Large Majority of New Mexico Voters See Corruption in Politics

A stunning development from the Land of Enchantment: the majority of voters in the state think New Mexico politics is a corrupt enterprise financed by big donors in which lobbyists have more sway than the average New Mexican.---

Ok, the results from a poll commissioned by Common Cause New Mexico aren't that stunning. 

The nonprofit hired Research and Polling Inc., which called 467 registered voters in the state for the poll, which has a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

Some of the notable numbers:

-79 percent of voters believe corruption is a somewhat serious or very serious problem.

-80 percent of voters believe the amount of influence that large campaign donors have on politicians is a very serious or somewhat serious problem.

-77 percent of voters see the impact that large campaign donors have on the outcome of elections is a very serious or somewhat serious problem.

The good government nonprofit has been pushing for campaign finance and ethics reforms in the Roundhouse, so it's no surprise the poll asked voters about those reforms. (Viki Harrison, Common Cause executive director, is quick to note in a release about the poll that the "vast majority of elected officials in New Mexico are hard-working, ethical people who want the best for our state, and Common Cause New Mexico wants voters and legislators to know there are simple ways to return voter trust to government.")

The vast majority of elected officials in New Mexico are hard-working, ethical people who want the best for our state, and Common Cause New Mexico wants voters and legislators to know there are simple ways to return voter trust to government

"The vast majority of elected officials in New Mexico are hard-working, ethical people who want the best for our state, and Common Cause New Mexico wants voters and legislators to know there are simple ways to return voter trust to government," Harrison added.

According to the poll, 87 percent of voters strongly support or support legislation that would require that donations to all political committees, individuals, corporations, nonprofits and unions be made public.

Seventy-eight percent of voters support a measure that would slow the pace of the revolving door between public service and lobbying that would require lawmakers wait two two years before they're able to become a paid lobbyist before the legislature.

Seventy-seven percent percent of voters, according to the poll, support legislation banning elected officials from taking contributions from the industries that they regulate.

Steve Terrell at The   Santa Fe New Mexican has an interesting take on the poll, in a

titled, "Corruption No Problem at All in NM, 5 Percent Say."

"Who are these people who say all this isn't a serious problem?" he asks.

Good question, Steve. SFR is only half joking in its theory that an explanation can be found 

. (When you think the moon landing was faked or the president is the anti-Christ, corruption in state government becomes a much less pressing matter, no?)

For more on SFR's coverage of the apparent cauldron of corruption that is the Roundhouse, check out SFR's

. 

Here's the poll:

Santa Fe Reporter