House Voters & Elections Committee: (Capitol Phone)
13 members, 7 (D) and 6 (R)

Mary Ellen Garcia (D) Chair 505-986-4341 maryhelen.garcia@nmlegis.gov

Danice Picraux (D) Vice Chair 505-986-4438 danice.picraux@nmlegis.gov

Thomas A. Anderson (R) 505-986-4451 kb5ysg@arrl.net

Nate Gentry (R) 505-986-4249 natefornm@gmail.com

Conrad D. James (R) 505-986-4211 conradjamesforhd24@gmail.com

Speaker Ben Lujan (D) 505-986-4782 ben.lujan@nmlegis.gov

James Roger Madalena (D) 505-986-4417 jrmadalena@fsipinc.org

W. Ken Martinez (D) 505-986-4476 jrmadalena@fsipinc.org

William "Bill" R. Rehm (R) 505-986-4248 bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov

Debbie A. Rodella (D) 505-986-4329 debbie.rodella@yahoo.com

Edward C. Sandoval (D) 505-986-4420 edward.sandoval@nmlegis.gov

James E. Smith (R) 505-986-4467 jim@jimsmithnm.com

Shirley A. Tyler (R) 505-986-4214 sntyler@valornet.com

MORE ON HB 605 AND 527s - Update
It is fair to say most of us have heard of 501(c)3 entities. But, who among us knew of 527 groups? I first heard the term Friday on News New Mexico, a talk show from Las Cruces: http://newsnewmexico.blogspot.com/ There you will find a commentary - Both CAUCUSES: Let's Exempt OURSELVES! and audio archive of the show.

The topic of a three-way conversation among Dr. Michael Swickard, Jim Spence and Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones was House Bill 605 to be heard in the House Voters & Elections Committee, this Tuesday, March 1. My jaw dropped.

The more I research this bill and educate myself, the less I like it. You can read the bill here. http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/11%20Regular/bills/house/HB0605.pdf As I understand it, it is the addition of the very last sentence that will allow a political party caucus committee to be exempt from reporting contributions.

"A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization named after a section of the United States tax code, 26 U.S.C. § 527. A 527 group is created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office. Although candidate committees and political action committees are also created under Section 527, the term is generally used to refer to political organizations that are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission or by a state elections commission, and are not subject to the same contribution limits as PACs. However, on September 18, 2009 the Washington D.C Federal Appeals Court ruled that these groups have a First Amendment right to raise and spend freely to influence elections so long as they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or a party.[1]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization

One group with a 527 committee "making the national headlines" example is SEIU (Service Employees International Union) in Wisconsin. http://www.unionfacts.com/unions/unionProfile.cfm?id=137 SEIU even made a visit with one of it purple buses to the Round House in Santa Fe last week.

The bottom line is that HB 605 will give yet another avenue to get monies to politicial campaigns and this one without public scrutiny because they are exempt from reporting! Again, I ask. Is this good for New Mexico?


Now, please don't believe me. Do your own homework. My search led me to this information you may find informative:

The Top 10 Things Every Voter Should Know About Money-in-Politics


Money follows Power


Incumbents nearly always win


Most races for Congress are not even competitive


Small donors make good press, but big donors get you reelected


Interests behind the $$ are predictable


Donors seek a long term relationship


The Fund-raising never stops


Enforcement of campaign laws is weak


All hell broke loose in the 2010 Elections


They don't have to be crooks, just human



PS Money Isn't Everything

http://www.opensecrets.org/action/dollarocracy/index.php