Another bad grade for New Mexico's corporate welfare program

The bad grades just never seem to stop coming.

According to a new study, the state received an F for online disclosure of corporate tax breaks and other kinds of economic development subsidies with a score of 0 of 33 (0%).

The state got a better grade on contract disclosure, but lobbying activities in the state remain a relative secret on the internet.

In the press release for the Good Jobs First study:

"The Internet makes possible an unprecedented level of government transparency and public participation." said Good Jobs First Executive Director Greg LeRoy, "But many states have been slow to adopt vigorous online disclosure, especially with respect to economic development subsidies. Twenty-seven states [including New Mexico] and the District of Columbia still provide no systematic online subsidy disclosure."

Full text of the report as well as an appendix on each state (plus the District of Columbia) can be found on the Good Jobs First Web site at http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/news/article.cfm?id=375

Some policy options for Fred Mondragon, state officials and legislators from the study's press release:

• Make it possible to browse through complete databases on subsidies, contracts, etc. as well as to search for data on a specific party.

• Provide a variety of data formats, so that users can either download full databases and analyze the information offline or import the data to other Web sites (through Application Programming Interfaces).

• Enhance subsidy and contract disclosure to include data on outcomes. For example, subsidy disclosure should reveal how many jobs (with what wage rates, benefits, etc.) were created by subsidized companies, and contract disclosure show indicate how well the vendor company carried out its responsibilities.

• Also enhance subsidy and contract disclosure to include data on the past performance of companies. This could include their track record on environmental, workplace, and consumer-protection compliance as well as the existence of any tax liens.

• Combine disclosure about subsidies, contract awards and lobbying with data on state campaign contributions by the companies involved or their top executives.

You can contact your legislator here about vigorous online disclosure of corporate tax breaks (and other economic development deals between governments and corporations), procurement contracts and lobbying activities in the state.