Fresh off the campaign trail, Governor Bill Richardson gave his State of the State address before the combined assembly of the New Mexico State House and Senate this week.  Newly unemployed campaign staff were in attendance as well to hear what their erstwhile candidate would say.

He urged the legislature to support bills on energy, healthcare, domestic violence and domestic partnership as well as the proposals of his Ethics Task Force (public campaign financing of statwide offices, an ethics commission and contribution limits).

He has budgeted funds for the public financing proposal and a coalition of citizen advocacy groups, including Common Cause New Mexico, are engaging citizens to urge their legislators to support these reforms.

Steve Allen, Executive Director of Common Cause NM said in an Albuquerque Journal Op-Ed on Monday:

Legislators will introduce a bill to provide public campaign financing for statewide offices, as well as for an ethics commission and contribution limits, in the coming days of the short 30 day session.  The House will likely pass the bills.  We trust they will hear the voice of the people.  It is vital that citizens across the state let their Senators know how important this is to them by emailing, calling and writing to them.