Session Wrap

April 2005

Dear District 13 Friends and Neighbors,

Snow is falling as I write you this letter from Santa Fe and the curtain is dropping on the long 2005 legislative session. It's been intense. Today we sent a $4.7 billion budget package up to the Governor's office, and we now await his veto or approval, which constitutionally must come within three days. As always, the budget was a compromise document, and many of us felt that it did not adequately fund education or the Medicaid program, which will face a shortfall of $12 million next year. It also does not allow room for a series of additional tax cuts, which the Governor is adamant he must have in order to sign the budget.

With rising expectations due to what appeared to be a big surplus, budget makers were challenged to make ends meet given the need to fund the three tiered licensure system for teachers, Medicaid and previous income tax cuts. What emerged were two budget bills which include a 6.75% increase in funding for education including funding for salary increases for level two and three on the licensing system, a minimum $12,000 salary for educational assistants and a 1.25% salary increase for school workers and teachers who are not in line for a higher salary. Under this barebones budget, state employees will get a 1.75% pay raise, and faculty and staff at colleges and universities will get a 2% raise. The pay hikes are minimal and will probably be eaten up by health insurance costs.

Yet, the budget includes funding for some hopeful initiatives. School-based health centers will get an additional $2 million, and physical education in the schools will get a $1.5 million boost. There's money in the budget for suicide prevention, expanded services for people with AIDS, $2 million to serve more on the DD waiting list and $5 million for a pilot pre-kindergarten program, if it is authorized by the legislature (the decision on this one is still hanging).

For all you animal lovers out there—there were issues aplenty. Unfortunately, a ban on cockfighting was blocked by a Senate committee and the ban on pitbulls died early in the session. However, we did pass a bill penalizing the owners of dangerous dogs and one that put a “bittering” agent in antifreeze to prevent pet deaths.

In the wake of last fall's election, the Senate Rules committee (of which I am a member) focused on several election reform measures, rolling several bills into one. This omnibus measure will provide a paper trail for electronic voting, a way to speed counting of absentee ballot, voter identification, and a tighter registration mechanism. We'll see soon if it passes. A measure I had sponsored to provide public financing for campaigns for the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court was killed in committee—in spite of testimony from the NM Chief Justice!

I sponsored a number of environmental bills this time. One measure, which already passed, will enable the Game and Fish Department to set up programs on their land for non-hunters for activities like hiking, cross country skiing, and photography. Another bill to encourage more recycling programs and crack down on illegal tire dumpers is poised to pass in the House and it looks like a measure to study what to do with all those old computers and electronic garbage will pass as well. My highest priority this session is a bill that will require helmets and other safety measures for kids riding ATVs. I've worked hard with the medical community, several state departments, dealers, riders and the industry on this one, and I'm hopeful that this time it will pass the House in time.

A bill to ban smoking indoors at public facilities statewide was narrowly defeated-- as was a replacement of the death penalty with life without parole. Another bill to allow the state engineer to issue permits for domestic wells has foundered on the opposition from developers and agricultural interests. A measure to allow the use of medical marijuana, however looks as though it will pass this session.

Although this year there has been more discussion of nutrition and obesity than ever before, a tax on soft drinks and my measure to ban junk foods in the schools stalled in the Senate. Instead, the health and education departments will develop standards for foods sold in the school and begin to license vending machines. I am hopeful that they can work something out so more healthy foods can be offered and schools are not dependent on junk foods to fund sports and other extracurricular activities.

Several measures to increase the number of New Mexicans with health insurance have already passed, including one that I sponsored allowing unmarried dependents to take advantage of their parents' policies. My major measure to allow small businesses and non-profits to buy into the state employees plan has encountered some stiff opposition from the private insurance interests, but I am hopeful, with the Governor's' support (this was part of the Insure New Mexico task force),that this will pass. But, I must admit that I am very discouraged by the Medicaid situation. The cuts coming to this program from both the state and the federal government will only increase the number of people without insurance and increase the burden on taxpayers and counties to pay for indigent and emergency care.

On the home front, I have requested capital outlay funds for improvements to local parks, schools, museums, trails and other projects. This year, improvements to 4 th Street and the bottleneck at 4th and Montano were a major priority for me.

I hope you find this letter informative. You have the advantage. By the time you read this you'll be able to tell whether my predictions came true or not! Meanwhile, thanks to those of you who wrote, called, e-mailed and visited during the session. Most of all thanks to those of you took the time to fill out my survey. It's been a handy guide up here.

Please contact me after the session for a more complete run-down. And let's give thanks for the snow and moisture—but not for the allergies that are soon to follow in April and May !

As always, I'm proud to represent you in Santa Fe .

Sincerely,

Dede Feldman