The four NM lawmakers with the lowest attendance rates during 2020 legislative session
The legislative session is over, but did our lawmakers show up when they needed to? According to Viante New Mexico, a nonpartisan organization that tracks lawmakers during the session, there was a good overall average of attendance at the legislative session, with 93.6 percent of lawmakers present. But there were four lawmakers with low attendance rates during floor votes.
"As their constituents we expect them to be up there day in and day our representing or needs," said Rhiannon Samuel, the executive director of Viante. "And when they're not in their seats voting on our behalf we don't have our voice heard or represented."
Those lawmakers include three from Bernalillo County-- Republican Sen. Mark Moores, Democratic Rep. Patricio Ruiloba, Democratic Rep. Deborah Armstrong. The fourth one is Democratic Rep. Patricia Lundstrom out of McKinley and San Juan counties. "They had over 20 percent missing votes" Samuel said. "That's why we feel like this information is important for the public to have and make their own determinations," Samuel said.
KOAT called all four of the lawmakers to ask them about their attendance, but we got a lot of unanswered phones and voicemails. Lundstrom did eventually call us back. "Most of them would have been excused, because I am working on the budget during the day and because this is a 30 day session all our focus is on the budget," Lundstorm said.
Lundstrom's had a low attendance rate for two years in a row. She said the last two years have been busy.
https://www.koat.com/article/the-four-lawmakers-with-the-lowest-attendance-rates-during-2020-legislative-session/31106369
