Joint Sessions Mark First Weeks of Legislature
The first two weeks of the legislature were marked by huge joint sessions featuring speeches from our Senators and Congressmen, and on Friday, from tribal officials. The speeches ranged from a Ross Perot-like lecture from Rep. Steve Pearce, complete with white board and magic markers, to Navajo Tribal Chairman Ben Shelly delivering his remarks off of an I-Pad. All most all of the speeches focused on jobs. The “Dems” were largely on message, showcasing the federal investments they’ve brought to the state, and the thousands of jobs that they created-- and saved. Pearce, the lone Republican, attributed the loss of jobs to the Spotted Owl. I guess, by this he meant environmental regulations, since the last time I looked spotted owls don’t live in New Mexico. Anti-regulation fever has hit the Roundhouse this year, with many singing Pearce’s tune. I don’t hear much mention of how the lack of financial regulation is what got us into this mess in the first place.
Native American leaders pledging alliegance to the US as Miss Navajo sings the National Anthem in Navajo. Only in New Mexico.
Two Important Health Care Bills up in Senate Public Affairs This Week
The two most important pieces of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are insurance regulation and the establishment of state exchanges. I have bills on both, and they will be heard this week in the Senate Public Affairs Committee. If you’re supportive (and according to the recent district survey, you are) please contact members to support SB 208, an insurance measure that provides transparency, public hearings and a more robust rate review process in the Department of Insurance. According to the bill, proposed rates must be “reasonable, not excessive or inadequate, and not unfairly discriminatory” and the companies must prove that they are based on reasonable administrative expenses and medical cost increases. The hearing will be on Tuesday Feb. 8 in Room 321. For more information on the bill go to http://senatorfeldman.typepad.com.
The other bill, SB 38 establishes a state health insurance exchange as a non-profit governmental group to act as a clearinghouse for the sale of insurance policies. The exchange will be more transparent and consumer-friendly than the current system, which is a nightmare for small businesses and individuals. And it will pool purchasers together to buy policies, which can mean lower prices. The exchange must be up and running by 2014, and it is fully funded through the new act through 2015, when it must become self-sufficient. Failure to set up a state exchange will result in the federal government doing it for us. This bill will be heard on Thursday Feb. 10.
Contact Senators on both bills by calling 505-986-4300 and asking for their office; then leave a message. Or you can e-mail them at the addresses below
Sen. Tim Eichenberg (tim@eichenbergfornewmexico.com)
Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (maryjane.garcia@nmlegis.gov)
Sen. Cynthia Nava (cnava@gisd.K12.nm.us)
Sen. Eric Griego (egriego@yahoo.com)
Sen. Mark Boitano (boitanom@aol.com)
Sen. Vernon Asbill (vernon@asbillforsenate.com)
Sen. Bill Burt (bill.burt@nmlegis.gov)
Conservancy District Elections
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District elections were the subject of a Task Force this interim, charged with increasing participation in district elections, which currently garner about 5% of small universe eligible to vote (property owners in the valley areas of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia and Socorro Counties). Trouble is, the Task Force didn’t recommend any major moves toward more voter participation, as I had hoped. They did recommend that candidates publicly report their contributions and expenditures, which I have proposed in Senate Bill 312, now before the Senate Rules Committee. Also included in the bill is a requirement that candidates be subject to the same contribution limits that all other state elected officials are-- $2,300 from an individual or organization.
But the real news here is that Rep. Miguel Garcia from the South Valley has proposed that the District use mail-in ballots, which would vastly improve turnout. His HB 260 will be presented Tuesday Feb. 8 in the House Voters and Elections Committee in Room 305, the State Capitol Building and he is asking for you presence or your emails to committee members. They include: Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, Rep. Danice Picraux, Rep.Tom Anderson, Rep. Nate Gentry, Rep. Conrad James, Rep. Ben Lujan, Rep. Roger Madalena, Rep. Ken Martinez, Rep. Bill Rehm, Rep. Debbie Rodella, Rep. Ed Sandoval, Rep. James Smith and Rep. Shirley Tyler. You can call their offices through the main switchboard at 505-986-4300.
Transparency: Is the Shoe Now on the Other Foot?
I was surprised last week when the Republicans on the Senate Rules Committee opposed a transparency bill I sponsored (SB 31) that would require contractors with the state to disclose contributions over $250 made to the elected officials who can influence the selection process in the two years prior to the procurement period, and ban them altogether while the state is deciding which contractor to pick. This “Pay-to-Play” bill got widespread support last year, but it may be different now. The Republicans felt this would discourage contractors from bidding at all, and be too much paperwork. Another committee member said this was “a boondoggle.” Still others feared that it would apply to the community boards upon which they sit. In spite of the objections, the measure received a do pass. Last year, the very same bill was handily passed by both the Senate and the House, but got caught up in a delay on the last day of the session. The bill, supported by the both AG and the Courts and Corrections Committee, next goes to the Senate Judiciary committee, which its fate will be determined.
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