So much money, it’s difficult to keep track
Ever since the Secretary of State’s Office began posting campaign finance reports and lobbyist expense reports on the internet back in the early part of this century, there have been glitches and snafus and bellyaching from reporters — including me. This year is no exception. Last week was the deadline for lobbyists to file their expense reports covering the period since last October. I dutifully downloaded the spreadsheet for all the latest lobbyist transactions. And as I reported, I found $521,164 in political donations plus another $38,542 spent on meals, drinks and entertainment for legislators and other politicians since October. But wait. There’s more! The day my story was published, Sandra Fish, a fellow reporter who used to cover these issues for New Mexico In Depth, pointed out that the spreadsheet only included individual lobbyists, not the companies that employ them. (Many businesses prefer to file their expense reports that way.)
There was no separate spreadsheet for lobbyist employers, so I went to the part of the secretary of state’s website where you can can look up the actual reports for lobbyist employers. However, on Thursday morning, the site listed zero dollars for campaign contributions and only $18.84 for the year 2018. No new reports could be found, not even the one that supposedly had the $18.84.
After a little screaming at my computer (don’t worry — it’s used to it), I learned that many 2018 reports could be found under 2017. And there I found another $317,430 in campaign contributions and a smattering of other expenses.
A spokesman for the secretary of state acknowledged there was a flaw in the system and said hopefully it can be fixed with a proposed $985,000 appropriation for information technology upgrades.
The newly uncovered contributions from lobbyist employers basically confirmed my earlier finding that oil companies dominate the list of the largest donors.
Occidental Petroleum, through its lobbying firm G&K Government Affairs, gave $80,000 to 20 legislators and six candidates for statewide office. ConocoPhillips gave $73,000 to 37 legislators, while Devon Energy contributed $66,000 to six conservative political action committees. (Chevron is still the leading oil contributor though, having given $183,250 to various politicians and conservative committees.)
Besides the checks from Occidental Oil, G&K, a Santa Fe-based lobbying firm, also spent $18,000 to various legislators on behalf of its client, BNSF Railway Co., plus $500 of its own money to Mary Martinez White, a Las Cruces Democrat running for Legislature, and $200 to Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Las Cruces, who is running for state auditor, on behalf of its client, Ultra Health.
Other lobbyist employer contributors are:
Presbyterian Health Plan, which gave $51,550 to more than 60 legislators plus leadership political committees for both parties.
Axcess Financial Services, a storefront loan company that gave $11,500 to seven candidates, all Republican legislators, except Attorney General Hector Balderas, a Democrat who got $5,000.
Loveless Health Systems, which spent $6,000 consisting of $500 contributions to 12 legislators.
New Mexico Manufactured Housing Association, which contributed $5,050 to 10 legislators and GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce, who got its largest contribution, $2,000.
Sandia Pueblo, which gave $2,700 to Deb Haaland, a Democrat running for Congress in the 1st Congressional District.
Southern Wine & Spirits of New Mexico, which gave $1,000 to House Republican Leader Nate Gentry of Albuquerque.
Allstate Insurance, which put $1,000 into the good hands of Steve Pearce.
The lobbyist employer reports showed that the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union spent $1,029, including $743 for a brunch in December to which all legislators were invited; $205 for a “meet and greet” for gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca; $52 for a chile roast for House Speaker Brian Egolf; and $27 chipped in for Sen. Michael Padilla’s annual matanza.
The National Education Association spent $223, which includes $189 for lunch at La Choza for legislators.
Campaign contributions for legislators have to come to a temporary stop during the legislative session. However, the New Mexico lobbyists’ ongoing “Leave No Legislator Unfed” program will pick up dramatically during the session. I’ll try to stay on top of those reports as they come in.