Democracy for New Mexico

Congrats to Our New U.S House Appropriations Committee Member Rep. Tom Udall!

Congressman Tom Udall (R), his wife Jill Cooper Udall (L), and Tom's father former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall (C) voting by paper ballot on election day

Big round of applause! New Mexico's popular and progressive Dem congressman from Northern New Mexico's 3rd congressional district, Rep. Tom Udall, just got appointed to the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Apparently the move is part of incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's strategy to empower younger Dems who may have less seniority but who possess the spirit, energy and ethics needed to reinvigorate Dem initiatives in the House. This appointment will allow Udall to finally show his stuff. Until now, his time in the House has been dogged by tight Republican rule that made effective Dem participation almost impossible.

An Albuquerque Journal article quoted Rep. Udall, who just won his fifth 2-year term in the U.S. House with 75% of the vote, on his new clout:

This is a powerful, exclusive committee, and I have a much better opportunity to do good things in the state ... Udall said he will push for more money for veterans, health care, affordable education and protection of natural resources in his new role.

Rep. Udall's on a roll these days, with President Bush yesterday signing his bill protecting Northern New Mexico's Valle Vidal from oil and gas drilling. Like other members of his illustrious political family, Tom Udall has been a mighty supporter of all things environmental during his entire career in public service.

The House Appropriations Committee has been a controversial and often unethical "pork" producer in recent years. Vastly increased numbers of often secretive and questionable earmarks were passed out like candy by Repubs in order to bolster the lock-step Party discipline imposed by ex-Rep. Tom DeLay in his role as Majority Leader. However, Rep. Udall says the Dem-dominated 110th Congress will be different. According to an Albuquerque Tribune article:

Udall said he supports the decision of the new House Democratic leadership to leave earmarks - special projects included by lawmakers - off 2007 spending bills while they come up with a way to reform the out-of-control process of earmarking.

"It was a disaster the way the Republicans handled this. It's going to be difficult for everybody, but it's a new day, and we're moving in a new direction," said Udall. "This is going to be viewed very positively. We're reformers."

House rules require that Udall relinquish his Committee memberships on Veterans' Affairs and Small Business and Resources (where he was scheduled to chair a subcommittee) in order to serve on Appropriations. Again quoting the Tribune article:

I think I can do more for New Mexico and the state on the Appropriations Committee. I'm going to continue to fight for priorities I've been fighting for," Udall said. One of those is the national parks system, which has never received the money to eliminate a backlog of maintenance that the Bush administration promised, said Udall.

After Dem victories in November, Udall was also named to the Steering and Outreach Committee of the Democratic Caucus, which deals with committee assignments and other Party business. Looks like it may have given him a well-deserved leg up.

Pelosi's other appointments to Appropriations include Rep.-elect Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) who just won a runoff against Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas), Reps. Ben Chandler (Ky.), Michael Honda (Calif.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Betty McCollum (Minn.), Tim Ryan (Ohio), C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (Md.), Adam Schiff (Calif.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.).  The Committee will be chaired by Rep. David Obey (D-Wisconsin).

New Mexico's one and only member of the potent House Appropriations Committee was the late Joe Skeen, a Repub who represented NM-02 from 1981 through 2003, when he passed away. On the Senate side, Repub Sen. Pete Domenici has long been a powerhouse on the Senate Appropriations Committee, although with Dems taking over he'll lose his chairmanship of the Committee's Energy & Water Development Subcommittee.

RSVP Now for Conservation Voters NM Holiday Open House

From Conservation Voters NM:
Please join us at our CVNM Member Appreciation & Holiday Open House Party on December 17th. Help us celebrate a great year for conservation with some informal holiday cheer, food, friends, and awards at the home of:

Marie Wilkinson and Cyril Christo
3880 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe
Please park on Old Santa Fe Trail, enter home via Tatum Lane
December 17th, 2006  4-6 PM
Our open house is a great way for you to hear about CVNM’s 2006 victories and get a glimpse into our 2007 priorities.  We will be celebrating the 91% success rate of our endorsed legislative candidates in the recent election and honoring our invited 2006 Conservation Champions.

Please RSVP no later than Friday, December 15th to RSVP@cvnm.org  or by calling 992.8683. Host Committee: Mayor David Coss, Representative Peter Wirth & Carol Romero-Wirth, Marie Wilkinson, Tammy Fieblekorn, Alan Hamilton,  Jenny Parks, Gregory Green

Organize or Attend a Screening of "An Inconvenient Truth"

From Terry Riley:
MoveOn is working to help educate people on environmental issues. They are holding screenings of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Please go to this URL to find a screening near you or organize one yourself. Bring a friend. The more people who know what is really happening, the better our chances of changing our world.

Also, if you can, why don't you e-mail your Senator's and Representative's offices and invite a member of their local staff to attend.  THIS is where change really starts. Congress.org makes it easy.

RSVP for Defenders of Wildlife Holiday Party, Meeting

From NM Defenders of Wildlife:
Next Meeting/Holiday Party! Please join me for our next meeting/holiday party next Tuesday, December 12th at Scalo in Albuquerque's Nob Hill. From 6:00-6:30 we'll have a brief meeting to discuss the new Congress and priorities for next year. And from 6:30 on we'll enjoy wine, beer, other drinks, and yummy appetizers. Please feel free to arrive anytime starting at 5:30 to get some drinks & snacks before we begin.

Scalo is a great sustainably-minded business. They use locally grown organic produce, buy locally baked bread, and support local community efforts. They are giving us a private dining room for free because of the work we do!  I'm very excited to be having our meeting with them.

WHAT: Meeting/Holiday Party
WHERE: Scalo Northern Italian Grill, 3500 Central Ave SE, in the Nob Hill shopping center with Mark Pardo's Aveda Salon, and the La Montanita Coop

WHEN: Arrive 5:30-6:00, Meeting 6:00-6:30, Party 6:30-7:30.  But you may come and go as you please :)

RSVP by this Thursday 12/7: Please let me know if you can make it! I apologize for the short notice.  Hope you are able to attend!

Lisa Hummon

New Mexico Outreach Representative

Defenders of Wildlife

824 Gold SW

Albuquerque, NM  87102

Phone: (505) 248-0118 x5

Fax: (505) 248-0187

www.saveesa.org, www.defenders.org

Gore Nails It (Again)

Go watch, then go read what Al Gore has to say. Then answer the question, "Who should be his running mate?"

NM Wild Holiday Party This Saturday

Please join the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance for our
Annual Holiday Party and Membership Meeting
Saturday, December 9th, 7 PM
Enjoy eats, drinks and mariachi to help us celebrate Wilderness in New Mexico!

Where: NEW OFFICE LOCATION, 142 Truman Avenue NE,
Albuquerque, NM 87108 (located on Truman, 1 block north of Central Avenue
and 1 block west of San Mateo)
Please call 505-843-8696 to RSVP or more information.

CELEBRATE! Valle Vidal Protection Act Clears Senate!

Another plus emerging from the change in direction provided by the midterm election? Senator Domenici finally gives in on protecting the Valle Vidal from drilling now that his tenure as chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is ending with Senator Jeff Bingaman scheduled to take over the post when the new Congress convenes in January. Also, didn't the Coalition for the Valle Vidal and many other activists do a terrific job on this? Persistence wins the day.

From the  Coalition for the Valle Vidal: NM Senator Tom Udall’s Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005 cleared the U.S. Senate Floor late last week by unanimous consent. Now it's on the the President's desk. Below are two articles on our amazing victory. Congratulations to all of you!

Santa Fe New Mexican excerpts:

The Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005 -- authored by U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M. -- cleared the Senate floor late Thursday night. U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., announced his decision earlier in the day to support Udall's measure, after months of intense political pressure from all over New Mexico. Hunters, anglers, Republicans, Democrats and environmentalists lobbied Domenici relentlessly to protect the national forest property, famous for its high mountain valleys, rambling forests and elk herds, from development.

"We're very confident the president will sign it," Domenici spokesman Chris Gallegos said. "It moved very quickly. Everybody is pleasantly surprised."

"Countless New Mexicans have worked tirelessly to ensure the permanent passage of this bill is a testament to their efforts," Udall said Thursday night.

Domenici's move appears to be related to a separate bill, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. That bill would open large parts of the continental shelf to oil and gas development.

"I have been concerned about being perceived as pushing for or even forcing energy production in other states while saying 'not in my backyard' in New Mexico," Domenici said. "However, at this point, I believe we can, and should, try to enact the Valle Vidal Protection Act."

... The fact that Domenici made this move now is relevant because he won't be in the majority much longer. For now, he chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. But when Congress meets again next year, the chairmanship will go to U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., as a result of last week's election, which changed the majorities in the Senate and House.

If The Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005 becomes law, it would be one of Udall's most noteworthy accomplishments since arriving to Congress in 1998.

"This was truly an effort that rose from the ground up," Udall said in a statement. "Community members living near the Valle, sportspeople from around the country, and (Boy) Scouts who come every year to earn natural resources stewardship badges in the Valle Vidal all worked together to express their desire that this unique piece of land and its unparalleled wildlife populations be protected in perpetuity."

Click for additional coverage in the Albuquerque Journal. Also this month's issue of Orion magazine has a nice profile on the effort to save the Valle Vidal.

LCV: Last Chance to Send Heather Wilson Packing

From Maggie Toulouse, Southwest Campaign Manager, League of Conservation Voters: If LCV is going to be successful in our effort to help Heather "Wrong Way" Wilson retire from Congress, we can't do it without you. Won't you please dedicate a day, an afternoon or an hour to this cause? Please click on a volunteer opportunity below to sign up, or call Marshall Martinez at 244-1077 to get plugged into your favorite volunteer activity*:

* Unless otherwise noted, all activities below take place at LCV's New Mexico office located at 400 Gold SW, #110 - Southwest Corner of 4th St. and Gold Downtown.

Wednesday, November 1
- Phone banking to Get Out The Vote - 10 AM until 8 PM
- Canvass to persuade voters/Get Out The Vote - 3PM - 7:30 PM
- Data Entry - 10 AM until 8 PM
- Postcards - 10 AM until 8 PM

Thursday, November 2
- Phone banking to Get Out The Vote - 10 AM until 8 PM
- Canvass to persuade voters/Get Out The Vote - 3PM - 7:30 PM
- Data Entry - 10 AM until 8 PM

Friday, November 3
- Phone banking to Get Out The Vote - 10 AM until 8 PM
- Canvass to persuade voters/Get Out The Vote - 3PM - 7:30 PM
- Data Entry - 10 AM until 8 PM

Saturday, November 4
- Get Out The Vote Canvass - 10 AM - 1 PM; 1 PM to 4 PM
- Get Out The Vote Phone Bank - 10 AM - 8 PM
- Data Entry - 10 AM - 8 PM

Sunday, November 5
- Get Out The Vote Canvass - 10 AM - 1 PM; 1 PM - 4 PM
- Get Out The Vote Phone Bank - 10 AM - 8 PM

Monday, November 6
- Get Out The Vote Literature Drop (no talking involved) - 1 PM - 4 PM; 4 PM - 7 PM
    Location: AFSCME Local 118 - 1202 Pennsylvania NE (Pennsylvania between Lomas &    
    Indian School)
- Get Out The Vote Phone Bank - 10 AM - 8 PM at LCV

Tuesday, November 7 - Take Election Day Off!
- Get Out The Vote Canvass - various locations - 9 AM to 12 PM; 1 PM - 4 PM; 4PM - 7 PM
- Get Out The Vote Phone Bank - various locations - 9 AM - 7 PM

Gov. Richardson, Jim Baca Announce Package to Protect Access to Public Lands

Gov. Bill Richardson, Jim Baca, Sen. Jeff Bingaman at recent GOTV rally. Photo from Baca's blog Only in New Mexico, where you can see more

Land Commissioner Candidate Jim Baca yesterday joined Governor Bill Richardson to announce a series of proposals designed to protect access to New Mexico’s abundant and magnificent public lands for hunting, fishing, and recreation. The Governor outlined a comprehensive package of initiatives including several legislative proposals he plans to introduce in the 2007 legislative session.

“As State Land Commissioner and as Natural Resources Trustee, I have always fought to ensure access to public lands for hunting and fishing,” said Jim Baca. “The Governor shares my love of the land and the belief that New Mexicans have the right to use and enjoy these wonderful resources, and the package announced here today means continued access today and for generations to come.”

“Not only is it, in my opinion, the natural born right of our citizens to enjoy the magnificent public lands in our state, it’s also very good business. Hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation contribute over a billion dollars to the state’s economy each year,” said Governor Richardson. “Jim Baca and I support both the “Right to Hunt and Fish” policy on New Mexico’s public lands and the sound wildlife management and conservation principles administrated by our Department of Game and Fish. You can have both.”

The Governor announced a six-point plan:

·         One: Ensure access to our public lands.  The Governor’s package includes legislation that will require public access easements to be included in any deal to sell or trade public lands that could become landlocked.  In addition, it would create a review board for all sales or trades of public lands to ensure that access is maintained in the resulting deal.  This concept was introduced in a bill sponsored by Senator Carlos Cisneros last session but unfortunately it did not pass.

·         Two: Double the funding for state purchases of easements to provide access to public lands.  The state currently purchases public access easements on a modest level through a program that we are going to rename the “Open Gate- Hunting and Fishing Access Program”. There are some land owners who currently grant access through their property at no charge, and the hope is that other private land owners will follow their lead.  The Governor’s plan also includes hiring an “Access Specialist” within the Department of Game and Fish to run the Open Gate program and to support programs to get youth outdoors.

·         Three: Require the State Land Office to report annually on any public lands where access for hunting, fishing, or recreation has been lost.  The report should also include what land has been added to offset that loss of access.

·         Four: Issuing a number of new hunting and fishing authorizations.  The two new “Grand Slam” Hunt Authorizations for Habitat Enhancement and Conservation provide opportunities to hunt elk, deer, oryx, ibex, and pronghorn antelope. In addition, with the new Governor’s Wildlife Conservation Hunting and Fishing Authorizations, up to 12 big game and 12 game bird and trophy fish opportunities will be available annually. The funds generated will go to the Game Protection Fund and be used only for fish and wildlife conservation activities in New Mexico.

·         Five: The Department of Game & Fish will develop guidelines for oil & gas development on all state lands, including those owned by the State Land Office and the Game Commission. The department of Game and Fish will work with the Environment Department and  the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department to implement the guidelines.

·         Six: Expand existing programs that teach our young people how to hunt and fish responsibly.   Hunting and fishing, as well as other outdoor recreation activities can are activities to be enjoyed for a lifetime. We should encourage our children to experience our wildlands from an early age both to teach them outdoor skills and to instill in them a working appreciation of the incredible natural land resources we have in this state. 

To support the Jim Baca for Land Commissioner campaign, visit his website. Baca is in an extremely tight race for Land Commissioner with Republican incumbent Patrick Lyons, who evidently believes our public lands should mostly be for the private use of corporate interests, and that it isn't important to preserve public access to our state-owned lands as one of our top priorities.

Otero Mesa Action National Call in Day: 10/24

Yucca Forest, looking East at the Guadalupe Mountains(Area Nominated for Drilling)

From the NM Wilderness Alliance:
Tuesday, October 24 will be a National Call-In Day to Senator Bingaman, urging him to introduce legislation to permanently protect Otero Mesa from oil and gas drilling.

In the past, Senator Bingaman has been supportive and sympathetic to preserving Otero Mesa, and most recently has proposed funding a study of the groundwater aquifer under Otero Mesa. While the Senator's efforts are much appreciated, he has yet to make a firm commitment to protecting Otero Mesa, even though his constituents have been urging him to do so for more than four years.

A groundwater study will not stop oil and gas drilling. If oil and gas drilling moves forward in Otero Mesa, the aquifer could be contaminated just when the study is beginning to fully understand this precise resource.

It is clear that Senator Bingaman must take a strong leadership role and introduce legislation to preserve Otero Mesa's water, wildlife, and unique wilderness characteristics.

Please call Senator Bingaman on Tuesday, October 24 to urge him to protect America's largest and wildest desert grassland. Other organizations across the country will be asking their members to do the same. With your call, we can ensure that our message is heard loud and clear.

Senator Bingaman's Phone Numbers:
In Washington, D.C.--(202) 224-5521
In Albuquerque, NM--(505) 346-6601

Also: Sign the Petition: If you haven't signed the Otero Mesa Petition to Senator Bingaman yet, you can do so by clicking here.

Editor's Note: If you haven't yet visited Otero Mesa, check out the website of the Coalition for Otero Mesa for many excellent photos of the area taken during various seasons, including one set taken last month.