DPNM Chair Praises Senate Health Care Vote

For Immediate Release
December 24, 2009

Washington, DC – Today, in an historic Christmas Eve vote, the Senate voted to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill passed with unanimous support from Democrats despite weeks of Republican stall tactics and attempts to keep the bill from coming to a vote. In response, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Javier Gonzales released the following statement:

“Today’s vote marks an historic moment in the decades-long struggle to pass comprehensive health reform. This is the most significant development in domestic policy since Social Security was created – it is the largest expansion of coverage since Medicare and the greatest deficit reduction package passed in the last decade.

“The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will end decades of unfair insurance industry practices that have hurt New Mexicans, provide quality, affordable options for the uninsured and will reduce costs for families, businesses and the country as a whole. It will expand coverage to more than 30 million Americans while reducing the deficit by more than $130 billion in the next 10 years.

“This bill is a clear victory for New Mexicans. It will deliver on the promises President Obama has made since the health care debate began – reducing costs, providing quality, affordable choices for the uninsured and providing stability and security for those who already have coverage.

"I commend Senator Bingaman and Udall's leadership on this historic moment for Americans and New Mexicans. With their hard work 125,000 additional New Mexicans will have medicare coverage and 230,000 will be able to get eligibility credits, stopping insurers from refusing coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and granting permanent reauthorization for IHS to fulfill the nation's treaty obligations to provide health care to more than 1.9 million members of tribes nationwide."

“While the legislation received unanimous support from Democrats, it passed without a single Republican vote. Sadly, the Republican Party have shown once again they will stop at nothing to see the President fail. As we approach the 2010 elections, Republicans will need to explain to voters why they have chosen to side with the health insurance executives over New Mexican families.

“So today we thank President Obama and Senators Bingaman and Udall for their strong leadership on this issue and continue to offer our support as they move closer than ever to making comprehensive health insurance reform a reality for New Mexicans.”

DPNM Holiday Donation Drive for Troops

Almost everyone knows a member of our Armed Services, either active duty or retired. Members of our military are often sent to the most dangerous of locations -- and often over the holidays.

All of us have a father, mother, brother, sister, family member or friend who is serving our Country this holiday season.

It is important for us all to remember that the stresses of serving overseas and being away from loved ones are magnified during the holiday season.

To this end, the Democratic Party of New Mexico is sponsoring a "Care Package Collection" with Blue Star Mothers of New Mexico to collect items for personalized care packages for our New Mexico troops serving overseas.

Items to be included range from protein bars to trail mix to personal care items such as lotion and sunscreen. We are also collecting monetary contributions to help defray the costs of shipping the packages overseas. (A complete list of items can be found here.)

We will be accepting donations through Saturday, December 19th both in our party headquarters and at various campaign offices throughout the Albuquerque area.

For more information on how you can help this cause, please contact Marisa at the DPNM by calling 505-830-3650 or e-mailing info@nmdemocrats.org

On behalf of New Mexico's Troops, thank you for your help and support!

Our New Mexico

Lt. Governor Diane Denish released the following video today after previewing it at a Albuquerque North Valley Ward meeting on Saturday:

Lt. Governor Denish's leadership and vision for New Mexico in the next century is one in which all of us will benefit.

Denish Opposes Food Tax

The following op-ed by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish ran in today’s New Mexico Independent

Food Tax Would Hurt New Mexico Families

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish
http://www.nmpolitics.net/index/2009/12/food-tax-would-hurt-new-mexico-families/

For many New Mexico families, budgets are tighter this holiday season than last – which means fewer gifts under the tree. But for other families, simply getting by is a struggle. During these difficult times, a broad-based tax on food to fix the budget shortfall is a bad idea and I will not support it, plain and simple.

Our state is facing serious budget challenges, no doubt about it. But we must not balance the budget on the backs of regular, hard-working New Mexico families. And when nearly one in four New Mexico children go to bed hungry, making it more difficult for their parents to buy basic food is simply unconscionable.

So when the Legislature convenes next month, where should lawmakers look to close the budget gap?

First and foremost, before anyone starts debating tax increases, legislators must do everything possible to make sure government is leaner and more efficient. They must not ask for more tax dollars until they can show that the tax dollars already coming in are being spent as efficiently as possible. I’ve proposed several areas where reform is needed, including overhauling the capital outlay system and ending the practice of double-dipping. Others have proposed additional reform ideas that require thoughtful consideration.

Once all possible reforms are debated and implemented, legislators should look to see who is gaming the system at the expense of the taxpayers. Right now, a loophole exists in New Mexico law that allows big, out-of-state corporations to get special breaks at the expense of New Mexico families and businesses. Haven’t we seen enough of these kinds of special breaks on Wall Street? We certainly want to create incentives for employers to create jobs, but New Mexicans are sick of these loopholes for the big guys – that’s a big part of what got our nation into this economic mess in the first place.

These are just a few ideas for reducing the state’s budget shortfall and I’m open to other good ideas as well.

But before legislators convene in January, they should send a clear message to New Mexicans that the food tax is off the table. We simply can not, in good conscience, support higher taxes on basic necessities at a time when so many families are struggling to get by.

I urge New Mexicans to contact their legislators and encourage them to oppose this costly, harmful tax increase.

Denish in New Mexico’s lieutenant governor and a Democratic candidate for governor.

Mayor Chavez to Address Climate Change Body

Albuquerque, N.M. – Former Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chavez will participate in a panel on climate change as part of the larger United Nations climate change summit. Specifically, Chavez's panel will discuss "Leadership and Innovation by US Cities and Local Governments" as it relates to the reduction of Green House Gasses.

Mayor Chavez is a member of the Board of Directors of the North American International Committee of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and a member of the International Committee of the ICLEI and will be meeting with White House staff to discuss green policy while in Denmark. The ICLEI is an international group which is instrumental in advising and assisting local governments in reducing carbon emissions.

Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman, Javier Gonzales released the following statement:

"Mayor Chavez's invitation to address the United Nations' summit on climate change is a great honor for the City of Albuquerque and State at-large.

"During his tenure as Mayor, Martin was the leader in the charge for making Albuquerque a more sustainable, greener city. His experience and expertise will serve as a model for other cities to emulate.

"I offer my personal congratulations on behalf of the Democratic Party of New Mexico to Mayor Chavez and thank him for being a strong advocate on behalf of environmental issues."

You can follow the Mayor's trip by visiting his Facebook page or by following him on Twitter @MartyChavez.

Republican Candidates Skip Conservative Forum

Albuquerque, NM- Tonight, the Rio Grande Foundation, a right-wing "think tank", is hosting a forum for Republican gubernatorial candidates. However, of the four Republican candidates, only Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones and Doug Turner are reportedly attending the event. Candidates Allen Weh and Susana Martinez are reportedly skipping this opportunity to share their views with Republican primary voters.

Scott Forrester, the Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, released the following statement:

"Allen Weh and Susana Martinez are more than happy to let the Rio Grande Foundation do their political dirty work, but when that organization gives them an opportunity to share their views in front of a sympathetic audience, they refuse to participate. Either Weh and Martinez don't want folks to
know where they stand on key issues, they themselves don't know where they stand, or they know this forum will expose how unprepared they are to hold the state's highest office. Instead of taking this easy opportunity to show an ideologically friendly audience whether they have any ideas of their own, Weh and Martinez appear content to continue hiding behind baseless, negative press releases. To this point, Weh and Martinez have done nothing but throw rocks from the bleachers, and New Mexicans deserve better."

Steve Pearce: Placeholder

Albuquerque, NM - Saturday, Steve Pearce said the following to a group in Alamogordo, "[I] ran for the Senate seat because it's where small states, such as New Mexico, have power. In the House, we have three seats. There are more than 400 seats in the House. California has more than 50, Texas more than 30 and New York more than 30. Our voice is nothing."

Scott Forrester, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, issued the following statement:

“Why is Steve Pearce running for an office he believes has no voice? The constituents of New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district deserve someone who is committed to fighting for their values and interests. They don't need an opportunistic, do-nothing politician who is using the office as a political placeholder while he waits for the right time to run for the U.S. Senate.

“In six years, Pearce's accomplishments on issues which matter to New Mexicans -- like supporting working families and our veterans -- were scarce. Perhaps it is because he always treated this Congressional seat as a stepping stone instead of it as a platform to fight for the people of southern New Mexico.

"Southern New Mexicans don't need someone who believes their district has no voice in Congress. We need someone who puts his constituents first, someone who fights for our values, fights for southern New Mexico jobs, believes in funding for veterans and that someone is Congressman Harry Teague. Harry has delivered on the issues that matter and he won't abandon his district or his constituents for a convenient political opportunity.

"Steve Pearce didn't use his voice in Congress to help the people of southern New Mexico when he had one, why should they think another term in the House would be any different?

"New Mexico deserves better than that -- New Mexico deserves Harry Teague."

December 1 is World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day.

AIDS is an affliction which impacts the lives of over 33 million people across the globe. Established in 1988 by the World Health Organization, World AIDS Day seeks not only to educate those unfamiliar with the epidemic but to focus positive action-oriented attention.

In America alone, over 1,000,000 people are living with AIDS.

In New Mexico, the number of people living with AIDS is over 2,700.

In a proclamation from President Obama, he notes that while the global AIDS number of people living with AIDS is high,

" . . . the death rate is slowly declining due, in part, to our Nation's global effort through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program. However, HIV remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Women and children around the world are particularly vulnerable due to gender inequalities, gaps in access to services, and increases in sexual violence. While the statistics are distressing, new medications and scientific advancements give us reason for hope."

This news is encouraging, but there is a long road still ahead.

President Obama also calls for us to take part in appropriate activities which remember those lost to this disease as well as activities which comfort those who are living with AIDS.

In New Mexico, New Mexico AIDS Services provides education, support and community outreach to at-risk communities throughout our State.

They offer a variety of community-based health classes and even specialized education for women.

Like many other organizations which exist in our community, New Mexico AIDS Services relies heavily on donor support.

No matter how you choose to spend the day, the DPNM encourages you to remember those around you who may be living with AIDS or those in your life who have lost the fight against AIDS.