Democracy for New Mexico

Discuss Medicare With Heather Wilson

You Are Cordially Invited To a Medicare Town Hall Meeting and Health Fair

Special Guest:  Congresswoman Heather Wilson, (R-1, NM)
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
March 29, 2005
National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th Street SW
Albuquerque, NM 8710

***Please RSVP by calling (505) 459-4516 or e-mailing: wilsonevent@dwturner.com

FREE lunch will be provided for all attendees.

An Important Medicare Town Hall Meeting!

Congress created a new prescription drug program, provided substantial new funding for Medicare health plan benefits and expanded choices for beneficiaries. This new law dramatically improves the Medicare program for beneficiaries. Attend this special Medicare town hall meeting to find out:

• What the new Medicare law means to you
• What to expect from the new prescription drug coverage program
• Why Medicare health plan members are already seeing improved benefits
• How to ensure that Congress continues to support Medicare choices and benefits

Plus a Health Fair--Get Your Free Health Screenings! Millions of seniors choose Medicare health plan coverage because these plans offer wellness and preventive care programs. Presbyterian Health Plan and Lovelace Senior Plan will be available to answer questions for seniors.

DOMA's Dead in NM Legislature!

From Equality New Mexico:

Senate Bill 597 is DEAD! House leadership fought off Republican attempts to roust the so-called "Defense of Marriage" bill out of House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee in the last days of the 2005 session, and the bill died a blessedly natural death buried with other bills that never made it to the committee's hearing agenda.  

This is a sweet victory, but our work has just begun.  We've got less than ten months to do the intensive state-wide public education and in-district lobbying that will be essential for fending off still other "defense of marriage" bills again next year.  Stay tuned: check www.eqnm.org for the latest information and action strategies.

SAVE THE DATE

A celebratory DOMA IS DEAD potluck is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 26, at Albuquerque's Morningside Park, from Noon to  3 PM.  Join us for a springtime celebration of marriage equality!

WE DID IT! Election Reform Bill On Governor's Desk

RED LETTER DAY: It's being reported that Governor Richardson will sign the bill today or tomorrow. Thanks to all the legislators, analysts, staffers, citizen lobbyists, phone callers, email senders, letter writers and progressive and election reform groups who worked so hard on this effort! We'll be doing a more formal thank you soon, but for now, you know who you are!

From the :

SANTA FE - An election reform bill backed by Gov. Bill Richardson cleared the Legislature with just hours remaining in the annual session.

The Senate went along with changes to the bill made by the House, which had approved it 39-26 after more than three hours of debate Friday. Republicans tried unsuccessfully to toughen its voter ID provisions.

The bill includes a requirement that New Mexicans provide some identification at the polls and a mandate that voting machines have a paper trail.

The House vote was nearly party-line, with Democrats supporting the bill and Republicans opposing it.

Rep. Edward Sandoval, D-Albuquerque, called it "landmark legislation."

"This bill will make New Mexico's election process more accurate and timely and make voting more user-friendly for New Mexico voters," he said.

Republicans were less enamored with the proposal.

"It's a small step but it isn't voter ID. It is voter ID with a wink and a nod," said Rep. Justine Fox-Young, R-Albuquerque.

Acceptable voter identification under the measure includes a photo ID, a utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck, or student or tribal ID.

But the legislation also allows voters to simply provide _ either verbally or in writing _ their name, year of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security number.

--Continue reading .

Bush Event in Albuquerque on Tuesday

President Bush reportedly will be arriving in Albuquerque on Monday night and appearing at a so-called town hall meeting on Tuesday morning at the Kiva Auditorium at the Convention Center downtown. He'll be pushing his Social Security reform measures, including private accounts. You can imagine how diverse the crowd will be at the orchestrated and carefully screened event.

I called the NM Republican Party today just for kicks and the woman I spoke with wanted to take my name for a waiting list for tickets. She also asked if I had gotten an email about the event, apparently to check to see if I was on their insider mailing list. I didn't bother to leave my name as I imagine the first thing they'll do is check your voter registration! I did find out that doors at the Civic Center will open at 6:15 AM on Tueday so people can go through the very strict security.

There are rumblings of a protest in the making outside the Convention Center on Tuesday morning. I'll keep you posted as I learn more.

GREAT NEWS: Election Reform Bill SB678 Passes NM House!

From Bob Stearns and the Roundhouse Gang:
Fellow Believers, SB678 with Voter Verified Paper Ballot and Automatic-Audits passed the House today (FRIDAY) by a 39-26 partisan vote, after a 3-hour debate beginning at noon.

Numerous Republicans supported V.V.P.B. and Audits but voted against the bill because of strong differences with the Democrats on the Voter ID issue. The bill, already passed by the Senate, now goes to the Governor.

Our success in getting VVPB and Audits into this legislation came from all the effort all you activists have put in over the past year and especially during this Session.  Take a break and pat yourselves on the back. Well done!
******************
Editor's Note: I heard from Dory Shonagon that this bill will have to go into what is known as "concurrence" on the Senate Floor. Because the version of the bill passed by the House had a number of amendments that weren't included when the bill passed the Senate, they'll have to OK it again before it heads to the Governor. Since the Legislative Session ends at Noon tomorrow, there's still a slight chance that it won't pass out of the Legislature on time. Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

ABQ Events Celebrate Women in History Month

**Exhibit Title: "The Feminist Paper Doll Show"

Description: In celebration of Women in History Month, OFFCenter is  hosting a paper doll exhibit in order to remember and honor unsung women  of the past, as well as our favorite contemporary feminists, who have  contributed to a more just world. Paper cut-out dolls, clothes, homes, work places, etc. and accessories, of all sizes will be on display.

Exhibit runs through March 31, 2005.

Where: OFFCenter Community Arts Project, 808 Park Ave SW, downtown  Albuquerque. CALL: 247-1172 for more information.

**Panel Title: "Beyond the Seventies: Critiquing The Impact of Feminist  Art Today."

Date: Saturday, March 19, 2005 1-4 PM

Description: Please join Rose Buffalo in welcoming Lucy Lippard, Tey  Marianna Nunn, Virginia  Hampton and Barbara Grothus for a lively panel  discussion about the influence feminist artists have made historically  and whether or not  their work supported or disrupted the status quo.  Music by Bonny Bluhm and light refreshments. Experience OFFCenter's  community art studio and  gallery exhibit, "The Feminist Paper Doll  Show."

Where: OFFCenter Community Arts Project, 808 Park Ave, SW.  Call: 247-1172 for more information, Free, Donations accepted.

Panelists include: Lucy Lippard is a nationally known art critic & writer, Tey Marianna Nunn, Director of Hispanic  Folk Art Museum, Santa Fe, Virgina Hampton, TVI instructor, writer, works thru Out ch'Yonda and Barbara Grothus, artist, community activist  Rose Buffalo, panel moderator, artist, activist.

Election Reform Bill SB678 on House Floor Agenda Today

From Bob Stearns:
Hi All, The House floor calendar for today (FRIDAY) March 18th, lists our Election Reform Bill SB678 as item #55 on a 73-item agenda for Third Reading of Legislation. House scheduled to go into session on the floor at 9 AM.

Major Victory in Election Reform Effort!

From Bob Stearns and All:
A major advance toward victory this morning! The House Voters & Elections Committee passed SJC Sub Bill 678, with some amendments that do not affect its VVPB and Automatic Audit provisions. The bill stands in for HB1063, and now goes to a vote on the House Floor.

Again, please phone your House lawmakers, and the House leadership to urge passage of SB678. Leadership consists of:

Speaker Ben Lujan of Santa Fe at 986-4782
Dem Majority Leader Rep. Ken Martinez of Grants at 986-4777
Repub Minority Leader Rep. Ted Hobbs of Albuquerque at 986-4757

A salute to Senators Linda Lopez and Gerry Ortiz y Pino who presented SB678 to the HVE Committee and to the 13 activists who came to show our support. Among the amendments to SB678 was one striking out the provision that the SoS can ask for the full estimated cost of a recount before it is undertaken.

Verfied Voting New Mexico: https://vvnm.org

SB678 on House Voters & Elections Agenda Today

According to Charlotte Roybal:
The election reform bill passed by the Senate will be heard in the House Voters and Elections committee this morning, which starts at 8 AM. It sounds like SB678 will be the bill and that HB1063, Rep. Ed Sandoval's bill, will be dropped. There are changes in the bill to look out for. I'm sure the Santa Fe contingent will keep us posted.

Also, according to Leland Lehrman of Santa Fe's Mother Media:
In an interview with Billy Sparks, Governor Richardson's Press Secretary, Mother Media has learned that the Governor is "encouraged" by the passage of the Senate Election Reform bill. This bill contains Voter Verifiable Paper Trails, Automatic Machine Audits, Protection for Provisional Voters and is known as Senate Judiciary Committee Substitute for 678, 718 et al.

Information from Senator Ortiz y Pino's legislative aide Harry Pavlides indicate that the Governor has publicly weighed in with the Congressional leadership indicating his support for this Senate Election Reform Bill. According to Pavlides, the bill is "wired," short-hand for set to pass. 

Mother Media has endorsed the bill and will broadcast live three minute updates from the Roundhouse on KTRC 1260 AM Santa Fe. Look for us at the top of the hour from 11AM - 4PM. We will directly follow Air America news.

The House Voters and Elections Committee will meet today, Thursday, at 8AM to vote on the bill and it will probably make it to the House floor for a full vote late today or early Friday morning. Mother Media encourages citizens to come to the Roundhouse to catch the action in person.

While amendments sponsored by the Republicans have made it into the Senate bill, it remains possible the Republicans will vote against it en masse today. Democrats are not likely to defect, so a party line vote in Voter and Elections would send the bill to the House floor for a full vote.

Opinions differ regarding whether the House will be more difficult to pass than the Senate, but senior sources indicate that it will be a terrific battle. The debate in the Senate lasted three hours. It remains essential that citizens in favor of election reform and voter protection call their Representatives to urge support for this bill. The Capitol Switchboard phone is 505.986.4300, legislators can be found on the web at https://legis.state.nm.us.

Provided the bill clears the  House, the final step will be clearing the final Senate Committee to which it is referred. It will probably go to the Senate Judiciary Committee which already passed it 5-4 in a party line vote. Judiciary Committee Chairman Cisco McSorley has been an ally of Election Reform from the beginning.

Major Election Reform Bill Passes NM Senate: Contact House Dems NOW

Info from Charlotte Roybal and Dory Shonagon:
The Senate finally took up SB678 (Lopez), an omnibus election bill, at 9:15 PM on Tuesday, March 15. Three amendments were added and about six were defeated. Shortly after midnight the bill passed on a party-line vote.

With only four days left in the NM Legislative Session, it is very important that we contact ALL Democratic Representatives in the House and urge them to pass this bill because we need election reform THIS SESSION.

Click to find contact information on House members.

Editor's Note: I think it's important to send a note of thanks to all the Dem Senators who voted for this bill. And, in particular, I would thank Senators Linda Lopez (bill sponsor), Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Cisco McSorley and their hard-working staff members for their efforts and negotiating skills that produced this bill. Hooray for this victory! On to the House!