Democracy for New Mexico

(4 Updates) It's Official: Gov. Richardson Calls Special Session of the NM Legislature

UPDATE 3.21.07, 11:15 AM: The hearing on the House floor for the Domestic Partnership bill that was originally scheduled for 2:00 PM today has been cancelled. The games continue.

UPDATE 8:15 PM: See my later post for how the day ended.

UPDATE 6:10 PM: From Kate Nash, Albuquerque Tribune -They were here for less than 30 minutes before they recessed. And the state senators haven't been back since. Word on the street is that they are still debating whether to adjourn their special session, which convened at noon today, or stick it out and pass the handful of measures Gov. Bill Richardson has demanded. The House, by all appearances, is staying. Its members met this morning and then headed to committees to consider some of the five bills introduced this morning. They are scheduled to return at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

UPDATE 2:40 PM: From Equality New Mexico: House Bill 4, the Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act, sponsored by Mimi Stewart, has been introduced on the House Floor and assigned to House Judiciary Committee. The House Judiciary Committee will meet today at 3:30 PM in Room 309. We need to have people testify and fill the committee room. If your schedule allows, we would love to see you there. Assuming we pass out of House Judiciary, the bill will be heard on the House Floor tomorrow, time to be determined. On the other side of the Roundhouse, the Senate has recessed until 4:00 PM today and we have no idea what their next move will be.
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The Special Session will be begin at Noon today. You can read his proclamation here. It contains descriptions of the eight bills he's asking the Legislature to consider, which include:

• public financing of statewide judicial elections
• limit campaign contributions to statewide and district candidates and impose other requirements
• create a state ethics commission
• enact a Clandestine Drug Laboratory Act
• increase penalties for certain acts of domestic violence
• authorize Grip II, a large road and infrastructure funding bill
• establish a legal process to register domestic partnerships for both heterosexual and same sex partners

Special Sessions can run for up to 30 days by law. Richardson has said the business at hand could probably be completed within several days. Unfortunately, he's getting some backlash about calling the Session, reportedly from a number of Senators who aren't supportive of ethics and campaign finance reform or have other problems with having to return to Santa Fe so soon after the end of the regular Session. Media sources are even suggesting there may be a plot being hatched, led by Democratic Senators, to scuttle the Session by calling a recess as soon as the Senate meets. We'll see.

If you care about important legislation like ethics and campaign finance reform, domestic partnerships, public funding of judicial elections and increased penalties for domestic abuse, encourage your State Senators and Reps to return to work and get them passed. Click to get contact info.

To see all our coverage on this year's legislature, visit our 2007 Legislature post archive.

Gracias: Richardson to the Rescue

I want to thank Gov. Bill Richardson for his recent actions related to several controversial but vital bills that, for one reason or another, either failed by a few votes or got stuck in the general chaos of the last days of the NM Legislative Session in Santa Fe that ended at Noon on Saturday.

Medical Marijuana
Richardson was instrumental in saving the medical marijuana bill (SB 523) from a confusing razor thin defeat in the NM Senate by stepping in to jawbone Dem legislators, change some minds and get the bill passed in the last week of the 60-day Session. As Gov. Richardson explained when he announced he would sign the bill, it was the "right thing to do" because the law is for people who "are suffering. My God, let's be reasonable." Amen. Seriously ill and dying New Mexicans will at last have an especially effective prescription pain and nausea palliative at their disposal. An Albuquerque Tribune editorial agrees. And don't forget the valliant efforts of Rep. Moe Maestas, who sponsored the bill and spoke so eloquently on its behalf.

Special Session Called for Tuesday
Now the Governor has called a Special Session of the NM Legislature to start this Tuesday, March 20, to deal with several other important bills that didn't get their due during the chaotic days at the end of our regular Session.

Domestic Partnerships
Governor Richardson's Special Session call will reportedly include reconsideration of the popular Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities Act (HB 603) sponsored by one of our best legislators, Rep. Mimi Stewart. The measure, which would provide all our citizens with the option of creating a legally defined partnership -- useful in dealing with health care and end of life matters, retirement and tax requirements and other domestic and family arrangements -- was killed in the waning hours of the regular Session. Despite passage by the NM House and two Senate Committees, the bill was essentially gutted and fell to defeat when four Dem Senators suddenly sided with Republicans to kill the bill.

Although being inaccurately portrayed as a stealth gay marriage bill by right wing opponents, the legislation in fact has nothing to do with marriage. Just the opposite. It's designed as a legal remedy for a wide variety of New Mexicans, from senior citizens who need legal protections for their long-term partnerships but don't want to marry for financial or other reasons, to heterosexuals who prefer to live together under a legal agreement short of legal marriage, to homosexuals who are in dire need of basic legal protections for their child and family arrangements.

The concept of domestic partnerships is promoted in the Democratic Party platform and has the support of all but a few Democratic officeholders in the state, as well as the vast majority of rank and file Dems. Let's hope that the Governor, the bill's sponsors and ordinary citizens can persuade a few of the Dem holdouts that this is a much needed law that represents the best of core Democratic values.

GRIP II, Ethics Reform, Water Bills
The Governor's call is also expected to include the $200 million GRIP II infrastructure and road bill, which was filibustered by Repubs at the end of the session. Also reportedly on the call will be several of his ethics and campaign reform package initiatives -- including the always excellent Sen. Dede Feldman's bill to limit campaign contributions (SB 800), which failed by one vote in the Session's last minutes, and stand-up guy Sen. Pete Campos' bill to establish a state ethics commission (SB 815) -- as well a couple measures that deal with crucial water projects.

Express Yourself
If you agree with Governor Richardson's attempt to rescue these vital legislative initiatives, be sure to give his office (505-476-2200) and your legislators (website) a call and say so. I know I'll be doing just that. We'll let you know when the Special Session agenda is finalized so you can take action in support of the bills to be considered.

Shocker: Still a Chance for NM Domestic Partnership Act in Special Session?

From Alexis Blizman of Equality New Mexico:
After a very long and grueling battle HB 603 did not pass. However, this legislation is far from dead. The Governor is calling a special session for this Tuesday, March 20, 2007. There will only be four items on the agenda, one of which will be our bill.

Editor's Note: EQNM will be sending out more info as it becomes available. Stay tuned. Phew. See my earlier post on what happened with the Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities Act in the waning hours of the Legislative Session. Visit this archive for all our previous posts on this issue.

PS: According to , rumors are that Tuesday's Special Session may also deal with the GRIP II road bill and a couple of ethics bills.

(4 Updates) Waiting on the NM Domestic Partnership Act

UPDATE 2:30 PM: See news from EQNM in my later post. The bill's still alive!

UPDATE 3.17.07, Noon: The Domestic Partnership bill reportedly was debated in the House for three hours late last night but got nowhere as far as I can tell.

UPDATE 11:00 PM: Here's what Steve Terrell says: "Earlier tonight the Senate amended — and basically gutted — the domestic partners bill. Four Democrats — Tim Jennings (Roswell), John Arthur Smith (Deming), Lidio Rainaldi (Gallup) and Carlos Cisneros (Questa) joined the Senate Republicans to do this. Advocates of the bill said they were especially surprised at Cisneros’ vote. There’s an effort to get the House to reject the new version and send it back to the Senate. Not sure if they’ve got the votes to change it back."

Recall that Cisneros was also one of the Dems who voted to stop the impeachment bill from getting to the Senate Floor. I also wonder who wasn't there to vote. That's always a nice dodge too....

UPDATE 10:30 PM: Equality New Mexico resports: "HB603 in limbo ... amended by the Senate late this evening and is headed back to the House.  We're working hard to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions." KOAT-TV news reported the bill had been "gutted," whatever that means. Sounds like the usual Democratic suspects in the NM Senate were bound and determined to stop any meaningful bill from getting through. More will be revealed and names will be named.
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I've been anxiously waiting to hear if HB 603, New Mexico's Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities Act, passes the Senate. Still no word. It was originally scheduled on the NM Senate agenda yesterday, then delayed until today. If it passes, Gov. Richardson has said he will sign it and history will be made in New Mexico.

As always in the last hours of a legislative session, there will be a crush of last minute votes on bills, frantic deal making and heated exchanges. Many important pieces of legislation will be abandoned and left to die, some due to neglect, others by design. A chosen few will be pushed through like magic as the hours count down to the end time. Our 2007 Session is over at Noon tomorrow, so push has come to shove.

I have a personal and emotional interest in the domestic partnership bill. My partner and I have been together going on 18 years, through thick and thin, through sickness and in health, through laughter and tears, through good times and bad, through problems and successes, through easy times and couples therapy. We have worked hard to create a strong, stable, statisfying, enduring relationship that is, after all, the family we nourish and celebrate. As we grow older -- with the accompanying health risks, growing financial challenges and knowledge that, day by day, we're reaching a time in our lives when things may change abruptly -- we're forced to think about the dreary realities that partnerships like ours face in our dealings with a legal system that doesn't recognize our union. With a democracy that hasn't yet seen fit to grant us full citizenship.

Eric Griego, in his latest column for the Albuquerque Tribune, communicates the human side of situations like ours (and his uncle's) as well as anyone has in this community of late. Read it and consider emailing a copy to your State Senator (and your friends and colleagues). We can only hope New Mexico's Senators will understand what is really at stake when and if they get to vote on the bill between now and Noon on Saturday. Families and futures are in the balance. They hold such power in their votes.

NM Domestic Partnership Bill Passes Senate Judiciary; Headed to Senate Floor Thursday

UPDATE 3.15.07: The Senate debate on this bill has been postponed until sometime after 11:00 AM on Friday, March 16.
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From Equality New Mexico:
By a vote of 5-1, HB 603, the Domestic Rights and Responsibilities Act, passed out of Senate Judiciary last night. Over 50 people showed up to support HB 603. The opposition only had about 8 people in the room. 

Rep. Mimi Stewart presented the bill. Sen. Cisco McSorley, Chair of Senate Judiciary, asked how many people were there to oppose the bill, and asked them if they wanted to testify. One man, who most of the opposition seemed to believe was their best spokesperson, spoke in opposition. His statement claimed that if they passed HB 603, it would lead to people marrying children, relatives, and sheep.  The testimony was over. 

Sen. McSorley asked how many people were there to support the Bill. Our 50+ people raised their hands, but offered no testimony. The committee went immediately into the vote. Voting in favor of HB 603 were Senators McSorley, Grubesic, Martinez, M. Sanchez and Lopez. Sen. Adair opposed the Bill.  Senators Rainaldi, Cravens, Harden and Payne were not in the room.

HB 603 will be heard tomorrow, March 15th on the Senate Floor. This is our last hurdle. If the Bill passes tomorrow, the Governor will sign it, and Domestic Partners will have rights in New Mexico.

We need to pack the Senate Gallery!  The Senators all need to see how many people are there to support this legislation. 

There is no way to predict when this Bill will be heard. The Senate will go into session at 10:00 AM, and will most likely remain in session all day and late into the night. The Senate does not follow their agenda, so tomorrow will likely be a very long day.

YOUR HELP NEEDED!!
We have one more obstacle to overcome. In an attempt to kill this legislation, it is likely that our opposition will try to amend this bill on the floor. We cannot allow HB603 to be amended in any way. 

We have only one day left, so please, if you live in any of the targeted Senator’s Districts listed below, contact your Senator by phone and by clicking the link below and ask them to support HB603 as is and to vote against any amendments which would change or delay this Bill.

• Sen. Ben Altamirano – 505.986.4733
• Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort – 505.986-4395
• Sen. Carlos Cisneros – 505.986-4863
• Sen. Mary Jane Garcia – 505.986.4726
• Sen. Phil Griego – 505.986.4861
• Sen. Timothy Jennings – 505.986.4362
• Sen. Linda Lopez – 505.986.4737
• Sen. Lynda Lovejoy – 505.986.4859
• Sen. Richard Martinez – 505.986.4389
• Sen. Cynthia Nava – 505.986.4834
• Sen. Mary Kay Papen - 505.986.4270
• Sen. Lidio Rainaldi – 505.986.4310
• Sen. Shannon Robinson – 505.986.4856
• Sen. Nancy Rodriguez - 505.986.4264
• Sen. John Ryan – 505.986.4373
• Sen. Bernadette Sanchez – 505.986.4267
• Sen. Michael Sanchez – 505.986.4727
• Sen. John Arthur Smith – 505.986.4363
• Sen. Diane Snyder – 505.986.4375
• Sen. James Taylor – 505.986.4862
• Sen. David Ulibarri – 505.986.4265

If you don't know who your Senator is, click here and search by zip code.

Editor's Note: Let's see if our Senators are as concerned about human civil rights as they are about the health and welfare of roosters during this Session. We can only hope.

To check on the final outcome of this bill, visit our archive of GLBT posts.

NM Domestic Partnership Act to Senate Judiciary TODAY

From Equality New Mexico:
HB 603, the Domestic Partner Rights And Responsibilities Act, is scheduled for the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY, March 13, 200. Last night, by a vote of 5-4 along party lines, HB 603 finally passed out of Senate Public Affairs. We have one more committee to get through before we are heard on the Senate Floor. HB 603 will be heard tonight, March 13th, in Senate Judiciary. We ABSOLUTELY need as many people there as possible to show our support for this legislation.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell exactly what time the Bill will be heard. Therefore, to be safe, we are asking people to show up at 4:00 PM to Room 321 at the Roundhouse for the hearing.  Be prepared to wait around for a while. Only four and a half more days of this, we promise. The national news is already reporting that this legislation has a good chance of passing and that Governor Richardson has promised to sign it. We are so close!

Editor's Note: HB 603 has already passed the NM House of Representatives by a margin of 33-24. Click for contact info on members of the NM Senate Judiciary Committee, who are expected to vote on this bill sometime today, and urge them to vote yes on HB 603. You might also want to contact your Senator and urge their support should the bill gain passage and move to the Senate Floor.

TODAY: Senate Public Affairs Hearing on Domestic Partner Bill

From Equality New Mexico:
House Bill 603, the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibiities Act, will be heard in the NM Senate Public Affairs Committee TODAY, March 8, at 3:00 PM, in Room 321 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. The hearing is definitely on. This will be a close vote, so we need as many people in the room as possible to show the Senators our support. We are second on the agenda, so please arrive by 3:00 PM.  (This bill previously passed the NM House by a margin of 33-24.)

(Updated) Domestic Partnership Bill Heads to NM Senate Committee

UPDATE 3.6.07: The Domestic Partnership Act was removed from today's agenda for the Senate Public Affairs Committee because Sen. Ortiz y Pino, one of the bill's supporters, will be absent due to a death in the family. Our thoughts go out to the Senator in his time of grief. Hearing of the Act will be rescheduled for sometime in the future.
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From Equality New Mexico:
HB 603, the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act, is scheduled for its first hearing in the Senate in the Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday, March 6th, at 2:30 PM. (Given the Senate schedule these days, we anticipate that the committee will not actually begin until at least 4:00 PM.)  We need as many people there as possible to show their support and provide testimony for this important piece of legislation. The bill has already gained passage in the NM House.

The Radical Right is extremely mobilized to kill this Bill.  Senators are already receiving thousands of phone calls and e-mails telling them to vote NO!!!

If we are to have any chance of passing this legislation, we need people to contact their individual Senators and ask them to support HB 603. The Senators need to hear from people in their own Districts.

The campaign below will allow you to send an e-mail or fax to your specific Senator. Please personalize the message. It will make a difference.  Tell you Senator your personal story and how HB603 will help you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, etc. 

CLICK HERE TO SEND A LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR.

Below is a list of 12 Senators whose votes will be crucial to passing this legislation. If you live in their Districts, please call their offices, send them e-mails, and if there is any way that you can come to the Roundhouse, pay them a personal visit and ask them to support HB603. If you know anyone who lives in their Districts, please contact them immediately and ask them to contact their Senator to ask them to support HB603. 

• Sen. Ben Altamirano (D- Catron, Grant & Socorro-28), 505.986.4733
• Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort (R- Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe & Torrance-19), 505.986.4395, sue.beffort@nmlegis.gov
• Sen Pete Campos (D- Guad, Mora, San Miguel, Santa Fe & Torrance-8), 505.986.4311, petecampos@newmexico.com
• Sen. Carlos Cisneros (D- Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe & Taos–6), 505.986.4863, carlos.cisneros@nmlegis.gov
• Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (D- Dona Ana–36), 505.986.4726, maryjane.garcia@nmlegis.gov
• Sen. Tim Jennings (D- Chavez, Eddy, Lincoln & Otero-32), 505.986.4362
• Sen. Lynda Lovejoy (D- Benalillo, Cibola, McKinley, Rio Arriba & Sandoval-2), 505.986.4859
• Sen. John Ryan (R-Bernalillo & Sandoval-10), 505.986.4373, johnchrisryan@yahoo.com
• Sen. Bernadette Sanchez (D- Bernalilo -26), 505.986.4267
• Sen. John Arthur Smith (D- Hidalgo, Luna & Sierra -35), 505.986.4363, john.smith@nmlegis.gov
• Sen. Diane Snyder (R- Bernalillo-15), 505.986.4374, hdsnyder@spinn.net
• Sen. David Ulibarri (D- Cibola, Socorro & Valencia–30), 505.986.4265

There is not much time left. Take Action Now!

Equality New Mexico is holding its Lobbying Day at the Legislature on Monday, March 6. Click here to learn more. All citizens are encouraged to participate!

Dem-Sponsored DOMA Bill Gains Passage in NM Senate Public Affairs

From Equality New Mexico:
By a vote of 5-4, Senate Bill 816, Senator Lidio Rainaldi’s Definition of Marriage Act received a “Do Pass” recommendation out of the Senate Public Affairs Committee. After a very muddled, confusing and often offensive presentation from Senator Rainaldi (D-Gallup), the Committee heard testimony from the audience.

Once again, those in opposition to the DOMA far outnumbered those in support. The testimony was moving and heartfelt and helped to swing the vote of Sen. Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces) to our side. In a vote that she clearly struggled with, Sen. Papen voted to table the Bill and when that motion was defeated, voted “Do Not Pass.” Two years ago, Sen. Papen supported the DOMA. We are making progress! (Editor's Note: You might want to contact Sen. Papen and thank her for her support.)

For a brief moment it seemed as if we might have a chance at tabling the DOMA. However, Sen. David Ulibarri (D-Cibola, Socorro & Valencia), the swing vote on the committee, ended up voting to support the DOMA. Sen. Ulibarri seemed to struggle with his vote and explained that he thought it needed more scrutiny in Senate Judiciary. Sen. Ulibarri is a freshman Senator who may very well be swayable on these issues, but clearly needs more education.

SB 816 is now on its way to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It will be very difficult to defeat this legislation in the Senate, but we must continue to try.

THERE ARE ONLY 17 DAYS LEFT IN THE SESSION - CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO EQNM’S LOBBYING EFFORTS

HB603: Domestic Partner Rights And Responsibilities Act Passes Full Vote of House

From Equality New Mexico:
In what can only be described as the fastest vote in the West, HB 603, the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act passed a full vote of the House by a vote of 33-24.

Many of us gathered to fill the gallery and await the hearing of the Bill. HB 603 was number 25 on the agenda, so we settled in for a long day and an even longer hearing. The hearing began, and was over in less than 2 minutes. Rep. Mimi Stewart (right), who sponsored the bill for us, stepped up to the microphone and introduced the Bill. No one in the room hit their button to speak, and the Speaker closed the debate. Rep. Stewart closed and asked that the House “Do Now Pass.” The vote began.  Before we knew it, the 30 second timer began counting down and the voting started. It was chaos on the floor as the vote was called and many of the legislators who had stepped out of the room scrambled to cast their votes. The last 5 seconds on the timer seemed to pass very slowly as the votes came pouring in. In the end, the vote was 33-24 in favor, which included a few “yes” votes from some surprising allies.

Take a look at the list of “yes” votes below and please give them a call to thank them for their vote. (Click on their names to get contact information.)

A special thank you should go out to Representative Mimi Stewart for all of her hard work. We could not have asked for a better sponsor.

• Rep. Elias Barela (D-Valencia)
• Rep. Jose Campos (D-Curry, DeBaca, Guadalupe & Roosevelt)
• Rep. Joseph Cervantes (D-Dona Ana)
• Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Bernalillio)
• Rep. Ernest Chavez (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Nathan Cote (D-Dona Ana & Otero)
• Rep. Justine Fox-Young (R-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Mary Helen Garcia (D-Dona Ana)
• Rep. Thomas Garcia (D-Colfax, Guadalupe, Mora, San Miguel & Taos)
• Rep. Roberto Gonzales (D-Taos)
• Rep. Joni Gutierrez (D-Dona Ana)
• Rep. George Hanosh (D-Cibola & McKinley)
• Rep. Irvin Harrison (D-McKinley & San Juan)
• Rep. Dona Irwin (D-Luna)
• Rep. Ben Lujan (D-Santa Fe)
• Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Kathy McCoy (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval & Santa Fe)
• Rep. Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Al Park (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Danice Picraux (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Henry Saavedra (D-Bernalillo & Valencia)
• Rep. Edward Sandoval (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Dan Silva (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Jeff Steinborn (D-Dona Ana)
• Rep. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo)
• Rep. Thomas Swisstack (D-Sandoval)
• Rep. Jim Trujillo (D-Santa Fe)
• Rep. Lucky Varela (D-Santa Fe)
• Rep. Richard Vigil (D-San Miguel & Torrance)
• Rep. Jeannette Wallace (R-Los Alamos, Sandoval & Santa Fe)
• Rep. W.C. Williams (R-Lincoln & Otero)
• Rep. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe)

HB603 was introduced in the Senate late yesterday afternoon and has been assigned to Senate Public Affairs Commitee and Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Passing this legislation through the Senate will be an uphill battle, and we will need all of your help.  Keep participating in our online campaigns (our last targeted campaign generated over 12,000 letters to the legislators), tell your friends and neighbors, and keep calling and visiting your legislators to educate them on these issues. EQNM will issue notification as soon as further hearings are scheduled.