Modernizing the NM Legislature
We deserve an effective, responsive, and reflective state legislature with adequate resources to serve the people of New Mexico.
Making Government Work
Our government should make decisions that further the public's interest. But recently, gridlock, hyper-partisanship, and out-of-date legislative process have hindered meaningful progress. We are fighting back.
Common Cause addresses a range of good government issues to ensure that public officials can their jobs. Over the years, we have worked to:
- Reform the U.S. Senate to update its rules and curb abuse of the silent filibuster
- Prevent government shutdowns over anti-democratic political agendas
- Make sure voters have necessary information about budgets, spending, and the legislative process
- Stop legislators from wrongly interfering with presidential and gubernatorial appointments to the executive and judicial branch
- Ensure state legislatures have adequate time and funding to conduct the peoples’ business
What We’re Doing
Take Action
Petition
Make our state legislature look like us!
We deserve a legislature that looks like the people of our communities and understands the needs of New Mexicans through lived experiences. Let's modernize and create an Independent Salary Commission to pay legislators to deliver for New Mexico.
Providing legislators a livable wage will help ensure that they are able to tackle the problems facing our state and can devote time to connecting with their home districts, researching issues, and crafting solutions to help our state thrive now and for future generations.
Providing legislators a livable wage will help ensure that they are able to tackle the problems facing our state and can devote time to connecting with their home districts, researching issues, and crafting solutions to help our state thrive now and for future generations.
Your financial support helps us make an impact by holding power accountable and strengthening democracy.
Events
In Person
Legislative Preview Happy Hour
Join us for a beer to finish the year and hear what Common Cause New Mexico has on tap for the 2025 legislative session. We'll be talking about legislative salaries for a more reflective and representative state government, and our new ModernNM.org campaign website. We'll also discuss our work on open primaries for more inclusive and competitive elections. We look forward to seeing you before you tap out for the holidays!
The Brakeroom, Santa Fe Brewing Company
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EST
In Person
Happy Holidays and Merry Modernization
Join us for a beer to finish the year and hear what Common Cause New Mexico has on tap for the 2025 legislative session. We'll be talking about legislative salaries for a more reflective and representative state government, and our new ModernNM.org campaign website. We'll also discuss our work on open primaries for more inclusive and competitive elections. We look forward to seeing you before you tap out for the holidays!
Marble Brewery NE Heights Taproom
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EST
Updates
Blog Post
Other Key Bills We Pushed in the Special Session
We are happy to see the passage of SB8: LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY CAMERAS to hold police accountable and improve transparency. We will continue to advocate for bills similar to SB7: REDUCE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM after it faltered in the Special Session.
Related Resources
Report
Democracy Candidate Survey 2024
An educational survey of candidates in New Mexico on pro-democracy issues was conducted by Common Cause New Mexico, New Mexico Open Elections, Fair Districts for New Mexico, and New Mexico First.
Report
UNM Report on Legislative Professionalism for the State of New Mexico
UNM Study of Legislative Process Ranks NM Near Bottom in Professionalism; Suggests Longer Sessions, Salaries and More Staff
Guide
Model City Council
This is a curriculum program with lessons and resources for educators who want to engage students in learning civics and government topics.
Press
Press Release
NM Candidate Survey Shows Substantial Support For Pro-Democracy, Election-Reform Measures
Public Event to Highlight Results 5 p.m. Thursday Sept. 26 in Downtown Albuquerque
Press Release
Common Cause Applauds Funding to Increase Legislative Staff, Bills to Label “Deep Fakes” and Make School Board Campaigns More Transparent
…but says Short Session, Partisan Rancor Left Many Key Measures Behind
Press Release
Townhall Meeting on Legislative Modernization hosted by NM Open Elections
A New Mexico State Legislature reflective of the communities and people of our state is possible -- one that is not heavily influenced by lobbyists and not run by representatives who must be either rich, retired or extremely resourceful. Join New Mexico State House Representative Angelica Rubio (HD35, University of New Mexico Professor of Political Science Timothy Krebs, and our own Common Cause New Mexico Policy Director Mason Graham to learn more about how we can fix our state government.