Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Recently I was asked how I voted on a bill in the Legislature. I was interested in why that person, a friend of mine, didn’t already know! So, I sat down and explained how they can watch how I voted on any piece of legislation or how I voted on bills in the past and how they can monitor my votes going forward. Every voter should have immediate access to their representative and senator’s votes.
The website is: http://www.nm
legis.gov.
Anyone can search any legislator’s votes on any bill before the House or Senate and with a little work you can see how votes were cast in committee. Also, on this website you can watch livestream debates on the Senate or House floors as well as any committee.
You can even search the archives and see what was said historically. A powerful tool to hold your legislators accountable.
I’m often perplexed by what I hear on the campaign trail and what I know happens in the Roundhouse. A legislator’s work should be very public and completely transparent. If a legislator says they don’t support new taxes, then their votes should prove that factually. If a legislator tells you they are concerned about education and the wellbeing of your children in school, again their votes speak volumes, and you deserve to know.
Very soon, individuals will be asking for your vote. That vote is a valuable commodity. It should be spent wisely and with thought. Political parties stand for values and ideals, which one more closely aligns with you? Which political party supports your family values and your dreams for our communities?
Recently we have seen some very impactful pieces of legislation pass through our Roundhouse and many parents have voiced grave concern, as they should. Those laws were passed with our representatives, or at least they were supposed to be representing you.
When I hear outcries from the public, I immediately wonder how involved the public really was during the process.
How many times did your legislator inform their constituents of the issue? Did they publicly post their votes? Did they listen to their constituents or their political party banters?
Recently, I had a conversation with another legislator about my posting vote records. It was a heated conversation.
They thought I should not post such things and if the public wanted to know they should have to dig for it (those were the exact words). It has been a haunting conversation for me because I was alarmed at the thought of attempting to hide legislators’ votes. I think every vote should be publicized where any member of the public can view easily. My votes are supposed to resemble your thoughts and protect your wellbeing and if they don’t you should know immediately. You shouldn’t have to dig to find out the truth.
So going forward, I am going to publicly post every vote every member cast on the House floor on my Facebook page, Jim Townsend for New Mexico. You deserve to know and I’Il feel better when I know you do.
Republican Jim Townsend represents Chaves, Eddy and Otero counties in the state’s House of Representatives. Contact him: