Democracy for New Mexico

(Updated) Edwards to Quit Prez Race Today

Edwards campaigns in Seneca NC last week, where he was born

UPDATE: See below the fold for video of the speech.
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John Edwards will withdraw from the race for the Democratic nomination for president today at 11 AM MST during a speech in New Orleans, where he began his campaign. His top advisors have said he won't endorse another candidate today. Elizabeth Edwards and their three children will be at his side for the speech. Afterwards, Edwards will work with Habitat for Humanity at their New Orleans rebuilding project called Musicians' Village.

From the beginning, Edwards' platform was the most progressive and populist of the top-tier Dem candidates. Refusing to take money from lobbyists and PACs, his campaign operated with significantly less funding than the Obama and Clinton campaigns, and received much less coverage by the traditional media. A number of his positions on issues were eventually adopted by the Dem frontrunners. According to an AP story by Nedra Pickler:

Edwards Speech Today in New Orleans

With that, Edwards' campaign will end the way it began 13 months ago - with the candidate pitching in to rebuild lives in a city still ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards embraced New Orleans as a glaring symbol of what he described as a Washington that didn't hear the cries of the downtrodden.

Edwards burst out of the starting gate with a flurry of progressive policy ideas - he was the first to offer a plan for universal health care, the first to call on Congress to pull funding for the war, and he led the charge that lobbyists have too much power in Washington and need to be reigned in.

Now the question is whether Edwards' supporters will move primarily to Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. If he decides to endorse another candidate it will most likely be Obama given Edwards' labeling of himself and Obama as agents of change while dubbing Clinton a force for the status quo. Edwards' numbers have generally been in the teens in national polling.

Obama, Heinrich, Wivottt Winners of Sandoval County Dem Straw Poll

The Sandoval County Democratic Club and the Sandoval County Democratic Women's Club co-hosted a Straw Poll at a gathering last night in Rio Rancho. About 150 people attended.

In the presidential nomination poll, Javier Gonzales, the Chairman of New Mexico Highlands University's Board of Regents, spoke in support of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Former State Democratic Party Chairman John Wertheim spoke on behalf of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. Obama beat Clinton by a 50-41 margin, while John Edwards finished third with 28 votes.

Martin Heinrich won the Straw Poll for NM-01 Congressional candidates with 83% of the vote. Michelle Lujan Grisham was second with five votes. In the NM-03 Congressional candidate poll, Don Wiviott won by a margin of 51-34 with Ben R. Lujan coming in second. The Wiviott campaign issued this statement about their win:

“I’m encouraged by the support I received in Sandoval County, one of the largest counties in the district. It is clear that Democrats are ready for a change from the “business as usual” politics of Washington,” Wiviott said. “I’ve spent my life promoting responsible clean energy solutions and creating jobs. I will fight for communities in northern New Mexico—both urban and rural—creating a place where our families can succeed and our children can get a great education, good paying jobs, and raise their families.”

Over the last two decades, Wiviott has built a successful New Mexico-based business and established himself as one of the nation’s leading “green builders.” His projects in Santa Fe, like the Lofts, have helped create jobs, grow the economy and protect New Mexico’s precious natural resources. 

The Third Congressional District contains all of San Juan, Mora, Colfax, Union, Harding, Curry, Roosevelt, Los Alamos, Taos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Quay, and most of Santa Fe, Sandoval, and McKinley counties. 

If you're a bit confused about who's running for our three open Congressional seats and one open U.S. Senate seat, check out New Mexico FBIHOP's easy .

(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.

Retired Four Star General Tony McPeak to Stump for Obama in NM

Retired four-star General Tony McPeak will appear at events in Albuquerque and Las Cruces on Wednesday, January 30, on behalf of the Obama campaign. General McPeak served for 35 years in the US military, and he was the Joint Chief of Staff for the Air Force during the Gulf War. According to the NM campaign:

General McPeak’s endorsement of Barack speaks volumes about the confidence senior military advisors have in Barack due to his thoughtful opposition to the Iraq War and his deep desire to engage in increased diplomacy. "Barack has the ability not only to turn the page in Iraq," Gen. McPeak said, "he will forever transform the way we are viewed by the rest of the world."

Click for more info:

• Town Hall Event in Albuquerque with General McPeak
• Foreign Policy Discussion in Las Cruces with General McPeak

(Updated) Latest on Prez Candidate Visits to NM

UPDATE 1/31/08: The start time for the Bill Clinton rally at UNM's Johnson Center has been changed to 2:00 PM.
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Clinton Campaign
According to the Clinton campaign website, Bill Clinton will host a Solutions for America rally supporting Hillary's campaign at UNM's Johnson Center in Albuquerque on Thursday, January 31, 2008 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM 2:00 to 4:00 PM. If you plan to attend you should RSVP here or call (877) 447-2408. KNME will reportedly be streaming the rally live online. Bill Clinton will also be attending a big dollar fundraiser in Santa Fe Thursday morning. If you've got a spare $2300, Beth and Steven Moise would love to have you.

Hillary and Chelsea Clinton are also rumored to be visiting the state before the February 5th Dem Caucus, but no details have been released.

Obama Campaign
Barack Obama is expected to visit both Albuquerque and Santa Fe this Friday, February 1st, but the only details released so far are about carpooling Friday to Santa Fe on Obama New Mexico site. Sen. Ted Kennedy will also be stumping for Obama in New Mexico. According to this article on a WaPo blog about the Clinton and Obama camps courting Gov. Bill Richardson for his endorsement, Sen. Kennedy may visit Northern New Mexico as early as Wednesday night.

Battle of the Endorsements (Updated)
Obama's campaign held events today at the Santa Fe Roundhouse and in Las Cruces and announced additional local endorsements:

• Former Gov. Jerry Apodaca
• NM State Sen. Dede Feldman (Albuquerque)
• NM State Sen. John Grubesic (Santa Fe)
• NM State Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino (Albuquerque)
• NM Rep. Gail Chasey (Albuquerque)
• NM Rep. Dan Silva (Albuquerque)
• NM Rep. Joni Gutierrez (Mesilla)
• NM Rep. Jeff Steinborn (Las Cruces)
• NM Rep. Nate Cote (Las Cruces)
• Former Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo, Jr. (Jemez Pueblo), who's running for Congress in NM-03
• Santa Fe School Board Member Angelica Ruiz
• Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima
• Sunland Park Mayor Jesus “Ruben” Segura
• Las Cruces City Councilor Miguel Silva
• Las Cruces City Councilor Nathan Small
• Las Cruces City Councilor Sharon Thomas
• Doña Ana County Commissioner Dolores Saldaña-Caviness
• NM Insurance Commissioner Mo Chavez
• Deputy Cultural Affairs Secretary Troy Fernandez
• Former State Sen. Leonard Tsosie
• Former Sandia Pueblo Gov. Stuart Paisano
• Laguna Pueblo Lt. Gov. Rich Luarkie
• Former State Rep. Bob Perls of Rio Rancho.

Last Wednesday another campaign press conference revealed these endorsements for Obama.

Recent local endorsements announced by the Clinton campaign include:

• NM Secretary of State Mary Herrera
• Santa Fe Mayor David Coss
• Española MayorJoe Maestas
• Las Vegas Mayor Henry Sanchez
• Taos Mayor Bobby Duran
• Portales Mayor Orlando Ortega
• Socorro Mayor Ravi Bhasker
• Former President of the Navajo Nation Peterson Zah

Previously announced endorsements of Clinton came from Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, former Gov. Bruce King and State Auditor Hector Balderas.

To see our previous posts on the 2008 Dem Presidential race, visit our archive.

Blah Blah Tax Cuts, Blah Blah Fear, Blah Blah Surge

We've got ours!

That's what I got out of Bush's final State of the Union address last night. Between his smirking recitation of the inevitable laundry list of Repub wet dreams and the emptyness of his vision, it was hard to watch the TV screen. Witnessing the bored silver-spoon elitist lie and fingerpoint his way through another performance for the cameras was bad enough. Having to endure all those gutteral cheers from his side of the chamber, all the robotic jumping up and clapping, all the foaming at the mouth connected to his entry and exit, all the phony baloney pomp and circumstance was enough to make a grown woman retch. Were these the people's representatives or the pseudo-uppercrust paying tribute to a hot-house potentate? Did you see Rep. Chris Shays give Bush a kiss?

You'd never guess the straits we're in by watching our la-dee-dah President, a reptilian Cheney and a bunch of right-wing ideologues all vigorously practicing self adulation in public. I half-expected chants of "We're number one" or "USA, USA" to break out at any moment. They are so far removed from the suffering masses, the crumbling infrastructure, the self-immolating health care system, the leaking schools, the empty blocks of houses, the gas pumps and furnaces sucking up money, the pressures of getting and keeping a real job. The dead, dying and maimed in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Sudan, Nigeria are mere abstractions. Whenever I view this annual spectacle I can't help imagining that many of the attendees are sitting there thinking, "I've got mine, and the hell with you." What can I say? State of the Union speeches bring out the worst in me.

But enough about my reactions. Here are some responses to the speech from local politicos:

Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03), running for U.S. Senate, released this statement:

"Although the new Congressional majority has succeeded in moving our nation in a new direction on many fronts, we still have many pressing challenges facing our country. I am hopeful that we can address them by working in the same bipartisan manner with which we have begun the year.

"Much of what we heard tonight was reminiscent of the misdirected solutions offered by the president in the past, but demand real action, not just rhetoric. For example, in 2006, the President finally decried our nation's serious 'addiction' to foreign oil and at this time last year, he again noted our 'dependence.' Yet, when it really counted, and Congress was prepared to unleash a renewable energy revolution last year, the White House countered with a veto threat and the measure was subsequently scaled back. If we are truly serious about strengthening our energy security, and in turn our national security, now is the time to act boldly.

"In addition to our energy security, the President and the Congress must move immediately and collectively to address the looming economic recession to provide real relief to America's working families.  We also must increase access to health care, improve education, and bring to a close our nation's long and tragic war in Iraq.

"I urge the President to work with the Congress to address these and other problems in the year ahead.  Together we can find common ground to make meaningful progress for the American people."

Don Wiviott, NM-03 Congressional candidate, released this statement:

“President Bush's final State of the Union address was a sad reminder of how little progress Washington has made since 2001. We have heard the same litany of promises for seven years in a row, but the challenges we face have only grown worse. Gas prices are up. Health care is out of reach. Our military is stretched thin. The economy is squeezed, and partisan bickering is at an all-time high.”

”I'm running for Congress because Washington needs new energy and ideas. It's time to turn the page on empty promises and partisan gridlock. We need leaders who will work together to deliver results. In Washington, I will do more than just talk about gas prices, health care and America's leadership in the world. I will fight for real solutions that lift up the middle-class and keep our country safe.”

As reported in the Albuquerque Journal:

Senator Jeff Bingaman:
"There is a real opportunity for Congress and the president to work together, and I hope we can meet that objective." However, Bingaman said he was disappointed Bush didn't offer a change of direction in the Iraq war. "This was his last chance to try to change direction in Iraq and he pretty much said he would stay the course."

Senator Pete Domenici:
Bush's speech was "a more mellow and in-depth analysis of the problems we have to address." Domenici said he was especially encouraged by the president's request for a major budget increase for the America Competes Act, a math and science initiative that Domenici and Bingaman helped create."He's going to put the money in and we better fund it."

Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-02), who's running for U.S. Senate:
Bush's speech was infused with a broad theme of self-reliance, instead of reliance on government. "Trust in individuals was a theme that ran throughout. The president's call for a rapid economic stimulus package was "extraordinarily important."

Rep. Heather Wilson (NM-01), who's running for U.S. Senate:
Wilson said Bush ticked off an "ambitious list" of things he hopes to accomplish before the end of his term. She said Bush's stimulus proposal was sound, although "it may not be perfect. I wish it was more focused on small business." Wilson, a member of the House intelligence committee, also said she was glad to hear Bush cite the need to permanently fix U.S. intelligence laws.

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.

Guest Blog: PRC Candidate Jason Marks

This is a guest blog by Democrat Jason Marks, who's currently Chairman of the Public Regulation Commission. Jason is running for reelection to a second four-year term on the PRC from District 1 in the Albuquerque area, and using public campaign funding to do so. See below the fold to learn how you can help keep a clean election (and clean energy) advocate on the PRC.

“We have the best government money can buy.” 

In unguarded moments, elected officials have been heard to acknowledge that large campaign contributions buy “access,” but in no event -  no how, no way - does a contribution ever buy a vote or official decision.  Yet, outcomes we see from our political system seem impossible to explain aside from money and campaign contributions exerting a disproportionate and undue influence.

I learned this first-hand in 2005, in my first month on the PRC when Qwest “introduced” a bill in the Legislature to end its obligation to put $2 million/year into a fund supporting rural phone line extensions, thereby increasing the company’s profits by that same amount.  This fund had been created in the late 1980s as an alternative to a $2 million Qwest rate decrease.  After examining the issue, I agreed with Qwest that it no longer made sense to put an additional $2 million/year into this fund, but disagreed that Qwest was entitled to put the money into its own pocket - it was originally ratepayer money and the only fair solution was to tie the termination of Qwest’s annual funding obligation to a rate decrease.   I screwed up my courage and argued this before one Legislative committee after another, only to see Qwest’s bill pass through each. 

Unlike many business vs. consumer debates where lawmakers can justify their support of the business side by saying a new regulation “will cost jobs” or “deny consumers choice,” this Qwest bill had no other side - it was $2 million of unjustified profit for Qwest at the expense of  $2 million for ratepayers.  Using some political chits in the House, we were able to force an amendment so that Qwest would only get half the ratepayer money.  This version passed both houses and would have become law except for a Governor’s veto (there’s a story in that, too).  With that lucky break, later that year, I was able to push through a docket at the PRC dealt with the issue fairly:  Qwest $2 million/yr funding requirement was ended in exchange for a permanent 19 cent/month decrease in all New Mexico phone rates.

As my example shows, in matters with low visibility to the public, the interests of constituents and voters can wind up under-represented at the expense of making big-dollar contributors happy.  Fortunately, thanks to activists for ethical government in Arizona, Maine, and elsewhere, we now have an alternative model for financing political campaigns that cuts out the distorting influence of money for a few offices.   New Mexico’s publicly financed election law substitutes a measured amount of publicly-provided campaign financing for qualifying candidates in exchange for their pledge not to seek or accept private contributions beyond a limited amount of “seed money.”   Today, public campaign financing is available at the state level only for Public Regulation Commission and appellate judicial (Supreme Court and Court of Appeal) races.   At least two candidates ran for PRC in 2006 using public financing, but neither was successful.   But here in Albuquerque, a version of this system was used successfully by progressive candidates in the last city council election!!!

This year, I am running for reelection as your Public Regulation Commissioner for the Albuquerque area. Those who know my work at the PRC know I can’t be bought-off by big campaign contributions from corporate interests. But I need the help of all who believe in clean elections as I run my reelection campaign under the state’s public financing law.  We need to show success with the state-level public financing law in order to argue for exanding it to more offices in the future.

In just three years on the PRC, I have proven myself by:

• holding Qwest accountable for their investment shortfall
• sponsoring and passing a three-year rate freeze for basic telephone services and eliminating the $85 “trouble isolation charge”
• reducing PNM’s gas rate increase request by more than half
• fighting the title insurance industry for needed reforms
• moving New Mexico towards a clean and sustainable energy future with PRC rules that create targets for large scale solar energy and distributed generation
• passing regulations to discourage utilities from building any new coal-fired generating plants that contribute to climate change
• ending unethical practices in the PRC’s Insurance Division, and replacing the former Insurance Superintendent and his chief deputy
• keeping my promise by keeping the 505 Area Code in Albuquerque.

How You Can Help
Despite this strong record of accomplishments on the PRC, I am drawing opposition in my drive for reelection. Prior to my election in November 2004, the district I represent had been held by a Republican since it was created in 1998, and word on the street is that they want it back. Moreover, the PRC has an unfortunate history of being looked at by long time politicos as an opportunity to sneak into a cushy, well-paid state job on the strength of a familiar name. I can promise you, I won’t let the PRC revert to the bad old days of ineffective partisans. I am a strong campaigner and I will hold this seat. But I can’t do it alone - people who support my work and people who support the concept of clean elections need to show that support with $5 contribution in my name to the public election fund so that I can qualify for public financing for my campaign.

In order to qualify for public financing, I must collect several hundred $5 qualifying contributions from voters in PRC District 1. These contributions can be in cash, or in a check payable to "Public Election Fund" – not to my campaign. The Secretary of State has a special form that needs to be filled out for each qualifying contribution. The form and further instructions can be downloaded from my website at  www.jasonmarks.com. Each member of your household who is a registered voter in PRC District 1 can submit a qualifying contribution and get me to my goal faster. (One qualifying contribution per person is the limit, so if you've already helped in this way, thanks!) Please go to the website and download the form today - our deadline is approaching: www.jasonmarks.com.

Thanks,
Jason Marks

This is a guest blog by Democratic PRC candidate Jason Marks. If you'd like to submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand corner of the page.