New Mexico State Senator Dede Feldman's Blog

From the floor of the NM Senate…

This week marks the midway point in the 2008 legislative session, an the roundhouse has become a world unto itself, with most of us rarely leaving the building. We are moving through some controversial issues both in my committee( Senate Public Affairs) and on the floor.  But the heavy duty issues are going very slowly.  The Governor’s big health care reform bill, “Health Solutions” has yet to make it out of its first House Committee, and ethics and campaign reform measures have just recently been introduced.  It seems that the Governor didn’t send down “messages” to make the bills germane in this short session ‘til way late.  Tomorrow is the last day to introduce legislation.  Barring a big flood tomorrow it looks like we have a little less grist for the mill this time as a result of a new rule which requires that interim committee and Governor’s bills be introduced only in chamber.  But it still seems like we have miles to go.

The Senate Finance Committee Chair, Sen. John Arthur Smith, is doing his part to restrain requests for funding.  Everytime I pass his desk he says, “We have no money; we have no money… and we’ll have even less next year. “  He is especially discouraging when it comes to universal health care, which he sees as too expensive for New Mexico to even think about.   Too bad-- that’s been my highest priority for the past ten years, and with this goal at the top of the Governor’s agenda—it seems almost within reach.

Nevertheless, I have been working on all the health care proposals in good faith, both in the Public Affairs Committee and in a workgroup of Democrats and Republicans formed to find a compromise.  Right now it seems a little discouraging, but I am giving it the ole collge try.  We have got to come up with a program, given the skyrocketing health care premiums and the huge number of uninsured in the state.  Unfortunately, there are many who feel the present system is too difficult to change and who cling to their own plans.  Here’s hoping they don’t come down with a major illness.

Today—Tuesday—was an exciting day on the floor, as we debated our first major bill—embryonic stem cell research.  The bill, which would trigger research at UNM using embryos destined to be discarded, passed narrowly 20 to 18.  I supported it.  Kudos to Sen. John Ryan, and the bipartisan coalition that passed it in search of cures for Parkinson’s, Alzheimers,  and other diseases. Now it’s on to the House where the bill will face the same stiff opposition from the Catholic Church and other religious groups, who have flooded our in-boxes with e-mail, and our phones with calls from the East Side of the state. Stay tuned.

Another controversial bill legalizing domestic partnerships has made its way over from the House hit the Public Affairs Committee this afternoon.  Emotions were high, as proponents from the gay, senior and disabled communities told of their inability to make important medical decisions for their long time partners, and opponents cited Scripture and decried immoral behavior.  I had my hands full containing six preachers in a room full to the brim, without my trusty egg timer, which I use to allow each side equal time.

To make a long story short (and, not every Senator wants to do this),  the bill passed this committee on a party line vote, with all Democrats voting for it, and all Republicans voting against it.  We have certainly not heard the last about this one.

Obama Wins My Support for Feb. Election: Here’s Why

Senator Feldman (middle) at Santa Fe Obama rally

I cast my vote in the Democratic Caucus by absentee ballot this weekend, and after much agonizing, I voted for Barak Obama.  Now, obviously, I have more in common with Hillary Clinton, not just as a woman, but as a hard worker, a pragmatist, a policy wonk (o.k. I admit it) and a fighter for health care and children.  But as much as I like Hillary, I’ve always believed that real change comes from the bottom up—not the top down.  Obama offers the kind of leadership that can inspire young people and disenchanted 60s types, energize our democracy, moderate partisanship and restore faith in government.    

Face, after eight years of Republican leadership, our country is now like a car that’s broken down, by the side of the road, as events around the globe pass us by.  The occupants can look under the hood and debate the right way to fix the engine.  Maybe there’s even one among them that can figure out how to make the technical fix, eventually.  But what we need is a charismatic coach that can convince all of the occupants to get out and push—pronto. 

That’s Barak Obama.  We haven’t seen anything like him since Robert F. Kennedy.

Health Care Reform Debate Goes to House Committee this Week; Senators Wait in the Wings

There are now four major health care reform bills in the hopper in the House and Senate-with more to come. The Gov's bill, Health Solutions, is, of course, the big banana.  It's a hybrid public-private plan with 98 pages of insurance reforms, a health care authority and mechanisms for coverage (i.e. mandates for individuals and employers).  The Health Security bill is a different approach resembling Medicare on a state level, and it has many supporters.  For the second year in a row, Dr. JR Damron, a Santa Fe radiologist and former Republican gubernatorial candidate, has proposed the Health Exchange,  essentially a state brokerage to simplify the selection of private insurance policies.  Rep. Danice Picraux and I have suggested another version of a Health Care Authority to present a plan for universal to the legislature for debate during next year's long session. There's also a bill to plan for electronic claims submission by '09 and a plan for electronic medical records by '10.

There's more to come, including insurance reforms to prevent insurance companies from denying preexisting conditions and raising the price when subscribers get sick.  I've introduced some funding to retain and recruit health care professionals and a task force to plan for chronic disease management, and thus control rising medical costs. Those are important pieces of the puzzle regardless of what happens elsewhere.

It's a health policy wonk's dream, and I plead guilty to that charge… but for most legislators it's complex, arcane, scary stuff, and almost any excuse will do to put it off, tune out or beg off. That leaves fertile fields for those who'd like to preserve the status quo-and they are beginning to plow old grounds with claims that reform will "drive insurance companies from the state," "enslave doctors," ( this from the Rio Grande Foundation) and "create huge waiting lines" for urgent operations.   Refuting these bogus claims takes valuable time "off message," and diverts attention from the major fact of 430,000 people without insurance in NM, premiums rising at four times the price index, and studies repeating the conclusion that doing nothing is more costly than taking action.

It will take real citizen involvement, focus and leadership to move this issue forward.  But today's a good day-and I have faith.

The House Health and Government Affairs Committee will be tackling the bills this week in Room 309, and it should be a good show. Look out for amendments and substitutions.  Check out the legislative web site at www. legis.state.nm.us for more details.   Meanwhile the Senators have been caucusing and reviewing the proposals.  Stay tuned when they swing into action the following week. 

Health Coverage for the Uninsured A Top Priority in My Poll - Tough Health Insurance Reforms, Mandates OK'd

Sen. Dede Feldman (D-Bernalillo) is releasing the results of a survey that she sent to 5,000 of her constituents in late December.  Feldman represents District 13, which covers the near North Valley of Albuquerque, including Old Town and parts of the Westside and near-Heights.  "Representing the concerns of my district is my first priority, said Sen. Feldman, "and while this survey is not strictly scientific, it gives a strong indication of where my constituents want me to go."

Over 400 of her constituents have returned the detailed, ten-question survey as of Jan. 13th, with results still coming in.  This year, the results focused on two main issues-health care reform and ethics and campaign finance.

Among the results:
Health Coverage for the uninsured was the first priority for state funding, followed closely by Medicaid funding for uninsured children already eligible for the federal-state program.  Money to increase the state's education funding formula was third, with funding for more pre-kindergarten programs fourth.

Asked about the most important elements of health care reform, respondents prioritized increasing prevention and chronic disease management programs (first), recruiting and retaining health care professionals (second), and instituting a Medicare-style health insurance program for all New Mexicans (third).  The last choice of respondents was maintaining the present health care insurance system. 

Specifically,
* 91% want HMOs and insurance companies to devote a minimum of 85-90% of their revenues to medical care and not administration and profit
* 88% want to forbid insurance companies from refusing coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions
* 88% want to restrict premium hikes based on health status and experience to no more than 10% rather than the current 20%
* 68% want to require employers to provide insurance coverage for their employees or pay a fee to the state so workers could purchase insurance on their own
* 57% approve of a mandate that all New Mexicans must carry insurance (with premium assistance for those who cannot afford policies)

To pay for health care reform:
85% of respondents favored increased taxes on soft drinks
77% favored contributions from hospitals and other health care facilities, which would no longer be paying for indigent and charity patients
66% favored payroll taxes like Medicare 
57% said they did not want a Gross Receipts Tax increase to pay for health care reform.

Respondents spoke out strongly for ethics and campaign reform, with 98% in favor of requiring lobbyists to disclose their clients and compensation, 97% favoring a limit on campaign contributions, 92% favoring open legislative conference committees, 89% favoring an ethics commission, and 81% favoring pubic financing for statewide offices.

Following a continuation of the Governor's Task Force on Campaign Finance Reform and Ethics, several of these measures are expected to be on the Governor's cal during the short session.

In other results:
* 83% said they were supporters of the Rail Runner
* 83% were opposed to tax breaks for the Desert Rock Coal Plant now proposed for the Navajo reservation
* 92% wanted tax credits for heating, cooling and energy efficient appliances
* 82% wanted cars sold in New Mexico to meet California emission standards by 2011
* 74% opposed tax credits for uranium mining
* 75% wanted increased penalties for gang crimes and gang recruitment

(Reminder - If you received the survey but have not returned it, please send it in as soon as you can.  You can view the survey at http://www.dedefeldman.com/Newsletters/2008/FeldmanNews07FF.pdf )