Santa Fe, NM — Regrettably, the New Mexico State Senate today rejected an effort to bring transparency to monetary payments received by lawmakers.

An amendment to Senate Bill 85 offered by Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer sought to require all sitting legislators to annually disclose any monetary payment received from any source, ensuring that New Mexicans would know who is exerting financial influence over their lawmakers.

"NASCAR drivers wear patches to show the world who sponsors them in their races," Senator Sharer pointed out during debate on the Senate floor. "It makes perfect sense that New Mexico residents know who is sponsoring their representatives and senators."

Despite bipartisan support for this important transparency measure, twenty-five Democrat Senators voted to kill the amendment.