WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RECONVENES IN SANTA FE NEXT WEEK, THERE WILL BE AN ATTEMPT TO TOUGHEN UP THE LAW THAT’S SUPPOSED TO DENY PENSIONS TO CORRUPT STATE OFFICIALS. STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATTHEW MCQUEEN OF SANTA FE SAYS THE LAW, PASSED FOUR YEARS AGO, ISN’T WORKING. HE SAYS THE LAW ON THE BOOKS NOW WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH. HE SAYS THAT BECAME OBVIOUS WITH THE PROSECUTION OF FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE DIANNA DURAN.
DURAN WAS ABLE TO KEEP HER PENSION EVEN THOUGH SHE PLED GUILTY TO EMBEZZLEMENT AND RESIGNED. MCQUEEN’S BILL MANDATES THAT, IN ORDER TO GET A PENSION, ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST BE FREE OF CERTAIN FELONY OFFENSES WHILE IN OFFICE.
