New Mexico State Senator Dede Feldman's Blog

Ask the Governor to Sign My Bills

        This week I’m asking everyone to contact the Governor’s office by mail (Office of the Governor, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 400, Santa Fe, NM 87501) or  phone (505-476-2200) or via fax ( ask for the number)  with a request that he sign the bills that I was able to pass during the regular session, especially:

SB 165 & 448: The Credit Security Freeze sponsored by Sen. Sharer and Sen. Feldman to allow consumers to protect themselves vs. identity theft

            SB 407:  Mandate HPV Vaccine Insurance Coverage

SB 428:  Small Employer Health Coverage Wait Period  to allow small non-profits to join a state insurance program without a period of no insurance

SB 486: Conservancy District Liability Immunity to enable Ditches with Trails and other trail projects along conservancy ditches

They really do count the phone calls!

Ethics Bills, Domestic Partners at Stake in Iffy Special Session

Call your Senator to Stick in Session if These Matter to You


For me, the Senate’s decision Tuesday to Sine Die reflected more than
exhaustion, more than a fit of pique with the Governor and the House.
It reflected a continued dismissal of ethics reform as urgent business
that the state must deal with one way or the other. As many of you
know these were major, contested issues for me during the regular
session. And, for the most part, I lost. But the Special Session
represents another opportunity to pass some meaningful reforms.

...

To recap what you’ve already seen in the news – the enactment of
campaign contribution limits, public financing for judicial campaigns,
an ethics commission were included in the Governor’s proclamation for
the special, along with GRIP II, domestic partners, and an increase in
domestic violence penalties.

In what seemed like a final blow, my bill to limit campaign
contributions was defeated by one vote in the final seconds of the
session when Sen. Joe Carraro changed his vote, and one Democrat whom
I thought was voting for the measure (Sen. John Arthur Smith) voted
no. Sen. Linda Lopez, Sen. Tim Jennings and Sen. Shannon Robinson
were the other Democrats who voted no.  All  —and I
mean all—of the Republicans voted against the caps—the same measure
that they had moved (unsuccessfully) to push back until 3007.

We still have a chance to pass some of these measures, but first you
have to convince your Senator that ethics reform is an emergency.
That’s certainly what the task force felt; it’s what the Governor
wants, and, I believe it’s what the public wants, too.

But only a massive outpouring from you can help. Contact:

Sen. Lopez Linda.Lopez@nmlegis.gov  phone:986-4737
Sen. Pinto John.Pinto@nmlegis.gov phone: 986-4835
Sen. John Arthur Smith john.smith@nmlegis.gov phone:986-4363
Sen. Michael Sanchez senatormssanchez@aol.com phone: 986-4727
Sen. James Taylor jamesg.taylor@nmlegis.gov phone: 986-4862
Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, especially. bernadette.sanchez@nmlegis.gov phone: 986-4267

More on this later—but for your amusement, I’ve attached a photo of
the inbox I returned to after the session adjourned on Saturday. I’ve
spent most of the week digging out., and figuring out how to get back
to my business.

Rollback - When Do Progressives Lose Ground?

Each new legislation can present a threat to progressive legislation that was passed in a previous session. For the 2007 session consider the proposed rollback of 'electronic filing' for legislators.

Listen to the my audio here - ( Download or play the rollback.mp3 )

Legislation Audio Updates -Take A Listen

Legislation is moving through both houses of the legislature. Here are some updates on legislation you maybe following and/or are interested in.

--> Identity Theft Protection - listen to the audio - ( Download and play ID-theft.mp3 )

                                                 
The Credit Security Freeze-aimed at Identity Theft-- will hits the Senate Floor today.

Please call all Senators to pass Senate Judiciary Committee Substitute for 448 and 165.  

    Senator Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) had an industry-backed bill. We got everyone together and hammered out a compromise, which was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday. We are still trying to accommodate the auto dealers-who want consumers to be able to "thaw" their credit almost immediately.

    Miss New Mexico, a victim of identity theft, who has made this her platform, was at the Capitol Friday to help. And many others have sent e-mails. Keep 'em coming. We're a long way from home.

--> Victory for Young Women with Passage of HPV Vaccination Coverage - listen to audio -
(  Download HPV.mp3 )
I'm pleased that my SB 407 passed which requires insurance companies to cover the cost of HPV vaccinations. This is good news for young women in New Mexico. Listen to find out more.

--> Ditches with Trails Hits a Snag - listen to the audio - ( Download ditches-trails.mp3 )

    One of the most encouraging projects for both the North and South Valleys- the Ditches with Trails Project-was dealt a setback Friday when Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee failed to pass a bill that would have transferred liability from the Conservancy or other Irrigation Districts to the State Parks Department, the City or other entities agreeing to manage and accept responsibility for the public trail.

    SB 486 was aimed at resolving a problem that has kept the MRGCD from opening the ditches running up and down the valley to full public access, a necessary ingredient for trail development now planned in the Los Griegos area of the North Valley and the Atrisco area in the South Valley.   

Call member of the Judiciary Committee, particularly Senator Linda Lopez (D- Albuquerque), who represents the South Valley, and Senator. Cisco McSorley (D-Albuquerque) to get them to change their vote and move the bill along.

Ethics Reform Push for 2007 Legislature

New Mexico, like many states and Washington, D.C., is experiencing an ethics scandal that seems to grow by the day.  Despite an attempt on my part, and on the part of some of my colleagues in the state legislature, the vast majority of ethics reform legislation introduced during the 2006 legislative session failed to pass.  We simply cannot let another opportunity to enact real reform pass us by during the 2007 legislative session. 

In an attempt to build momentum for ethics and campaign finance reform during the 2007 session, Governor Bill Richardson formed an ethics reform task force last week (link to: http://www.governor.state.nm.us/press/2006/may/050106_02.pdf).  The task force convenes an able group of New Mexicans who bring a diverse set of views and experiences to the table.

Governor Richardson and task force co-chair Garrey Carruthers (a former New Mexico Governor) have said that all options for reform are open (link to: http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_national_government/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19861_4673011,00.html).  I certainly hope that’s the case. 

I believe the task force must consider the following reforms, as outlined by Common Cause New Mexico in a recent Albuquerque Journal opinion piece.  “First, our state must ban gifts to public officials from persons having a financial interest in their official duties.  Campaign contributions could be exempted from a ban because they are disclosed to the public.  Second, New Mexico must develop an independent ethics oversight commission to ensure full compliance with ethics laws and rules.  Third, campaign reports should be filed more often and should disclose more information such as the employer of every donor.  Independent expenditures, including those coming from outside of New Mexico should be reported.  Current law does not require this kind of disclosure and is the main reason the national Campaign Disclosure Project gives New Mexico disclosure laws a failing grade every year.”

“There is substantial room for improvement in the area of lobbyist disclosure.  A good start would be to require lobbyists to disclose what bills they are interested in influencing each session.”

I would add full public financing of all statewide and legislative offices, like we have for the PRC and Albuquerque city races, to the list of needed reforms. 

What do readers of this blog think are necessary steps for ethics and campaign finance reform in New Mexico?  Stay tuned for more information about upcoming meetings of the ethics reform task force

New Mexico Solar Tax Credit Implemented and Ethics Reform Enacted Thanks to Bills Sponsored by Senator Dede Feldman

Governor Richardson signs the Solar Tax Credit bill as Sen. Dede Feldman, solar adovcates, utility and solar company officials look on.

New Mexico Solar Tax Credit Aims to Boost Industry, Make Water Heaters and PV Systems More Affordable

Energy-conscious New Mexico home and business owners—not to mention the state’s growing solar industry—got a big boost this week as Governor Bill Richardson signed SB 269 sponsored by Senator Dede Feldman. The bill creates a solar tax credit for solar electrical and thermal systems that will work in conjunction with federal tax credits which go into effect this year. Taken together, these two credits will give consumers about 30% off the cost of typical residential solar systems—and lessen the “pay-back” period dramatically when combined with other recently enacted state incentives.

“New Mexico has long been known as the state with the most sunshine—now we’re putting it to good use,” said Senator Feldman. “This credit will benefit homeowners now struggling with high home heating bills. It will boost economic development and encourage more solar industry like Advent Solar, which will bring thousands of jobs to the state. And most importantly, it will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help build a safer future for our children.” For more information on the new law go to www.legis.state.nm.us.

New Mexico Enacts Ethics Reform Bill

Responding to ethics crises on both the state and national level, Governor Bill Richardson this week signed Senate Bill 344 which will ban campaign contributions and gifts from prospective contractors to affected state and local political officials during the procurement process. The bill, sponsored by Senator Dede Feldman, will also require prospective contractors to disclose contributions of more than $250 to applicable political office holders during the two years prior to the bidding process.

The bill was one of the few survivors from a boatload of reform proposals sponsored by Senator Feldman and backed by the Governor. The proposals came in response to a kickback scandal involving the former State Treasurer who has been indicted for racketeering, extortion, and bribery.
“This law will give us a chance to reduce the public perception that you must pay to play here in New Mexico,” said Senator Feldman. For more information on the new law, go to www.legis.state.nm.us.

Dede’s Top Ten: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the recent Legislative Session

Dede’s Top Ten: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the recent Legislative Session

The dust won’t settle on the recent short session of the legislature until March 8, the deadline for the Governor to sign or veto bills, but here’s my personal wrap-up of the top ten disappointments and highlights—five apiece.

First the disappointments:

1. Failure of the Minimum Wage Bill, largely at the hands of the Senate’s Democratic Dixiecrats from Southern and Eastern New Mexico.
 
2. The roller coaster ride of the Medical Marijuana Bill, which left many of the seriously ill advocates at the bottom of the Cyclone—when the bill finally emerged from both the House Agriculture Committee and the House Judiciary Committee on the last night of the session, but was not called up for a vote by the Speaker during the last five minutes of the session.

3. The widespread misinterpretation of the Pay Day Lending Bill and filibuster, which led to its demise on the final day in the Senate.  There’s a division of opinion between the Governor and the Attorney General on this one, with the AG and many advocates saying that no bill was better than the one that would have passed.  The reason:  The AG enacted tough regulations of these companies, which brings them under the Pawnbroker Act—a much tougher standard than that set by the bill.

4. The general atmosphere of secrecy.  This year I generally felt more left out than others when it came to the big decisions on how we should be spending the surplus.  The leadership—especially, the Senate Finance Committee-- played it close to the vest.  The rank and file folks, and even committee chairs like me, had to be pretty smart and pretty fast to figure out what was in—and what was out-- of the budget, especially after the conference committee had done it’s work. The spreadsheets weren’t always accurate, and there was not enough time to go over things.  Of course, it would help if the Senate Finance and the Conference Committee were open meetings, but I hate to be a nag.  I think everyone knows my position on this… given my sponsorship of the ill-fated Open Conference Committee bill.
   
5.   The failure of my bill to study different models of comprehensive health care for New Mexicans.  Working with the Human Services Department, Rep. Danice Picraux and I wanted to create a Task Force composed of employers, insurance companies, labor unions, advocates, uninsured folks, doctors and other providers—to actually cost out a few different models(market based, single payer, hybrids now being discussed at the national level) to provide insurance for all New Mexicans.   You would have thought the sky was going to fall when we proposed this—so much staunch opposition from the Republicans, who apparently don’t even want to study this any further.  Just how far they wanted to stick their heads in the sand, was exemplified by Sen. Sue Befford who filibustered the measure every chance she got, saying that the study alone would lead to socialized medicine! Ironically, I believe that the longer the Republicans, the insurance industry and others stonewall—the more likely a radical change will be.  And employers, who are bearing the burden of high premiums that make them uncompetitive, may soon be on board.  Stay tuned, as the situation deteriorates.

Now, Five Bright Spots:

1. The Solar Tax Credit Bill— I feel like singing “this is dawning of the age of Aquarius,” as they did in Hair.  I’ve been working on this for several years and lucked out t his year with the help of the Governor and the fact that this tax credit was pulled out of the omnibus tax bill that tanked on the final day.  It passed the night before.  It’s really a great credit designed to leverage the federal one.  Together they are capped at 30% of the system cost or $9,000, but this may really make some photovoltaics and hot water heaters affordable. Worth waiting for.  Plumbers and Installers to your stations.

2. The Trauma Bill, which sets up a fund and a system to build up our ailing emergency room and trauma network, especially in rural New Mexico.  We didn’t get the funding we needed, but at least we got a start with $3.4 million.  It’s just a fact of life here that until we get a handle on this, people who are in car accidents in rural New Mexico have less of a shot at living than those in Bernalillo County and Santa Fe.

3. SB 344—the one campaign finance bill that passed.  I was lucky enough to get this passed, with the able assistance of Dean Desidero from the UNM Law School, but it wasn’t without a fight. After I worked with several Republicans on the Senate floor to amend the bill, when it came back to the Senate from the House for concurrence, they all voted against it, even forcing a vote on the ruling of the chair (Lt. Governor Diane Denish), who had ruled that it passed on a voice vote, as most votes on concurrence do.  The bill was a no-brainer for me, barring contributions from potential state contractors during the procurement period and forcing them to disclose if they had made a contribution of more than $250 to the affected public official in the two years before.  You’d think that Abramowitz and Robert Vigil were still well respected public servants.  But really, it seems to have been decided somewhere that the Republicans were bound and determined not to let the Democrats get credit for mending the system.  Might they be planning something for the election season?

4. The decision of the Human Services Department to end the six month re-certification rule than was administratively throwing thousands of children off of Medicaid every month.  Actually, they did this before the session, but we gave them the money to cover these kids—and even more during the session.

5. The passage of the Advance Directive Bill that will allow for better planning for people with mental illness or disabilities—or, for that matter any of us before we become incapacitated or terminally ill.   ooI feel

Love Fest on Senate Floor

   
  Strange Bedfellows Stage Love fest on Senate Floor

This goes way beyond the old saying, “Sometimes politics makes strange bedfellows.”   Although the outcome of most of the ethics reform legislation this past session was bleak, the debate was often lively.  Take for instance, the Senate floor debate over a bill I was carrying to open legislative conference committees.  This issue has been covered extensively by the print media, since the NM Press Association was one of the prime movers, so I won’t repeat the obvious.  I’ll only relate a strange dialogue between Sen. Cisco McSorley, one of the Senate’s most liberal members, and Sen. Rod Adair, one of its most conservative.  Both are proponents of open government—and have said so many times.  McSorley took to the floor to talk about how transparency is the bedrock of democracy, and secrecy its nemesis. Sen. Tim Jennings, an opponent of the bill, spoke about how it would tip the balance of power toward the executive to do whatever it wanted in secret discussions.
 
As an aside, my expert witness on this bill, the Foundation for Open Government’s Bob Johnson, a crusty old wire service reporter who was the chief of the Associated Press in Dallas at the time of the Kennedy assassination, kept sharing his thoughts after the Jennings remarks. Johnson was muttering something about how the executive was one person and an open meeting there would amount to mind reading—aloud.  “The executive is one person--the executive is the executive!”  he kept repeating to me, since expert witnesses, by rule, cannot address the whole Senate.
       
Once all the opponents had introduced their poison pill amendments and made their case that the sky would  fall if this bill was passed  (over 40 states and the US House have open meetings—no cloudburst there…)  Sen. Adair took to the floor to ridicule the reasons to close meetings in a JFK imitation.  “To protect the Senate?  Protect it from what? —the public?,” he asked. Voting, he added, is a primordial act, more basic to democracy than anything else.  Summing up, he said that—even in today’s bisexual world -- he really respected and loved Senator McSorley, the Senator from Nob Hill, as he calls him.

Well, after earlier references by McSorley to the current Academy Award nominee—Brokeback Mountain—which he had used to jab the conservative rancher types who consistently vote against marriage equality—Adair’s remarks caught everyone’s attention.
 
Responding to the love fest, McSorley said he actually thought there were other acts more primordial than voting, and wondered if there would be any fish caught on that fishing trip that Adair had invited him to earlier.  He also asked if maybe he could bring his family and friends along.  The Senate collapsed in laughter and the edge was taken off a very divisive bill, which could have caused great bitterness.  My subsequent donning of a Red Cross scarf—which symbolized the First Aid that we need in order to restore health to our democracy—added to the general hilarity.

Oh well, why not laugh while Rome smolders?  It’s the only way I can make it through to another battle.  And believe me, I have chosen to stay and fight. 

Last Day Legislative Session 2006

      
      
      The last day of the legislative session is a little like High School Graduation.  After the ceremony ends, there’s absolutely no one left in the building—only an eerie feeling that what just happened may have been a fantasy.  I’m still checking on what actually passed and what was left on the table that fateful final day. Ironically, in contrast to what they’re saying in the media about the hang-up being the Senate, a whole lot of bills died on the House floor, due to a Republican filibuster led by Justine Fox-Young and Dan Foley. My own bill to “cost-out” different models of universal health care in New Mexico was a casualty.  But the biggest casualty of all was the Medical Marijuana bill, which had been rescued from the House Agriculture Committee and was next on the agenda when the Speaker brought the gavel down.
      
      We had our own filibuster in the Senate against the Pay Day Lending Bill, which was considered too weak by Sen. Leonard Tsosie and Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, who led a tedious discussion of these lending practices as we waited to see whether the huge capital outlay and the GO bonds would roll off the cliff.  I’m planning on sending you some vignettes, including my top ten disappointing moments, the curious love fest between the Senate’s most conservative Sen. Rod Adair and its most liberal Sen. Cisco McSorley and more … but I need to regain consciousness first.  I’m still recovering from the last night of the session, which, after our 3:30 a.m. adjournment, found me sleeping under my coat on a couch in my office ‘til the gong sounded again at 8: 00 a.m. for the final fray.
      
      I’m attaching the letter I sent to my constituents on Valentine’s Day as my latest update, although obviously it’s a little dated (See postscript):
      
Feb. 14, 2006   Valentine's Day

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Constituents,

It’s Valentines Day and in two days we will wrap up this year’s legislative session. However, even at this late date, there are still many issues hanging in the balance. Last night the Senate adopted the conference committee report on the budget, which reconciles House, Senate and Governor’s priorities. Hopefully, the House will send up this compromise budget bill, along with another $45million budget bill (affectionately called “Junior”) to the Governor tonight. At that point, we will have accomplished the major task of this short session.

This year’s budget weighs in at $5.15 billion—an 8.9% increase over last year. This increase was made possible by new revenue resulting from high oil and gas prices. But, to the chagrin of some -- who were all over the capitol with requests for new programs and huge capital expenditures -- the legislature did not go hog wild. Instead, it put most of the money into education and healthcare.  Also $40 million of recurring revenue went into the water trust fund, which, over time, will help us with the backlog of water needs throughout this dry state.

Education
The new revenue made this a very challenging year for budget makers, but I am generally satisfied with what emerged. The public education budget got an 8.4%boost, with teachers getting a 5% pay raise, educational assistants a 4.5%raise, and with money included to raise the employer contribution to retirement by 1.5 %. Pre-kindergarten programs will also expand with an additional $8million. The higher education budget includes 4.5% pay raises for college employees as well as funding for increased contributions to retirement of 1.5%.UNM Health Sciences Center will get $2 million additional funding from the state each year to help with the uncompensated care they give to so many. State employees will get a 5% salary increase.

Health Care
Health wise, there have been some significant improvements. The Medicaid budget got a boost of 11.3%, including $4.3 million to cover more kids as well as long-overdue increases in reimbursements for doctors and other health care providers. I am happy to say that the health budget also includes $5 million to serve more people with developmental disabilities, $1.5 million for special needs kids under the FIT program, $3.4 million for trauma services at hospitals around testate, and funds for nursing instructors, mental health and methamphetamine treatment programs.

I was successful in getting more funds for suicide prevention, operations at the Rio Grande Nature Center, and a UNM Med School program to train more doctors for rural areas. Perhaps by the time you read this letter, we’ll know whether these funds “stick.” The Governor will have the final word on all these items — even more so this year, because we did not get the budget to his office in time to force action before adjournment. That means he’s free to “line item” veto appropriations he doesn’t want.

Minimum Wage
An increase in the minimum wage, which 87% of you said you favored in my constituent survey, has been hotly contested. It’s been greatly reduced from the initial $7.50 per hour, now with a requirement that employees remain with their employers for a year to receive $6.75/hr. or two years to receive $7.50/hr. Under the current proposal, Santa Fe’s minimum wage would be capped at $9.50 per hour and other municipalities would not be permitted to raise their minimum wage above the state’s. With the clock ticking, it looks doubtful that a meaningful increase will result. I hope I’m wrong.

Medical Marijuana
A bill to legalize medical marijuana, which 77% of you said you supported, died in a House committee several days ago. The bill had passed the Senate with more votes than ever before, after compelling testimony from terminally ill people seeking pain relief.

Paper Ballots
A bill to require paper ballots, which many favor as more foolproof—and Traceable -- than electronic machines, has passed the Senate and is now in the House. The bill has a good chance of passage, although it is opposed by the Bernalillo County Clerk as too costly and impracticable. If it does pass, prepare to sharpen those #2 pencils!

Campaign Reform
I was involved with a package of ethics and campaign reform measures this session designed to address what I can only call a crisis in confidence in our basic democracy. The results have been mixed. My bill to open legislative conference committees to the public bit the dust last week, but my bid to ban contributions from potential contractors during the procurement period, and require reporting of contributions made during the two years prior, is still alive—and fighting the clock. You’ll know the verdict by the time you get this letter.

Solar Tax Credit
My major priority this session, a solar tax credit that will really make the purchase of solar water heaters and photovoltaics attractive, is poised for passage in the House. I have high hopes for this one. As many of you know, my husband and I built our own solar home here in the North Valley.

Capital Outlay Funds
Meanwhile, back on the home front, I have requested capital outlay funds for open space, nature centers on both sides of the river, schools, museums, trails and neighborhood improvements. There were a huge number of requests this year, but I am confident that I will be able to obtain a substantial allocation. Thanks again to those of you who visited, wrote, e-mailed and called me during the session. Most of all thank you to those of you who filled out my survey and sent me additional comments. I hope some of you got a chance to check out my blog at http://senatorfeldman.typepad.com. I hope to post some additional comments on the session there when the dust has cleared. And if you want to get my electronic newsletter, you can sign up at my web site at www.dedefeldman.com or send me your e-mail address at dedefeld@aol.com. Once again, I am honored to represent you.

Still, praying for rain - I remain,

Sincerely Yours,

Sen. Dede Feldman

P.S.  The good news is that my solar tax credit passed, along with my campaign bill to curb contributions by state contractors during the procurement process.

Bad News Comes in Bunches

Feb12,2006

                                                                       Bad News Comes in Bunches

At a time of widespread public disgust with secrecy and corruption in government, the New Mexico Senate in the past two days has turned down two key ethics and campaign reform measures that I sponsored.  After a lively and revealing two hour debate on Friday-- and the defeat-- of a bill to open legislative conference committee meetings to the public under the Open Meetings act, I donned a red cross bandana of the type worn by medics and rescue workers in disaster situations.  Because, that’s what we have here—a Democracy Disaster—when senators on principle want to exclude the public from decisions about their money, their taxes, their health care and their future.  My position has always been that state government belongs to the people and not to the legislators, but obviously I’m an outsider here.

Disaster number two was the rejection of a bill yesterday that tightened campaign  reporting requirements, closed a loophole that allowed independent expenditures (often from out of state) to spend freely without anyone knowing how much and for what purpose.  The bill also sought to curb the practice of huge cash contributions like the sort we all saw on videotape in the Robert Vigil Treasurer case.    This bill really went down in flames, with one amendment that would have even rolled back the current reporting requirement that contributions over $250 total must include the occupation of the donor.  How low can we go?  We’re already getting an F on all the national report cards because of our lax practices.  And we’re not even talking about real campaign finance reform here—like the city of Albuquerque just enacted—just tweaks in the reporting laws.  Oh well, sometimes I feel like Siphus, or whoever that Greek guy was who pushed the rock up the hill for eternity.  My only consolation was the belief that most people out there—in voter land—really want some reforms.  And I have my constituent survey to prove it.

On another sad note, the House Agriculture Committee—in front of an audience composed of many terminally ill patients and others who have hoped for some relief now for three years—yesterday killed the Medical Marijuana Bill.  The vote came largely on party lines, with conservative Democratic rancher Rep. Joe Stell from Carlsbad, crossing over and casting the determining vote. I don’t blame Stell, though, the die had been cast when the bill was referred to that committee, by House Speaker Ben Lujan.  It probably was the only House committee that would have killed it.

Oh well, another day, another dollar.  That’s what I figure I get paid around here, with no salary and only our per diem to keep the fires burning.  And that’s far less than a mimimum wage of $7.50 an hour.