
In closing, I wish to express our appreciation to the Albuquerque Journal. When first developing the appointee background questionnaire, the committee searched for a model upon which the committee could develop a sustainable tool.
Fortunately, we did not have to look further than the Journal's candidate questionnaire, which is answered by those of us seeking elected office.
Since then the committee's questionnaire has gone through several iterations, but its foundation belongs to the Albuquerque Journal.
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