New Mexico Senators Vote to Keep Conferences Closed
· Story link New Mexico’s Senate voted 22-16 for backroom government , killing a bill that would have opened conference…
New Mexico’s Senate voted 22-16 for backroom government , killing a bill that would have opened conference committee sessions where the final stages of legislative bargaining and bill shaping takes place. Legislatures in 40 states now open conference sessions to the public. The U.S. Congress does not. Opposition to openness was bi-partisan and one senator suggested that approval of the bill would “just push discussion behind another door.” (2/13/06)