Bill Requiring Webcasting of Cabinet Meetings Lingers

Susana Martinez

NMPolitics - A bill that would require Gov. Susana Martinez to webcast meetings of her cabinet has been on the Senate floor calendar for at least a couple of weeks without getting a hearing. Whether the legislation is something that will be voted on before the end of the session or is meant as a threat/joke isn’t entirely clear – but if senators intend for it to become law, they’re running out of time to send it to the House for consideration.
Senate Bill 456, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, would essentially require the webcasting of all public meetings in New Mexico – and it would effectively add the governor’s cabinet meetings to the list of those that are public.

Tim Jennings

Cabinet meetings aren’t currently open to the public. Though it applies to other meetings as well, the bill is aimed at the governor, carrying the title “Webcasting of cabinet and other meetings.” Many senators have been angry this session at Martinez’s webcasting of their committee meetings. In response they passed a resolution giving themselves authority to shut down her webcasting if they choose. The N.M. Foundation for Open Government and others say that resolution is unconstitutional. Read full story: News New Mexico

Bill Requiring Webcasting of Cabinet Meetings Lingers