The earth moved on Tuesday. The June 3rd primary election left in its wake an altered legislative landscape. While the aftershocks are only just beginning, one thing is already apparent. A seismic shift has started that is substantially brightening the prospects for passage of ethics reform in the state of New Mexico.

In Albuquerque, the ground opened up and swallowed three supposedly unbeatable Democratic warhorses – and most significantly two powerful committee chairmen. All three of them were beneficiaries of a Roundhouse culture fueled by copious gratuities from lobbyists and gobs of campaign money from industry special interests. All three of them were roadblocks to reform. Continue reading →