State Auditor Brian Colón

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE – State Auditor Brian Colón applauds the State Ethics Commission (“Commission”) for its commitment to promoting an honest, accountable, and transparent state government following the release of its annual report.

Auditor Colón has announced his support for the legislation proposed by the Commission to replace the current Financial Disclosure Act (“Act”), which currently contains significant omissions in several reporting requirements and is vague and undemanding as to what must be disclosed.

The Commission is recommending the Legislature adopt the “Disclosure Act” as a replacement for the Act as a more comprehensive and more effective approach to disclosure in government.

This proposed bill seeks to address the shortcomings of the current Act, clarifies to whom the law applies, and expands the scope of necessary reporting to better alert the public of whether a public servant is subject to a financial conflict of interest.

“Transparency promotes accountability,” Auditor Colón said. “New Mexicans have a right to know and be able to assess whether potential financial conflicts of interest exist among their elected representatives. The enhanced disclosures will aid in the deterrence of public corruption and strengthen the public’s trust in government.”

In addition to performing annual financial audits of governmental entities, the Office of the State Auditor regularly conducts special audits and examinations related to allegations of governmental waste, fraud, and abuse.