Democracy is a two-way street and, with this web site and my blog http://senatorfeldman.typepad.com I invite you to check in with what I’m doing—and respond. New Mexico’s legislature is a part-time operation meeting in the winter months, from Jan.-Feb. in even-numbered years, and from Jan.-March in odd-numbered years. Although legislators in New Mexico are basically volunteers, with no salary and permanent staff, I work year round, developing policies on everything from health care and education to water and environmental protection. I also work to serve my constituents in Senate District 13, solving their problems with government and soliciting ideas on how we can move forward together. On this web site you will find the letters I send to my constituents every year before and after the legislative session, along with my constituent surveys (and their results) . I will also try to update you regularly on special sessions, how you can take advantage of recently enacted laws and services. The news and views section includes my speeches and articles that have appeared in local newspapers. The updated links and resources page will help you navigate the often-confusing world of government. Warmest Regards, Sen. Dede Feldman March 2010 Hard Times: Hard Choices ... Again The results of the Special Session are in, and no one likes them --- but they could have been much worse. Hard times demand hard choices and I actually think we rose to the occasion. We were dealing with a $600 million estimated shortfall, which some say will be much higher in a few months, and acting in the wake of a busted budget deal at the end of the regular session. Primary campaigns are in full swing, and partisan divides widening by the minute. Yet we managed to come up with a budget that will fill the gap by: •cutting $162 million in spending •eliminating several thousand positions from state agencies •increasing new revenue by $238 million •using the final $200 million in federal stimulus money The final product is a state budget for FY 11 that weighs in at $5.35 billion, down from this year’s budget of $5.7, and the previous year’s at $6.1 (THAT seems like an eternity ago).
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° Help is on the Way thanks to two measures that I initiated:
The Nurse Advice Line is open for business 24-7. Call 1-877-725-2552 if you have a medical problem but no access to a doctor or a nurse. [ Click here ] to read more about it. Protect Yourself against Identity Theft by freezing access to your credit report. [ Click here ] to find out how. | 
