{"id":2198,"date":"2026-02-18T08:10:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/new-mexico\/?post_type=press&p=2198"},"modified":"2026-02-18T08:10:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:10:37","slug":"common-cause-backed-modernization-bill-heads-to-voters","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/new-mexico\/press\/common-cause-backed-modernization-bill-heads-to-voters\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Cause-Backed Modernization Bill Heads to Voters"},"template":"","class_list":["post-2198","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry","press_type-press-release"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"HJR 5 allows New Mexicans to decide if their legislators should be paid ","featured_image":"","press_type":145,"authors":"","related_issues":[106,402],"related_work":false,"location":34},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":"","name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"The joint resolution to modernize New Mexico\u2019s legislature to establish salaries for elected leaders (HJR 5), passed the Senate and now heads to the voters to decide this November.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nChampioned by Common Cause and introduced by Reps. Cristina\u00a0Paraj\u00f3n\u00a0and Angelica Rubio,\u00a0<\/span>HJR 5<\/span><\/a>\u00a0triggers\u00a0a\u00a0ballot measure\u00a0asking\u00a0voters to\u00a0do\u00a0away with a ban on\u00a0legislative\u00a0compensation. New Mexico is the only state in the nation that does not pay its\u00a0legislators a salary, and Common Cause has been\u00a0<\/span>leading the charge for years<\/span><\/a> to compensate leaders for their work.<\/span>\r\n

Statement of Common Cause\u2019s\u00a0New Mexico\u00a0Executive Director Molly Swank:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\u201cFor too long, lack of pay has blocked everyday New Mexicans from running for office and\u00a0representing\u00a0their communities, from\u00a0working families, caregivers, rural and Tribal\u00a0communities,\u00a0and\u00a0young leaders.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThat vacuum creates space for moneyed interests to wield outsized influence in the Roundhouse\u00a0and with legislators, putting their\u00a0needs before the\u00a0needs\u00a0of the people.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why Common Cause has fought for\u00a0years to ensure regular people can afford to serve the public.\u00a0Now, the choice is up to New Mexicans.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>"}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_add_component","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_add_component":null},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_work","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_work":{"heading":"Work","manually_curate":false,"work":null}}]},"yoast_head":"\nCommon Cause-Backed Modernization Bill Heads to Voters - 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