Democracy for New Mexico

Call House Agriculture Committee This Week on Medical Marijuana Bill

From the Drug Policy Alliance Network:
Our medical marijuana bill needs your help! Your calls this week are crucial to advancing the legislation as it faces its ultimate challenge: House approval. Last year the bill was tabled by the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee after an intense hearing -- and now it is before that committee again. The delays caused by this committee referral last year ultimately killed the 2006 bill. We can't let that happen again!

You can help by calling the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee and encouraging the members to support SB 238 (the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act) in committee.

Committee members act on behalf of all of us when they vote on bills in committee, so everyone can call each member listed below - regardless of whose district you live in. However, if you live in one of the districts below, please be sure to let the office know that when you call.

House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee:

Representative Andy Nuñez, Chair
District 36, (505) 986-4423

Representative Ray Begaye, Vice Chair
District 4, (505) 986-4436

Representative Joseph Cervantes, Member
District 52, (505) 986-4249

Representative Jimmie C. Hall, Member
District 28, (505) 986-4215

Representative Dona G. Irwin, Member
District 32, (505) 986-4249

Representative Larry A. Larranaga, Member
District 27, (505) 986-4215

Representative Don L. Tripp, Member
District 49, (505) 986-4220

Thanks for your help,
Reena Szczepanski, Drug Policy Alliance Network
www.improveNewMexico.org

Editor's Note: For talking points and other information, see our previous post.

NM Senate Rules Commitee to Discuss Ethics Reform Today, Take Up Several Election Bills

From the NM Senate Daybook:
February 14, 2007, 8:00 AM – Senate Rules Committee – Room 321 – Committee Secretary 986-4746. For contact information for Senate Rules Committee members, click here. The Committee plans to hear an Ethics Task Force Discussion with Stuart Bluestone, Deputy Director, Attorney General’s Office and Dean Scarnecchia, UNM law School. The Committee also plans to review the following bills (among others):

SB 449 AUTOMATIC RECOUNTS IN CERTAIN ELECTIONS (FELDMAN): This is a very important bill being supported by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, election reform activists and others to require and fund automatic recounts when the vote margin between the top two candidates in a general statewide or federal election is less than one half of one percent. Currently, only candidates can request a recount and must pay for it themselves unless serious mistakes or fraud is are found in the recount. Please contact the Committee members and urge their approval of SB 449.

SB 360 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BY COUNTY CLERKS (SANCHEZ M): Reassigns certain election duties such as providing a list of registered voters from municipal clerks to county clerks.

SB 363 ELECTRONIC CAMPAIGN REPORT FILING PROVISIONS (SANCHEZ M): Makes electronic filing of campaign reports voluntary, not mandatory as currently required.

SB 506 INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS (DURAN): Requires that independent candidate nominees for state office must have no affiliation with a political party and must reside in the district they're running in according to their voter registration as of the date of the governor's proclamation for the primary election.

ALERT: NM House Bill for Tax Subsidies to Dirty Desert Rock Power Plant Introduced

Editor's Note: A version of this bill was previously introduced on the Senate side. See our earlier post. Now it's being pursued on the House side. I got the following alert via email from activists fighting the bill:

Please Call Today - STOP TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOR THE PROPOSED DIRTY DESERT ROCK POWER PLANT!

Soon, House Energy & Natural Resources Committee will be considering House Bill 178 which proposes an $85 million subsidy for the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant. Please call House Energy and Natural Resource Committee Members and tell them to OPPOSE HB 178.

No subsidies or tax breaks to build a dirty plant for electricity to other states – NOT our money, not out of New Mexico’s pocket into Sithe Global’s wallet.

If Desert Rock is built, all the clean energy and anti-pollution progress we have made in New Mexico will be wasted. Sithe Global claims their plant would be a “clean” coal plant, but it would NOT meet New Mexico’s standards for power plants and would severely impact surrounding communities and add millions of pounds of carbon and mercury pollution into New Mexico’s air and water.

The legislature will be considering real clean energy legislation this session. Encourage your representative and members of the Energy & Natural Resource Committee to vote against dirty coal and for clean energy in 2007.

Please contact the following Energy & Natural Resource Committee Members. If you are in their district, please let them know.

Representative Jim Trujillo, Vice Chair
District 45, Capitol Phone: 986-4255
Email: jimtrujillo@msn.com

Representative James Roger Madalena, Chair
District 65, Capitol Phone: 986-4417
Email: jr_madalena@yahoo.com

Representative Thomas Anderson
District 29, Capitol Phone: 986-4452
Email: kb5ysg@arrl.net

Representative Paul Bandy
District 3, Capitol Phone: 986-4214
Email: paul@bandyranch.com

Representative Donald Bratton
District 62, Capitol Phone: 986-4427
Email: donbratton@valornet.com

Representative Candy Spence Ezzell
District 58, Capitol Phone: 986-4450
Email: csecows@aol.com

Representative Thomas Garcia
District 68, Capitol Phone: 986-4242
Email: ocate@hotmail.com

Representative William Gray
District 54, Capitol Phone: 986-4211
Email: wjgray@pvtnetworks.net

Representative Joni Marie Gutierrez
District 33, Capitol Phone: 986-4234
Email: jonig@zianet.com

Representative Jeff Steinborn
District 37, Capitol Phone: 986-4248
Email: jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov

Representative James R.J. Strickler
District 2, Capitol Phone: 986-4454
Email: jamesstrickler@msn.com

Questions? delschwartz@juno.com

NM House Passes Death Penalty Repeal

From the NM House Democratic Leadership:
A bill to abolish the death penalty in New Mexico and replace it with a sentence of life without parole passed the House of Representatives today on a floor vote of 41 to 28. Six Republicans supported the legislation. Similar legislation was passed by the NM House in 2005 and defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee by one vote.

Rep. Chasey has proposed three pieces of legislation that work together as a package to support the victims of crime. HB 190 and HB 966 propose that the death penalty be replaced with life without parole and that a portion of the funds saved by the state, which is estimated to be as much as $3 to $4 million dollars a year, be used to expand services for murder victim family members. HB 193 protects the employment of all crime victims when they must take unpaid leave from their jobs to attend court hearings.

Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque) has sponsored similar legislation since 1999. During Rep. Chasey’s presentation on the bill, she said that the death penalty discriminates against people of color and those who live in rural areas or are poor. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 53% of men and women on death row are African American or Hispanic. The Hispanic population on death row nationally is growing at the fastest rate when compared to other ethnic/racial groups.

Rep. Chasey also said that the death penalty was not a deterrent to murder. She quoted crime statistics that indicated that the murder rates in the southern part of the country where higher than all other regions. In 2006, 83% of all executions in the country were carried out in the south.

Rep. Chasey emphasized that New Mexico spends millions of dollars a year on the capital punishment system even though we have had only one execution since 1960. There are currently two men on death row in New Mexico and about 20 capital murder cases making there way through the court system.

Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) spoke in support of repeal of the death penalty as a former prosecutor. He explained that resources are diverted away from prosecuting violent crimes, such as rape and assault, when a death penalty case takes precedence in a district attorney’s office. He suggested that the state needs to scrutinize all of its expenditures very carefully when we live in a world of scarce resources. “It astounds me that the state will spend millions of dollars every year on the death penalty when we’ve had one execution in 47 years. If this money was being spent on any other program with the same result, we would be laughed out of town,” he said. “Imagine if we allocated $50 million dollars to an economic development program and they reported back to us after a year that they had created one small business.”

Editor's Notes:

Report from Floor Debate: Local blogger Heath Hausaman was up at the Legislature at the floor session during the debate on this bill, and provides a running report how that went.

Contact Gov. Richardson and NM Senators: Although Gov. Bill Richardson has supported the death penalty in years past, there's a chance he may change his mind this year, especially if he hears from numerous voters who support death penalty repeal. According to an Albuquerque Journal article:

Richardson, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, has refused to answer questions this year about his position on death penalty legislation. He said he is focused on the items on his legislative agenda. Chasey said the governor continued to have "very cordial conversations" with death penalty opponents. "I think he's giving it some thought," she said.

Click to FAIR Blogcontact Gov. Richarson or contact your State Senator on this issue.

U.S. House Debates Iraq While Polling Shows Strong Support for Congressional Action

The U.S. House of Representatives begins its three-day Iraq debate sometime this morning, leading to an expected Friday vote on the House Dem version of a nonbinding resolution against escalation. It's very simple:

(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and

(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.

Each of the 435 House members will get five minutes to comment on the resolution. The debate will be broadcast live on CSPAN TV, video streamed on CSPAN.org and audio streamed at CSPAN radio online.

Meanwhile, the latest polling by USA Today/Gallup shows that:

• A majority supports congressional action on Iraq:
  • 51% back a non-binding resolution
  • 57% support a cap on troop levels
  • 63% want a timetable to withdraw all our troops by the end of 2008.
  • However, 58% oppose denying funding for the additional troops.
• The Senate's failure to act last week rankled nearly two-thirds of those surveyed. By 51%-19%, they blamed Republicans. In a party-line vote, Senate Republicans refused to cut off debate and let action proceed on a resolution opposing the troop increase.
• Seven of 10 say their representative's vote on the war will affect their vote in the next congressional election; more than four in 10 call it a major factor. However, nearly two-thirds aren't sure where their representative stands on the issue.

According to a Washington Post article the Repubs will be going all out to counteract the impact of as many as 60 of their members voting to support the resolution:

The GOP, whose members have conceded they are likely to lose, is treating the debate like a mini-political campaign, deploying a rapid-response team to counter Democrats' statements, aggressively trying to get its leaders on television and radio, and creating a "resource center" off the House floor where members can fill their arms with maps, research material, videos or other visual aids to use during their floor time.

"We may lose the vote, but we'll win the debate," said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Minority Leader (R-Ohio).

Meanwhile, more and more House Repubs are making statements like this:

"Every time I go to another funeral, every time I go to Walter Reed, people are really gracious, but what do you say? What are we doing over there now?" asked Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-Md.), whose Eastern Shore district has lost 23 service members in the war.

The narrowly worded resolution now being debated is considered as a first step on the road to stopping the war by House Dems, a number of whom will be creating additional roadblocks against any escalation of the war and setting up conditions that bring our troops home as soon as possible.

UPDATED: NM House Committee to Vote on Wage Bills Today

UPDATE 11:41 AM: Both Speaker Lujan's and Sen. Altamirano's competing minimum wage bills will be debated in the House Labor Committee today.

From NM ACORN:
The NM House Labor Committee will hold the first hearing on Speaker Ben Lujan's minimum wage bill, HB 759, on Tuesday, February 13 at 1:30 PM in the House Chambers. Please join us to support this legislation, which would not only give us a higher wage than what Congress proposes for a new minimum. It would also provide an annual cost-of-living increase and remove all exemptions from New Mexico law so that all workers are covered. For more information, contact Matthew Henderson at nmacorn@acorn.org. If you can't be at the hearing, please contact members of the House Labor Committee and urge them to vote yes on this bill.

Editor's Note: There's another minimum wage bill that originated in the NM Senate as SB 324, sponsored by Sen. Ben Altamirano. It gained passage in the Senate and is now in the House Labor Committee awaiting a hearing. However, Rep. Lujan's House bill is better, especially in terms of its application to ALL workers and the provision of yearly cost of living increases.

Great News! NM Senate Judiciary Committee Passes the Health Security Act!

From the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign:
Yesterday (Monday), the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Health Security Act (Senate Bill 720) by a 6-4 vote! It was an exciting hearing, with a roomful of Health Security Act supporters and strong, impassioned testimony in favor of Senate Bill 720.

Many thanks to those who came to the hearing to show and voice their support for the Health Security Act! Thanks also to those who could not come to the State Capitol but were providing long-distance support from around the state.

Next Step: The Senate Finance Committee.
The Health Security Act now moves to the Senate Finance Committee. Click here for Committee members and their contact information. We'll need your help to get the Health Security Act passed by the Finance Committee! If you have any questions, contact Josette at 771-8763 or jhaddad@cableone.net.
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Editor's Note: More information about the bill is provided in this press release from the NM Senate Democrats and the bill's sponsor, Senator Carlos Cisneros:

NM Senate Bill 720, introduced by Senator Carlos Cisneros (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos-6) won approval today from the Senate Judiciary Committee by a margin of 6-4 in a party line vote. The bill would be a giant step toward providing health care coverage for all New Mexicans.

The proposed legislation is the result of input from organizations and interested groups from across the state over many years. It is aimed at providing a solution to New Mexico’s health care crisis.  The bill will next be presented to the Senate Finance Committee.

Senator Carlos Cisneros commented, “I am elated that the Committee was receptive to this concept for extending health care to all New Mexicans. In his State of the State address the Governor called for bold new steps to improve the lives of New Mexican citizens and this certainly is one.”

Under the Health Security Act:

•The old-fashioned concept of an insurance plan would be the basis of the Health Security Plan under which approximately 1.6 million young, old, healthy and the not-so-healthy New Mexicans will share the risk.*

•Military personnel and federal retirees will maintain their own plans.   

•Tribes and plans covered under ERISA will have the option to join.

•An independent non-governmental Commission will administer the Health Security Plan -- a Commission is geographically representative and publicly accountable.

•The private health care delivery system stays in place.

•No new taxes will be required.

•The Health Security Plan is paid for by combining existing public dollars spent on health care (Medicaid, Medicare) with premiums based on income and employer contributions (with caps).

•Counties will decide how to use their indigent funds under the Plan.

•Developing and implementing the Plan would follow a go-slow approach:

•Year 1: analysis of the cost – with public input. If the financial costs are too much and not approved by the Legislature, the Health Security Plan will not go into effect.

•Years 2 & 3: If the financial picture looks good, it is estimated that working out the details of the Health Security Plan with public input will take two more years -- with the ability to extend the time to proceed or to put on the brakes should this phase not be workable.

The Plan Guarantees:

•Health care coverage for all New Mexicans, regardless of age, income, employment, or health status.

•Freedom of choice of doctor and hospital within and across state lines.

•Comprehensive benefits, no less than those offered to state employees.

•Protections so retirees will not lose what they already have.

* According to numerous state studies, including one completed for New Mexico, pooling state residents will result in a reduction of health expenditures by billions of dollars.

Protect Future Generations from Hazardous Waste, Call Today to Oppose SB 279

From Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety:
The Environmental Covenants Bills, SB 279 and HB 48, would allow for less clean up at Department of Energy, mining and other hazardous waste sites in New Mexico. The bills would allow polluting companies to sell off contaminated lands without making every attempt to clean them up to fully protect human health and the environment.
   
These bills must be stopped to protect future generations! Voice your Opposition! Oppose SB 279!The hearing will be held at 2:30 PM, Tuesday, February 13, at the NM Senate Conservation Committee meeting, Room 311. Please call your state senators and express your opposition:

Senator Griego, Phil A. (D): Chair
District: 39, County(s): L.A.,Mora,Sand,S.M.,S.F. & Taos
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4861
E-mail: senatorgriego@yahoo.com

Taylor, James G. (D): Vice Chair
District: 14, County(s): Bernalillo & Valencia
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4862
E-mail: jamesg.taylor@nmlegis.gov

Sharer, William E. (R): Ranking Member
District: 1, County(s): San Juan
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4381
E-mail: bill@williamsharer.com

Altamirano, Ben D. (D)
District: 28, County(s): Catron, Grant & Socorro
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4733

Harden, Clinton D. (R)
District: 7, County(s): Col,Cur,Hard,Quay,SM,Taos&Union
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4369
E-mail: charden@theosogroup.com

Martinez, Richard C. (D)
District: 5, County(s): L. A., Rio Arriba & Santa Fe
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4389
E-mail: richard.martinez@nmlegis.gov

Payne, William H. (R)
District: 20, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4276
E-mail: william.payne@nmlegis.gov

Pinto, John (D)
District: 3, County(s): McKinley & San Juan
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4835

Ryan, John C. (R)
District: 10, County(s): Bernalillo & Sandoval
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4373
E-mail: johnchrisryan@yahoo.com

-----------------------------------------------
Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety
107 Cienega Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Tel (505) 986-1973, Fax (505) 986-0997
www.nuclearactive.org

Nuclear Watch NM Seeks Letter Writers

Guest Blog from John Witham, Nuke Watch NM:
NukeWatch is looking for a few brave letter writers to be a rapid response team when the issues merit! 

If you have been been seeing us mentioned in articles, visiting our website or receiving our newsletter you know about our work in nuclear weapons issues, nonproliferation and cleanup of contamination from weapons production.

There is a serious groundswell of opposition to the Bush Administration’s plan to build new nuclear weapons and resume industrial-scale bomb production. Editorials and articles are now being published here in New Mexico...

Santa Fe New Mexican article
Albuquerque Journal article

...and nationally, for example in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, which call for fundamental review and change in policy.  Even Henry Kissinger and Mikhail Gorbachev have called for the elimination of nuclear weapons! Congressional hearings and the new Federal budget are pending. Yet nuclear weapons affairs remain balanced on the knife-edge.  The results can be tipped by the slightest nudge if acted upon in a prompt manner.

How can we take advantage of this significant time?

Our representatives and elected officials take the pulse of the nation by having their staff review letters-to-editors, op-eds, and online comments from citizens responding to articles in the press. Usually these comments are 150 words or less! Congressional staff has told us that there are not enough citizens making their voices heard through these standard media outlets to compel their offices to act decisively on nuclear weapons issues. New Mexicans have a special responsibility and opportunity to do so, as our state is the key state in the nuclear weapons complex (43% of the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons funding is spent here alone). At the same time, we know from personal experience that because of our relatively small population New Mexicans who do speak can have more effect than citizens in a more populous state. We are living now in a time when some added citizen advocacy could help change U.S. nuclear weapons policies and make a better world for generations to come.

We’d like to identify a group of people with an interest in helping shape this future by occasionally writing (say every couple of months) a letter-to-the -editor.  As time is usually of the essence we are looking for potential “rapid responders” who we can tip off (via email) about a recent editorial, pending legislation or an upcoming hearing, and who can invest a few minutes to write a few words in order to help nudge the scales towards the future we want our children to enjoy.

Please consider being a rapid responder, letting your elected officials know where you stand on nuclear weapons issues and having an impact on our future! If you decide to become a rapid responder we will add your email address to a select list to receive these prompts.  Although we may provide key points about the particular issue and where to send comments, how you respond is up to you.

We deeply respect the privilege of communicating with you and will not share your e-mail address with anyone for any purpose. If you wish to participate as a rapid responder just let us know.  Or, if you have any questions please feel free to give me a call or e-mail me.

In peace,
John Witham, Communications,
Nuclear Watch New Mexico
www.nukewatch.org
john@nukewatch.org
(505) 989-7342

Editor's Note: This is a guest blog from John Witham of Nuclear Watch. If you'd like to submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me button the upper left-hand side of our main page.

EmergeNewMexico is Accepting Applications for Its 2007 Class

From EmergeNewMexico:
EmergeNewMexico, an affiliate to EmergeAmerica, is a non-profit political training program for talented and diverse Democratic women who want to pursue elective office at the local, state and national levels.

Proven success: 60% of emerge graduates have gone on to serve in public office. This unique comprehensive, seven month (1 day/month) training program provides in depth skills on all aspects of running for office. EmergeNewMexico also provides the ongoing support of a strong network of Democrat women leaders already in public office or working on campaigns.

APPLY TODAY! Click for and more information. APPLICATIONS MUST BE POST MARKED or e-mailed to emergenm@yahoo.com BY March 15, 2007. For more information call Julie Koob at (505) 920-6002 or emergenm@yahoo.com