Enchantment State News

“Get registered, get educated and use your vote.”

That’s the advice of the nonpartisan New Mexico Business Coalition, which has released its legislative scorecard. The NMBC tracks incumbents’ voting records on legislation while seeking information from all legislative candidates.

The coalition grades from A, labeling them pro-market and a job creator, to F, or anti-business and pro-government growth.

Carla J. Sonntag | NMBC

New Mexico Business Coalition President and Founder Carla J. Sonntag said it is always upfront about its process.

The goal is to provide voters with a report on their legislator's voting record and what legislative candidates believe in. The NMBC, which operates entirely on private funds, was founded in 2009 to serve as a voice for business owners, employees and other New Mexico residents. It also serves as the state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers.  

“We know firsthand what it takes to run a business and that’s why we are effective in working in a nonpartisan manner to promote business policy that works,” the coalition states on its website. “Best business practices should take precedence in decision-making, not special interests. NMBC provides you access to the political process to whatever extent you desire. Our extensive voter education efforts focus on giving New Mexicans the knowledge, resources, and encouragement needed to voice their opinions through our calls to action and to vote.”

Early voting locations run from Oct. 16, through Oct. 31. Tuesday is the last day to request an absentee ballot. They must be turned in by Election Day, Nov. 3.

Sonntag said the New Mexico Business Coalition conducts a survey of its members each year to help establish legislative and policy positions for the year.

“Prior to each legislative session, NMBC publishes the priority list, which is provided to each legislator prior to the session with a copy delivered to their office and to them personally via email,” she said.

“These legislative and policy positions, broken into general categories, become the basis for scoring legislators based on how they vote on selected bills,” Sonntag said. “NMBC uses a highly sophisticated, independent software program that automates tracking of every action and vote taken on bills we specify during a legislative session.

“Our members can monitor the bills we track during the session, which are then used in the legislative scorecards. Legislative candidates who do not have a voting record are given the opportunity to complete an NMBC Survey that identifies their policy positions, which is used as the basis for their grade on the legislative scorecard.”

Candidates who fail to respond to the survey despite repeated attempts receive an F on the scorecard, she said. Voters have a right to know that, in her view.

It is an admittedly pro-business organization.

“NMBC advocates for legislation and policies that create a healthy business-friendly environment and maximizes private sector job opportunities that improve the quality of life for all New Mexicans,” Sonntag told Enchantment State News. “This would include policies that support free-market ideals without government mandated employment regulations such as wages, benefits and scheduling. It also includes fair taxation to provide for the common good without unnecessarily burdening business.

“A 'no' vote by a legislator or documented opposition by a candidate on a bill/position that unnecessarily grows government and taxes results in a grade of 'A' on the NMBC scorecard.

"NMBC stands against policies and legislation that increases government growth, taxation and government dependence,” Sonntag said.

“A 'yes' vote by a legislator or documented support by a candidate on a bill/policy that unnecessarily impedes business growth and job creation results in an 'F' grade,” she said.

Sonntag said the response from its members has been outstanding.

“Reaction to the NMBC legislative scorecard and our other voter education/encouragement efforts has been overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “They look forward to receiving the scores and are often inquiring about them long before our work is complete and can be published.”

The report has provided a valued tool for voters as well.

“Because the scorecards are non-partisan and not affiliated with any candidate for office, the NMBC scorecard can be taken to the polls by voters and we’ve heard that is exactly what many voters do to assist in marking their ballot,” Sonntag said. “We get frequent feedback when the scorecards are discussed on radio talk shows and other outlets independent from our publication.”

Politicians are divided on it, she said, primarily depending on how they are rated.

“We've had positive and negative responses from legislators/candidates who questioned their score,” Sonntag said. “We welcome that interaction as it provides the opportunity to reinforce the importance of private sector opportunities [over government growth] to incumbents and prospective legislators. The question of, ‘Why did you give me that grade?’ is always met with, ‘We don’t give you anything. Your grade is determined by how you voted [if an incumbent legislator] or your stated policy positions [if a candidate].’”

It can be an asset to them.

“Incumbent legislators and candidates who receive a high score from NMBC often use that rating in their election materials,” Sonntag said.

The scorecard is far from its only product.

“NMBC delivers a concise weekly newsletters to over 5,000 New Mexicans which communicates via social media to more than 20,000 followers, has news and updates published regularly, hosts important in-person and virtual events, has thorough voter registration/information in addition to a get out the vote project called 'Dare To Change New Mexico,’” Sonntag said.