ABQ Times

The Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board recently authored an editorial stating that House Republicans have made proposals that should make the public more aware of tracking legislation and how representatives are voting.

House Minority Leader James Townsend (R-Artesia), House Republican Whip Rod Montoya (R-Farmington) and House Republican Caucus Chairwoman Candy Spence Ezzell (R-Roswell) proposed a series of rule changes to Democratic leaders to amp up transparency.

The rule changes include requiring 24-hour notice of bills to be considered in the upcoming House floor sessions to give the time needed for residents to travel to the Capitol if they want to speak for or against the legislation; a rule requiring the House to release a public tally of how every member votes when a bill is tabled during a committee hearing; and a rule eliminating the 2019 rule change that allowed bills to be fast-tracked.

"While good ideas deserve expeditious consideration, there are reasons legislation takes time, specifically to receive adequate vetting and debate," the board wrote. "Truly good bills don’t need gavel-wielding House and Senate leaders to get them to the post."

The editorial board wrote that a legislative session should be run more like a business—especially in the closing days of sessions.

The editorial board believes that transparency is important for voters, taxpayers and all involved.

"As our lawmakers have done with recording and archiving House and Senate hearings and sessions – and as they should do with their capital outlay funding requests – they should let the sun shine in and ensure the public has adequate information to track proposed legislation and any votes that affect it," the board wrote.

House Speaker Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) called the proposed rule changes interesting, but the board believes they should be much more than interesting.

Egolf said he looked forward to visiting with Townsend and to discuss the ideas.