Bill Support Criteria

As your representative, I will evaluate whether to support a bill (or not), based on the following principles:

1. Is the bill Constitutional (Federal and State) or temporarily necessary due to a public emergency?
2. Does the bill make our society better for the greatest number of New Mexicans?
3. Does the bill contribute to a reduction in (or at least, not affect) the unsustainable and increasing wealth gap?
4. Do I think that my constituents would think the money allocated by the bill was well spent?
5. Is the bill consistent with the "7th Generation" principle? "In every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the seventh generation".

Managing Our Common Resources

Government needs to be the right size to manage what ultimately belongs to us -- the land, water, and air - to make sure big companies do not pollute our resources.

Government must also protect personal liberties -- to the extent that exercising these liberties does not infringe on other people’s rights. If the government is too large, it becomes a hazard to personal liberties (e.g. Ed Snowden and the FBI's history of surveilling and subverting non-violent opposition groups). If it is too small, the government can’t provide needed public services and can’t protect people from predatory capitalism or from the upward redistribution of wealth.

Legislating Fairly and Responsibly

I do not believe in the negotiation tactic of voting for something I oppose in return for getting votes for something I support. This kind of quid-pro-quo tends to obscure the voting records of Legislators. The constituents must be able to see and evaluate where their representatives stand on each issue. I also oppose adding unrelated amendments and riders onto bills. Each issue should stand on its own and be voted on independently.