New Mexico’s legislative session is underway. And the state auditor is calling for a big change in a fund provided to the Governor’s office.
The Governor’s so-called contingency fund came to light recently when it was revealed taxpayers footed the bill for a holiday party at a Santa Fe hotel. The party, which cost about $8,000, received more headlines for the Governor’s reaction to a noise complaint than the money spent on the event.
But State Auditor Tim Keller told KUNM the legislature should ensure the way this contingency fund is being spent is fully disclosed.
It’s unclear if this issue and many other ethics-related concerns will be tackled during the 30-day legislative session. The main focus of the session is approving a state budget. And this year, there’s also the thorny issue of crafting a compromise to make New Mexico’s driver’s licenses compliant with the federal REAL ID Act. The lack of compliance is already causing an inconvenience for some, as White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss no longer accept New Mexico licenses as identification.