Group fights settlement secrecy

Associated Press

BARRY MASSEY,Associated Press

Updated: Jun 25, 2012 2:15 PM

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government is urging a state agency to prohibit confidentiality provisions that restrict public disclosure of settlements with investment firms, such as those under investigation in an alleged pay-to-play scheme.

The group made the request in a letter to Gov. Susana Martinez, who is chairman of the State Investment Council that oversees state permanent funds worth about $15 billion.

The council on Tuesday is consider proposed guidelines for settlements in its legal efforts to recover money for investments allegedly influenced by a pay-to-pay scheme during former Gov. Bill Richardson's administration.

The proposal says the council "strongly disfavors" settlements with confidentiality provisions. The foundation wants to stop confidentiality provisions because of a $250,000 settlement that wasn't made public for about a year.

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