Democracy for New Mexico

Bingaman Votes to Pass Unfair Bankruptcy Bill

It was very disheartening to read the paper this morning and discover that our own Democratic Senator, Jeff Bingaman, voted FOR the federal bankruptcy bill, created by the credit card industry. This is the bill that makes discharging debts like massive medical bills almost impossible for the middle class. Meanwhile, it allows wealthy debtors to hide their assets via complex trust agreements and permits them to retain ownership of their expensive homes and other property.

Here's some of what Arianna Huffington has to say about this bill in a :

Instead of cracking down on predatory lending practices, closing loopholes that favor the wealthy, and strengthening the safety net for working people, single mothers and elderly Americans struggling to recover from a financial setback, the Senate put together a nasty little bill that reads like a credit industry wish list. Rubbing salt in the wound, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), the bill's chief sponsor, labeled it the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005—even though it does nothing to prevent bankruptcy abuse or protect consumers.

So what does the bill do? It makes it harder for average people to file for bankruptcy protection; it makes it easier for landlords to evict a bankrupt tenant; it endangers child support payments by giving a wider array of creditors a shot at post-bankruptcy income; it allows millionaires to shield an unlimited amount of value in homes and asset protection trusts; it makes it more difficult for small businesses to reorganize, while opening new loopholes for the Enrons of the world; it allows creditors to provide misleading information; and it does nothing to reign in lending abuses that frequently turn manageable debt into unmanageable crises. Even in failure, ordinary Americans do not get a level playing field.

[. . .]
Make no mistake, the inequitable nature of the bill—bending over backwards to help the credit card industry while sticking it to American working people who fall on hard times—is no accident. Time and again over the last week, the Senate shot down amendments that would have made the bill a bit less mean-spirited. They denied proposals that would have made it easier for military veterans, the sick and the elderly to qualify for bankruptcy protection. They even rejected an amendment that would have put a 30 percent ceiling on the interest rates credit card companies can charge. Thirty percent—that's more than Paulie Walnuts charges. But 74 U.S. senators—including John Kerry, Harry Reid, Barack Obama and Dick Durbin—clearly thought that wasn't high enough. Quick, somebody send those guys a Bible bookmarked to Deuteronomy 23:19: "Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother."For years, credit-card companies have been claiming that tougher laws are needed to reign in high-flying customers using bankruptcy to game the system. But the truth is that the vast majority of people who file for bankruptcy are middle-class folks who can't pay their bills because they've lost their jobs or been hit with high medical bills or gone through a divorce.

Indeed, a recent study by Harvard University found that half of last year's 1.6 million bankruptcies were the result of crushing medical bills. Put another way: Every 30 seconds, someone in this country files for bankruptcy in the wake of a serious illness. How's that for a shocking stat? Here's another: Three-quarters of the so-called medically bankrupt had health insurance. It just wasn't enough to cover the dramatic rise in health-care costs.

But instead of adapting to this harsh new reality, where hardworking, college-educated, middle-class folks can be financially destroyed by a sudden illness, the Senate is about to approve a one-size-fits-all law that treats a family man who has sunk into debt because of a heart attack the same as a con artist who maxes out his MasterCard, then refuses to pay up.
[. . .]
There has also been an explosion in the fees that credit card companies charge: late fees, balance transfer fees, cash-advance fees, over-the-limit fees. Such fees bring in billions and are partly responsible for the fact that, even as personal bankruptcies in America have steadily increased, so have the profits of credit card companies--which reached a whopping $30 billion last year.

The Dem's yeas for the Act:
  Baucus (D-MT)
  Bayh (D-IN)
  Biden (D-DE)
  Bingaman (D-NM)
  Byrd (D-WV)
  Carper (D-DE)
  Conrad (D-ND)
  Inouye (D-HI)
  Jeffords (I-VT)
  Johnson (D-SD)
  Kohl (D-WI)
  Landrieu (D-LA)
  Lincoln (D-AR)
  Nelson (D-FL)
  Nelson (D-NE)
  Pryor (D-AR)
  Reid (D-NV)
  Salazar (D-CO)
  Stabenow (D-MI)

Click if you'd like to let Senator Bingaman know your thoughts on his vote for this terrible bill.

Status of Key Election Reform Bills

From Bob Walsh of United Voters of NM:

With little more than a week to go,

HB742, Speaker Lujan's bill creating an Election Reform Task Force, was amended on the House floor to increase the membership to 16 and to provide for two county clerks from different parties.  It was passed by the House as amended and is now in the Senate Rules Committee.  The SRC agenda already has 47 items, but HB742 is not yet on that agenda.  Nevertheless, I expect that it will pass the Senate.

The moratorium of Ken Martinez (HB1003) was amended on the floor of the house so that it does not apply to purchases under the HAVA for persons covered by the Americans With Disabilites Act DA (alas!).  Like HB742, it passed the House as amended and is now in the SRC, but not yet on that agenda.

The Senate ominbus bill, the committee substitute for SB678 that is now being carried by Linda Lopez, is among many items that have been on the agenda of the Senate Judiciary Committee for a few days.  That committee's calendar is not on the website as of 2:30 a.m., but they are expected to meet at 2:30 p.m. or after the session today (Fri.).

The House omnibus bill, HB1063, has been referred to a subcommittee headed by Ken Martinez for creation of a committee substitute.  The House Voters and Elections Committee has it on the agenda for Saturday at 8:30 a.m. 

SB1065 (McSorley) is among the 47 items on the SRC agenda for this morning (Fri.) at 8:30 a.m. If you go, bring a book to read.  This is the idealists' bill, which has many technical problems.

I will be surprised if any bill passes that keeps the Secretary of State from authorizing the HAVA money for non-voter verifiable paper ballot machines.  We may have to work on the county clerks and county commissions, arguing that the money (and the training) will be wasted.
********
Editor's Note: Click to check the frequently updated calendars for Legislative Committees, and their meeting agendas.

ACTION ALERT: Stop Wildlife Privatization in NM

From the NM Wilderness Alliance:

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE MADE CALLS!!!
Let's Keep the Pressure Up!
NM Senate Bill 337, will be voted on this Saturday.

If you have not already, please take a moment out of your day to call the Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee, plus any representatives from your area. The future of New Mexico’s wildlife depends on defeating Senate Bill 337.

Senate Bill 337 would allow the “super-sizing” of canned-hunting areas in New Mexico, expanding the maximum size of “game parks” from 3,200 up to 15,000 acres.

This bill would allow the fencing-in and confiscation of New Mexico’s publicly owned wildlife, where no hunting seasons and no hunting limits would apply inside the tall fences. If this bill passes, the tall fences would also block free-movement of New Mexico’s wildlife across the landscape, and would block access to food, water and cover.

To top it all off, the captive animals shipped in to stock the Game Farms would bring with them the risk of diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease, tuberculosis and brucellosis. The economic impact of infecting New Mexico’s wild elk herds with CWD would be devastating.

(Click to the continuation page for legislator contact info.)

House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee
Gail C. Beam, Chair (D), Albuquerque: 986-4844
Irvin Harrison, Vice Chair (D), Gallup: 986-4464
Thomas A. Anderson (R), Albuquerque: 986-4452
Keith J. Gardner (R), Roswell: 986-4211
Joni Marie Gutierrez (D), Las Cruces: 986-4234
Dianne Miller Hamilton (R), Silver City: 986-4221
Al Park (D), Albuquerque: 986-4234

Election Reform Bill Hearing in Senate Judiciary Postponed to Friday

From Bob Stearns at Verified Voting NM:
Hi All, Wayne reports that the Senate Judiciary Committee will not meet today (THURSDAY). It lost its quorum due to member absence. Regrettable since our bill was #1 on the agenda.

Committee is expected to meet tomorrow afternoon (FRIDAY) after the Senate floor session. Best to call the Legislature's During Session Number 986-4300 early FRIDAY afternoon and ask if the Senate is still in session.

Dean & Reid on MoveOn Calls Tonight

As I'm sure you know by now, MoveOn house parties will be held all over the country this evening. Today it was announced that DNC Chair Howard Dean and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid will be participating in the conference calls during the parties.

Click for a list of gatherings tonight in the Albuquerque area.

Update on Election Reform Bill Hearings

From Bob Stearns of Verified Voting NM:

NM House Voters & Elections Committee met an hour late this morning(THURSDAY) and Chair Ed Sandoval announced that Substitute SB1063 and 1064 would not be heard. An HVEC subcommittee is discussing the bills and will report later. HVEC will hold a special meeting on the two bills on SATURDAY, time to be announced. Sen. McSorley said there has been a compromise in wording for Sen Judiciary Substitute Bill for SB678. Senate Judiciary met this morning.

Charlotte reports that Senate Judiciary plans to meet after the Senate floor session this afternoon and may consider Substitute Bill SB678. Committee hearings usually start 1/2 hour after the floor session ends, which is usually in mid or late afternoon. You can call the Legislature During Session number 986-4300 to find out if the Senate is still in floor session or has finished.

Editor's Note: Please remember that hearings on bill at this point in the Legislative Session are subject to abrupt changes. Always try to check the Committee agendas and/or call the Legislature to check for last-minute changes.

ACTION ALERT: Call These Legislators on Election Reform

From Bob, Charlotte, Wayne, Leland and all the Other Roundhouse Activists:

Hello Activists, NOW IS THE TIME, only 9 days left for the session,  to BARRAGE key lawmakers with phone calls from citizens (be sure to say it if you're a constituent), urging them to support legislation mandating voter verifiable paper ballots and automatic random audits. This will not happen without strong public pressure immediately. The key bills now are Senate Judiciary Substitute Bill for SB678 and House Bill 1063.

(Click to the continuation page for the list of legislators and phone numbers.)

Leadership lawmakers to call are Senate:
President Pro Tem Sen Ben Altamirano of Silver City 986-4733; 
Dem Majority Leader Sen Michael Sanchez of Belen at 986-4727;
Repub Majority Leader Sen Stuart Ingle of Portales at 986-4702.

House Side:
Speaker Ben Lujan of Santa Fe 986-4782;
Dem Majority Leader Rep Ken Martinez of Grants 986-4777;
Repub Majority Leader Rep Ted Hobbs at 986-4757.

Senate Judiciary Committee  Members:
Chair Cisco McSorley of Albuq at 986-4485;
Richard Martinez of Espanola at 986-4389;
Rod Adair of Roswell at 986-4385;
Kent Cravens of Albuq at 986-4391;
John Grubesic of SF at 986-4260;
Clinton Harden of Clovis at 986-4369;
Linda Lopez of Albuq at 986-4737 (she is a strong VVPB supporter);
William Payne of Albuq at 986-4276;
Lidio Rainaldi of Gallup 986-4310;
Michael Sanchez of Belen at 986-4727.

House Voter & Elections Committee Members:
Chair Rep Ed Sandoval of Albuq 986-4840;
Rep Mary Helen Garcia of Las Cruces 986-4435;
Rep Janice Arnold-Jones of Albuq at 986-4451;
Rep Donald Bratton of Hobbs at 986-4451;
Rep Kandy Cordova of Belen at 986-4243;
Rep. Jimmie Hall of Albuq at 986-4215;
Rep Ted Hobbs of Albuq at 986-4757;
Rep. Ben Lujan of SF at 986-4782;
Rep James Madalena of Jemez Pueblo 986-4417;
Rep Ken Martinez of Grants 986-4777;
Rep Kathy McCoy of Cedar Crest 986-4214;
Rep Danice Picraux of Albuq 986-4438;
Rep Debbie Rodella of San Juan Pueblo 986-4248;
Rep Eric Youngberg of Albuq 986-4226.

Ours is a non-partisan appeal because our issues affect all parties, all candidates, all voters. Please make as many calls as you can as soon as you can. Every one has an effect.

Quotes on DOMA

There have been some amazing statements made about the so-called Defense of Marriage Act that just passed the NM Senate yesterday. I don't think any commentary is needed. It's easy to tell the fair-minded folks who support equality for all our citizens from the hypocrits out for political gain at the expense of justice, isn't it?

*******Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, invoked the memory of his brother Billy Griego, who died of AIDS complications in 1987.

"My brother and his partner, Jim, were a great couple," Sen. Griego said. "They involved themselves in the community, they helped the family. They went to church with the family and took Holy Communion. At family gatherings we always expected them to be there, because they were a couple.

"When Billy was dying, Jim was there to change him, to bathe him, to feed him. He died in Jim's arms. Nobody on this floor can tell me that relationship was immoral or illegal," Griego said. "I would rather have seen Billy and Jim raise 10 kids than some heterosexual couples."

*******Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez said Griego's speech brought tears to his eyes.

*******Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, referring to the brevity of the bill, said, "This is only four lines. Four lines of fear, four lines of hate, four lines of mistrust, four lines of dissension, four lines of segregation, four lines of telling a group of people, 'You're different than us.' "

"We all know this bill is designed to hurt people and nothing else," Grubesic said. "I don't want to be a party to hurting people and telling them 'You're beneath us.' "

*******Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, said she initially had intended to support SB 597, but changed her mind partly because, she said, the true purpose of the measure was political.

"It's to put us on record for election time," she said. "It's not about morals or family values; it's about election time. Are we relegating Scripture to stature? With a bill like this, that's what we're trying to do."

*******Sen. Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, said the bill doesn't discriminate against gays. "There are many wonderful relationships in our society," he said. But he said, "It's relatively easy when you view marriage as a union of complimentary opposites; one having convex parts, one having concave parts."

*******"You can't marry your sister," Sharer said. "You can't marry your own mom. Is that discrimination? Is that the Dark Ages because we can't do that? I don't think so."

Above quotes from The New Mexican.

*******"What we are talking about, while it sounds simple on the surface, is in reality a very pointed and negative attempt at telling one group of our citizens that there are certain rights, certain opportunities that are closed to you," said Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque.

*******Sharer said his bill aims to provide the best the state can for its children. "Ninety percent of the men in prison today don't have a dad," he said. "Obviously, they have a father, but they don't have a dad. And that's where I'm coming from, how can we help those guys have a dad?"

*******Sen. Rod Adair, R-Roswell, denied the bill would discriminate against anyone. "This has nothing to do with any kind of unlawful discrimination or anything else," he said. "None of the people I know who are advocating this legislation have anything but good will in their hearts."

*******During Senate floor debate, Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, explained her decision. She in the past has said she opposes gay marriage and signed Sharer's bill. She voted against the bill on the floor.

A Roman Catholic who helps serve Mass, Garcia said, "the God that I pray to, our maker, he loves everybody; he's not one to say you can't love this person because he's gay or you can't love that person because he's a Native American."

Garcia said that not everyone in her district would be happy with her vote. "I'll get a big scolding when I get home; I'll get a big scolding probably from the clergy and probably from the church that I belong to," she said. "I don't know if they will allow me to continue serving Mass on Sunday, perhaps not, we'll see. But you know what, I have to stick with my convictions of loving everybody regardless of who they are."

The last set of quotes are from the Albuquerque Journal.

Click to the continuation page for a listing of who voted yes, voted no and who didn't have the guts to show up to vote on this bill.

Here is the Senate's 25-12 vote Wednesday approving a measure (SB 597) to define marriage as a contract between a man and a woman.

Voting yes, in favor of the measure, were 17 Republicans and eight Democrats. Voting against the bill were no Republicans and 12 Democrats. Not voting or excused were one Republican and four Democrats.

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES
    Rod Adair (Roswell)
    Vernon Asbill (Carlsbad)
    Mark Boitano (Albuquerque)
    Joseph Carraro (Albuquerque)
    Kent Cravens (Albuquerque)
    Dianna Duran (Tularosa)
    Clint Harden (Clovis)
    Stuart Ingle (Portales)
    Gay Kernan (Hobbs)
    Steve Komadina (Corrales)
    Carroll Leavell (Jal)
    Steven Neville (Aztec)
    William Payne (Albuquerque)
    Leonard Lee Rawson (Las Cruces)
    John Ryan (Albuquerque)
    William Sharer (Farmington)
    H. Diane Snyder (Albuquerque)

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES
    Carlos Cisneros (Questa)
    Joseph Fidel (Grants)
    Tim Jennings (Roswell)
    Richard Martinez (Espanola)
    Mary Kay Papen (Las Cruces)
    Lidio Rainaldi (Gallup)
    Bernadette Sanchez (Albuquerque)
    James Taylor (Albuquerque)

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO
    Dede Feldman (Albuquerque)
    Mary Jane Garcia (Doña Ana)
    Phil Griego (San Jose)
    John Grubesic (Santa Fe)
    Linda Lopez (Albuquerque)
    Cisco McSorley (Albuquerque)
    Gerald Ortiz y Pino (Albuquerque)
    John Pinto (Tohatchi)
    Shannon Robinson (Albuquerque)
    Nancy Rodriguez (Santa Fe)
    Michael Sanchez (Belen)
    Leonard Tsosie (Crownpoint)

DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING
    Ben Altamirano (Silver City)
    Pete Campos (Las Vegas)
    Cynthia Nava (Las Cruces)
    John Arthur Smith (Deming)

REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING
    Sue Wilson Beffort (Sandia Park)

Flyers for Ward & Precinct Meetings in Sandoval and Bernalillo Counties

We have received flyers from the Democratic Party of NM promoting ward and precinct elections in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties.

It would be much appreciated if folks would download and distribute these in their neighborhoods and to friends and acquaintances. Bookstores, laundromats, grocery stores, libraries and other locations with bulletin boards are good places to post them, and they are perfect for distribution to Democrats in your precinct. Just remember it's illegal to put them in mailboxes. If you need a list of Democrats in your precinct, call Terri Holland at the DPNM at 830-3650 x11.

Download Flyer-BernalilloCountyPrecinct.doc

Death Penalty Repeal Bill at SJC Friday

From the NM Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty:

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Confirmed
Friday, March 11th - Room 321 - Late Afternoon or Evening

HB 576 Abolish the Death Penalty will be heard first on the agenda of Senate Judiciary this Friday. The Committee will meet directly following the day's Senate floor agenda. While we cannot give an exact estimate of when the hearing will begin, it will be no earlier than 5:00 PM and possibly as late as 8:00 or 9:00 PM.

Out of respect for the Senators' time and busy schedules this late in the session, we will be limiting testimony to five witnesses. As always, however, public support is important. Please join us!

To confirm the time of the Committee hearing, please contact Senate Majority Leader, Michael Sanchez's, office at 986-4727 beginning at 5:00 pm. Ask the secretary what time the Senators will adjourn from the floor. Our hearing will begin approximately 15 minutes after the floor closes for the day.

Don't forget to contact all of the members of Senate Judiciary before Friday. Their contact information is listed below.

SENATE JUDICIARY

Cisco McSorley (D), Chair
Bernalillo
986-4485
Capitol 319A

Richard C. Martinez (D), Vice Chair
Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe
986-4389
Capitol 414D

Rod Adair (R)
Chaves, Lincoln
986-4385
Capitol 416F
VOTED NO MONDAY

Kent L. Cravens (R)
Bernalillo, Sandoval
986-4391
Office 416D
VOTED NO MONDAY

John T.L. Grubesic (D)
Santa Fe
986-4260
Capitol 414B
VOTED YES MONDAY

Clinton D. Harden, Jr. (R)
Colfax, Curry, Quay, San-Miguel, Taos, Union
986-4369
Capitol 416E

Linda M. Lopez (D)
Bernalillo
986-4737
Capitol 320A
VOTED YES MONDAY

William H. Payne (R)
Bernalillo
986-4276
Capitol 415H

Lidio G. Rainaldi (D)
Cibola, McKinley
986-4310
Capitol 302A

Michael S. Sanchez (D)
Valencia
986-4727
Capitol 120A

ONWARD!

NM Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty
www.nmrepeal.org
(505) 986-9536