1. Main Issue for This Month (Cedar): Two NM pre-filed bills that dangerously restrict reproductive rights are HB75 and HB76. HB75 discusses care of what it calls “born alive infants,” using emotional language to say there is a problem where there is none. HB76, called the “Partial Birth and Late Term Abortion” bill, is a strategic effort to incrementally reduce reproductive rights, using incendiary speech as well to illegalize abortion at 20 weeks, a point at which pregnancy may not yet be detected.
Main Action requested for this month: If you want to participate, call Debbie Rodella at home 505.753.8247 or cell 505.927.7380 during business hours to let her know that you oppose HB75 and HB76 and are calling on her to do the same. To read the bills and comment go to www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/BillFinder/Number.
Additional Issues:
2. (Adele) NM HB64, introduced by Debbie Rodella, would charge pet food manufacturers an extra fee to support spays, neuters, and other assistance for our animals.
Action requested: Call Debbie Rodella at home 505.753.8247 or cell 505.927.7380 or office 505.986.4420 during business hours to ask where we should concentrate our efforts to help pass HB64.
3. (Christine) The second annual Women’s March will be held on Jan 21 at noon at the Roundhouse.
Action requested: Please attend if you can.
4. (Christine) Capital outlay for acequias.
Action requested: Pressure this legislature regarding capital outlay for acequias.
5. (Dee) Nukes. Greg Mello is going to Washington DC this week to help prevent the construction of a new plutonium pit in LANL.
Action requested: Call Representative Ben Ray Lujan 202.225.6190 or 505.984.8950 and Senators Tom Udall 202.224.6621 or 505.988.6511 and Martin Heinrich 202.224.5521 or 505.988.6647 to voice your opposition to the construction of a new plutonium pit in LANL.
6. (Karen) SB172/HB101, the NM Health Security Act, will provide for healthcare for all New Mexicans (except two groups covered by other programs) without adding increased taxes. In the making for over 20 years, the act is well thought-out and will save NM hundreds of millions of dollars. Last year the study portion of the bill—HB 575, the Health Security Plan Analysis Act—passed the full House for the first time in the campaign’s history. The full bill goes before the legislature again in 2019.
Action requested: Karen will contact someone from the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign to come speak to our whole community. Please attend.
7. (Chuck) Jemez Mountains Electric Co-op cancelled plans for a 75-megawatt solar array and is looking at doing several smaller, spread-out solar arrays similar to what Kit Carson Electric is doing. They have asked for participation on their solar committee. Chuck, Robert, and Stan are putting their names in for the committee.
Action requested: Talk to someone everyday about climate change. We can also attend Jemez Electric board meetings. To support Chuck, Robert, and Stan for the solar committee, call acting general manager Donna Montoya-Trujillo at 505.367.1155 or email her at dtrujillo@jemezcoop.org.
8. (Becky) With Swing Left we have the chance to help flip one of Colorado’s seven congressional seats. As soon as the Democratic candidate is elected in the June primary in Colorado’s District 3, just north of NM’s northern border, EVAA members will be going up there to help campaign for her/him. Republicans have an advantage in voter registration and money.
Action requested: Join us if you are so inclined, or donate when the candidate is elected.
9. (Candace) Concern about upcoming midterm elections. Is there a chance of flipping NM Second District in southern NM given that Steve Pearce will not be running?
Action requested: Contact Candace if interested.
10. (Diane, Robert, Robin) The NM Legislature will be meeting this year from 1/16 to 2/15 and needs our involvement. One of the most important bills in this session is HJR4, which provides for an independent redistricting commission for congressional, state, and local offices.
Action requested: Focus on state issues for this period of time. Hopefully attend a committee meeting. Go to nmlegis.gov to read over a list of pre-filed legislation, follow issues, and watch televised committee meetings. Contact our legislators Senator Richard Martinez at 505.986.4487 (ofc) or 505.747.2337 (home) or richard.martinez@nmlegis.gov and Representative Debbie Rodella at 505.753.8247 (home) or 505.927.7380 (cell) or Debbie.rodella@nmlegis.gov to voice your support for HJR4.
11. (Robert) All NM legal notices are posted on the NM Press Association’s website, a useful and important site.
Action requested: Follow important legal notices at http://www.nmpress.org/notices.html.
12. (Shel) People on the right and on the left are not communicating. Shel has written letters to the pastors who supported Roy Moore to fill Jeff Session’s Senate seat. He also writes regularly to NPR to ask that they present a rational progressive view on economics and politics instead of the primarily conservative view that they present now.
Action requested: Let’s begin a national writing campaign to NPR to demand that they include a rational progressive view on economics and politics.
13. (Sheena) Spraying. Update since the meeting, as noted in Sheena’s recent email: will concentrate on working with the DOT using alternatives in this area as they promised rather than pursue a Memorial at this time without enough preparation to do it justice.
14. (Cedric) The politics of hope.
Action requested: Keep up hope.