Better living through better policy.

Topic: Transparency

SPPI Files Public Records Request Regarding New Mexico Lottery Contract Procurement

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date February 27, 2026
No Comments on SPPI Files Public Records Request Regarding New Mexico Lottery Contract Procurement

SPPI seeks transparency and legal clarity regarding the New Mexico Lottery Authority’s procurement process and transition planning for the state gaming system contract.

Conservatism Courts Crime and Justice Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Government Transparency and Accountability Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Transparency Updates

Fiduciary Standards Start With Transparency

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 4, 2026
No Comments on Fiduciary Standards Start With Transparency

The loudest voices demanding “fiduciary purity” in America’s retirement debate are often the least willing to submit themselves to basic public scrutiny. That contradiction is now impossible to ignore. This week, the Pinpoint Policy Institute filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service alleging that the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard (IFS) has failed […]

Conservatism Courts Crime and Justice Domestic Policy Government Transparency and Accountability Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial New Mexico Political Thought Press Progressivism Public Opinion SPPI v Watson et al. Technology Top Issues Transparency Updates

Albuquerque’s Motion to Quash: A New Low in Anti-Transparency Efforts

Post author By Liam Gray
Post date December 18, 2024
No Comments on Albuquerque’s Motion to Quash: A New Low in Anti-Transparency Efforts

This press release is also available as a PDF. ALBUQUERQUE, NM—The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) denounces the City of Albuquerque’s recent attempt to quash a valid subpoena aimed at obtaining crucial public records. Mayor Tim Keller and City Clerk Ethan Watson’s ongoing efforts to obstruct the release of a public records database—owned by the […]

Tags City of Albuquerque, Ethan Watson, Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), Mayor Tim Keller, Open Government, Tim Keller, Transparency

Arizona Conservatism Courts Crime and Justice Culture Domestic Policy Education Education Freedom and Reform Government Regulation Government Transparency and Accountability Infrastructure & Technology Legal Legal and Judicial Political Thought Press Progressivism Public Opinion SPPI v Mesa Public Schools Technology The Constitution Top Issues Transparency Updates

Update on SPPI’s Public Records Case Against Arizona’s Mesa Public Schools

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date October 28, 2024
No Comments on Update on SPPI’s Public Records Case Against Arizona’s Mesa Public Schools

SPPI’s hearing against Mesa Public Schools will address the district’s minimal response to our public records request, which yielded less than 50 email addresses despite serving over 60,000 students.

Tags Arizona Public Records Law, Mesa Public Schools, School Choice, Transparency

Conservatism Courts Crime and Justice Culture Domestic Policy Government Transparency and Accountability Legal and Judicial New Mexico Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion The Constitution Top Issues Transparency Updates

The Politicization of the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date September 10, 2024
3 Comments on The Politicization of the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office

The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) is committed to promoting transparency and accountability in government. This policy brief addresses the ongoing politicization of the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS) in New Mexico under Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Specifically, it critiques her selective disclosure of voter data to favored entities while denying the same data […]

Tags Elections, Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), James O. Browning, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Secretary of State (NMSOS), Open Government, Transparency, Voter, Voter Reference Foundation LLC (VRF), Voting

Culture Domestic Policy Government Spending Government Transparency and Accountability Infrastructure & Technology Political Thought Technology Top Issues Transparency Updates

Transparency is Cultural, Not Transactional

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 14, 2024
1 Comment on Transparency is Cultural, Not Transactional

In the realm of governance, transparency and openness are not mere buzzwords but foundational pillars that uphold the edifice of democracy. In their compelling discourse, Greg Brooks and Patrick Tuohey from Better Cities Project argue that open government is inherently a cultural phenomenon rather than a transactional obligation. This perspective resonates deeply with the ethos […]

Tags Better Cities Project, City of Albuquerque, Ethan Watson, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (NMFOG), Open Government, Transparency

Domestic Policy Government Transparency and Accountability Legal and Judicial New Mexico Press SPPI v New Mexico Secretary of State Top Issues Transparency Updates

SPPI Expresses Concern Over Delays in Settlement Agreement Finalization

Post author By Southwest Public Policy Institute
Post date August 23, 2023
No Comments on SPPI Expresses Concern Over Delays in Settlement Agreement Finalization

Albuquerque, NM — The Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI) today expressed its disappointment with the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office over the unexpected delay in finalizing a previously announced settlement agreement. Despite receiving verbal confirmation of a settlement, and a statement from Linda Bachman, Director of Legislative and Executive Affairs for the Secretary of State’s office, […]