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Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Howard Dean in Albuquerque: A Lot at Stake in New Mexico (With Videos)
The events with Howard Dean Tuesday in Albuquerque were inspiring and fun and a great big success. Dean spoke at a rally at UNM and appeared at a fundraiser at Cosmo Tapas for the Democratic Party of New Mexico that was co-hosted by DFA-Democracy for New Mexico. He stayed longer than he should have at both events, clearly enjoying all the good energy, conversations and camaraderie. The feeling was mutual. He left late for his sold-out DPNM fundraiser at the Rio Chama in Santa Fe -- how did it go up there folks?
I'll write more tomorrow and post some photos and more video, but I'm spent for now. We've seen/met Howard Dean many times -- he never disappoints and he's always smart, funny, down-to-earth, attentive and inspiring. But this time we came away with an even deeper appreciation for a man who has spent so many years doing all the right political things for all the right reasons, no matter what. We are still very much Howard Powered, and ready to engage in the vital election cycle that's upon us.
The video above features Gov. Dean providing a few examples of just what's at stake here in New Mexico. In the video below, Dr. Dean answers a few questions and talks about health care and the future. Main message: Get Democrats elected (or re-elected). Keep New Mexico Blue. Then hold their feet to the fire. The pressure must come from outside Washington, not from within Washington. It must come from US.
It's definitely time to re-energize, re-engage and keep this state very, very Blue. So we have a chance to advance our causes. So we have a chance to keep making progress. So we can keep the candidates of the Party of NO sitting at home, powerless to stop the momentum. We have the power to make it happen. YOU have the power to make it happen. We ALL have the power to keep on pushing, despite the setbacks and the static. Are you ready?
February 10, 2010 at 12:28 AM in Democratic Party, DFA, DFNM - Albq, Howard Dean | Permalink | Comments (1)
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Gov. Bill Richardson Announces Solar Distinction Inc. Manufacturing Plant in Albuquerque, Creating Hundreds of Jobs
Great news for Albuquerque's workforce. Governor Bill Richardson today announced Solar Distinction, Inc., will build a state of the art photovoltaic manufacturing plant in Albuquerque. The plant will employ 300 within the first two to three years and grow to a workforce of 500 employees.
“I am proud that Solar Distinction, Inc. has decided to locate its state of the art photovoltaic manufacturing plant in Albuquerque,” Governor Richardson said in a statement released today. “This is the type of investment and job opportunities that my administration has worked hard to create, and it shows New Mexico is fast becoming the center of North America’s solar industry.”
Solar Distinction anticipates initially operating a 25MW solar panel manufacturing plant in the Albuquerque metro area, expanding to 50MW within two years. In addition to manufacturing operations at the site, Solar Distinction will base its research and development of solar power generation, storage and end-user applications for commercial, industrial and consumer industries here in New Mexico.
"This announcement is proof that New Mexico is a place where entrepreneurs are finding the infrastructure, intellectual capital and manufacturing capabilities necessary to launch their ventures," Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Fred Mondragón said in a written statement. "The Noribachi Group's entrepreneurial spirit and success is helping to make New Mexico the leader in the generation of next wave technologies."
February 9, 2010 at 12:15 PM in Economy, Populism, Energy, Gov. Bill Richardson, Green Economy, Jobs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Rep. Joe Campos Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Provide Tax Relief for Hardship Cases
New Mexico Representative Joe Campos (D-Santa Rosa) has introduced House Joint Resolution 14 (HJR 14), which seeks to amend the state constitution to allow the state to negotiate tax debt under certain circumstances.
"This state and its citizens are experiencing hard economic realities that can result in financial hardship," Rep. Campos said in a statement released today. "One of the most frequently asked questions posed to the state Taxation and Revenue Department is a question about whether or not tax debt can be negotiated. The answer is that the state constitution prohibits tax debt negotiation under any circumstances, even hardship. Now is the time for that to change."
According to Rep. Campos, tax debt negotiation at the federal level was enabled when the United States Congress enacted legislation modifying the federal tax codes to allow tax debtors to negotiate tax debts through a process known as "Offer in Compromise," which is initiated by a taxpayer filing IRS form 656.
The federal legislation has been productive in bringing delinquent taxpayers into compliance and bringing delinquent taxpayers back into the tax system. The compromise option, enacted at the federal level, was evaluated by Congress to be in the best interests of both the taxpayer and the government.
February 9, 2010 at 11:18 AM in 2010 NM Lt. Governor Race, Economy, Populism, Joe Campos, NM Legislature 2010, Taxes | Permalink | Comments (0)
Dem Pat Davis Would Focus on Community Policing as Bernalillo County Sheriff
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Democrat Pat Davis had a large turnout of more than 100 supporters for the kickoff event for his run for Bernalillo County Sheriff on January 31 at the Sandia Courtyard Hotel in Albuquerque. The members of the crowd, like the candidates in this race, were diverse -- women and men, cops and non-cops, prosecutors and teachers, gays and straights, Hispanics, Anglos, young and not so young. Davis cited the diversity of the population -- and how well everyone gets along here -- as one reason he and his partner, Matt, who works for the Sheriff's Department as a detective, moved here.
Davis discusses turnout at event
Davis is big on community policing, and shaping how law enforcement operates to suit the specific character and needs of communities. In other words, he's not for a cookie-cutter approach, and he believes fighting crime takes creativity, a deep-seated knowledge of neighborhoods and a working relationship with the people who populate any community.
Pat Davis discusses his ideas on community policing
Davis has experience in a variety of law enforcement settings. As he says on his website, "I was a police officer with the US Capitol Police on 9/11, helping to evacuate terrified visitors and staff from the United States Capitol Building. I have proudly served as a cop in some of our nation’s most depressed housing projects and neighborhoods, where police and community resources were far outnumbered by gang members and drug dealers. I have led new divisions and initiatives to keep students safe on our community’s campuses."
Continue reading "Dem Pat Davis Would Focus on Community Policing as Bernalillo County Sheriff"
February 9, 2010 at 09:54 AM in 2010 Bernalillo County Sheriff Race, Law Enforcement | Permalink | Comments (0)
Howard Dean Blog: You STILL Have the Power (See Him in New Mexico Today)
Dean speaking to 5000+ in Seattle, August 2003
Howard Dean is visiting New Mexico TODAY so come on out and discuss what's up in today's Democratic landscape with former presidential candidate Howard Dean, the founder of Democracy for America and the Fifty State Strategy, and a pioneer in netroots activism who ran the DNC like a truly grassroots organization.
TODAY, Gov. Dean will be at the UNM SUB Theater for a free rally from 2:30-3:30 PM, at Cosmo Tapas in Nob Hill for a private reception ($25) at 4:15-5:00 PM and a public event ($10) at 5:00-6:00 PM. At 6:30-8:00 PM, he'll be at a private reception ($250) at the Rio Chama in Santa Fe. All proceeds go to the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Events hosted by DPNM, DFNM and College Democrats. Click for info.
This piece was originally posted yesterday as a diary on Daily Kos by Governor Howard Dean MD:
In 2006, the Fifty-State Strategy helped put Congress in the hands of Democrats. In 2008, it put the White House in our hands too. We worked hard; we listened to the boots on the ground, and America voted for Democrats -- often in places once thought off limits to Democratic candidates. Americans honored us with the opportunity to demonstrate our ability to lead.
In 2010, we face the reality that the culture of incumbency and corruption in Washington will not be changed just because Barack Obama was elected President, or just because the Democrats have majorities in both Houses.
You know the problems:
• A handful of Democrats openly siding with Republicans to kill health care reform -- a core plank in the Democratic Party Platform -- and then being rewarded for it.
• An activist right-wing on the Supreme Court that has shown the world that they are willing to blow-up over 200 years of institutional honor in the name of their own ideology.
• A GOP guided by a strategy of "no" that time and time again puts politics ahead of what's good for America.
• And most importantly, the sense that too many candidates whom we have trusted and worked to elect have become part of the lobbying, money, legislative merry-go-round, instead of the solution that we thought they would be.
In the face of this frustration, in the face of low Democratic voter turnouts because people are fed up; in the face of friends and allies seemingly giving up; in the face of Democrats losing because they won’t stand up for the values of the Party; I think it's time we took stock of ourselves, our considerable accomplishments, our opportunity to lead, and where we are going with our efforts to change our country.
Continue reading "Howard Dean Blog: You STILL Have the Power (See Him in New Mexico Today)"
February 9, 2010 at 12:10 AM in Democratic Party, DFA, DFNM - Albq, Healthcare, Howard Dean, Progressivism, Santa Fe Politics | Permalink | Comments (3)
Monday, February 08, 2010
NM Senate Votes to Override Veto of Sen. Tim Keller's Intra-Government Transparency Bill
Today the Senate voted to override the Governor's veto of Senate Bill 531. SB 531 was introduced by Senator Timothy M. Keller (D-Bernalillo-17) and was passed almost unanimously by both chambers during last year's regular legislative session. Last week the Senate voted to recall SB 531 in order to consider a possible veto override. The motion to override was debated today in the Senate, which finally voted to override the veto by a 34-8 vote (see below fold for no votes). The bill now goes to the House for override consideration. A two-thirds majority of legislators present and voting in each body is required for a veto override to be effective.
SB 531 directly addresses a recent report by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) that pointed out the difficulties the AGO had faced in trying to obtain Medicaid contractor information. SB 531 would ensure the legislature and other government branches could receive and protect confidential information. This would overcome an obstacle to having contractors provide the information necessary for program evaluation.
“Our agencies and legislature are unable to perform program evaluation because of confidentiality issues that can be resolved if SB 531 is made law by overriding the veto," said Sen. Keller in a statement released today. "I want to be clear; this isn’t about personal politics or rivalry between branches of government. Right now 20% of our budget -- the $1 billion spent on healthcare -- is a black hole when it comes to understanding funding effectiveness. It’s time to put aside traditional government rigidity over disclosure of this information and get to the bottom of what is going on with our Medicaid providers."
February 8, 2010 at 06:36 PM in Healthcare, NM Legislature 2009, NM Legislature 2010, Transparency | Permalink | Comments (2)
Same Day Voter Registration Bill Passes NM Senate Rules Committee
The Senate version of the same day voter registration bill, SB 161 sponsored by Sen. John Sapien (D-Corrales), passed its first committee, Rules, on a 4 to 3 party line vote today. There was an attempt by Sen. Dianna Duran (R-Tularosa) to include a photo ID requirement in the bill, but that was defeated.
SB 161 permits currently registered voters to update their registration information at early vote sites as well as new voters to register in person at an early vote site. This bill does not permit same day registration on Election Day.
The safeguards in this bill, as reported by the County Clerks Association, are significant. With regular in-person registration (i.e. more than 28 days before an election), no ID is required to be presented. Under this bill, same-day registrants must present a physical ID that may be a photo ID or a non-photo ID.
Continue reading "Same Day Voter Registration Bill Passes NM Senate Rules Committee"
February 8, 2010 at 06:00 PM in Election Reform & Voting, NM Legislature 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Diane Denish Will File for Governor with More Than 10,000 Signatures
Diane Denish will file for governor tomorrow with more than 10,200 signatures, including some from every New Mexico county -- all 33 of them. Instead of hiring paid canvassers, as some campaigns do, the Denish campaign mobilized more than 400 volunteers to collect these signatures.
“I am extremely grateful for this strong level of grassroots support from every corner of New Mexico,” said Lt. Gov. Denish in a statement released today. “As I travel around New Mexico, I’m inspired by the hope and optimism I see in communities large and small. Times are tough but we New Mexicans are tougher.”
“The people of New Mexico want a new way forward -- a plan that puts our small businesses first and gets New Mexicans back to work, new ideas to cut wasteful spending and increase efficiency, and a government that is more open and transparent," Denish said.
“While these 10,000 signatures are a clear sign of organizational strength, even more so, they demonstrate the unique personal relationship Diane has developed with the people of New Mexico," said Denish’s campaign manager, Oren Shur. "New Mexicans are energized by Diane’s new ideas to kick-start our economy and reform government, while the Republicans have only offered the same old negativity and attacks.”
The minimum number of signatures required to qualify for the Democratic Pre-Primary Convention is 2,162. The Democratic Pre-Primary Convention is March 13.
February 8, 2010 at 05:04 PM in 2010 NM Governor's Race, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish | Permalink | Comments (0)
House Passes Rep. Jeff Steinborn's Measure to Require Webcasting of Interim Committees
Today the New Mexico House passed House Joint Memorial 15, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), to require audio and video broadcasting of legislative interim committees beginning this year. HJM 15, which passed today by a margin of 62-2 with only Reps. Eliseo Lee Alcon (D-Milan) and Andrew Barreras (D-Tome) voting no, now heads to the Senate for consideration. A provision that would have required archiving of the webcasts was deleted by an amendment sponsored by Rep. Ken Martinez (D-Grants), the House Majority Leader.
“Today the House took the next step in providing full transparency of the legislative committee process," Rep. Steinborn said in a statement released by House Democrats. "Interim committees play an important role in the legislative process and take place all over the state. Webcasting technology is needed to expand the participation of both legislators and interested citizens.”
HJM 15 directs the Legislative Council Service to begin deploying webcast technology to interim committees beginning this year. Interim committees meet between legislative sessions and are comprised of both Senate and House members. These committees meet all over the state, including the State Capitol. There is currently no rule or requirement providing direction for establishing webcasting of interim committees.
Earlier in the session, Steinborn passed HR 2 to start broadcasting committee meetings during the legislative sessions. This measure has gone into effect and citizens can watch the committee proceedings at www.nmlegis.gov.
February 8, 2010 at 04:03 PM in NM Legislature 2010, Transparency | Permalink | Comments (0)
LULAC Young Adults Meeting: Fighting Discrimination on All Levels
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On the scene: this is a post by M.E. Broderick.
Joel Trujillo, a Facebook friend of mine, asked me to attend a LULAC Young Adults meeting on February 5th at UNM. It was a Friday night, and I was beat from the long week of work and various political events and meetings but, boy, am I ever glad I attended. What an interesting, active group of young Latinos, Hispanics, active young adults. Joel encouraged me to attend one day when I was lamenting over the continuing battles over LGBT civil rights. As Joel, the group's president, told me, “We all have to fight against any discrimination anywhere to anyone.”
After attending Friday’s event, I now understand a little bit about LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), what the organization has accomplished, and how they are fighting discrimination on every level right now. The group was founded 81 years ago and, in fact, the 81st LULAC National Convention and Expo is going to be held right here in Albuquerque on July 12 -17, 2010.
The Young Adults meeting had a variety of speakers including Brent Wilkes, the Executive Director of LULAC in DC. He explained what the national LULAC is involved with, and what the Obama Administration is doing for the various struggles facing our Hispanic population. I found that their struggles are very similar to the struggles LGBT folks like me face -- discrimination, second class citizenship, separate but equal treatment, being seen as inferior, being told to get out of our country or not to marry this one or that. The prejudices are similar, though they vary in the particulars.
Hispanics are told they shouldn’t speak Spanish; GLBT folks are told they shouldn’t be themselves in public. Latinos are told they’re not like “us” because they might have dark eyes and darker skin; LGBT folks are told they’re not like “us” because of their sexual identities. The message is the same -- you are not like “us” so you shouldn’t have equal rights or fair treatment.
Continue reading "LULAC Young Adults Meeting: Fighting Discrimination on All Levels"
February 8, 2010 at 12:13 PM in 2008 Bernalillo County Elections, Civil Liberties, GLBT Rights, Hispanic Issues, Linda Lopez, Minority Issues | Permalink | Comments (2)
(Updated) NM House DOMA Bill Tabled; Domestic Partnership Will Not Be Heard This Morning
Update: According to a sign on the door of the meeting room of the Senate Finance Committee this morning, SB 183, the domestic partnership bill, will not be heard by the committee until work on the budget bill passed by the House, HB 2, has been completed. See this photo by Larry Behrens, who's working for NMI this session.
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HJR 8, Marriage Defined, Constitutional Amendment, was tabled Saturday in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell), is effectively killed for this legislative session.
HJR 8, a so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), aimed to amend the New Mexico constitution to add a section saying that, "Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman." If the resolution had been successfully passed in the New Mexico legislature, the proposed amendment would have gone to the voters at the next election.
Sen. William Sharer (R-Farmington) introduced a similar proposal, SJR 1, Marriage Defined, Constitutional Amendment, on the Senate side. It was referred to the Senate Rules Committee but has not yet been heard. Sharer's resolution was the first piece of legislation pre-filed this session on the Senate side.
Both lawmakers are also opposed to domestic partnerships. This year's domestic partnership bill, SB 183, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth and Rep. Mimi Stewart, is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee, which may come as early as this morning.
February 8, 2010 at 08:46 AM in Civil Liberties, GLBT Rights, NM Legislature 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Sheriff Greg Solano Endorses Santa Fe Mayor Coss for Re-Election
Mayor Coss, Sheriff Solano
Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano announced his endorsement of Mayor David Coss yesterday, citing his ability to bring people together to solve pressing issues in Santa Fe and reduce crime.
“I continue to be impressed by Mayor Coss. The fact that he increased police officers on the city police force from 124 to 154 officers over the last 4 years is credit to his strong stance on public safety,” said Sheriff Solano in a written statement. "These increases in police on the streets are more than any Mayor in Santa Fe’s history. I have complete faith in his ability to lead Santa Fe during these trying times.”
Continue reading "Sheriff Greg Solano Endorses Santa Fe Mayor Coss for Re-Election"
February 6, 2010 at 12:47 PM in 2010 Santa Fe Municipal Election, Law Enforcement | Permalink | Comments (1)
Guest Blog: Agitate, Agitate, Agitate! On Howard Zinn's Legacy, Social Movements and the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign
This is a guest blog by Dana Schultz Millen of Albuquerque. Since October of 2003, Dana has been the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign.
When I first heard of Howard Zinn’s death, I was shocked. This was a man we thought would live forever; he had an energy for everything good – an energy for activism that I wanted to believe would never end. As many have expressed upon the news of his death – and I am no exception – he was a father, hero and teacher to me. Professor Zinn taught me to love history – history from the bottom-up – history that honors ordinary people. He honored the everyday heroes of our society, not the status quo elite that we were all taught about in school. Howard wanted us to question the status quo - to question injustice, and to speak out against it, wherever we found it. He taught me that history is about making a difference, about fighting to make it better, and he taught me to believe that I could make a difference – by taking action. Howard Zinn – though I never had the honor of meeting him personally – is someone I have lived with day in and day out for almost four years now, as I have worked to complete my PhD dissertation.
In one of my favorite works by Zinn – from Against Discouragement, he is invited back to give the commencement address at Spellman College in 2005 – a college that fired him in 1963 because of his civil rights movement work, which amounted to “insubordination” according to the college administration at the time. In this piece, Zinn (2005) cautioned against discouragement, and spoke about making a “good life” for the graduates:
My hope is that you will not be content just to be successful in the way that our society measures success; that you will not obey the rules, when the rules are unjust; that you will act out the courage that I know is in you. There are wonderful people, black and white, who are models. I don’t mean African-Americans like Condoleezza Rice, or Colin Powell, or Clarence Thomas, who have become servants of the rich and powerful. I mean W.E.B. Dubois, and Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and Marian Wright Edelman, and James Baldwin and Josephine Baker and good white folk, too, who defied the establishment to work for peace and justice. (p.4-5)
February 6, 2010 at 11:26 AM in Current Affairs, Education, Guest Blogger, Healthcare, History, Progressivism | Permalink | Comments (0)
NM Domestic Partnership Bill Won't Be Heard Today in Senate Finance Committee
According to Equality New Mexico, SB 183, the domestic partnership bill, will not be heard in the Senate Finance Committee this afternoon, as previously announced. The Senate intends to act on House Bill 2, the State Budget, before they move on to other matters. No word yet on when the hearing will be rescheduled.
February 6, 2010 at 11:08 AM in Civil Liberties, GLBT Rights, NM Legislature 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Friday, February 05, 2010
Rep. Martin Heinrich Sends Letter to House Leaders Supporting Public Option, Indian Health Care
More good news on the health care reform front about support for the public option and other changes needed to improve legislation. Today, Rep. Martn Heinrich (NM-01) sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. House detailing his recommendations on health insurance reform going forward.
The major points Rep. Heinrich make in his letter are:
- Supports a strong public option and considers reconciliation in the Senate an acceptable means to accomplish it.
- Opposes the excise tax on medical device manufacturers in the Senate bill, which would jeopardize jobs in New Mexico.
- Is concerned about the tax on high value health insurance plans in the Senate bill and its impact on middle income New Mexicans.
- Urges inclusion of Indian Health Care Improvement Act in the Senate bill, with language he helped secure in the House bill, to meet our treaty obligations to Native Americans.
Click to read Rep. Heinrich's letter (pdf) in its entirety. Rep. Heinrich decided that, rather than sign onto a letter sent to Congressional leaders about the public option (which Rep. Ben Ray Luján signed), he would send his own letter so he could include his views on additional issues.
February 5, 2010 at 04:56 PM in Healthcare, Native Americans, Obama Health Care Reform, Rep. Martin Heinrich (NM-01) | Permalink | Comments (0)
Brian Colón Reports He's Winning 'Lion's Share' of Delegates in Lt. Gov. Race
Edward & Cayetana Romero with Colón at campaign office opening
Brian Colón's campaign for Lt. Governor continued to build momentum Thursday night by garnering the support of 70% of the elected delegates in San Juan County, according to a statement they released late last night. The campaign said that Democrats from across New Mexico showed up in the hundreds to support Brian Colón's bid to become our State's next Lt. Governor:
Brian's strong support among the Democratic faithful earned him the top spot in this week's elections. In delegate rich Bernalillo County, Colón won support from 45% off all delegates elected to attend the State Preprimary Democratic Convention. In the two ward elections held for Sandoval County, Colón supporters made up 35% of the elected delegates. The other four candidates were left to divide the remaining delegates.
In McKinley County, Colón won large numbers of supporters winning the support of 55% of all elected delegates. In Northern New Mexico, Colón's message to get New Mexico moving again seems to have struck a cord - Colón won a strong majority of all delegates in the Northern New Mexico Counties.
Continue reading "Brian Colón Reports He's Winning 'Lion's Share' of Delegates in Lt. Gov. Race"
February 5, 2010 at 11:56 AM in 2010 NM Lt. Governor Race, Brian Colon, Democratic Party | Permalink | Comments (0)
(Updates x 3) NM Domestic Partnership Bill on Senate Finance Committee Agenda Today
Update 3: EQNM reports that SB 183 on domestic partnerships is now scheduled to be heard at a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Saturday, February 6, at 1:00 PM in Room 322.
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Update 2: It has been announced that the Senate Finance Committee will not be meeting today, so no action in that committee will occur today.
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Update 1: EQNM reported that this bill would be heard at around 3:30 PM today but the Senate was still in session then, and still is now. The Senate Finance Committee won't meet until the Senate ends its business on the floor, so it's anyone's guess when this will become a reality. Click to follow NMI's live blog of todays' Roundhouse action.
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As I reported yesterday, Sen. Michael Sanchez moved SB 183, the domestic partnership bill, from the Senate Judiciary Committee to the Senate Finance Committee. Now the bill has been placed on the agenda for the SFC meeting set to begin around 1:30 PM today. That's no guarantee it will be taken up, but it does indicate that it might be.
Have you called the members of the Senate Finance Committee to urge passage of the bill? Even if you have, please do it again. Here are the phone numbers:
February 5, 2010 at 11:09 AM in Civil Liberties, GLBT Rights, NM Legislature 2010 | Permalink | Comments (6)
Guest Blog by Rep. Ben Ray Luján: The Public Option and Budget Reconciliation
This is a guest blog by U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat who represents New Mexico's Third Congressional District in Northern New Mexico.
For almost a year, health insurance reform has been under intense debate in Congress. It has been a difficult and tumultuous process with sharp highs and lows. Throughout the process, I have stayed true to the principles for health insurance reform that I set out early in the debate, and I still believe that a public option is an important piece of health insurance reform. The obituaries for health insurance reform and a public option have been written and rewritten in the past months, but I believe that we have an opportunity to finish the job and pass the reform we want.
As you know, I joined a majority of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass legislation with a public option. During the debate, I spoke on the House floor and urged my colleagues to demand a public option in the final legislation. I fought for the inclusion of a public option because it will help cover more people and lower costs. But the Senate did not include it in their legislation, and the loss of the Senate seat in Massachusetts has made the path to reform more difficult.
Despite all of what we have heard over the past few weeks, I believe that we still have the opportunity to pass health insurance reform with a public option, but only if we keep fighting. And with that in mind I signed a letter with many of my colleagues in the House asking Congressional leadership to consider including a public option in health insurance reform, potentially through the budget reconciliation process.
Continue reading "Guest Blog by Rep. Ben Ray Luján: The Public Option and Budget Reconciliation"
February 5, 2010 at 12:12 AM in Healthcare, Obama Health Care Reform, Rep. Ben Ray Lujan | Permalink | Comments (8)
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Rep. Jeff Steinborn's Resolution to Require Webcasting of Interim Committees Heads to House Floor
Great to see progress on this government transparency legislation. Under legislation sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), the audio and video broadcasting of legislative interim committees would be required beginning this year. House Joint Memorial 15 unanimously passed the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. It now heads to the House floor for consideration.
“Interim committees play an important role in our process," Rep. Steinborn said in a statement released by the House Democrats. "Legislative policy and budgetary recommendations are all developed in the interim committee process. Broadcasting these meetings would provide an incredible opportunity to expand the participation of both legislators and interested citizens -- all from the convenience of their home or office computer. Additionally, this technology offers the opportunity to save the state money because legislators will be able to listen to meetings without having to travel and all the expenses that go along with that.”
House Joint Memorial 15 directs the Legislative Council Service to begin deploying webcast technology to interim committees this year. Interim committees meet between legislative sessions and are comprised of both Senate and House members. These committees meet all over the state, including at the State Capitol.
There currently is no rule or requirement providing direction of establishing webcasting for interim committees.
February 4, 2010 at 05:21 PM in NM Legislature 2010, Transparency, Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (14)
Tonight: BernCo Dem Party to Elect Pre-Primary Convention Delegates
Tonight the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County will be electing up to 620 delegates to the State Pre-Primary Convention, or about 40% of the total delegates in the state. A total of 148 Bernalillo County Democrats are automatic delegates because they serve on the State Central Committee.
Ward meetings will be held tonight, February 4, at locations around the county. If you plan to attend, please check it at 6:30 PM for the 7:00 PM meeting. No-one will be admitted after 7:00 PM. All registered Democrats can attend in their ward and vote for delegates or run to be a delegate themselves. Click to find the location where your ward is meeting.
If you don't know your ward, but know your precinct, click here. If you don't know your precinct, look yourself up on the County Clerk's web site. If you have questions, call the DPBC at (505) 830-3650 Ext. 22.
Continue reading "Tonight: BernCo Dem Party to Elect Pre-Primary Convention Delegates"
February 4, 2010 at 04:19 PM in Bernalillo County, Democratic Party, Events | Permalink | Comments (0)
