Democracy for New Mexico

NM Health Security Act Hearing Today

From Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign: The NM House Judiciary Committee will hear the Health Security Act (HB 214) today, Monday, February 4, at 1:30 PM in Room 309. The Health Security Act is first on the agenda, followed by the governor's Health Solutions bill (HB 62). Please come to the hearing! We need a very strong showing at this hearing. Call Your legislators this morning:

If your legislator is on the House Judiciary Committee, please call right away and ask him or her to support the Health Security Act (House Bill 214). Thank you for making these very important calls!

House Judiciary Committee

• Rep. Al Park, Chair (District 26 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4411
• Rep. Joseph Cervantes, Vice Chair (District 52 - Don Ana County), 505-986-4249
• Rep. Elias Barela (District 7 - Valencia County), 505-986-4243
• Rep. Gail Chasey (District 18 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4844
• Rep. Daniel R. Foley (District 57 - Chaves, Lincoln & Otero counties), 505-986-4758
• Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas (District 16 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4464
• Rep. W. Ken Martinez (District 69 - Cibola, McKinley & San Juan counties), 505-986-4776
• Rep. William "Bill" R. Rehm (District 31 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4453
• Rep. Mimi Stewart (District 21 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4840
• Rep. Thomas E. Swisstack (District 60 - Rio Rancho), 505-986-4254
• Rep. Gloria C. Vaughn (District 51 - Otero County), 505-986-4453
• Rep. Eric A. Youngberg (District 23 - Bernalillo and Sandoval counties), 505-986-4226
• Rep. Teresa A. Zanetti (District 15 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4451

If you are not sure who your legislators are, please call your county clerk. You can also use the legislature's "find your legislator" feature (https://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legislatorsearch.asp), but do double-check the district maps to make sure the result is correct.

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Josette at 505-771-8763 or jhaddad@cableone.net. Or visit our website at www.nmhealthsecurity.org.

Update On NM Health Care Reform Bills

From Health Security for New Mexicans:
The Health House and Government Affairs Committee voted to pass the Health Security Act out of committee this morning. The vote was unanimous, with two members (Rep. Bandy and Rep. Fox-Young) not present. Rep. Heaton joined other committee members in voting for the Health Security Act -- thank you so much for all your phone calls to him and to other members of this committee.

The Health Security Act now goes on to the House Judiciary Committee and will probably be heard next week. We'll let you know when a hearing is scheduled. The Health Security Act on the Senate side has not yet been scheduled in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee, but we expect it will be heard next week as well.

The Governor and Health Solutions
The governor is extremely upset about what happened to his bill, Health Solutions, in the House Health and Government Affairs Committee yesterday. (The committee heavily amended the bill, removing the requirement that people buy insurance, removing the requirement that businesses pay into an insurance fund, and stripping the Health Coverage Authority of regulatory power.)

During the governor's press conference yesterday, he said he was going to "turn up the heat" on legislators. He had some harsh words for the House Health and Government Affairs Committee, as well as for the House Appropriations Committee, which is still going through the budget process and has not had a chance to act on most of the bills before it. We thought you might like to read his remarks in full, so here they are.

Governor Richardson's Remarks at Wednesday's Press Conference

I said before the session started that the focus would be on health care, health care, health care.

Up until today, we saw very little action on an issue that New Mexicans want resolved.

And now, after months and months of work and compromise, a single committee in the House unraveled our best chance at a comprehensive health care plan for all New Mexicans. The misguided amendments adopted by the House Health and Governmental Affairs Committee effectively kill the concept of universal health care. And if the members of that committee think this is over, they are sorely mistaken.

I now call on the Appropriations Committee to restore the bill to its original form, and send it to the full House for an up-or-down vote.

Do you think the 400,000 uninsured New Mexicans care that legislators think this issue is too difficult to handle in a short, 30-day session? No, they don't.

Do you think New Mexicans care about the political makeup of the authority that oversees this new system? No they don't.

Do you think New Mexicans care if their legislators have an election this year and would rather not make any big decisions? No, they don't.

They care -- and I care -- that they don't have access to affordable health care, period. That's what this debate is about. Frankly, that's what this session is about. Or it should be.

After carefully studying different options for universal health care, we crafted a fiscally responsible and comprehensive plan during the past year that removes barriers against those with pre-existing conditions and provides for participation by all New Mexicans.

We worked with everyone involved during that time to improve the bill and be ready for a robust debate during the legislative session. We also made the first move toward reaching a compromise last week -- in an effort to get the bill moving.

The people of New Mexico won't stand for us to complete this session without passing comprehensive health care coverage bill. They don't want excuses. And they don't want more studies. We need to act.

Unfunded Healthcare Initiatives:

Another critical concern we have heard from providers and others is the lack of appropriate funding to attract physicians, especially to rural areas of the state.

Yet, the Appropriations Committee failed to fund several important programs that help us recruit and retain physicians, as well as cover more people, including children, under Medicaid.

The Appropriations Committee failed to fund:

• $10.7 million for the base Medicaid budget
• $8.8 million to enroll additional children in Medicaid
• $3.5 million for the healthcare workforce
• $220,000 for Telehealth
• $830,000 for PTSD funding for our veterans returning from war
• $750,000 for Native American health care services
• $1.3 million for the Health Care Authority

We have two short weeks to get this right. I am not giving up on this issue. In fact, I am ready to turn up the heat on those legislators who think they can get away with doing nothing for the people who elected them.

NM Heath Care Reform: Tuesday House Committee Hearing

From Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign: The NM House Health and Government Affairs Committee is meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, at 8:00 AM in Room 309 to make decisions and take action on the three health bills the committee heard last week: Rep. Picraux's Health Care Authority bill (HB147), the Health Security Act (HB214) and the Governor's Health Solutions bill (HB62). Amendments are expected on the Health Solutions bill.

There will not be public testimony on these bills, since the committee heard from the public last week. However, please come to listen to the committee's debate on these three very different proposals. It's always good to have a lot of people at the committee hearings!

Quick Update on Sunday's Hearing
The Health Security Act was heard yesterday by the NM Senate Public Affairs Committee. There was very good turnout and strong testimony in support of the Health Security Act (although the committee limited public input to eight speakers for and eight speakers against each bill). Opposition to the Health Security Act continues to come mainly from the insurance industry.

There weren't enough committee members present to constitute a quorum, but those who were there voted unanimously (as a subcommittee) to pass the Health Security Act. The subcommittee's vote serves as a recommendation to the full committee to pass the Health Security Act. When the committee meets again, another vote will have to be taken. The other bills heard yesterday, including the Health Care Authority Act (sponsored by Sen. Dede Feldman) and two insurance reform bills (SB 226 and SB 377), are in the same situation, having passed the subcommittee as well.

So good news, but it's not yet over in this committee!

Quote of the Day: "If we want to address affordability, we need to go with the cooperative model [the Health Security Act]." -- Sen. Ortiz y Pino, while discussing insurance reform in committee yesterday

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Josette at 505-771-8763 or jhaddad@cableone.net. Or visit our website at www.nmhealthsecurity.org.

No Action on NM House Health Coverage Reform Bills Today

I just got a report phoned in by Terry Riley, who was up at the Roundhouse today monitoring progress on health care reform. This post is based on my understanding of what he communicated.

The NM House Health and Government Affairs Committee decided to put off action on the single-payer-type Health Security Act (HB214) and other health care reform measures until next Tuesday, after spending hours yesterday and today discussing their options. The committee seriously considered passing on the bills to the House Judiciary Committee without recommendation. Eventually, however, they decided to hold off -- primarily to see what happens in the Senate Public Affairs Committee that will be taking up companion bills and other reform proposals tomorrow.

The other major bill in the mix is Governor Richardson's Health Solutions Act (HB62), a complex bill that would set up a sort of public-private health care system. The bill also includes creation of a Health Care Authority appointed mostly by the governor. An alternative Authority act (HB147) sponsored by Rep. Danice Picraux m, which would give more power over the Authority to the legislature, is also being discussed.

Proposed Compromise
Much consideration is being given to passing a compromise bill that would set up only a Health Authority of some sort, which would be charged with studying the issues AGAIN and making recommendations to the Legislature in the future. Governor Richardson has signaled that he's open to compromising on the membership and scope of such an Authority. However, it would take 6-9  months after passage of the bill to get the Authority up and running. The fear is that the Authority would not be ready to make any viable recommendations to the legislature at its 60-day Session in 2009. That would mean action on health care reform would be delayed until at least 2010 -- and maybe years longer -- depending on how such reform would be implemented.

Tired of Waiting
Bottom line? The thousands of New Mexicans who currently lack health care coverage or have only inadequate policies can keep holding their breath while the government dithers. In the meantime, sick people will continue to go untreated and some of them will certainly die. Apparently too many legislators still haven't gotten the message that our health care system is broken and in urgent need of comprehensive reform right now. I imagine there's not one legislator, insurance lobbyist or provider rep at the Roundhouse who lacks ready access to quality health care and a top notch insurance policy to pay for it. Wouldn't it be satisfying if we had the power to cancel all their policies and force them to experience personally the kind of insecurity and suffering people put up with who must function in the world without any health care coverage whatsoever?

Not surprisingly, the forces fighting against the Health Security Act at today's hearings were either members of Governor Richardson's staff or paid lobbyists for the insurance industry and others who like things just as they are, uninsured and underinsured people be damned. Those attending the hearings as supporters of the Health Security Act, on the other hand, were almost all unpaid citizen lobbyists. You get the picture. Once more it's the people against the vested interests. Who do you think will win?

More detailed info on the particulars of the array of healthcare reform bills now being considered and who's backing each one can be found here, as explained by the Health Security for New Mexicans campaign. Remember to attend Sunday's committee action in the NM Senate on health care reform.

Latest on NM Healthcare Reform

At least according to the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign:

The House Health and Government Affairs Committee has been holding hearings on the governor's Health Solutions legislation and Rep. Picraux's Health Care Authority bill. This Saturday, January 26, the committee will hold a hearing on the Health Security Act (HB214) and make its decision about which bill or bills to support. (The committee will meet in Room 307 at 8:30 AM.)

Governor's Health Solutions Act: The governor's bill is very controversial. This legislation (HB62) would set up an authority that would be responsible for ensuring that all New Mexicans have health insurance. Everyone would be required to purchase insurance or, if eligible, enroll in a public program. It also contains some weak insurance reform measures that do not control premium prices.

The word in the capitol halls is that no one is happy with the bill. It is interesting to note who testified in favor of the legislation this past Wednesday: the insurance industry, cabinet secretaries and agency people, the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Primary Care Association, and the Medical Society (although it is unclear whether the Medical Society was actually endorsing the bill or simply stating that the bill complied with its principles).

The opposition was incredible: the Restaurant Association, the Association of Commerce and Industry (the statewide chamber of commerce), FHIB (the small business association), the chile growers, 1199 (the Hospital Workers Union), along with health advocacy groups (including behavioral health groups), individuals and, of course, the Campaign.

Rep. Picraux's Health Care Authority Act: Yesterday, Rep. Danice Picraux presented the Health Care Authority Act (HB147). This legislation would set up a more balanced (joint legislative/governor appointed) authority consisting of experts who would be responsible for bringing a plan for universal health care to the legislature by January 1, 2009. It would also continue to study and bring forth recommendations to deal with other aspects of our health care delivery system.

Those who spoke in favor included Health Action, Health Care for All, AARP, Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry, human service organizations, and individuals. Quite a few individuals expressed their support for the Health Security Act but felt that should the act not pass, this measure would be a backup.

The opposition included the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Educational Retirees, Secretaries Hyde (Human Services) and Vigil (Health), 1199 (the Hospital Workers Union), San Juan Independent Practice, and others. The testimony mostly focused on the concern that this bill was another study that would delay the important decisions that need to be made.

Our testimony raised questions based on comments we received from you. (Thank you so much for sending us your views on this and other health-care-related bills.) One of our important concerns was operational. How could this authority come up with a plan by January 1, only six months after the legislation's implementation? Would the authority do a cost analysis? Would the legislature want to do its own cost analysis? In addition, the criteria for the plan seemed to assume a private insurance model.

Some of the committee members questioned the short time frame to develop a plan and were concerned about another study that would delay the decisions needing to be made. Rep. Mimi Stewart, chair of the committee, suggested that Rep. Heaton, sponsor of the governor's bill, and Rep. Picraux, along with several others, meet to see if some agreement could be reached regarding the structure of the authority. She acknowledged that the Health Security proposal was substantially different from these other two.

This Weekend: So, this Saturday we will find out if there is any agreement and whether that means that Rep. Picraux's bill (Health Care Authority) will be rolled into the governor's bill (Health Solutions).

On Sunday, January 27, the Senate Public Affairs Committee will hear the Health Insurance Exchange Act (SB228), which sets up a private not-for-profit entity through which we would purchase insurance; Sen. Feldman's Health Care Authority legislation (SB225), which is the same as Rep. Picraux's; and the Health Security Act (SB3). (The committee will meet in Room 322 at 3:00 PM.)

And if this is not enough to keep our heads spinning, Sen. Michael Sanchez has introduced an insurance reform bill (SB377) with stronger reforms than in the governor's bill, and a mandate to purchase insurance, but without the creation of an authority. Legislators understandably are feeling frustrated and confused dealing with this major issue during the thirty-day session.

Keep in Mind the Two Paths: The big policy decision that has to be made, however, is simple. Do we continue to invest more and more public and private dollars into our broken private insurance system or do we do something new and finally shift the role of private insurance to a supplemental one? More and more people around the capitol are beginning to understand that this is the key choice. Everything else will flow from that policy decision.

Your Input Is Critical : Your calls to legislators and your presence at hearings are critical at this juncture to let legislators know that it is time to pass the Health Security Act.

If your legislator is on the House Health and Government Affairs Committee or on the Senate Public Affairs Committee, please call and ask him or her to support the Health Security Act (House Bill 214 / Senate Bill 3).

If you are not sure who your legislators are, please call your county clerk. You can also use the legislature's "find your legislator" feature (https://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legislatorsearch.asp), but do double-check the district maps to make sure the result is correct.

Thank you for making these calls!

House Health and Government Affairs Committee

• Rep. Mimi Stewart, Chair (District 21 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4840
• Rep. Nick L. Salazar, Vice Chair (District 40 - Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe & Taos counties), 505-986-4433
• Rep. Paul C. Bandy (District 3 - San Juan County), 505-986-4214
• Rep. Justine Fox-Young (District 30 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4450
• Rep. John A. Heaton (District 55 - Eddy County), 505-986-4432
• Rep. Jeff Steinborn (District 37 - Dona Ana County), 505-986-4248
• Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela (District 48 - Santa Fe), 505-986-4318
• Rep. Jeannette O. Wallace (District 43 - Los Alamos, Sandoval & Santa Fe counties), 505-986-4452

Senate Public Affairs Committee

• Sen. Dede Feldman, Chair, (District 13 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4482
• Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, Vice Chair, (District 36 - Dona Ana County ), 505-986-4726
• Sen. Steve Komadina, Ranking Member, (District 9 -Sandoval County), 505-986-4377
• Sen. Stuart Ingle (District 27 - Chaves, Curry, De Baca & Roosevelt counties), 505-986-4702
• Sen. Gay G. Kernan (District 42 - Chaves, Curry, Eddy, Lea & Roosevelt counties), 505-986-4274
• Sen. Howie C. Morales (District 28 - Catron, Grant & Socorro counties), 505-986-4863
• Sen. Steven P. Neville (District 2 - San Juan County), 505-986-4266
• Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino (District 12 - Albuquerque), 505-986-4380
• Sen. David Ulibarri (District 30 - Cibola, Socorro & Valencia counties), 505-986-4265

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Josette at 505-771-8763 or jhaddad@cableone.net. Or visit our website at www.nmhealthsecurity.org.

‘Freedom of Choice Act’ Rally Tuesday at Roundhouse

From NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico:

More than 200 Expected at Roundhouse Event
on 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Legislation Introduced Would Repeal
1969 Criminal Abortion Ban
Who: New Mexico Coalition for Choice
What: Rally in support of HB 244, The Freedom of Choice Act
Where: East Concourse, The Roundhouse (outside)
When: Noon, Tuesday, January 22, 2008

More than 200 pro-choice activists from around the state are expected to join the New Mexico Coalition for Choice at noon on Tuesday, January 22, for a rally commemorating the 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade and supporting HB 244, The Freedom of Choice Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Gail Chasey and Rep. Mimi Stewart to repeal an existing 1969 criminal abortion ban and to codify the protections of Roe in New Mexico law.

Speakers include the Rev. Stephen Furrer, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Santa Fe; Heather Brewer, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico; pro-choice legislators; and women telling their stories.

A Letter From The People: Touring the Realm of the Dispossessed

Since we have a certain blogger with long-time ties to the Roundhouse wall leaners and power brokers waxing poetic today about well connected insiders, hordes of lobbyists with deep pockets and martini-fueled dealings in dark bars in Santa Fe, I thought I'd take a similar tack from The People's point of view.

You know, us -- the little people out here in the wilderness who are supposed to wait silently and submissively for the word to come down from on high on what will and will not be done in our name by the powerhouses of La Politica. We're the ones who won't get real reform related to health care, ethics or campaign finance because our "leaders" in the Legislature -- and especially in the "independent" Senate -- have come to depend on the ready money and perks from people who want to preserve the status quo and the profits for themselves. The public and the common good be damned.

Citizen Lobbyists
Our citizen lobbyists travel to the Roundhouse or interim committee meetings on their own dimes. Many take vacation days to do so. They car pool to save money. Their meals come from brown bags, not the Santa Fe hot spots designed for seeing and being seen. Those who can't afford the trip or can't get time off from work have to be content with phone calls to legislative secretaries and emails to legislators that usually get little or no response. Even if they succeed in getting their needs met in committee after committee with the help of the honest members of the legislature, their bills are often killed when or even just before they get to the Senate or House floor by the "leaders" dedicated to keeping power to themselves.

With no big chunks of cash or complimentary happy hours to offer, these citizen lobbyists too often get only a blind eye and a deaf ear when they voice their concerns. After all, they have no clout. They don't buy legislators drinks or invite them to buffets and cocktail parties or throw unlimited amounts of money into their "campaign funds" or hand them tickets to boxing matches or football games, or oooh and ahhh over them when they enter casinos or racetracks.

Citizen lobbyists have to scratch for information about what's going on with bills that will personally affect their daily lives, their health, their work, their children, their futures. And when they show up at committee hearings, they're often treated like unwelcome outsiders who take up precious time demanding to be heard when everyone who's anyone knows the deals have already gone down behind closed doors.

The Result
Because this is how the system presently works, we get things like bills proposing massive tax breaks for the coal-burning Desert Rock power plant, health reform bills that ignore the overwhelming support of the people for the Health Security Act and a summer's worth of testimony at hearings, pronouncements that public funding for elections is off the table, plots to kill the Domestic Partnership Act with last-minute, shady maneuvers and inflated, "privatized" contracts to conduct or "oversee" government functions. I could go on.

This bunch won't even allow floor proceedings to be shown online, despite $75,000 having been appropriated to do so. What don't they want us to see? Wouldn't it be fun to send a phalanx of citizens with video cameras to the Roundhouse corridors and swanky lounges of Santa Fe to track the comings and goings, the whispers and handshakes, that constitute way too much of what goes on in the Capitol? A regular YouTube bonanza.

I know our reps and senators are supposed to be doing the people's business, but as is often the case these days in state capitols and the halls of Congress alike, they mostly go about doing the business of the highest bidders, of those who wield power to get earmarks and loopholes, of those with profitable rackets to protect. These days, too many consider their real constituencies to be not the people who elect them, but the brokers, the insurance moguls, the financial market manipulators, the insider stock traders, the shady real estate developers, the for-profit prison operators, the pay-day loan sharks, the "defense" contract proliferators, the fake "homeland security" money suckers, the outrageously compensated CEOs and the high and mightily titled corporate investor class.

Somehow, not one bit of poetry, not one shred of romance or nostalgia comes to mind when I think about what's going on in Santa Fe right now. Can you blame me?

The Good Ones
Of course there are any number of genuinely honest, committed, hardworking legislators who work their bodies to the bone all year long to try and get a little something for the people, for the community, for the common good, for justice, for equality. Unfortunately, in a greed-filled and close-minded climate like the one that prevails these days, they're about as well respected by the "leaders" in our government as ordinary people are. They get the shaft and the run-around just like we do. And I'm pretty darn sure they're not feeling poetic and nostalgic about it either, as our critical needs go unmet while the elite among us count their chits.

ACLU Sues Sheriff’s Deputies to Uphold New Mexico Marijuana Law

I see Sheriff's deputies in Eddy County, acting as part of the so-called Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, have nothing better to do than harrass a disabled individual who is legally allowed to ease his pain under New Mexico's medical marijuana law, which was enacted last year. I wonder who they think they are protecting, and under which state law. Can they possibly believe this is a justified use of taxpayer dollars? Thank goodness the ACLU is standing with the victim of this horrible (and illegal) treatment by law enforcement officials who apparently believe they are above the law and are certainly without compassion or wisdom.

From the American Civil Liberties Union of NM:
CARLSBARD – A paraplegic man is suing Eddy County Sheriff's Deputies for seizing marijuana plants and equipment to grow marijuana, which he uses to control pain resulting from a spinal cord injury.  Leonard French received a license to cultivate and use small quantities of marijuana for medicinal purposes from the State of New Mexico under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico, which represents French, says the deputies' actions violated not only that law, but also state forfeiture laws and a constitutional prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures.

"The New Mexico state legislature, in its wisdom, passed the Compassionate Use Act after carefully considering the benefits the drug provides for people who suffer from uncontrollable pain, and weighing those benefits against the way federal law considers cannabis,” said Peter Simonson, ACLU Executive Director.  “With their actions against Mr. French, Eddy County officials thwarted that humane, sensible law, probably for no other reason than that they believed federal law empowered them to do so."

On September 4, 2007, at least four Eddy County deputies, acting as members of the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, arrived at French's home in Malaga, New Mexico and announced, "We're here about the marijuana." Thinking that the deputies had arrived to check his compliance with the compassionate use law, French presented the deputies with his state license to grow marijuana, then showed them his hydroponic equipment, including two small marijuana plants and three dead sprouts. The deputies seized the equipment and plants, and later turned them over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. French has not been charged with any violations of federal drug laws. 

A physician prescribed marijuana for French after other medications lost their effectiveness in controlling pain and severe muscle spasms stemming from a 1987 motorcycle accident.

Simonson said, "With the Compassionate Use Act, New Mexico embarked on an innovative project to help people who suffer from painful conditions like Mr. French's.  The law cannot succeed if the threat of arrest by county and local law enforcement hangs over participants in the program.  With this lawsuit, we hope to clear the way for the State to implement a sensible, conservative program to apply a drug that traditionally has been considered illicit for constructive purposes."

The ACLU’s complaint is available online at: online (pdf). For more information about the national ACLU Drug Law Reform Project, visit this page.

Editor's Note: To become a card-carrying member of the ACLU of NM, click here.

(Updated) NM Legislature Convenes: Watch State of State Live

UPDATE: Click to read Gov. Richardson's prepared remarks or view KNME's archived video of his speech.
****************
You can watch a KNME live stream of Governor Bill Richardson's State of the State address to legislators starting at 1:00 PM today as the New Mexico Legislature convenes its 30-day "short session" at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. It's expected to be a contentious one, with State Senators looking to exert more power over the process, and Richardson critic Sen. Tim Jennings (D-Roswell) replacing the late Sen. Ben Altamirano as the Senate's president pro-tem. Last year, the Senate was the stopper on a number of progressive bills and this year the situation maybe even worse, even though Democrats are in the majority. There are Democrats, and then there are DINOs.

In addition to the usual budget wrangling that's the main focus of 30-day sessions, Richardson has indicated he'll be pushing health care reform first and foremost, as well as ethics and campaign finance reform, energy conservation measures and a domestic partnership bill. He'll also control the type of additional initiatives that will be allowed onto the agenda, which he controls in short session years. According to an article in today's Santa Fe New Mexican:

Richardson said his speech will have a simple message for legislators: "Health care. Health care. Health care. It's going to be an address saying that we have a responsibility in this Legislature, with the governor, to produce universal health care for every New Mexican and to start it with a comprehensive bill — not piecemeal," Richardson said.

Expect battles over a proposal to amend the school funding formula, the budget for roads that must address a large shortfall in funding and a law passed last session that requires candidates to get 20% of the votes at Party pre-primary conventions to get on the primary ballot.

Senate leaders have already balked at one recommendation from the Governor's Ethics Task Force to institute voluntary public campaign financing for statewide races. Who needs that when our candidates can rely on "donations" from big-money interests? What fun would it be if candidates could run without promising the moon to deep pocket special interests? Democracy might start breaking out all over.

According to the Albuquerque Journal's Trip Jennings, Senate leaders including Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez (D-Belen) have "sent signals" to the Governor on ethics reform:

Proposals to cap campaign contributions, create an independent state ethics commission and give the Secretary of State's Office more than $170,000 to fix its campaign reporting system have the best shot at being heard.

Not on the to-do list was a Richardson priority of expanding the public financing of elections to statewide offices, including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

... Some members of the group oppose parts of the ethics and campaign finance recommendations. They made it clear Monday that they weren't endorsing the legislation, but they said some of the proposals deserve a hearing.

... "This is not saying these bills will get through, or that I am supporting them," Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen.

Big man, isn't he?

You can read more about this year's ethics reform proposals in my previous post.

NM FBIHOP has a about this year's health reform battle, including the results of a poll sent to 5,000 of Sen. Dede Feldman's constituents that indicates health care is their number one issue this year.

You can read about how last year's domestic partnership bill was defeated by one vote in the Senate in this post. Four Democrats, including our new Senate president pro-tem Tim Jennings (D-Roswell), John Arthur Smith (D-Deming), Lidio Rainaldi (D-Gallup) and Carlos Cisneros (D-Questa). voted with Repubs to kill the measure. The bill had been passed three times on the House side, including once during an ill-fated Special Session called by the Governor.

Calling Gov. Richardson and All Legislators: Required Reading

As we head towards another New Mexico Legislative Session, the repetitive message we hear coming from our Governor and most of our Legislators is that they can't support universal healthcare coverage under the Health Security Act because (fill in your own answer). I want every single one of them to read this letter. Read it carefully. Read it with an open mind and heart. Try to connect with the human being behind the letter, rather than perceiving her as another lifeless, abstract statistic. Try to remember her when you are tempted once again to concoct a getaway plan you can use to avoid the truth, the facts, the real suffering, the deaths and the poverty you are causing by failing to act in a meaningful way to solve this problem.

I don't care how hard it is. I don't care how upset insurance industry profitmakers will get. I don't care what political price you think you will pay. You know in your heart it is necessary, moral and compassionate to act now to achieve universal coverage the only way it is possible and affordable -- via a co-op plan like the Health Security Act or some kind of single-payer plan. If you don't do it, I KNOW you will all pay a political price because I KNOW voters will set out to unseat every single one of you who refuses to do the right thing. This Session. Now. There are lives in the balance and they're in your hands.