A feature on Common Cause New Mexico's push to establish salaries for state legislators, a reform advocates say would make it possible for a broader range of New Mexicans to serve in the Legislature.
In 1912, when New Mexico lawmakers gathered for the state's first legislative session, they likely knew nothing about CO2 emissions, private-equity investments in housing or STEM education initiatives.
It was a simpler time with simpler problems to solve. Legislators often worked as lawyers, farmers or ranchers, pausing their work for 30 or 60 days every winter to tend to the state's business. Most were wealthy property owners. All were men. And, per the state's newly inked Constitution, none received a salary.
Much has changed since those early days of New Mexico statehood. (This year, for the first time, a majority of the Legislature's elected members are women.) But a few Constitutional relics remain. Among them: Unsalaried legislators.
On the surface, this policy seems like a win for taxpayers. If lawmakers are willing to forgo payment while working hard for the public, the state's coffers benefit. But for a growing coalition of government-reform advocates, denying lawmakers a salary prevents New Mexico from achieving a demographically diverse legislative body whose members more closely resemble the state's residents and represent their interests.
"A lot has changed since 1912. Life is more complex, and there are a million different issues these folks are supposed to have a basic understanding of. By paying legislators salaries, we're hoping to recognize and validate the work they do for our communities while building more representation into the Legislature, too." — Molly Swank, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico
The Thornburg Foundation has supported Common Cause and several of its partner organizations for the past 12 years in an effort to advance the foundation's government-reform goal of a well-functioning, transparent and fair government that benefits all New Mexicans.
Common Cause and its partners had a big year in 2024, with the passage of a law allowing legislators to hire a full-time staff member. This year, Swank says Common Cause is on the brink of another big policy win.
"Our polling suggests that 70 percent of New Mexicans say they support salaries for legislators — especially when they understand that this is a way to increase diversity, advance equal representation, and provide more opportunity for folks to run for office. It feels like this is the year." — Molly Swank
The organization and its partners are advancing legislation that would put a Constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2026. If voters affirm it, the amendment would establish an independent commission to set legislators' salaries.
New Mexico is one of only two states in the nation that does not pay its lawmakers a salary. Swank argues this discourages most people from running for office. Lawmakers either have to be "rich, retired, or extremely resourceful" to fit the one- to two-month legislative sessions into their calendars and budgets each year.
Once salaries are established, Swank says she and her team will turn to another quirk of the New Mexico Legislature — the length of the legislative session. Depending on the year, the session runs either 30 or 60 calendar days, one of the shortest in the nation.
Swank is originally from Wisconsin, where legislative sessions have no mandated time limits. After moving to New Mexico in 2020, she says she found it difficult to access legislators.
"In Wisconsin, you could make an appointment and talk to your legislator, or they'd have office hours. Here, because the sessions are so short, and they're so crunched for time, they're either in committee or on the floor, and it's harder to have conversations with them." — Molly Swank
During New Mexico's 30-day session, which takes place in even years, legislators can only act on budgetary matters and the governor's priority bills. Still, lawmakers disagree on how long the session should be.
"We've heard a lot of people say, 'I don't want to be up here for 60 days every year. It's hard to be away from my family for that long.' But then we also hear, 'Thirty days is not long enough to do anything.'" — Molly Swank
But that's a discussion for another day. Until then, Common Cause will continue its push to make the New Mexico government work for all of its people. To learn more about Common Cause, legislator salaries and government reform in New Mexico, visit modernnm.org.