New Mexico Governor and Democratic candidate for President Bill Richardson weighs in with support for the Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE) Act to offer a full public financing option for state races. Richardson called a special session of New Mexico's legislature this year to pass a law creating a full public financing system for judicial races. A system is already in place in the state for candidates for the Public Regulation Commission.

In an effort to clean up ethics and campaign finance laws which Governor Bill Richardson (D) has called the "laughingstock" of the country, New Mexico's House of Representatives passed the first of a series of proposals recommended by the Governor's ethics task force. The proposal would put limits on individual and PAC donations to candidates. Another proposal being considered would expand the state's full public financing program.

Ok, not quite yet- but! - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is asking the state legislature to get behind a series of ethics and reform proposals, including extending the state's public financing program (now available to candidates for the Public Regulation Commission) to include judicial races.