The The        FOG lobbies the New Mexico legislature to open up state and local government as much as possible. In 2011, we authored a major open-data bill and supported legislation to modernize the Inspection of Public Records Act and improve notice for public meetings. FOG was instrumental in passing major overhauls of the Inspection of Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act in 1993, and the opening of legislative conference committees in 2009. Just as importantly, we oppose any legislative attempts to create unnecessary or overbroad secrecy laws. Read our 2011 Policy Platform here, and keep up with our latest efforts in our newsletters.
 

      We don't just focus on law-breakers — FOG also recognizes people who champion open government in New Mexico. Every year, we celebrate open-government advocates with the William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award. The annual awards banquet raises awareness of (and money for) FOG's year-round efforts to safeguard the public's right to know. The 2011 luncheon was held on September 28 and attracted nearly 250 attendees. 
 

FOG frequently serves as a consultant and advisor to public agencies wishing to adopt or revisit open-government policies. With 21 years of experience fielding citizen complaints, we can provide a citizens'-eye view of government information and bureaucracies. We know where bottlenecks and roadblocks tend to form, and we've seen how the good intentions of policymakers can sometimes pave the road to citizen frustration. To consult with FOG on policy matters, please contact us.
 

The judiciary has a unique challenge in weighing the public's right to know against the due-process rights and privacy interests of defendants, victims and litigants in the court system. Therefore, whenever New Mexico courts are weighing changes to public-access rules and practices, FOG takes every opportunity to speak up on behalf of the public's right to know. We provided feedback and commentary on the work of the judiciary's Public Access Subcommittee from 2007 to 2010, and in 2011 we will continue to advocate our position as the courts grapple with online access to electronic court documents.