A Look Back at 2008
It has been a watershed year. I have never seen anything like it, not just in my 12 years as a public official-- but also in my lifetime. The level of political engagement and expectation is at an all time high, yet the economic crisis we face is huge. Sometime in the next few months we will have a new Governor, Diane Denish. Until then, we're not really sure who is in charge on the 4th floor of the Roundhouse. In addition, this year's elections have swept a new group of Senators into the legislature on the coattails of hope and the promise of change. We will need their energy-and yours--to address the nearly $500 million shortfall in this year's budget and another tough budget next year.
Click to access my annual constituent survey here ( Download FeldmanSurvey-2009 ), which reflects this economic dilemma. I hope you will download it, fill it out, and mail it back to me at Sen. Feldman, 1821 Meadow View NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104. I need your opinion to guide me in Santa Fe.
First the Bad News
I guess our state is not in the worst shape economically, compared to others. But over the holiday I was reading about some of the proposals to come up with over $500 in revenue to balance this year's budget. They included things like reducing funding for schools and colleges, as well as cutting benefits for the elderly, handicapped and their caregivers. No one dare mention the idea of increasing taxes or eliminating loopholes in this time of recession. Instead we hear of proposals to reduce payments to health care providers, cut prescriptions, dental, vision, and podiatry services for Medicaid recipients. It's almost taken as a given that we should enroll no one new in any of the state's insurance programs, or, if they are enrolled already, make them pay more in premiums and co-pays.
That's ironic, because this is when people need it the most. But now there's no money.
One hope (remember Hope?) is that our new President Barack Obama will come to the states' aide with an economic stimulus plan of between $550-700 billion. The money would support state programs as well as putting people to work rebuilding schools, libraries, roads and bridges. One of our now-senior Senator Jeff Bingaman's aides, testified before the interim Health and Human Services Committee in December that one distinct possibility is that as part of a stimulus package, Congress will increase the federal matching funds for the Medicaid program, thus enabling New Mexico to continue the progress we've made in enrolling people through the state coverage initiative (SCI) and other programs. But that is later. This is now.
Now the Good News
Every year at this time as I prepare to send out my constituent questionnaire, I update my voter list from the Bernalillo County Clerk. This year, the mark of real change was clear. There are 3,871 new voters since last year! This is the work of scores of volunteers who registered people who had never voted before, both young and old, Democrat and Republican. I had several friends who registered 100 + students at the Jobs Corps over the course of a couple of days. Others sat outside supermarkets, and worked at special events. Of those newly registered, 2,606 actually voted. 1431 of these were Democrats; 630 were Republicans and 545 were people who declined to state which party they preferred. Empowering more people is what it's all about in a democracy. I am proud to have had a part in this historic election year-yes, I'm a voter registrar, and yes, I continued to walk the neighborhoods for my favorite candidates, even after I won my own race in June with 80%. Thank you registrars, and thanks to my strike force of volunteer walkers who covered neighborhoods from the far Northeast heights to the lanes of Duranes. Things will never be the same.
Wrapping up 2008
During the interim I have been busy as the Chairperson of the Health and Human Services Committee, examining problems (and potential solutions) to this state's health care crisis. Except for the two bills I was able to pass last session, health care reform failed. But the crisis persists, with even more people joining the 420,000 who have no insurance, and costs continuing to escalate. In spite of the current economic crisis, I will not give up, and I hope you won't either. There will be several bills introduced this session, and Washington will soon weigh in. Stay tuned.
In retrospect, this past summer's special session was a mixed blessing. Working families got some help in the form of increased health care coverage for more children, day care assistance, and increased low-income tax credits. Yet the legislature acceded to the Governor's request for $56 million in tax rebates, which we sure could use now to address our shortfall.
The legislature will also take up some unfinished ethics and campaign finance business in January, following on the high profile conviction of the Senate's former President Pro Tempore, Manny Aragon. The most prominent issues this time will be the establishment of an independent Ethics Commission and a limit on campaign contributions. I will be introducing several bills and fighting for others to set our house in order.
Students from Los Puentes Charter School visiting Sen. Feldman during the 08 session. Students are always welcome. It's a great learning experience. Call Sen. Feldman's secretary at 505-986-4300 during the legislative session to arrange for your child to be a page, or to schedule school trips.
just the district
Posted by: suz | January 26, 2009 at 10:41 AM