Democracy for New Mexico

Rep. Lujan's Version of Minimum Wage Bill Passes House Labor Committee

House Bill 759, Rep. Ben Lujan's version of the minimum wage bill, passed the NM House Labor Committee yesterday on a 4-2 vote along Party lines. This is the bill being backed by progressives and labor and poverty activists. The Committee also passed Sen. Ben Altamirano's wage bill, Senate Bill 324, which was previously passed by the full Senate, after amending it to match Rep. Lujan's. Gov. Bill Richardson prefers the Senate version. I was going to discuss the bills here but discovered that Las Cruces blogger Heath Haussamen has a terrific rundown on what happened and why. Click to check it out.

The bills go next to the House Business and Industry Committee. Click for contact info on the members and encourage them to support HB 759.

Act Now to Stop Delay in NM Universal Health Coverage

From the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign:
Hearing on Senate Bill 721 Moved to Thursday! Senate Bill 721, the companion bill to Senate Bill 720 (the Health Security Act), has been scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, Thursday, February 15, in the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

Senate Bill 721 (Health Security Act Financing Options) is the appropriations bill for the first year of the Health Security Act and will finance a cost analysis of the Health Security Plan. This financial study is the first step in implementing the Health Security Plan. It also enables the legislature to get an important second opinion once the results of the Governor's task force study are made public in June.

Powers That Be Trying to Kill Health Security Act? Last night in the Senate Public Affairs Committee, Senate Bill 721 was originally scheduled to be automatically moved on to the Senate Finance Committee along with other bills that contained funding. Senator Cisneros, the bill's sponsor, had been told that it was not necessary for him to be there, so he was not present when Senator Papen made the request that the bill be pulled from the others because she had questions.

Our Executive Director was asked to answer Senator Papen's questions. Then testimony in opposition was presented by Secretary of Human Services Pam Hyde (who maintained that she is neither for or against the Health Security Act), the Lovelace lobbyist, the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and a few others, all of whom made the argument that the legislators should wait for the results of the Governor's task force study, which includes analysis of the Health Security Plan.

Because the sponsor was not there, the committee agreed to hold the hearing on Thursday, when he could be present.

The opposition will continue to push the "wait for the results of the study" argument in order to kill the Health Security Act.

We need to continue to put pressure on our legislators to let them know that there is strong public support to pass the Health Security Act now.

Where and When: The Senate Public Affairs Committee will begin hearing bills on Thursday afternoon after the Senate floor session ends. The Public Affairs Committee usually meets in Room 321 in the State Capitol. Check with Senator Feldman’s office (986-4482, Room 303) for the committee agenda and hearing room number. Please come to the hearing! Your presence is very important. The committee needs to see public support for this bill!

Time to Call Public Affairs Committee Senators!
No matter who your senator is, please call Dede Feldman (986-4482), the chair of the Public Affairs Committee, and urge her to support Senate Bill 721, Health Security Act Financing Options. If your senator is on the Public Affairs Committee (see list below), please call today and ask him or her to support Senate Bill 721, Health Security Act Financing Options. If you have friends or relatives in any of these senators’ districts, please ask them to call their senator today to urge him or her to support Senate Bill 721, Health Security Act Financing Options. These phone calls are critical to ensuring passage of Senate Bill 721 in the Senate Public Affairs Committee on Thursday. Please call today!

Senate Public Affairs Committee Members
Sen. Dede Feldman, Chair (D) – Senate District 13 (Albuquerque): 986-4482
Sen. Mary Jane M. Garcia, Vice Chair (D) – Senate District 36 (Las Cruces): 986-4726
Sen. Steve Komadina, Ranking Member (R) – Senate District 9 (Corrales, Rio Rancho): 986-4377
Sen. Stuart Ingle (R) – Senate District 27 (Portales): 986-4702
Sen. Gay G. Kernan (R) – Senate District 42 (Hobbs): 986-4274
Sen. Steven P. Neville (R) – Senate District 2 (San Juan County): 986-4266
Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D) – Senate District 12 (Albuquerque): 986-4380
Sen. Mary Kay Papen (D) – Senate District 388 (Las Cruces): 986-4270
Sen. David Ulibarri (D) – Senate District 30 (Cibola County): 986-4265

Update on Senate Bill 720 (the Health Security Act)
Senate Bill 720 (the Health Security Act), which was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee. We will let you know when we have more information! If you have any questions, contact Josette at 771-8763 or jhaddad@cableone.net.

Ethics Reform Bill Limiting Gifts Passed Unanimously by NM House Committee

From NM House Democratic Leadership:
Yesterday the NM House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee passed HB 819cs — the Gift Act sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque) — with a unanimous vote of 6 to 0. The Gift Act is part of the comprehensive ethics and campaign reform package that has been presented by House Democrats based on the recommendations of the Governor’s Task Force on Ethics Reform. 

Rep. Chasey said, “There is currently no law in New Mexico that regulates gifts to candidates, elected officials, or state employees. This bill will set the parameters of what is acceptable and legal for everyone, including lobbyists or companies doing business with the state and the recipient of the gifts.”

The Gift Act defines a gift as a donation or transfer of money, property, service, loan, or any other thing of value such as food, lodging, transportation, and tickets for entertainment or sporting events. The act restricts the value of a gift to no more than $250. Lobbyists or government contractors could not give more than $1,000 in gifts to an elected official or state employee in any one year.

The definition of a gift does not include the following: campaign contributions as defined under state and federal law, a gift from a close family member or friend, reasonable compensation for services, a loan from a traditional lender on terms that are available to all similarly qualified borrowers, or a retirement gift. It also does not include reasonable expenses for a bona fide educational program that is directly related to the state officer’s or employee’s official duties.

The act outlines those individuals or entities that would be considered “restricted donors.” Restricted donors would include those doing business with the state, professional groups or industries that would substantially benefit from the execution of the official duties of the recipient of the gift, or a registered lobbyist with the state.

Editor's Note: For more on the bills that comprise this year's ethics reform package, see our previous post. The bill will be heard next in the House Judiciary Committee. Click for contact info on its members. Please call or write to urge their support.

Call House Agriculture Committee This Week on Medical Marijuana Bill

From the Drug Policy Alliance Network:
Our medical marijuana bill needs your help! Your calls this week are crucial to advancing the legislation as it faces its ultimate challenge: House approval. Last year the bill was tabled by the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee after an intense hearing -- and now it is before that committee again. The delays caused by this committee referral last year ultimately killed the 2006 bill. We can't let that happen again!

You can help by calling the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee and encouraging the members to support SB 238 (the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act) in committee.

Committee members act on behalf of all of us when they vote on bills in committee, so everyone can call each member listed below - regardless of whose district you live in. However, if you live in one of the districts below, please be sure to let the office know that when you call.

House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee:

Representative Andy Nuñez, Chair
District 36, (505) 986-4423

Representative Ray Begaye, Vice Chair
District 4, (505) 986-4436

Representative Joseph Cervantes, Member
District 52, (505) 986-4249

Representative Jimmie C. Hall, Member
District 28, (505) 986-4215

Representative Dona G. Irwin, Member
District 32, (505) 986-4249

Representative Larry A. Larranaga, Member
District 27, (505) 986-4215

Representative Don L. Tripp, Member
District 49, (505) 986-4220

Thanks for your help,
Reena Szczepanski, Drug Policy Alliance Network
www.improveNewMexico.org

Editor's Note: For talking points and other information, see our previous post.

NM Senate Rules Commitee to Discuss Ethics Reform Today, Take Up Several Election Bills

From the NM Senate Daybook:
February 14, 2007, 8:00 AM – Senate Rules Committee – Room 321 – Committee Secretary 986-4746. For contact information for Senate Rules Committee members, click here. The Committee plans to hear an Ethics Task Force Discussion with Stuart Bluestone, Deputy Director, Attorney General’s Office and Dean Scarnecchia, UNM law School. The Committee also plans to review the following bills (among others):

SB 449 AUTOMATIC RECOUNTS IN CERTAIN ELECTIONS (FELDMAN): This is a very important bill being supported by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, election reform activists and others to require and fund automatic recounts when the vote margin between the top two candidates in a general statewide or federal election is less than one half of one percent. Currently, only candidates can request a recount and must pay for it themselves unless serious mistakes or fraud is are found in the recount. Please contact the Committee members and urge their approval of SB 449.

SB 360 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BY COUNTY CLERKS (SANCHEZ M): Reassigns certain election duties such as providing a list of registered voters from municipal clerks to county clerks.

SB 363 ELECTRONIC CAMPAIGN REPORT FILING PROVISIONS (SANCHEZ M): Makes electronic filing of campaign reports voluntary, not mandatory as currently required.

SB 506 INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS (DURAN): Requires that independent candidate nominees for state office must have no affiliation with a political party and must reside in the district they're running in according to their voter registration as of the date of the governor's proclamation for the primary election.

ALERT: NM House Bill for Tax Subsidies to Dirty Desert Rock Power Plant Introduced

Editor's Note: A version of this bill was previously introduced on the Senate side. See our earlier post. Now it's being pursued on the House side. I got the following alert via email from activists fighting the bill:

Please Call Today - STOP TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOR THE PROPOSED DIRTY DESERT ROCK POWER PLANT!

Soon, House Energy & Natural Resources Committee will be considering House Bill 178 which proposes an $85 million subsidy for the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant. Please call House Energy and Natural Resource Committee Members and tell them to OPPOSE HB 178.

No subsidies or tax breaks to build a dirty plant for electricity to other states – NOT our money, not out of New Mexico’s pocket into Sithe Global’s wallet.

If Desert Rock is built, all the clean energy and anti-pollution progress we have made in New Mexico will be wasted. Sithe Global claims their plant would be a “clean” coal plant, but it would NOT meet New Mexico’s standards for power plants and would severely impact surrounding communities and add millions of pounds of carbon and mercury pollution into New Mexico’s air and water.

The legislature will be considering real clean energy legislation this session. Encourage your representative and members of the Energy & Natural Resource Committee to vote against dirty coal and for clean energy in 2007.

Please contact the following Energy & Natural Resource Committee Members. If you are in their district, please let them know.

Representative Jim Trujillo, Vice Chair
District 45, Capitol Phone: 986-4255
Email: jimtrujillo@msn.com

Representative James Roger Madalena, Chair
District 65, Capitol Phone: 986-4417
Email: jr_madalena@yahoo.com

Representative Thomas Anderson
District 29, Capitol Phone: 986-4452
Email: kb5ysg@arrl.net

Representative Paul Bandy
District 3, Capitol Phone: 986-4214
Email: paul@bandyranch.com

Representative Donald Bratton
District 62, Capitol Phone: 986-4427
Email: donbratton@valornet.com

Representative Candy Spence Ezzell
District 58, Capitol Phone: 986-4450
Email: csecows@aol.com

Representative Thomas Garcia
District 68, Capitol Phone: 986-4242
Email: ocate@hotmail.com

Representative William Gray
District 54, Capitol Phone: 986-4211
Email: wjgray@pvtnetworks.net

Representative Joni Marie Gutierrez
District 33, Capitol Phone: 986-4234
Email: jonig@zianet.com

Representative Jeff Steinborn
District 37, Capitol Phone: 986-4248
Email: jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov

Representative James R.J. Strickler
District 2, Capitol Phone: 986-4454
Email: jamesstrickler@msn.com

Questions? delschwartz@juno.com

NM House Passes Death Penalty Repeal

From the NM House Democratic Leadership:
A bill to abolish the death penalty in New Mexico and replace it with a sentence of life without parole passed the House of Representatives today on a floor vote of 41 to 28. Six Republicans supported the legislation. Similar legislation was passed by the NM House in 2005 and defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee by one vote.

Rep. Chasey has proposed three pieces of legislation that work together as a package to support the victims of crime. HB 190 and HB 966 propose that the death penalty be replaced with life without parole and that a portion of the funds saved by the state, which is estimated to be as much as $3 to $4 million dollars a year, be used to expand services for murder victim family members. HB 193 protects the employment of all crime victims when they must take unpaid leave from their jobs to attend court hearings.

Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque) has sponsored similar legislation since 1999. During Rep. Chasey’s presentation on the bill, she said that the death penalty discriminates against people of color and those who live in rural areas or are poor. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 53% of men and women on death row are African American or Hispanic. The Hispanic population on death row nationally is growing at the fastest rate when compared to other ethnic/racial groups.

Rep. Chasey also said that the death penalty was not a deterrent to murder. She quoted crime statistics that indicated that the murder rates in the southern part of the country where higher than all other regions. In 2006, 83% of all executions in the country were carried out in the south.

Rep. Chasey emphasized that New Mexico spends millions of dollars a year on the capital punishment system even though we have had only one execution since 1960. There are currently two men on death row in New Mexico and about 20 capital murder cases making there way through the court system.

Rep. Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) spoke in support of repeal of the death penalty as a former prosecutor. He explained that resources are diverted away from prosecuting violent crimes, such as rape and assault, when a death penalty case takes precedence in a district attorney’s office. He suggested that the state needs to scrutinize all of its expenditures very carefully when we live in a world of scarce resources. “It astounds me that the state will spend millions of dollars every year on the death penalty when we’ve had one execution in 47 years. If this money was being spent on any other program with the same result, we would be laughed out of town,” he said. “Imagine if we allocated $50 million dollars to an economic development program and they reported back to us after a year that they had created one small business.”

Editor's Notes:

Report from Floor Debate: Local blogger Heath Hausaman was up at the Legislature at the floor session during the debate on this bill, and provides a running report how that went.

Contact Gov. Richardson and NM Senators: Although Gov. Bill Richardson has supported the death penalty in years past, there's a chance he may change his mind this year, especially if he hears from numerous voters who support death penalty repeal. According to an Albuquerque Journal article:

Richardson, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, has refused to answer questions this year about his position on death penalty legislation. He said he is focused on the items on his legislative agenda. Chasey said the governor continued to have "very cordial conversations" with death penalty opponents. "I think he's giving it some thought," she said.

Click to FAIR Blogcontact Gov. Richarson or contact your State Senator on this issue.

UPDATED: NM House Committee to Vote on Wage Bills Today

UPDATE 11:41 AM: Both Speaker Lujan's and Sen. Altamirano's competing minimum wage bills will be debated in the House Labor Committee today.

From NM ACORN:
The NM House Labor Committee will hold the first hearing on Speaker Ben Lujan's minimum wage bill, HB 759, on Tuesday, February 13 at 1:30 PM in the House Chambers. Please join us to support this legislation, which would not only give us a higher wage than what Congress proposes for a new minimum. It would also provide an annual cost-of-living increase and remove all exemptions from New Mexico law so that all workers are covered. For more information, contact Matthew Henderson at nmacorn@acorn.org. If you can't be at the hearing, please contact members of the House Labor Committee and urge them to vote yes on this bill.

Editor's Note: There's another minimum wage bill that originated in the NM Senate as SB 324, sponsored by Sen. Ben Altamirano. It gained passage in the Senate and is now in the House Labor Committee awaiting a hearing. However, Rep. Lujan's House bill is better, especially in terms of its application to ALL workers and the provision of yearly cost of living increases.

Great News! NM Senate Judiciary Committee Passes the Health Security Act!

From the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign:
Yesterday (Monday), the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Health Security Act (Senate Bill 720) by a 6-4 vote! It was an exciting hearing, with a roomful of Health Security Act supporters and strong, impassioned testimony in favor of Senate Bill 720.

Many thanks to those who came to the hearing to show and voice their support for the Health Security Act! Thanks also to those who could not come to the State Capitol but were providing long-distance support from around the state.

Next Step: The Senate Finance Committee.
The Health Security Act now moves to the Senate Finance Committee. Click here for Committee members and their contact information. We'll need your help to get the Health Security Act passed by the Finance Committee! If you have any questions, contact Josette at 771-8763 or jhaddad@cableone.net.
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Editor's Note: More information about the bill is provided in this press release from the NM Senate Democrats and the bill's sponsor, Senator Carlos Cisneros:

NM Senate Bill 720, introduced by Senator Carlos Cisneros (D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos-6) won approval today from the Senate Judiciary Committee by a margin of 6-4 in a party line vote. The bill would be a giant step toward providing health care coverage for all New Mexicans.

The proposed legislation is the result of input from organizations and interested groups from across the state over many years. It is aimed at providing a solution to New Mexico’s health care crisis.  The bill will next be presented to the Senate Finance Committee.

Senator Carlos Cisneros commented, “I am elated that the Committee was receptive to this concept for extending health care to all New Mexicans. In his State of the State address the Governor called for bold new steps to improve the lives of New Mexican citizens and this certainly is one.”

Under the Health Security Act:

•The old-fashioned concept of an insurance plan would be the basis of the Health Security Plan under which approximately 1.6 million young, old, healthy and the not-so-healthy New Mexicans will share the risk.*

•Military personnel and federal retirees will maintain their own plans.   

•Tribes and plans covered under ERISA will have the option to join.

•An independent non-governmental Commission will administer the Health Security Plan -- a Commission is geographically representative and publicly accountable.

•The private health care delivery system stays in place.

•No new taxes will be required.

•The Health Security Plan is paid for by combining existing public dollars spent on health care (Medicaid, Medicare) with premiums based on income and employer contributions (with caps).

•Counties will decide how to use their indigent funds under the Plan.

•Developing and implementing the Plan would follow a go-slow approach:

•Year 1: analysis of the cost – with public input. If the financial costs are too much and not approved by the Legislature, the Health Security Plan will not go into effect.

•Years 2 & 3: If the financial picture looks good, it is estimated that working out the details of the Health Security Plan with public input will take two more years -- with the ability to extend the time to proceed or to put on the brakes should this phase not be workable.

The Plan Guarantees:

•Health care coverage for all New Mexicans, regardless of age, income, employment, or health status.

•Freedom of choice of doctor and hospital within and across state lines.

•Comprehensive benefits, no less than those offered to state employees.

•Protections so retirees will not lose what they already have.

* According to numerous state studies, including one completed for New Mexico, pooling state residents will result in a reduction of health expenditures by billions of dollars.

Protect Future Generations from Hazardous Waste, Call Today to Oppose SB 279

From Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety:
The Environmental Covenants Bills, SB 279 and HB 48, would allow for less clean up at Department of Energy, mining and other hazardous waste sites in New Mexico. The bills would allow polluting companies to sell off contaminated lands without making every attempt to clean them up to fully protect human health and the environment.
   
These bills must be stopped to protect future generations! Voice your Opposition! Oppose SB 279!The hearing will be held at 2:30 PM, Tuesday, February 13, at the NM Senate Conservation Committee meeting, Room 311. Please call your state senators and express your opposition:

Senator Griego, Phil A. (D): Chair
District: 39, County(s): L.A.,Mora,Sand,S.M.,S.F. & Taos
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4861
E-mail: senatorgriego@yahoo.com

Taylor, James G. (D): Vice Chair
District: 14, County(s): Bernalillo & Valencia
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4862
E-mail: jamesg.taylor@nmlegis.gov

Sharer, William E. (R): Ranking Member
District: 1, County(s): San Juan
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4381
E-mail: bill@williamsharer.com

Altamirano, Ben D. (D)
District: 28, County(s): Catron, Grant & Socorro
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4733

Harden, Clinton D. (R)
District: 7, County(s): Col,Cur,Hard,Quay,SM,Taos&Union
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4369
E-mail: charden@theosogroup.com

Martinez, Richard C. (D)
District: 5, County(s): L. A., Rio Arriba & Santa Fe
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4389
E-mail: richard.martinez@nmlegis.gov

Payne, William H. (R)
District: 20, County(s): Bernalillo
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4276
E-mail: william.payne@nmlegis.gov

Pinto, John (D)
District: 3, County(s): McKinley & San Juan
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4835

Ryan, John C. (R)
District: 10, County(s): Bernalillo & Sandoval
Capitol Office Phone: 986-4373
E-mail: johnchrisryan@yahoo.com

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Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety
107 Cienega Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Tel (505) 986-1973, Fax (505) 986-0997
www.nuclearactive.org