Democracy for New Mexico

Ecumenical Voices for Democracy to Hold 1/29 Religion & Politics Forum on Poverty Issues

From Tom Solomon of Ecumenical Voices for Democracy:

Please come to this Sunday's Religion and Politics forum on "Poverty in America" at the Albuquerque TVI Smith Brasher Hall at 2 PM, January 29, 2006, corner of Coal and University.

"Nutrition, Housing, Health and Education are necessities. Is it a moral imperative that government provides these to those in need? Can religious leaders and people of faith support tax cuts when it results in an inability for government to provide for the poor?"

Please join us at this Sunday's public forum for this important discussion.

Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on New Orleans and the ongoing debate about a Living Wage in NM highlight the deeply felt need for viable solutions to poverty in this country, yet the political dialogue surrounding them is mired in false left-vs-right stereotypes. Can people of faith shed some light on this debate?

Ecumenical Voices for Democracy, a group of New Mexico citizens organized to combat the misuse of religion in politics, is announcing its 4th forum on Religion and Politics, entitled, "Poverty in America: Whose Responsibility is it?"

The forum will utilize a panel composed of religious and academic leaders. The panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Richard Wood, Director of the UNM Religious Studies program.

Panel members for the forum, "Poverty in America: Whose Responsibility is it?"  include:

• Patsy Kelton-Born, Executive Director, Project Share
• Frank Yates, Pastor, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
• Alex Lubin, Professor, UNM Department of American Studies
• Paul Yarbrough : Attorney and Board President, St. Thomas Aquinas School

THIS JUST IN: House Floor Debate on Minimum Wage Set for Tomorrow Afternoon

Tomorrow is a BIG day for the minimum wage legislation. There will be a hearing of the House Labor Committee on the House Floor for opponents and proponents of the minimum wage bill. The Committee meeting was moved from its usual room to the House Floor because a large crowd is expected to attend. The Committee will be hearing testimony on Rep. Lujan's HB258.

Opponents of the minimum wage are aggressively organizing against this piece of legislation, so we need your support now.

Please join supporters at the State Capitol on the House Floor.
Who: All supporters of the minimum wage
When: Thursday, January 26th at 1:30 PM
Where: The House Floor, Roundhouse, Santa Fe
Please support the minimum wage legislation -- we need your help!

If you need a ride or more information, contact ACORN at 242-7411, nmacorn@acorn.org

Update: NM Minimum Wage Bills

House Speaker Ben Lujan's minimum wage bill, which is being supported by New Mexicans for a Fair Wage, has been introduced as HB258 and referred to the House Labor Committee. This Committee will meet on Thursday, January 26, at 1:30 PM in Room 305 at the Roundhouse. Click for House Labor Committee members and their contact information.

On the Senate side, Senator Ben Altamirano has introduced the Governor's version of the bill, which delays full implementation of the increase to $7.50 until 2009 and has other much less desireable elements. SB449 is currently in the Senate Committees Committee.

Now is the time to contact the appropriate committee members and your legislators to urge their support of Rep. Lujan's HB258 and your dissatisfaction with Sen. Altamirano's SB449.

And remember to sign up for Minimum Wage Lobby Day at the Legislature, scheduled for January 31st.

You can check our previous posts for more information on this issue:

ACTION ALERT: Two Proposals Will Shape NM Minimum Wage Legislation

ACTION ALERT: NM Rep. Lujan Introduces Minimum Wage Bill

NM Sen. Lopez Introduces Paper Ballot Voting Machine Bill

NM Senator Linda Lopez (D-11, Bernalillo), a long-time supporter of election reform and a friend to the election reform community, has introduced SB295, requiring paper ballot voting machines statewide. Click to read a copy of the bill. The legislation will go first to the Senate Rules Committee and then to the Senate Public Affairs Commitee. It's being reported that Rep. Mary Helen Garcia (D-34, Dona Ana) may sponsor an identical bill on the House side.

This initiative was proposed by Governor Richardson, as described in a previous post. VoteTrustUSA.org has an article praising Lopez's bill.

Members of the Senate Rules Committee, where the bill is expected to be heard initially, are listed here. To find your legislator, go here. You are urged to write the committee members, as well as your own Senators, in support of this important bill, which will ensure that accurate machines that provide a permanent paper record of each vote will be used statewide.

REMINDER: Udall Event This Thursday

From Dory Shonagon:

REMINDER:  TOM UDALL EVENING - THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 2006 - 5:30 PM, at Dory Shonagon's apartment complex. See directions below.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE EVENT:  Dory could use people to come by 4:30-5:00 PM to greet people. Dory also could use sodas, mineral water, chips & dip, etc. for the event.

Please come early if you can help in either way.  Please contact Dory Shonagon, 480-1848 or dshonagon@earthlink.net, if you have questions.

Directions:

Dory's Shonagon's apartment complex is Valle Grande Apts., 8401 Spain Road at Wyoming in Albuquerque. Event is at the CLUBHOUSE. From Wyoming and Montgomery, go north on Wyoming, past Osuna and the next light is Spain. Right on Spain Rd. Valle Grande is at that intersection. Turn left into the complex. DRIVE STRAIGHT BACK as far as you can go into the complex. At that point you will see the Clubhouse on your right (swimming pool outside, etc). Come on in.

Editor's Note: Click to read our original post on this event.

ABQ State of the Union Protest Set for 1/31

From Bring the Noise:
BUSH & CHENEY, RESIGN NOW!
DROWN OUT BUSH’S LIES
AT THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31st, 5:30 PM

We will peacefully line the sidewalks surrounding KOAT-TV at Comanche and Carlisle NE in Albuquerque and DROWN OUT THE LIES with songs, chants, drums, horns, and banging on pots and pans! The speech will be broadcast live at 7 PM local time. WE WILL DEMAND: PEACE, NOT ENDLESS WAR! DEMOCRACY, NOT DICTATORSHIP!

Contact dang@higherspeed.net or 867-4801 to help BRING THE NOISE!

Note: We want to place the above ad in several local newspapers. Contributions of any size will help. Indicate if we can list your name as a contributor in the ad. Thanks!

ACT NOW: Support Common Cause NM Agenda for Ethics Reform

From Common Cause New Mexico:
The Common Cause New Mexico agenda for ethics reform at the 2006 legislative session is outlined here. As you know, this is a short session that primarily addresses state budget issues. But, because Governor Richardson has made the subject of anti-corruption a priority, right now we have a unique opportunity to help pass good ethics reform.

That's why Common Cause New Mexico has created an for the 2006 legislative session.

We believe the time is now to pass ethics reform legislation, but we need help from our members, allies and friends.  Click here to go to our action center and help us let legislators know that we need to clean up New Mexico's ethics laws:

Here's how our action center works. Go to the designated webpage and fill out the form with your name and home address. You can use the email message we've provided, or you can create your own. Once you've filled out the form and have an email message that you like, just click on the "send now" button. Your message will be sent to your representative and senator, and you will be helping to put citizen pressure on our elected officials to pass real reform legislation. It's that easy!

With your help, we can make a positive change to New Mexico's deficient campaign disclosure and reporting laws.  But, we need you to take action right now. Stay tuned to the Common Cause New Mexico website for updates about specific bills, their committee assignments, and what progress we are making with the overall reform effort.

Thank you for all that you do for democracy in New Mexico!

Sincerely,
Matt Brix, Executive Director
Common Cause New Mexico

Give to Common Cause

Discuss this message on our blog

Editor's Note: Common Cause NM was one of the prime movers behind the successful campaign to adopt public campaign funding for Albuquerque's municipal elections via the Open and Ethical Elections Code that was passed by referendum on October 4, 2005.

Sign Up for Minimum Wage Lobby Day

From ACORN New Mexico:
The Governor has taken a brave stance for $7.50, but we still have a lot to fight for:

• No preemption of cities’ right to pass higher wages
• Indexing to the cost of living
• Quicker implementation. Under the Governor’s phase-in, we would get to $7.50 in 2009 when the wage will be worth $6.60 in today’s dollars.

Tuesday, January 31, get on the bus, and join us for lobbying, lunch, and a rally!

10:30 AM  Brief Rally on the Capitol’s West steps and break into district delegations for lobbying.

12:00 AM  Rally in the Rotunda

1:00 AM  Box lunch provided at the capitol

2:00 PM  Early departure or continued lobbying at the capitol

From Albuquerque: bus leaves at 9:00 AM from the ACORN office at 411 Bellamah NW, map

From Las Cruces & Carlsbad: buses and vans leave the afternoon of January 30. Overnight stay in Santa Fe, dinner, and lobby training provided Monday night, as well as return transportation Tuesday afternoon.

From Grants: car or van departing Tuesday morning, 8:00 AM

Everywhere Else: If you want to come, let us know, and we will help you get there.

Santa Feans: Please let us know if you want a box lunch on Tuesday.

To reserve a spot on the bus, reserve a lunch, sign up for lobbying on the 31st, or to get more information, email Matthew Henderson at nmacorn@acorn.org, or call 242-7411.

Editor's Note: For background on this issue see our previous post or visit the website of New Mexicans for a Fair Wage.

ACTION ALERT: Two Proposals Will Shape NM Minimum Wage Legislation

The dueling plans to raise the minimum wage in New Mexico:

Governor Bill Richardson has proposed raising New Mexico's minimum wage to $7.50 an hour in three phases, starting at $6.50 an hour in January 2007 and reaching $7.50 in January 2009. There would be no automatic increases tied to inflation. He'd leave intact Santa Fe's local minimum wage plan, but prohibit other municipalities from imposing local minimum wage laws for the next five years.

Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, however, intends to introduce a bill that would increase the minimum to $7.50 in one fell swoop in January 2007, as well as preserve the ability of localities to pre-empt the state law with a higher rate. His proposal, like the Governor's, fails to include a provision to automatically link future increases to inflation rates.

Except for a missing link to the inflation rate, Rep. Lujan's bill matches the proposal made by New Mexicans for a Fair Wage, as well as a resolution on the minimum wage passed by the Democratic Party of New Mexico at its meeting this past November.

Here's the response on behalf of the coalition urging a minimum wage increase in a Santa Fe New Mexican article that provides detailed coverage of this issue:

Carter Bundy, speaking on behalf of New Mexicans for a Fair Wage, a coalition of groups seeking to boost the state’s minimum wage to $7.50 an hour, said the coalition wants that increase as soon as possible and opposes any local pre-emption provisions [that would stop them from having their own minimum wage laws]

However, Bundy also said the coalition was pleased Richardson backed its proposed pay floor.

“On balance, we are very proud of this governor for coming to $7.50,” Bundy said

Given the pressure that will be applied by the likes of Albuquerque's Chamber of Commerce, which conducted a misleading campaign against Albuquerque's unsuccessful minimum wage increase effort this Fall, it is imperative that we contact our legislators by phone and email to urge their support of Rep. Lujan's bill. Also a good idea: contacting Rep. Lujan to thank him for standing by the people in the face of pressure to water down the wage increase.

Reports indicate lawmakers will be lining up on this issue over the next few days. Kate Nash of the Albuquerque Tribune has the story. Now is the time to make your views known. Check out the NM Legislature website to find your legislator.

Local MoveOn Petition Drive to Focus on Government Corruption

Editor's Note: Here's an important message from Garrett Monaghan, MoveOn's Operation Democracy Field Organizer in Albuquerque. Many of you met Garrett at our last DFA-DFNM Meetup in Albuquerque. Let's get behind this effort on the crucial issue of corruption in government.

Hi everybody!
MoveOn is going to be putting on a very large petition drive towards the end of this month, asking members of Congress to take a strong stance against the corruption that has been plaguing our government. We're going to be doing some good old-fashioned street petitioning for this event, and we'd love the help of anyone who feels like helping us out. We'll be setting up shop in public areas with lots of foot traffic, and we'll have volunteers with clipboards asking passersby to sign on.

All MoveOn members should be getting an e-mail by the end of the day with a link where you can sign up to come out and lend a hand.  If you're not a registered MoveOn member but you'd still like to help us out, please contact me with the information below.

Garrett Rand Monaghan
Operation Democracy Field Organizer
MoveOn.Org Political Action
330-412-3357
Garrett.Monaghan@operationdemocracy.org