Ethics, education and budget solutions are the issues that drive state Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Bernalillo.
Lopez, the 13-year representative from the South Valley and lieutenant governor candidate, came to campus Friday to speak to the UNM League of United Latin American Citizens. She spoke about legislation she’s trying to pass during the Legislative Session, especially ethics reform.
She is a sponsor of the State Ethics Commission Act, a bill that would create a state agency to “receive and investigate complaints alleging ethics violations against state officials, state employees, government contractors and lobbyists,” according to the legislation.
“Can you make somebody ethical if they’re not? Can a law make somebody ethical? I am of the opinion that it cannot. Ethics are in here,” Lopez said, pointing to her heart. “We are currently looking at issues with the State Investment Council, where all of our tax dollars have been misguided.”
The ethics commission has come under fire because it allows all hearings and judgments to be passed in privacy —something Lopez said she and her fellow legislators are trying to fix — because she said it doesn’t promote an open government.
“We are working with the House Judiciary Committee to get something done and move our state forward ethically,” Lopez said. “It’s not complete.”
Plugging corruption is one measure Lopez said could fight the state’s economic woes. Lopez also discussed a controversial bill that would strip money from capital outlay bond projects that are still waiting complete funding or a contract.
“Essentially with this we would be selling bonds to fund government for this year. It’s an opportunity,” she said.
On Saturday, the state senate voted 36 to 4 in support of the measure in which Lopez sided with the majority. Over $130 million in capital outlay funds will be moved to the state’s reserves, or rainy day fund as a result.
Lopez has also passed important education legislation during her tenure. She pushed to pass the Improved Student Performance Result Act, the Professional Development Act for Teachers, School-Based Health Clinics Act and the Safe Routes to
School Act.
She is sponsoring an act that would require dual-language education for New Mexico high school students.
“A student could choose Italian, Spanish, Chinese, (or) whatever it might be as long as they have studied another language. Anyone who has traveled abroad knows that Europe does this (and) it hasn’t made them any dumber,” Lopez said. “We should be celebrating bilingualism.”
Student Jessica Martinez, a Lopez supporter, feels the bilingual mandate is a great step toward helping students. With her fellow students, Martinez said she would lobby in favor of teaching second languages.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
“Learning another language helps those in higher education,” she said. “We will focus on lobbying for this legislation.”
Sen. Lopez also touched on her past experiences and how it impacted her legislative efforts.
“I was a victim of domestic violence. I got rid of that guy. Now I raise my 9-year-old son Lorenzo as a single mother,” she said. In the past, Lopez has sponsored a statewide domestic violence education bill and the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Act.
