Gov. Bill Richardson plans to hold a news conference on Thursday to “take action on several ethics reform bills,” according to a news release from his office.
The release didn’t specify which bills Richardson will sign, and two staffers didn’t respond to an e-mail about the news conference, but sources said Richardson plans to sign bills that will enact campaign contribution limits and require more frequent campaign reporting.
The contribution-limit bill is Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque. It will limit contributions to non-statewide candidates for office — including legislative candidates — to $2,300 per election from any entity except a political committee, which could give a maximum of $5,000 to non-statewide candidates. It will limit contributions to statewide candidates for office, political action committees and political parties to $5,000 per election from individuals and groups.
There are two elections — a primary and a general — in each election cycle.
The other bill is Senate Bill 128, sponsored by Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe. It will require that candidates file reports of expenditures and contributions twice a year in off-election years. Currently, the law requires that annually.
The news conference will be held at 11 a.m. in the Governor’s Cabinet Room on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse.