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Lobbyist Provided $750,000 In Campaign Contributions To NM Lawmakers This Legislative Session

Lobbyists and their clients provided about $750,000 in campaign contributions to New Mexico lawmakers, Gov. Susana Martinez and others in months leading up to this year's legislative session.

The contributions are in addition to nearly $90,000 spent by lobbyists since last spring for food, drinks, gifts and entertainment for lawmakers and other state officials.

The disclosures filed last week with the secretary of state's office cover contributions and spending from May through Jan. 15.

The secretary of state's office recently issued guidelines urging lobbyists to report their expenses in greater detail, including who they received contributions from. Only a fraction of those who submitted reports included that information.

New Mexico's campaign finance reporting system has come under greater scrutiny in recent months and open government groups are calling for reform.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Simon Thompson was a reporter/producer for KRWG-TV's Newsmakers from 2014 to 2017. Encores of his work appear from time to time on KRWG-TV's Newsmakers and KRWG-FM's Fronteras-A Changing America.