Watchdogs question limit on gambling testimony

Thursday, Dec. 23, 1999 | 9:52 a.m.

They had hoped to testify against a provision in the proposed agreements that would allow tribal financial records to remain secret.

Bob Johnson, president of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, and Pat Rogers, a lobbyist for the New Mexico Press Association, said they had written letters to committee members, asking for a chance to speak on the matter.

"I think it's an important issue and it would have been good if they would allow members of the public and the newspaper association to comment," Rogers said.

Only members of the public with a financial, regulatory or economic development interest in gambling were allowed to testify.

Sen. John Arthur Smith, a Deming Democrat who chairs the committee, said that if he had been asked directly, he might have considered allowing the open-government advocates to testify.

Asked about the limited public comment, Smith said: "Legislative members were speaking on behalf of the public."

The legislative Committee on Compacts has been meeting to review a new gambling proposal that, among other things, would reduce the revenue-sharing percentage the tribes must pay the state.

Johnson and Rogers said that nothing in state law prevents the committee from excluding public comment. However, they said they are concerned with the provision that would allow tribes to keep their financial records secret.

"We're disappointed," Johnson said. "This state has entered into a partnership with the tribes and the state has a responsibility to keep its own citizens informed."