Democracy for New Mexico

(Updated) HB9-Domestic Partner Bill Passes NM Senate Public Affairs

Packed Senate Public Affairs committee room

UPDATE 1/31/08: Note new time for hearing Friday 2/1/08 in Senate Judiciary Committee - 2:00 PM.

From EQNM:
The Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities Act (HB9) passed the NM Senate Public Affairs Committee by a party line vote of 5-4. The opposition has mobilized and is showing up in large numbers. Today's committee hearing was the first where opposition attempted to pack the hearing room. Today five State Senators kept the fight for fairness alive. Senator Mary Jane Garcia explained her vote as a matter of respecting all people, values that were bestowed upon her by her religious parents.

Voting for Equality

• Senator Mary Jane Garcia (D-Dona Ana 36)
• Senator Dede Feldman (D-Albuquerque 13)
• Senator David Ulibarri (D-Grants 30)
• Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque 12)
• Senator Howie Morales (D-Silver City 28)

Voting Against Equality

• Senator Steve Komadina (R-Corrales 9)
• Senator Kernan (R-Hobbs 42)
• Senator Stuart Ingle (R-Portales 27)
• Senator Steven Neville (R-Aztec 2)

Senate Judiciary on Friday
It is likely that HB9 will be heard in Senate Judiciary on Friday at 2:00 PM evening. We need supporters to turn up in large numbers to demonstrate the support behind this fight for fairness. More details to come.

The opposition prays against fairness for all families

Led by Rep. Nora Espinoza, R-Roswell 59 (right), and Former Lt. Governor Walter Bradley (left), another Republican, the opposition is determined to block fairness for all New Mexican families at this hearing. As the opposition continues to spread their language of hate, emotions will flare up. It is important to remain respectful of the process at all times.

We must be able to count on you for Friday’s hearing. Please contact Equality New Mexico at 505.224.2766 to sign-up. If you are able to take supporters in your vehicle please inform us of that fact. It is extremely important that we pack this hearing with support.

HB9 has already gained passage in the New Mexico House Commerce & Public Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, and was approved on the House Floor by a margin of 33-31. Having now passed the NM Senate Public Affairs Committee, the bill has one hurdle left in the Senate Judiciary Committee. If it passes there, it will move to the Senate Floor for a vote by the entire Senate. Last year a similar measure was killed on the Senate side by 1 vote after having passed the House.

Gov. Bill Richardson is a strong backer of the bill, having indicated it's one of the most important bills on his call this year. If it passes the Senate, he will sign it.

To read our previous coverage of the 2008 New Mexico Legislative Session, visit our archive.

Ask Your Legislators to Sign the Voters First Pledge

As you probably know by now, many of our New Mexico legislators haven't exactly rushed to jump on the clean elections bandwagon. Like last year, there's an abundance of foot dragging and a pile of excuses on the part of lawmakers in Santa Fe regarding expanding voluntary public campaign financing beyond appellate judge and PRC contests.

I guess too many of our state reps and senators like the thrill of collecting big sums of money from the vested special interests that bring their business onto the House and Senate floors for passage. What fun would it be to serve the people's interests and have to forego all those cash advances for legislation to please the donors? I know that a great many of our lawmakers are honest, but it's time to make it easier for good candidates to run against the bad eggs who are beholden to all the wrong people for all the wrong reasons.

Common Cause New Mexico has come up with way to try and prod the lawmakers who are supposed to represent us into taking a public stand on public financing. By clicking here you can ask your state legislators to take the (pdf). It asks them to pledge to put voters first and work to pass and enforce legislation for full voluntary public campaign financing for statewide offices, extending the legislation already in place for New Mexico appellate court judge races and the Public Regulation Commission.

Shortly after the legislative session, Common Cause New Mexico will release a 2008 Ethics Reform Report Card to let voters know the degree to which their legislators support much-needed ethics reform in New Mexico. The Report Card will be partially based on their Voters First Pledge. Now's the time to hold them accountable. Ask your legislators to take the Voters First Pledge.

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.

ACTION ALERT: HB9-Domestic Partner Bill in NM Senate Public Affairs Tomorrow

From EQNM:
The Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities Act (HB9) will be heard in its first Senate committee on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 2:00 PM in Room 321 at the Round House in Santa Fe. The bill passed last week in the NM House by a margin of 33-31. The support behind HB9 has been tremendous, but we must keep it going. New Mexico Families need and deserve these legal protections. Testimony will be extremely limited on this side. It is important to focus any statements on why Domestic Partnership is important to you. We still need to show how much support this piece of legislation still has. Your attendance is important now more than ever! If you are able attend this hearing in the Senate Public Affairs Committee please call 505.224.2766.

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.

Noon Saturday: Insight New Mexico Radio

Insight New Mexico's second show of the year will be aired on Albuquerque's Progressive Talk Radio 1350 AM from Noon to 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 25, 2008. Cohosted by Heather Brewer and Javier Benavidez and produced by Suzanne Prescott, the weekly show covers the latest happenings at the Legislative Session and other local political news. You can call in live during the show with your questions and comments at 338- 4090. This week (pending what's going on in Santa Fe during showtime):

• Steve Terrell returns with another of his Roundhouse Roundups
• Rep. Gail Chasey will discuss HB 244, pro-choice legislation
• Laura Sanchez, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico will discuss the February 5th Presidential Preference Caucus and provide some insight into what it means in terms of the presidential election
• Sandy Buffett of League of Conservation Voters will give an update of pending environmental legislation

Support Insight New Mexico
If you'd like to help defray the costs of by becoming a sponsor or supporter, contact Suzanne Prescott at 505-304-3960 or Heather Brewer at 505-310-5957. Let's help keep the show on the air!

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.

ACTION ALERT: Call NM House & Senate Leaders About Clean Elections

From Common Cause NM:
Most New Mexicans agree that we need to clean up our corrupt political system by passing Clean Elections. But now, with the session underway, we're suddenly hearing that House and Senate leaders are trying to put the brakes on the public campaign financing bill this year.

With recent scandals and growing public distrust of our legislators, we need a vote for passage of the Clean Elections program in New Mexico now, not stalling tactics and backroom deals.

Please call the leaders of the state Senate and House and urge them to allow the Clean Elections bill to be introduced and voted on right away:

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez: (505) 986-4727
House Majority Leader Ken Martinez: (505) 986-4776

A brief and urgent phone call from enough of us will send a strong message.  Please let us know that you made the call by reporting back to us.

Last year, we won a big victory by passing public campaign financing for statewide judicial races. This past summer, the Governor's ethics task force recommended that the program be expanded to include statewide offices. We need to follow their lead -- and our elected officials should be leading us to take corrupting big money out of politics, not obstructing progress.

Please call the two key leaders in the New Mexico Senate and House and urge them to allow the Clean Elections bill to be introduced, so we can continue to tackle corruption here at home. Thanks again for your help to clean up New Mexico politics.

Sincerely,
Steven Robert Allen
Executive Director, Common Cause New Mexico

(Updated) HB9: 2008 NM Domestic Partner Act Passes House 33-31

One house down. Steve Terrell has the story. More later. Update 1: The AP has the roll calll on today's vote on HB9 in the New Mexico House. See below. Here's what Barry Massey at the AP had to say. He included a few quotes from legislators.

Update 2: From EQNM - This was an extremely close vote and we expect the vote in the Senate to be even closer. Before we make it there, we will have to pass two committees on the Senate side. It is our expectation that we will be heard on Tuesday, January 29, 2008. Please plan to attend this important committee hearing and prepare testimony on why Domestic Partnership is important to you. If your representative voted for the bill, please take action and thank them by clicking here.

February 4th we plan to have the largest lobby day in Equality New Mexico History. It is our hope to have the bill near the Senate Floor at this time. Please take time to rally with hundreds of other New Mexicans in support of HB9. We will be hosting three separate Lobby Day Trainings this year at 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Please sign up by e-mailing chris@eqnm.org or calling 505.224.2766 and we will send you more information closer to the 4th.

(If you don't know who your representative is, click here and enter your district or zip code.)

The 33-31 vote by the House on Thursday to approve a bill establishing domestic partnerships for gay or heterosexual couples. Voting yes were two Republicans and 31 Democrats. Voting no were 24 Republicans and seven Democrats. Not voting or excused were 2 Republicans and 4 Democrats.

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES
Justine Fox-Young (Albuquerque).
Kathy McCoy (Cedar Crest).

REPUBLICANS VOTING NO
Thomas Anderson (Albuquerque).
Janice Arnold-Jones (Albuquerque).
Paul Bandy (Aztec).
Richard Berry (Albuquerque).
Donald Bratton (Hobbs).
Anna Crook (Clovis).
Nora Espinoza (Roswell).
Candy Spence Ezzell (Roswell).
Daniel Foley (Roswell).
Keith Gardner (Roswell).
William Gray (Artesia).
Jimmie Hall (Albuquerque).
Larry Larranaga (Albuquerque).
Brian Moore (Clayton).
Jane Powdrell-Culbert (Corrales).
Bill Rehm (Albuquerque).
James Strickler (Farmington).
Thomas Taylor (Farmington).
Don Tripp (Socorro).
Shirley Tyler (Lovington).
Gloria Vaughn (Alamogordo).
Jeannette Wallace (Los Alamos).
W. C. “Dub” Williams (Glencoe).
Teresa Zanetti (Albuquerque).

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES
Elias Barela (Belen).
Jose Campos (Santa Rosa).
Joseph Cervantes (Las Cruces).
Gail Chasey (Albuquerque).
Ernest Chavez (Albuquerque).
Nathan Cote (Las Cruces).
Mary Helen Garcia (Las Cruces).
Miguel Garcia (Albuquerque).
Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales (Taos).
Joni Marie Gutierrez (Las Cruces).
Antonio Lujan (Las Cruces).
Ben Lujan (Santa Fe).
James Roger Madalena (Jemez Pueblo).
Antonio “Moe” Maestas (Albuquerque).
Rodolpho “Rudy” Martinez (Bayard).
W. Ken Martinez (Grants).
Rick Miera (Albuquerque).
Al Park (Albuquerque).
John Pena (Gallup).
Danice Picraux (Albuquerque).
Henry Kiki Saavedra (Albuquerque).
Nick Salazar (Ohkay Owingeh).
Edward Sandoval (Albuquerque).
Daniel Silva (Albuquerque).
Sheryl Williams Stapleton (Albuquerque).
Jeff Steinborn (Las Cruces).
Mimi Stewart (Albuquerque).
Thomas Swisstack (Rio Rancho).
Jim Trujillo (Santa Fe).
Luciano “Lucky” Varela (Santa Fe).
Peter Wirth (Santa Fe).

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO
Thomas Garcia (Ocate).
John Heaton (Carlsbad).
Dona Irwin (Deming).
Rhonda King (Stanley).
Andy Nunez (Hatch).
Debbie Rodella (Espanola).
Richard Vigil (Ribera).

DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING
Andrew Barreras (Tome).
Ray Begaye (Shiprock).
George Hanosh (Grants).
Patricia Lundstrom (Gallup).

REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING
Dianne Miller Hamilton (Silver City).
Eric Youngberg (Corrales).

(Updated) Thursday: HB9-NM Domestic Partner Bill to House Floor

UPDATE 1/24/08: HB 9 passed the New Mexico House of Representatives by a margin of 33-31 today. Read my post on the victory. The bill goes next to the New Mexico Senate, where it was killed last year by 1 vote.
*********************
If you haven't yet called your representative about HB 9, please do so now.

From EQNM: The Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities act will be heard before the Full House Thursday, January 24th, 2008 at 10:00 AM. As HB 9 is the only Bill on the day’s agenda it is important that we pack the gallery to show the entire body of representatives the massive amount of support behind the fight for fairness.

The opposition will attempt to damage the bill in many ways tomorrow. As a community we must stand behind the legislators who are working for equality in New Mexico. Again, it is important to arrive early so we can be seen. This issue is extremely passionate, but it is important to respect the process and follow the Roundhouse rules when in the House Gallery.

We were able to generate nearly 25,000 e-mails to House Members over the last 36 hours. Many Members were impressed with the support and have assured they too are supporters of equality. Thank you for your excellent work in this fight for equality.