Democracy for New Mexico

NM Sen. Feldman Wins Women Legislators' Award

From NM Senate Democrats:
New Mexico State Senator Dede Feldman (right) joined hundreds of women activists and state legislators from across the country earlier this month in Washington, DC to say: “We can change our national priorities. And women will set the course in a new direction.”

Senator Dede Feldman just returned from a national conference in Washington, DC, where she joined hundreds of women strategizing about how women can help change our national priorities and build a better future. “Women at the Table of Power” brought together luminaries, women state legislators, and women activists – all working to empower women to step up to the tables of power and make our country safer, more democratic, more respected.

Sen. Feldman was one of 22 women legislators honored with the organization’s Pacesetter Award. WiLL Pacesetters are recognized for their noteworthy legislative service, their contributions to sound, progressive policy, and their groundbreaking leadership in the states. Feldman was lauded for her environmental, consumer and health legislation. The Award was presented on October 1, 2007, at a ceremony on Capitol Hill that also honored Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund.

At the conference, women from across the country shared ideas and strategies about how to move forward toward greater peace and security. Among those speaking were Jane Fonda, Marian Wright Edelman (founder and president, Children’s Defense Fund), Ellen Bravo (founder, National 9 to 5), and many more. On October 2, the women headed to Capitol Hill, where they visited Members of Congress and lobbied for better federal budget priorities and a fresh look at our national security.

Activists Mari Santelli, of the Another Side Project, Ruth Koury, of the Pockets of Poverty Alliance, and Jessica Wilbanks, of Women’s Action for New Directions, were part of the New Mexico delegation.

“The staggering amount of money that we are spending for the Iraq war and a continued build up of obsolete weapons has its price back in the states,” says Feldman. “The opportunities that we are sacrificing can be counted in the number of children that will continue to live without health care insurance, and the number of people who cannot afford a decent home.”

So far we’ve spent almost $610 billlion on the Iraq war. The cost to the taxpayers of New Mexico now totals $1.4 billion, according to the National Priorities Project. That’s in addition to the 31 New Mexico soldiers who have paid the ultimate price, and the 245 who have been wounded.

“We need to readjust our priorities to provide real security here,” says Feldman. “$1.4 billion could have covered 136,000 New Mexico kids with health insurance.”

Feldman says she was heartened to join with women legislators from around the country who would like to see a shift of funding from military spending to helath and human services in their own states. “This conference gave me hope that women can help steer our community in a new direction. And we must do this. And it’s not just the Iraq war, which is ruining our world standing and robbing us of our best and brightest young people. Our state, and our country, are seeing dangerous trends. Over the last few years, the current administration has chipped away at things that are vital to our country’s peace and security. Today, we are more isolated in the world; our poorest are more at risk than ever; our economy grows weaker each day. ”

The biennial conference is a project of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) and Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL)

“Women at the Table of Power” took place September 30 – October 2, 2007 at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill. More information: www.willconference.org.

Women’s Action for New Directions
WAND empowers women to act politically to reduce violence and militarism, and redirect excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs.

Women Legislators’ Lobby
WiLL is a national non-partisan network of women state legislators who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities.
www.willwand.org
The national office is located in Washington, DC.

Tonight: NARAL Auction for Choice

From NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico: Pull on your finest Western-wear and join us for

NARAL Pro-Choice NM's 27th Annual Auction for Choice
"Even Cowgirls Get to Choose"
Friday, September 28, 6 PM
Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road, NW
Food by Ambrozia & Artichoke Café
Emcee: Eric Griego; Music by Long Gone Trio
Tickets are $30
To RSVP, call 505-243-4443 or email info@prochoicenm.org.

Join other pro-choice New Mexicans for an evening of "Western Glitz" as you support NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico and the political work we do to protect a woman's right to choose in New Mexico. This year's auction items include hot air balloon rides, luxurious spa packages, and a weekend in California wine country!

KUNM's Women's Focus on Veterans This Saturday

On Saturday, September 8, from 12 - 2 PM, Women's Focus on public radio KUNM 89.9 FM will feature Carol Boss  and Maria Santelli welcoming a panel of women veterans for a discussion of their experiences in their service to the US Military.  Also, learn how you can support local veterans and GIs in their work for peace and justice. You can also listen to a live stream . Questions? mjs1126@hotmail.com.

Supreme Court’s Abortion Ban Decision Rolls Back Clock on New Mexico Women’s Health

Justices’ Anti-Choice Ruling Strips Health Protections Established by Roe

NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico executive director Heather Brewer on Wednesday called the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a federal abortion ban –- which strips away the crucial health protections established by the landmark Roe v. Wade decision -– a blow to women’s health and reproductive freedom in New Mexico (double click play button to listen to Heather Brewer in these clips).

Politics vs. the Health of Women

The abortion ban, upheld by a 5-4 Supreme Court vote, does not include an exception for the health of the mother – a fundamental tenet of the Roe decision.

Politicians Playing Doctor

Brewer cited Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who said in the dissent that the decision “tolerates, indeed applauds, federal intervention to ban nationwide a procedure found necessary and proper in certain cases by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.”

Bush and His Anti-Choice Supreme Court

Wednesday’s decision was the first abortion-related ruling issued by the court since Bush appointed Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

Court Moving in Dangerous Direction

NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico is a New Mexico-based organization with a 34-year history of working through the political process to ensure that women in the state have access to a safe, legal abortion.

For more information:
Heather Brewer, Executive Director
NARAL Pro Choice New Mexico
505-243-4443 (office)
hbrewer@prochoicenm.org
https://www.prochoicenewmexico.org/

Editor's Note: Also read the Center for American Progress report on this Supreme Court decision. Excerpt:

In a 5-4 decision yesterday, the Supreme Court dealt a damaging blow to women's rights, upholding a 2003 law that banned all mid-term abortions as early as 12 to15 weeks, without providing an exception for the health of the pregnant mother. The Court's decision, which marked the "first time the justices agreed that a specific abortion procedure could be banned," blatantly defied its own recent ruling in 2000, which said a mid-term abortion ban without exceptions for the health of the woman was an unconstitutional restriction. The ruling "clears the way for states to " designed to discourage women from having abortions. "For the first time in 30 years, the Supreme Court has sanctioned a law that does not protect women's health and prohibits doctors from exercising their best medical judgment," said Jessica Arons, the director of women's health and rights program at the Center for American Progress.

(Audio clips from .)

NM Program that Trains Women to Run for Office Now Taking Applications

EmergeNewMexico's Deadline is March 15th
EmergeNewMexico, a statewide organization co-chaired by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and former Attorney General Patricia Madrid, is currently accepting applications for its specialized training program for Democratic women who want to run for public office.

Democratic women in all parts of the state who are interested in seeking public office are encouraged to apply for this one-Saturday-a-month, seven month, rigorous and comprehensive training program that will teach participants the skills necessary for a successful campaign. The curriculum includes information about organizing a campaign, creating a message and fundraising.

Applications are available now at www.emergenm.org and must be postmarked by March 15, 2007. For more information about applying, contact Julie Koob at (505) 920-6002 or emergenm@yahoo.com. 

“When women run for office, women win office,” said EmergeNew Mexico Board Co-Chair Giovanna Rossi. “EmergeNew Mexico was created to give Democratic women the tools they’ll need to get started and to succeed. From the school board to the U.S. Senate, New Mexico women must have a voice.”

Nationally, Emerge training programs have demonstrated enormous success, with 60 percent of graduates going on to win their first race after completing the program.For more than a decade, more than half of all college graduates have been women, yet women hold only 14 percent of the seats in the U.S. Senate and 15.3 percent in the U.S. House of Representatives.

EmergeNew Mexico believes the solution to the problem is teaching women to think of themselves as political leaders.  Specifically, the organization’s mission is to identify, educate, and inspire Democratic women who want to pursue a career in politics at the local and state level in New Mexico.  Emerge is dedicated to making a long-term investment in these future leaders by developing their political and media skills; expanding their knowledge of local issues; and connecting them with mentors.