Democracy for New Mexico

Hagel: This Is a Ping Pong Game With American Lives

See transcript.

More power to Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) for railing at his fellow Senators (to their faces) about their cowardly responses to Bush's smoke and mirrors escalation ploy. Hagel was the only Repub on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to vote for the Biden-Hagel-Levin resolution, which passed the other day by a 12-9 margin. Most of the Repubs on the panel were fairly critical of Bush in their comments, but Hagel couldn't shame them into supporting even this watered down, non-binding resolution on Iraq, let alone anything truly restrictive on Bush.

In another segment of his comments, Hagel had this to say:

"What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected?" he asked. "If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes. This is a tough business."

Many Senators are introducing their own resolutions, almost all of them nonbinding, with slightly varying positions and language. Biden and others are claiming that tougher measures "with teeth" will eventually be drafted, that this is just the beginning of a long process of negotation on a "consensus" Senate position, etc. Meanwhile, BushCo is rushing to get additional troops on the ground in Iraq before anyone can mess with the money to fund it, cap troops, etc.

Repubs other than Hagel have been verbally critical about Bush's plans but have so far refused to go much further. They're apparently inclined to join a handful of Dems to back Sen. Warner's more tepid resolution, which is now supported by Ben Nelson (D-NE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Norm Coleman (R-MN).

Biden and Hagel reportedly will be working with Warner to craft a compromise resolution more Senators can sign onto, which would, at a minimum, include these provisions:

... a call for U.S. troops to be re-deployed to guard Iraq's borders, focus on counterterrorism and speeding up the training of Iraqi troops; and a call for diplomatic efforts to engage Iraq's neighbors in the pursuit of a political settlement to the war.

A proposed amendment to the Biden resolution by Sen. Dodd to cap troop numbers at January levels failed by a margin of 15-6 with 5 Dems voting nay -- Biden (DE), Cardin (MD), Nelson (FL), Casey (PA) and Webb (VA). Like too many on both sides of the aisle, these folks like to talk tough, but the odds of their taking any truly effective action seem long. Clearly, we'll have to keep pushing to convince them that they, too, may face a loss of their seats if they persist in refusing to represent the people on Iraq. As Sen. Russ Feingold said,

"This is not a time for trying to forge a compromise that everybody can be a part of. This is a time to stop the needless deaths of American troops in Iraq."

More Opportunities to See APS Board Candidates

According to an item in the Albuquerque Journal, a tape of the 1/24/07 forum with Albuquerque Public School Board candidates will be televised on TalNet, Cable Channel 96, at 4:00 PM this Saturday. One of our readers who attended the forum reports that, "The room was packed for the forum last night, and people were sitting in the hall. They even had a simultaneous Spanish translator! The event was very efficiently run, but there were too many questions submitted by the audience to cover them all. Fortunately, I found out that we will have another chance -- there is another candidate forum next week."  Here's the info:

From the Highland High School Calendar, https://www.highlandhornets.com/ (scroll down for calendar):
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FORUM
January 31, 2007 6:30-8:30 PM
Highland High LECTURE HALL
(South of Main Building, Connected to Band Building)
4700 Coal Avenue SE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 265-3711  (Phone)
(505) 348-8503  (Fax)

Parking: On Jefferson, or in the staff parking lot North of the main building (S. of Coal) and walk around

The APS Board Election will be held February 6, 2007. Early and absentee ballot voting is taking place right now.

More National Attention for NM Impeachment Resolution

The Nation's John Nichols comments on the New Mexico impeachment resolution, Jack Cafferty's respectful reporting about it on CNN and its premise being bolstered by the ongoing Scooter Libby trial. Building, building, building. As was said at the resolution press conference, "'We created a ripple. Your voice is going to turn it into a tidal wave hopefully." Only if we keep up the pressure...

Where is Richardson on impeachment?
What I and many others are awaiting is a definitive word from the presidential candidate from NM, Gov. Bill Richardson, on this matter. You'd think he'd be weighing in on an impeachment effort being launched within his own state legislature, but you'd be wrong. Apparently he'd rather talk about other matters less "controversial." Personally, I think if Richardson wants serious consideration as a presidential candidate, he should comment seriously about perhaps the most important issue on the table: Bush's lawbreaking and what to do about it. What about it, Governor?

Economic Unfairness: Populism Needed

"The average after-tax income of the richest one percent of households rose from $722,000 in 2003 to $868,000 in 2004, after adjusting for inflation, a one-year increase of nearly $146,000, or 20 percent. This increase was the largest increase in 15 years, measured both in percentage terms and in real dollars. In contrast, the income of the middle fifth of the population rose $1,700, or 3.6 percent, to $48,400 in 2004. The income of the bottom fifth rose a scant $200 (or 1.4 percent) to $14,700."

"... Income is now more concentrated at the top of the income spectrum than in all but two years since the mid-1930s. This conclusion is reached by examining the CBO data in conjunction with data from a ground-breaking historical analysis of pre-tax income distribution trends published in a leading economics journal. When viewed together, the studies indicate that the top one percent of households now receive a larger share of the national pre-tax income than at any time since 1937, except for the years 1999 and 2000." -- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Minutemen vs. ACLU: 2/11/07 at Congregation Albert

From Congregation Albert Brotherhood:
Brunch and Speakers: Immigration and the Border Region
Speakers: Bob Wright, Deputy National Executive Director, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and Peter Simonson, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico
Social Hall of Congregation Albert
3800 Louisiana NE, Albuquerque
Sunday February 11, 10 AM
Brunch $11 Nonmembers, Debate Only Free
RSVP by Feb. 8th at 883-1818, ext. 3203

New Mexico is a border state and consequently is central to the debate on illegal immigration. Gov. Bill Richardson declared a state of emergency last year in four border counties citing a chaotic situation involving illegal alien smuggling and drug shipments. Richardson, while seeming to take a strong stand against illegal immigration, then contradictorily signed legislation giving some illegal aliens in-state tuition rates at our public universities. He also issued an executive order that in effect prohibits state and local enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal authorities solely in regard to inquiring about a person’s immigration status.

Meanwhile, prior to the midterm elections, the Republican controlled U. S. Congress was unable to enact any meaningful immigration reform. Still, demonstrations against any proposed crackdown on illegal immigration brought thousands of protesters into the streets across the country. Here in the southwest we have witnessed the rise of citizens groups such as the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, viewed by some as vigilantes and by others as a needed grassroots effort to step in where government has failed. Other groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union are concerned with defending the civil and constitutional rights of immigrants, whether they are here legally or not. The illegal immigration debate encompasses a wide range of difficult issues and conflicting opinions.

Join us at 10:00 am on Sunday, February 11th in the Social Hall of Congregation Albert (3800 Louisiana NE) when our speakers will be Bob Wright, Deputy National Executive Director, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and Peter Simonson, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.

The cost for brunch is $8 for Brotherhood/Sisterhood members and $11 for others, including the general public. Please reserve before Feb. 8th by calling 883-1818, ext. 3203, and leaving your name, phone number and the number attending. We are expecting a large turnout so make your reservations early.

Editor's Note: If you don't want to purchase the brunch, you can still attend the speaker portion for free and sit at the side of the room for the debate only.

NM Sen. Altamirano Introduces Minimum Wage Bill

As reported in the the Santa Fe New Mexican:

Minimum wage: A bill to raise the state's minimum wage to $7.50 over two years was introduced this week by Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano, D-Silver City. The bill (SB 324) would increase the state's minimum wage of $5.15 an hour -- which is the same as the federal pay floor -- to $6.50 next year and to $7.50 in 2009.

Under the bill, local governments would be prohibited from raising their minimum wages higher than the state's until Jan. 1, 2013. However, that provision would not apply to local governments that already have set their minimum wages higher than the state's, such as Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, is expected to introduce a competing proposal to increase New Mexico's minimum wage to $7.50 an hour. Gov. Bill Richardson backs Altamirano's bill but also is willing to work with other lawmakers on legislation to boost the state's minimum wage, said Eric Witt, Richardson's director of legislative affairs.

You can see a copy of Sen. Altamirano's bill, SB 324, here, as well as track its progress. It will go first to the Senate Corporations & Transportation Committee (SCORC). Click for membership. If it passes there, it will go next to the Senate Finance Committee (SFC).

Something to keep in mind is there is no guarantee that the minimum wage will be raised at the federal level this year. Although a minimum wage bill passed in the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate's bill to raise the minimum wage nationally is essentially being filibustered by Republicans because they want a tax cut for small businesses added. Senate supporters of the bill don't have the 60 votes needed to bring the bill to a vote without amendments. Read more.

Here's the vote tally. NM Sen. Pete Domenici voted against cloture (for the filibuster). No Democrats voted against cloture, and they were joined by 5 Republicans: Senators Coleman, Collins, Warner, Snowe and Specter who were against the filibuster.

Health Insurance Coverage for Domestic Partners Clears First Hurdle at NM Legislature

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports:

A bill that would require insurance companies to provide health coverage to domestic partners of employees -- if requested by an employer -- cleared its first hurdle Tuesday when it was unanimously endorsed by the House Consumers and Public Affairs Committee.

"What we're doing is kind of working along the edges to close gaps that exist as we move toward universal coverage," bill sponsor Rep. Peter Wirth (photo right), D-Santa Fe, said after the committee hearing.

The bill (House Bill 15) next goes to the House Health and Government Affairs Committee.

I have a personal stake in this one as I get my health insurance via my partner's job. We have to pay extra for it on a taxable basis, but if my partner's employer didn't use an insurer that provides such coverage, I'd be out of luck. And that insurer could change its mind any time about offerering domestic partner coverage.

There are a number of insurers (not to mention employers) in NM that flat out refuse to offer it. If my partner took a job at a company using one of them, I'd lose my coverage. Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to purchase COBRA coverage if my partner should lose her job for any reason, unlike the spouses and dependents of employees, but at least I have it for now. Sadly, my partner has actually had to turn down jobs with employers whose insurance plans refused to offer domestic coverage, despite the fact the employer wanted it. Unfair indeed.

Fortunately, it looks like this bill, which would apply to both straight and gay domestic partners, has a good chance of passing, according to its sponsor:

Wirth said he has received overwhelmingly positive feedback to his bill. "This is one of those bills that really makes sense," Wirth said.

This bill is one of the legislative efforts being supported by Equality New Mexico. Click here for their report on the bill, which includes some warnings about possible right wing interest in excluding GLBT citizens from coverage by introducing a Super DOMA bill. Also see my previous post for more info on EQNM's legislative plans.

Here's a list of members of the House Health and Government Affairs Committee, where the bill will next be heard. It's very important to contact them NOW.

You can see a copy of the bill and follow its progress here. If passed by the House Health & Government Affairs Committee (HHGAC), the bill will go to the Senate for committee assignment there.

Guest Blog: Richardson Running for President a Breath of Fresh Air

This is a Guest Blog submitted by Stephen Fox of Santa Fe:
What wonderful news. Sorry to say, but Hillary, Obama, John Edwards, et alia., seem like recycled hacks to me, and the alternative with Bill Richardson is much more interesting. My focus is international, almost entirely international, and Richardson and his lengthy international resume is a breath of fresh air, after the inanities and ghastly absurdities evidenced thus far by Bush/Cheney/Halliburton/Rumsfeld and the reign of plutocrats.

Let's face it: we are going to need an internationalist Democrat, if there will ever be any hope of rebuilding the USA's image internationally! Can the USA ever really recover from them and what they have perpetrated nationally and internationally? Gouging the USA's expenditures into weapons and deployment and grudge matches and another $160 billion to waste in Iraq and in Afghanistan, regardless of the loss of markets and esteem for the USA in Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America due to these depravities and depradations?

Bill Richardson could lead such a recovery, even through the course of the candidates' dialogue, if given the chance he will get as a viable presidential candidate. I welcome his presence in the ostensibly crowded field of Democratic candidates. He won't be one to perpetuate the kind of international idiocy and unavoidable resultant decline, both internally and internationally, from which we have suffered from during the past 6 years.

Let us New Mexicans help him win by talking with our friends, family, and colleagues in other states.

Podemos esperar, que non?

Guest Blogger Stephen Fox is an art dealer from Santa Fe, founder of New Millennium Fine Art, an eclectic Santa Fe gallery since 1980. Active in international and Legislature Democratic politics, he is working towards a ban on Aspartame and the establishment of a New Mexico Nutrition Council, with powers to question and even challenge the FDA. He was a "snowball-in-hell" candidate for the US Senate in 1978, and has been deemed by a Taos newspaper as a "professional idealist," from the M.K. Gandhi/Eleanor Roosevelt wing of the Democratic party. Beyond the Legislative Session, Fox is focusing hope that the World Peace Conference May 16-17 in the Capitol will turn into an eventual Peace University in Santa Fe.

Editor's Note: We periodically publish Guest Blogs submitted by readers. If you'd like to submit a Guest Blog for possible posting here, contact me by clicking on the Email Me button on the upper left-hand corner of DFNM's main page. Guest Blogs specifically represent the views of the writer of the post and do not necessarily express the views of DFNM or others who write here.

Sen. Webb Made My Day

I thought Sen. JIm Webb's response on behalf of Dems to Bush's mushy State of the Union retread was as perfect as a such speech could be. Articulate, tough, precise, powerful. What do you think? CNN has the text version. Excerpt:

On both of these vital issues, our economy and our national security, it falls upon those of us in elected office to take action.

Regarding the economic imbalance in our country, I am reminded of the situation President Theodore Roosevelt faced in the early days of the 20th century. America was then, as now, drifting apart along class lines. The so-called robber barons were unapologetically raking in a huge percentage of the national wealth. The dispossessed workers at the bottom were threatening revolt.

Roosevelt spoke strongly against these divisions. He told his fellow Republicans that they must set themselves as resolutely against improper corporate influence on the one hand as against demagogy and mob rule on the other. And he did something about it.

As I look at Iraq, I recall the words of former general and soon-to-be President Dwight Eisenhower during the dark days of the Korean War, which had fallen into a bloody stalemate. "When comes the end?" asked the general who had commanded our forces in Europe during World War II. And as soon as he became president, he brought the Korean War to an end.

These presidents took the right kind of action, for the benefit of the American people and for the health of our relations around the world. Tonight we are calling on this president to take similar action, in both areas. If he does, we will join him. If he does not, we will be showing him the way.

Jonathan Alter at MSNBC heaps praise on Webb's speech saying, "For the first time ever, the response to the State of the Union Message overshadowed the president's big speech.

Photos: NM Impeachment Press Conference

Photos by Terry Riley (click on images for larger versions):

Leland Lehrman of Mother Media starts it off.

Senators Gerald Ortiz y Pino and John Grubesic speak at Roundhouse press conference announcing introduction of Cheney-Bush impeachment resolution at the NM Legislature in Santa Fe yesterday. It is now Senate Joint Resolution 5 (PDF).

Sen. Ortiz y Pino rouses the crowd with Sen. Grubesic next up.

"We're simply doing what all elected officials should be doing. That is, listening to the voice of the people and trying to carry it out as best we can." --Sen. Ortiz y Pino

"I am an American citizen that believes that the Constitution is a sacred document and that the Bush Administration clearly does not share this sentiment." --Sen. Grubesic

Packed Capitol Rotunda in Santa Fe. There were also many citizen speakers and cheers kept breaking out all over as things progressed!

You can see local coverage, including video, at KOAT-TV 7 News. Other coverage can be found at After Downing Street, which is tracking the effort. And here's Steve Terrell's report for the Santa Fe New Mexican. This article includes quotes on the bill by Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall:

"Sen. (Jeff) Bingaman doesn't think it would be in the best interest of our country to initiate measures to impeach President Bush, though he has a number of concerns about aspects of the administration's domestic and foreign policy agendas," Bingaman spokeswoman Jude McCartin said Tuesday. "Sen. Bingaman thinks our policies should be a reflection of our priorities as a nation and that all too often (Bush's) priorities seem inconsistent with our nation's values."

Rep. Tom Udall on Tuesday didn't close the door on the memorial. He said he would closely monitor the resolution in the state Legislature. "These legislators speak for many of my constituents," he said. Udall said he hopes to talk with those supporting the resolution.

To contact them, visit Congress.org.

See our previous post for more information on the bill.

The Joint Memorial has been assigned to three committees on the Senate side: Rules (SRC), Public Affairs (SPAC), Judiciary (SJC). You can track its progress at the NM Legislature website ats https://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/ and find contact information for legislators who serve on committees that will hear the bill.