Democracy for New Mexico

State House Redistricting Case Moves Forward in Federal Court

Guest Blog post By Sterling Fluharty, Owner of Southwest Political Services www.swpsnm.com

A panel of three federal judges (Hartz, Black, and Johnson) met this afternoon in Albuquerque to consider taking jurisdiction for redistricting of the State House of Representatives.  After two hours of presentations, questions, and answers, they set a briefing schedule for the parties that will occur over the next ten days.

Republicans (the plaintiffs for now) filed in federal court last Monday and Democrats asked to intervene in the case.  Republicans argued that the New Mexico Supreme Court gave Judge James Hall unconstitutional instructions when they told him how to produce a new State House map by February 27.  Democrats sided with the state Supreme Court and argued that the federal court should not get involved.  Today the judges granted all motions to intervene, but did not decide who will ultimately be the defendants and plaintiffs if this case moves forward.  According to Republicans, the Navajo Nation and other persons who were not parties to the state cases are contemplating intervention.

The Attorney General's office argued that they should have represented the Secretary of State at today's proceedings.  The Secretary of State's position is that she has hired her own independent counsel.  The federal judges told the Attorney General's representative that his office could file an Entry of Appearance, and begin to receive electronic notices and participate in the proceedings, as soon as today.  The Attorney General's office has until Tuesday to resolve the question of who represents whom.

The judges said today, “The big issue for us is our authority.”  Democrats argued that state Supreme Court decisions are generally appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The judges asked the parties to respond to the question of whether they have higher authority than the state Supreme Court.  The judges were surprised that Republicans wanted a decision from them before Judge Hall finishes his work.  Democrats and Republicans were both ordered to submit briefs on this question by Wednesday with replies by Friday.

Republicans argued the state Supreme Court gave Judge Hall unconstitutional instructions in requiring a redistricting map in which communities of interest would be a higher priority than the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote.”  You “can't build a house on a faulty foundation,” they argued.  Democrats argued that Judge Hall's map will likely be constitutional and he needs to produce a map before it can be ruled unconstitutional.  Judge Hall began working this week with Brian Sanderoff, an expert witness, on the new map.  Briefs on the constitutionality question are due Thursday with replies the following Monday.

Republicans argued for an expedited court case, since candidate and election administration deadlines are quickly approaching.  State statute allows the Governor and Secretary of State to issue and amended proclamation on March 6.  March 20 is deadline for declaration of candidacy and nominating petitions, with certification on April 10.  County clerks will start sending out ballots to military personnel stationed overseas on April 20.  Republicans argued a State House map has to be ready by March 5, or it will be impossible for candidates and officials to meet election deadlines.  Democrats argued the federal court could allow the election to proceed under a flawed map, if the correct map was in place for the 2014 election.  Briefs on the authority to delay election dates are due Thursday with replies the following Monday.

With this briefing schedule, the federal judges will have all briefs and replies submitted by Monday, February 27, which is also the deadline for Judge Hall's revised map.  Based on their questions and decisions today, the federal judges appear ready to master the relevant materials (such as transcripts and opinions), to proceed with this case, and to consider or draft maps, if three conditions are met: 1) only after Judge Hall finishes his work, 2) if they are persuaded it is necessary, and 3) they are convinced they have the authority.  Two of the judges are Republicans and one is a Democrat, one of the Republicans is known for being quite fair, so neither Democrats nor Republicans should expect preferential treatment as this case moves forward.

02/18: On Saturday Attend Dem Party Bernalillo County Ward and Precinct Elections

The Democratic Party of Bernalillo County will be holding on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 the elections for ward and precinct officers and the election of delegates for the County and State Pre-Primary Convention. Click here to read the Call issued by Chairwoman Ana Canales and the time and location of each ward and precinct meeting.

All registered Democrats are urged to attend and vote for their ward and precinct officers and extra CCC members, or run for an office themselves. Those elected as ward chairs, precinct chairs and additional CCC members will serve on the DPBC Central Committee, which will meet on Feb. 25 at 10:00 AM at the UNM Continuing Education Center - 1634 University NE, Albuquerque. Registration will be start at 8:30 AM and the meeting will be called to order at 10:00 AM.

Please bring resolutions to present at the ward meeting tomorrow. Click Download Master dem resolution Form 2012 for a blank resolution document. And below are a few resolutions that have been drafted up, if any of these are interest to you download and bring to your own ward meeting, be sure to fill in the top of the form.

Download Resolution Access to broadband; Download Resolution Financial Literacy; Download Resolution Fracking; Download Resolution Funds for Health Care; Download Resolution Genetically Modified Salmon; Download Resolution Move to Amend; Download Resolution Non-lethal weapons; Download Resolution Prevailing wages; Download Resolution Repeal the NDAA; Download Resolution Tax LANL; Download Resolution The 99%; Download Resolution The commons

02/21: DPNM Invites You to Meet DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz!

The Democratic Party of New Mexico is excited to announce that in just a few short days, Chair of the DNC Debbie Wasserman Schultz will be coming to New Mexico!

From the moment she was first elected, Debbie has been an outspoken advocate and tireless campaigner for Democrats around the country. And she knows just how critical New Mexico is to the President's re-election.

She's even gone toe-to-toe with New Mexico's Republican standard-bearer Heather Wilson! Take a look at this clip we found from a 2008 appearance on CNN: Late Edition: Debbie Wasserman Schultz vs. Heather Wilson. She takes it right to Heather in a debate that mirrors the current political climate: the fight between the President's vision of a fair shot economy and the Republican vision of a divided America between the wealthiest few (aka Mitt Romney's constituency) and the 99% of us struggling to find our piece of the American Dream.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone with as much insight to the President's campaign -- and for one day this month she's going to be right here in New Mexico. No doubt about it: what she has to say, you'll want to hear!

So please, join us on Tuesday, February 21st, from 4pm-5pm at the Jazzbah in Downtown Albuquerque. There will be appetizers and a cash bar for refreshments, and you'll get the chance to meet and hear directly from DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. This is an event you can't miss!

The details:
What: Grassroots New Mexico Event with DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz
When: Tuesday, February 21st, 4pm.
Where: Jazzbah Albuquerque, 119 Gold Street SW
Requested Contribution: $25

Representative Antonio 'Moe' Maestas Comments on NM Redistricting Supreme Court Order to Lower Court

Back to the drawing board for the complex redistricting for the State of New Mexico House of Representatives new districting map, developed off of 2010 census info. The NM Supreme Court rejected the republican map which Governor Martinez brought forward. The more democratic map; the map passed by the legislators in the special session in September 2011 was vetoed by Martinez. Thereby sending the House of Rep mapping to Judge Halls Court. Where Judge Hall sided with the Republican redistricting map favored by Martinez. For a very good recap of the redistricting fight, up to the point of Hall's decision, see this post here from the conservative NM Watchdog website. If you can bear it read down to the comment posted at the end of the write up. There are good maps to reference within this post.

After Judge Halls decision Rep. Moe Maestas and Rep. Brian Egolf brought a suit to the Supreme Court of NM challenging Hall's ruling. Now if we fast forward to today: today we got the Supreme Court ruling which was 4 to 1 to not approve the Judge Hall's ruling and map. If you want to read the Supreme Court ruling issued today see this link Redistricting-Order.

Representative Moe Maestas had this to say about the Supreme Court ruling today: "It is a great day for all New Mexicans. We are very pleased that the Governor's proposed map received a thorough review by the highest court in the land and the remand to the District Court is totally appropriate.  Redistricting is about the beautiful communities of our state and should never be utilized for a partisan power grab. The new districts will now be drawn to reflect centuries-old communities of interests instead of being drawn by DC partisans."

Thank you Representative Moe Maestas and Rep. Brian Egolf and the others who did not stop fighting for the fair representation People of NM!

The next decision from Judge Hall who has to reconsider the map is scheduled for February 27, 2012.

NM Supreme Court Rejects Gov. Martinez Biased Maps

The following is a statement from Javier M. Gonzales, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, on the Supreme Court's decision to reject Governor Susana Martinez's partisan House district maps and send the case back to Judge Hall's court:

"We are pleased that today the Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico rejected Governor Susana Martinez's maps as too partisan and too biased. The ruling was a victory for the people of New Mexico and the principle of one person, one vote. It was a rejection of Governor Martinez's partisan maps that favored the interests of her political party over those of the people of this state.

From here, the fight to guarantee districts that uphold the principle of one person, one vote and protect communities of interest will continue, and we will see it through until every option has been exhausted."

NM Senator Curtis (D)! Holds First Town Hall Meeting

The following is a guest blog from Tom Soloman regarding the first democratic senator to represent his district in his lifetime!

Newly appointed Lisa Curtis (D-Dist 21) held the first NE Heights town hall event in anyone’s memory on Jan 21, 2012 at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s substation at Eubank and Holly.

In a refreshing break from the past (non) practice of Republican Senators and Representatives, she solicited input from the group of 81 Heights residents who attended. She explained her views on Education, the NM budget, driver’s license reform, the Paseo overpass and discussed her personal history and values. None present could remember the last time any Heights Rep or Senator had held such a Town Hall event.

Senator Curtis spoke for fully 3 hours, answering dozens of questions and asking for input on how to best represent her constituents, while staying true to her vision of making New Mexico a better place to live, work and raise a family. Her articulate and common sense stances won over even the Republicans in the crowd (“shouldn’t it be parents and teachers together who decide if a child should be held back a grade, rather than the State?”). This is what democracy looks like!

ProgressNow Communications Resource Center Makes Covering Legislature Easier

ProgressNow New Mexico is proud to announce the opening of our 2012 Legislative Session Media/Communications Resource Center just steps from the Roundhouse!  A coalition of issue-based organizations and communications staff will be on hand every day of the legislative session available to provide content, statements, analysis and interviews on virtually every issue on the call.

Our own team of reporters and videographers will be live blogging and live streaming hearings, votes, rallies and news conferences on the ProgressNow New Mexico website, Facebook and Twitter platforms. Follow us to get a preview of events we will be covering.

Start your day with the Communications Resource Center. Every morning at 7:00am, we are posting an interactive online newspaper, "The Same Page."  This very cool tool follows all of the days blogs, news reports, tweets and Facebook posts about the legislature, finds the most popular stories and places them all in one convenient place.  We are watching more than 30 news sources daily and putting them all in one place for your convenience.  Make it your morning "one-stop shop" for NMLEG news.

ProgressNow New Mexico will be keeping an up to date calendar, please watch for important events to attend by following this link.

NM State Rep. Moe Maestas and DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales Blast House Republicans' Vote to Raise Taxes on 160 Million Americans, GOP's Failed Leadership for the Middle Class

Rep. Moe Maestas and DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales slammed House Republicans’ blatantly partisan vote yesterday to raise taxes on 160 million Americans in the middle of the holiday season – just days before Republicans and Democrats in the Senate came together to pass a temporary extension of the payroll tax cut for the middle class and those working to get into the middle class.

“Speaker Boehner and House Republicans are terrified of upsetting the Tea Party extremists. They’ve left the middle class out to dry and have turned their backs on America’s middle class,” State Rep. Maestas said. “Mitt Romney has the power to provide leadership on this and show that he is deserving of governing and he is doing just the opposite. This is a candidate who said that the payroll tax cut for middle class Americans was a ‘little Band-Aid.’ He said something to the effect of let Detroit go under.”

Additionally, while several Republican Senators including Scott Brown, who represents Mitt Romney’s home state of Massachusetts, issued a strong rebuke of House Republicans’ decision to cater to the extreme right wing of the GOP, Romney has been silent and shown no leadership on this issue whatsoever.  He has repeatedly dismissed the payroll tax cut as a “little Band-Aid” – reluctantly supporting an extension only after he realized the public overwhelmingly supported it – and his economic policies would be a disaster for the middle class and those working to get into the middle class.

“This action by Republicans during the Holiday season is throwing salt on the wound,” Chairman Gonzales said. “What we’re seeing from the Republicans and Mitt Romney is nothing short of unconscionable hypocrisy. Mitt Romney is going all over the country, all over TV, and certainly in Iowa he is trying to portray that he is fighting for a level playing field to create opportunity to help working people but the reality is that all of his economic policies, along with the Republicans, stack the deck against America’s middle class families.”

Mitt Romney’s economic plan, like that pursued by Republicans in Congress, would extend massive tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires and large corporations while only offering the typical middle-class family a $54 tax cut.

Listen to the whole call here: http://my.democrats.org/page/-/audio/calls/20111221_NM_CC.mp3

12/13: Volunteer with the DPNM & DPBC this Holiday Season!

Volunteer this Holiday Season and Volunteer with the DPNM & DPBC at Roadrunner Foodbank

The holidays are a time for giving and helping others.  In that spirit, the Democratic Party of New Mexico will be volunteering at the Roadrunner Food Bank on December 13, from 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM.

We cordially invite you to join us at the Food Bank to help the least fortunate among us.  DPNM will be packing boxes and sorting food for the holidays.  The Roadrunner Food Bank is located at 5840 Office Blvd. NE, Albuquerque NM, 87109.  If you plan to join us, please call 505-830-3650 and let us know.

We understand that not everyone has time or ability to volunteer at the Roadrunner Food Bank. Fortunately, there are other ways to give.  DPNM will also be accepting non-perishable goods at our offices until December 16.

Our office is located at 3200 Monte Vista NE, Albuquerque NM, 87106.  Whether you join us on the 13^th or donate non-perishable goods, please give what you can.  Even the smallest donation will go a long way to helping families in need this holiday season.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

11/29: An Evening Celebrating Bernalillo County’s Hard-Working Democratic Elected Officials

From the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

Join DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales for an Evening Celebrating Bernalillo County’s hard-working Democratic elected officials.

Hosted by: Cynthia Clark-Thompson and Jeff Thompson, Carl Akins, Clara Apodaca, Ahmad Assed, Chairwoman Ana Canales, Susan Harris and Jim Maddox

Tuesday, November 29th: Host Reception: 6pm, General Reception 6:30pm

Please see event flier: DPNM Electeds Event Invitation.

DPNM Chairman Recognizes Sacrifice of Veterans; Observes Veteran’s Day

Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier M. Gonzales released the following statement in observance of Veteran’s Day:

“This Friday, November 11 marks the 92nd time that members of the military have been honored, appreciated and remembered for their service on Veteran's Day,” said Gonzales.

“Whether Air Force or Marines, Army or Navy, New Mexico veterans all share one common aspect – courage. Courage to join in the name of freedom, courage to fulfill their duties or die doing so, and courage to continue life after all they have seen and experienced.”   

“The Democratic Party of New Mexico is proud of and supports every U.S. Armed Forces member, old and young, who has served, is serving or has made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States. This Veteran’s Day please take time to recognize the selfless acts of these brave men and women and thank them for the sacrifices they have made out of love of our country.”

11/5: Keeping it Blue in 1-2 DPNM Unity Rally at Villa Hispana in ABQ

Click image for larger version

From the Democratic Party of New Mexico:
One year before the November 2012 elections, New Mexico Democrats are holding a rally in Albuquerque to fire up our boots on the ground and send a message that we are fired up and ready to work every day for the next year to secure victory.

"Saturday November 5, 2011 kicks off the beginning of the door-to-door, neighbor to neighbor conversations that it's going to take to show New Mexicans that President Obama and the Democratic Party are fighting for working families, lowering healthcare costs, and getting our economy back on track," said DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales.

"The contrast for voters between Democrats and the Republicans could not be starker: Democrats are fighting for New Mexican families and Republicans like Susana Martinez are fighting for the wealthy,” Gonzales added.

Immediately following the rally, and again on Sunday, Democrats will launch their door-to-door canvassing efforts to inform and persuade voters that Democrats are the only choice to move New Mexico forward.

WHO: New Mexico Democrats, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan Jr., DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales, State Treasurer James Lewis, State Auditor Hector Balderas, Former Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez, State Senator Tim Keller, State Senator Eric Griego, Mayor Martin Chavez, Bernalillo County District Attorney Keri Brandenberg, Bernalillo County Commissioner Michelle Lujan-Grisham, Bernalillo County Assessor Karen Montoya

WHAT: New Mexico Democrats rally one year before the 2012 elections to to fight for working families, lowering healthcare costs, and getting our economy back on track.

WHEN: Saturday, November, 5, 2011 from 10AM to12PM

WHERE: Villa Hispana, NM State Fairgrounds