Santa Fe, NM — Today, in the Senate Rules Committee, Democrats voted to kill Senate Bill 484, the Government Accountability to Taxpayer Act (also known as GATO). The bill was a transparency effort to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars at the state government level. Despite being introduced over a month ago, SB 484 only received its first hearing with a mere 25 hours remaining in this year's regular legislative session, reflecting Democrats' opposition to such transparency.
Senator Jay C. Block (R-Rio Rancho) issued the following statement in response:
"New Mexico taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent, particularly how it is being wasted and abused by the same people they elect to responsibly appropriate that money." The Senator continued, "This bill purely focused on identifying waste, fraud, and abuse. I am disappointed that Democrats, who claim to champion transparency, delayed consideration of this bill until the 11th hour and ultimately voted to kill it. I am committed to my constituents and the good people of New Mexico to continue these efforts in order to restore trust, accountability, and proper stewardship at the state level of government."
