Pension Reform, Employee Sacrifices, Budget Blues
The recent demonstrations in Wisconsin highlight some of the sacrifices New Mexico state employees, teachers and university employees have already made to keep our budget balanced in the past few years. State employees, in particular have been getting about 2.5% less in take home pay because they are paying more out of their paychecks to cover some of the state share of their pension benefits. Last year, they also absorbed four furlough days. This year, state retirees are being asked to forgo cost of living increases in their pensions, and it is estimated that education cuts have already cost hundreds of teachers their jobs, with an even bigger cut to education in the budget headed our way from the House this week. That means larger classes, shorter school years, fewer school nurses, therapists, art, music and other “non-instructional” activities. And it may mean no new hires for teachers—like my own daughter—just beginning their teaching careers.
Yet there still seems to be no appetite for changes on the other side of the ledger: closing corporate tax loopholes and putting an end to wasteful tax giveaways that benefit Wall Street, the rich and the big out of state corporations. I believe that if we followed this path, we’d be creating a level playing field for New Mexico’s small businesses against the big out of state corporations. Our small business owners don’t have a choice in paying their income tax, yet current law allows the big corporations to avoid paying their fair share.
The impact of enacting these policies will be immediate and direct in the form of almost 4,500 jobs saved jobs and forestalling the worst of the cuts proposed in the new budget: cuts to child care for working families, cuts to domestic violence services, and far less funding for life-saving programs for hemophiliacs and people with brain injuries like Rep. Gabby Giffords’.
Cameo Appearance for Gov. at Senate Public Affairs
Much to my surprise, Gov. Susanna Martinez made a guest appearance at the Senate Public Affairs Committee last week to testify in favor of a bill to expand DNA testing to all those arrested (not convicted) for felonies. “Katie’s Law,” named after a college student who was murdered in Las Cruces, was passed several years ago but restricted to serious, violent crimes. Governors do not usually appear directly before committees, and some consider it a violation of the separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches. Whether this was a publicity stunt or not, Martinez was effective, as she was several years ago when she pressed the case as Dona Ana County DA on the original bill before this committee. The bill was passed on to the Judiciary Committee, where it may not have such smooth skating.
Is this a trend? We’re not sure yet, but in the following committee meeting, where several DWI bills that the Governor is supporting were presented, her staff appeared with little cameras in hand to tape the proceedings. They did not ask permission from the Chair (me), which is protocol on both the floor and in committees, so I am cynical about how they intend to use the material. I’m a great fan of opening committee hearings to the news media, but this felt different. Since the staffers did not speak to me, I do not know how they intend to use the footage, but several present felt it was intimidation, meant to remind Senators that their comments would be used in campaign ads next year. Hmm.
Health Insurance Exchange, Health Insurance Rate Review
As expected, my insurance rate transparency bill (SB 208) is meeting with resistance in the Senate, which is reflective of insurance company opposition to the requirement that companies disclose surpluses, reserves, profits and other information when seeking what have been premium increases of as much as 35%. I still don’t think it is too much to ask, do you? Please call or e-mail Sen. Linda Lopez, Sen. Richard Martinez, Sen. Michael Sanchez, Sen. Sander Rue, Sen. Clint Harden, Sen. Bill Payne, and Sen. John Ryan with your support. This bill is due to be re-heard Wednesday Feb. 23.
A ”substitute bill” that incorporates my vision for a health insurance exchange (SB 38) with an alternative measure (SB 370) has been adopted by the Senate Corporations Committee and is going to the Senate Finance Committee. I’ve been working with both advocates and members of the past interim’s Health Care Working Group to get to this point, and I hope you will contact members of the Senate Finance Committee in support. This is a key piece of federal health care reform that we’ve got to start shaping, lest we loose out on federal money, or face the prospect that the feds will operate an exchange for us out of DC.
The substitute bill has this clearinghouse for insurance policies doing most of the same things as I proposed, except that its board is a little different with membership from consumers and small businesses drawn from both the Health Insurance Alliance and the NM Medical Insurance Pool. Other members of the board of this non-profit organization will be selected by the Legislature. There is a strict conflict of interest provision that prevents insurance companies representatives from serving on the board, but allow for their assistance on advisory committees.
Some Feldman Bills Advance to House, Others Still Need Your Help
Last week SB 37, which allows the donation of prescription drugs back to the doctors or clinics that prescribed them, so that other patients can benefit, passed the Senate unanimously!! Thanks for your help. But we are just beginning in the House, where the bill has been referred to the House Business and Industry Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. This important bill has not yet been scheduled by the first House Committee, Business and Industry, but please keep you eye on the committees agenda (posted on www.nmlegis.gov) and e-mail (emails are on the web site as well) or call members (505-986-4300) when it is about to be heard. Members include:
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Another one of my bills, designed to help in the recruitment and retention of sorely needed health care professionals to New Mexico, SB 14 also passed the Senate last week and has been assigned to House Health and Government Affairs Committee. Please contact member in support if you think we need more doctors, nurses, physicians’ assistants, etc. Members include:
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Each can be reached through the main switchboard at 505-986-4300 or via email (listed on the web site).
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