Constituent Letter

March 19, 2003

Dear Friends, Neighbors and Constituents,

Greetings! I hardly know where to begin to describe the fast pace and charged atmosphere in the Roundhouse this year. From the very start, the new Governor has been engaged in putting into place the major pieces of his economic and educational program. In the Senate, a personal income tax reduction was passed in the opening weeks—a total reversal of our normal budget process where we appropriate money for the budget first, and later ask if we have enough left over for tax cuts or credits.

The cost of this tax cut, along with the growing price tag of Medicaid, posed quite a challenge for legislative budget makers who were working with very little new revenue. High hopes for long-delayed education reform compounded the problem. The upshot was one of the most wide-ranging discussions of New Mexico’s future that I have heard in seven years. “Sacred cows” like New Mexico’s permanent funds were very much on the table. For the short run, lawmakers decided to break into the recently created tobacco settlement fund for additional revenue. The question of whether to tap into the state’s $ 10 billion worth of permanent funds for educational reforms will be forwarded to the voters to decide this fall. Other taboo topics were tackled, including alcohol and tobacco taxes. The Senate last week passed a 70-cent cigarette tax to be used largely for the UNM Cancer Center and Medicaid. I believe the House will follow suit. A special session on taxes may follow later in the year.

The times they are a changing. Those are just a few of the bold measures that have been taken to move New Mexico off the economic and educational dime. And while many legislators (including me), have expressed doubts about tax cuts and “raids” on the tobacco fund, most were willing to give the new Governor a chance to try to move New Mexico forward.

Yesterday we sent the Governor a $4 billion budget package, which includes a 4% overall increase in spending. New Mexico is one of the only states that can afford to do this, given the nationwide recession and war. Teachers and instructional personnel will get a 6% pay raise in December and the minimum teacher salary will be set at $30,000, implementing a new, three-tiered pay plan linked to competency. School districts will use a part of their cash reserves to help cover the overall increase in educational spending. Higher education teachers will get 3% pay increases with colleges and universities increasing tuition by 4%. Raises for state workers are set at 3%, effective Jan 1, 2004, but the big news in this area is the enactment of collective bargaining for state employees, which came in a raucous rotunda ceremony.

As many of you know, campaign finance reform has been a major focus of my efforts over the years. Well, persistence pays! The Governor has signed two major reform bills—a voluntary public financing plan for PRC candidates, and a measure requiring candidates to file campaign reports with the Secretary of State by computer. They will then be posted on the Internet so the public can see who is giving what to whom. Thanks to many of you out there who worked to strengthen our democracy in this way.

Two major successes for me this session grew out of work in the interim on Medicaid reform and water policy. The legislature has now passed a statewide water plan, which I sponsored, that will provide both a framework for future water allocations and a forum for diverse interests to participate in this important process. A package of Medicaid bills, which will lay the foundation for lasting reform and smarter administration—all without drastic cuts -- has made its way through both houses. More work must be done during the coming year on this program.

Several measures which promise to lower the prices on prescription drugs for seniors passed this session. I am proud to have sponsored one that will bring relief to low income seniors by piggybacking on the Medicaid program. We also passed a Public Health Emergency Response Plan that I have been working on during the past year. The measure will give us a blueprint for responding to bio-terrorism without sacrificing important civil liberties.

I am also proud to report that the legislature has passed a tougher, smarter package of DWI reforms that will increase penalties for repeat offenders, require treatment options for chronic alcoholics, mandate the use of ignition interlocks and coordinate record keeping between the tribes and the state.

A major victory for me—and the NM Coalition on Domestic Violence-- was the passage of a bill to channel funds to domestic violence shelters for treatment programs for those who abuse their partners. This has been a missing component in efforts to solve this serious social problem. I hope that it will make a difference!
The verdict is still out on the state “Do Not Call” list, which I’ve been promoting to give us some relief from incessant, unsolicited telephone solicitations. The bill passed the Senate but is still pending in the House as time runs out on the 60-day session.

On the home front, I have requested capital outlay funds for improvements to local parks, schools, and museums, as well as for landscaping of some of our streets and intersections.This year, bosque reclamation and improved local trails were a priority for me, since so many of us look to the river and bosque for respite and recreation in today’s troubled world.

Thanks to all of you who wrote, e-mailed, called and visited during the session. Most of all, thanks to those of you who took the time to complete my survey. I’ve used it as a guide up here. Please contact me after the session after for a more complete run-down.

With Hopes for Peace,

Dede Feldman