Rep. David Chavez had withdrawn the bill, but at the 11th hour with less than four days left in the legislative session, has suddenly re-introduced the measure which will be heard tomorrow (Feb 14th) at 8:30 am in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.

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Dear supportner,

Rep. David Chavez (R-Los Lunas) is at it again.

When he thought no one was watching, Rep. Chavez bowed to political pressure and asked for his anti-family, discriminatory Definition of Marriage bill (HJR 22) to be heard tomorrow in the House Consumer and Public Affairs committee.

Well, Rep. Chavez, New Mexico’s families were watching, and we will be there to oppose this discriminatory piece of legislation.

This move has everything to do with politics, and nothing to do with the issues that matter most to hard working New Mexicans: jobs, the economy, and education.

Join us tomorrow in Santa Fe to oppose HJR 22, and let Rep. Chavez know that in New Mexico we value our families. All of our families.

What: House Consumer and Public Affairs committee hearing on HJR 22

When: Tuesday, February 14th at 8:30 am

Where: The Roundhouse (state capitol), Santa Fe, room 315.

Cant join us in Santa Fe? Follow us on twitter for live coverage of tomorrow’s hearing.

More to come,

Nick

Nick Rimmer, Esq.

Equality New Mexico

ps-Want to express your views on HJR 22 to Rep. Chavez? He can be reached by telephone at 505-986-4451 or by email at david.chavez@nmlegis.gov

PRC Commissioner Doug Howe

A group calling itself “New Mexicans for a Better PRC” has launched a change.org petition urging Public Regulation Commission commissioner Doug Howe to run for re-election. The PRC is the powerful state agency that regulates public utilities, insurance, and transportation companies.

Howe was appointed to the PRC by Governor Susana Martinez to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of commissioner Jerome Block Jr.

Block resigned after his arrest under charges of embezzlement, misuse of a state issued credit card, and identity theft. Following his resignation, Block plead guilty to several felony counts and is now serving time in state prison for using illegal drugs, a violation of his probation.

Following his appointment, Howe an independent (editors note: Howe has since registered as a Democrat) announced that we would not seek re-election to the PRC.

Last week, the news website nmpolitics.net published a story on reactions to Howe’s appointment by Steve Smothermon, pastor of Legacy Church in Albuquerque. Smothermon was angered that the governor had appointed Howe, an openly gay man, to the commission.

Smothermon has found few friends in the faith community, or anywhere for that matter, for his discriminatory comments.  Both Governor Martinez (R) and Albuquerque Mayor Richard Barry (R)  have distanced themselves from Smothermon, saying that sexual orientation should never be considered a factor in deciding somebody’s ability to serve in public office.

Smothermon had also previously criticized Mayor Richard Barry for allowing openly gay people to serve in his administration.

New Mexicans for a Better PRC is calling on Howe to run for re-election because of Howe’s experience and qualifications, and to “provide New Mexicans with the opportunity to vote for a qualified and competent PRC commissioner”.

You can find the group’s petition here.

The PRC is not new to scandal. Two former commissioners left the PRC facing felony charges, and both of those commissioners were in heterosexual marriages at the time of their disgraceful resignation.

YOU DID IT!

In just two weeks, lead by Equality New Mexico’s grassroots campaign, New Mexicans generated thousands of phone calls, letters, and petition signatures telling Rep. Chavez that in New Mexico we value our families….ALL of our families. And today, New Mexico saw what the voice of New Mexico families can do.

Equality New Mexico has launched a petition, asking each of the committee members to VOTE NO on this discriminatory piece of legislation. You can sign the petition here. 

HJR 22 would deny the protections of civil marriage to thousands of New Mexico same-sex families, and would also prevent New Mexico from recognizing the marriages and civil unions of same-sex families conducted elsewhere.

This bill is wrong for New Mexico—we are, more than anything, a state that values our families. ALL of our families.

Sign the petition NOW.

Mayor David Coss (D-Santa Fe)

Last week, Mayor David Coss (D) of Santa Fe signed on to the group “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry”, a bipartisan coalition of US mayors that are coming out in support of the full marriage equality.

Coss joins 115 other mayors that have already joined the coalition, which is a project of the national organization Freedom to Marry. According to the group’s website, these mayors “stand for the freedom to marry because it enhances the economic competitiveness of our communities, improves the lives of families that call our cities home, and is simply the right thing to do.”

So far, Mayor Coss is the only New Mexico mayor to have joined the coalition.

Interested in getting your mayor on board? Contact Equality New Mexico at info@eqnm.org.

In September of 2011, the Obama administration published new rules regarding hospital patient visitation rights in the US.

These new rules took effect last fall, and place the decision of who may visit a hospital patient with the patients themselves. As such, hospitals may no longer restrict visitation to immediate family members, and must offer same-sex families equal visitation rights.

This move by the federal government brings the US closer towards patient-centered healthcare, and respects the fundamental right of every person to be surrounded by those they love during times of medical hardship.

You may download our guide here. 

This guide is brought to you by the Equality New Mexico Foundation’s NM LGBT Legal Resource Initiative.

Rep. Rick Miera (D-Albuquerque)

The memorial, sponsored by Rep. Rick Miera (D-Albuquerque), directs school districts to include parents and community members in the development of bullying-prevention programs. Rep. Miera is also the chairman of the House Education Committee.

This is a powerful statement by the legislature that all of us–parents, students, community members, as well as school and state officials–have an important role to play in addressing bullying in our schools.

Equality New Mexico worked closely with Rep. Miera in drafting this memorial, and thank him for his leadership.

Senate memorial introduced

SM 39 was introduced this week by Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (D-Dona Ana). This memorial is identical to HM 22 and asks the senate to join the House of Representatives in calling for parent and community engagement in addressing school bullying.

Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (D-Dona Ana)

Equality New Mexico has worked closely with Sen. Garcia on this memorial, and would also like to thank her for her leadership and constant support of ALL of New Mexico’s students.

SM 39 has been referred to the Senate Rules and Education committees, where we expect that it will receive bi-partisan support.

Senator Garcia is also the Senate Majority Whip.

Discriminatory legislation introduced, strong public response

On Tuesday, Rep. David Chavez (R-Valencia) introduced HJR 22–a constitutional amendment that would deny marriage to same-sex families and prevent New Mexico from recognizing same-sex marriages and civil unions conducted elsewhere.

In less than 72 hours, over 1,400 people have signed a petition to Rep. Chavez asking him to withdraw this discriminatory piece of legislation and focus instead on the issues that matter most to New Mexicans: education, jobs, and the economy. Add your name to the petition here. 

No jobs legislation

Following introduction of HJR 22, we broke the story that Rep. Chavez has yet to introduce a single piece of jobs legislation, or a bill aimed at stimulating the New Mexico economy. In fact, he has only introduced one piece of legislation this session: HJR 22.

Rep. Chavez’s lack of attention to jobs and the economy is all the more concerning given that Rep. Chavez’s home county has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, and working families there make on average less than the rest of the state.

Perhaps it’s time that Rep. Chavez tell his constituents, and the rest of New Mexico, why he chooses to spend time in Santa Fe playing politics, and not on putting New Mexicans back to work.

Anti-bullying  memorial introduced

Also on Tuesday, Rep. Rick Miera (D-Albuquerque) introduced House Memorial 25 that encourages school districts to include parents and community members in the development and evaluation of bullying prevention programs.

This memorial builds upon SB 78 passed by the legislature in 2011, which requires all school districts in New Mexico to implement bullying prevention programs by August of 2012.

Equality New Mexico worked closely with Rep. Miera in drafting this memorial, which is an important step forward towards engaging parents, students and community members in addressing the school bullying crisis in New Mexico public schools.

A senate version of the memorial should be introduced shortly by Sen. Mary Jane Garcia (D-Dona Ana).

Budget in formation

The House Appropriations and Finance (HAFC) committee continues its work on the state budget bill, HB 2–the omnibus appropriations bill that funds state government.

Equality New Mexico has been working with other advocates and community members to ensure full funding for the state Medicaid program. Medicaid is a primary source of coverage for those living with HIV/AIDS, and we are supporting the program as a central strategy for increasing health care coverage for the LGBT community.

The City Council outlined its position in an emergency resolution, sponsored by Councilwoman Patti Bushee.

“The Santa Fe City Council stood with New Mexico families last night, and sent a clear message to legislators: that in New Mexico we celebrate diversity, we respect our neighbors, and we value our families. All of our families”, said Jacob Candelaria, President/CEO of Equality New Mexico.

“With thousands of New Mexicans still struggling to get by in a rough economy, now is not the time to score political points by inciting discrimination against thousands of New Mexico families,” continued Candelaria.

“My sincere hope is that all legislators, including Rep. David Chavez, will spend their time focusing on what matters most to New Mexicans: education, jobs, and the economy”, concluded Candelaria.

Read the resolution here. 

Rep. David Chavez (R-Valencia County)

Earlier this week, Rep. David Chavez (R-Valencia) introduced a constitutional amendment (HJR 22) in the New Mexico House of Representatives that would deny marriage to same-sex families and also prevent New Mexico from recognizing same-sex marriages or civil unions performed in other states.

In the 24 hours following the introduction of this anti-family amendment, over 1000 people signed a petition asking Rep. Chavez to withdraw this bill and focus on what matters most to New Mexicans: jobs, the economy and education. You can add your name to the petition here.

Not a single jobs bill

New Mexico continues to face record high levels of unemployment. Economic recovery in core industries such as manufacturing have been sluggish at best, and families from Taos to Las Cruces are still struggling to get by.

Unfortunately, instead of proposing legislation to help get New Mexicans back to work, Rep. Chavez has seen fit to spend his time in Santa Fe playing politics.

In fact, to date (1/26/12), Rep. Chavez has introduced only ONE piece of legislation–HJR 22. (Fact check here).

Neighbors and constituents remain unemployed

Rep. Chavez’s inaction on jobs and the economy is all the more concerning given that his home county (Valencia) has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state (10.1%).

Times are also rough for the working families of Valencia county, who earn on average less than the rest of the state. (Fact check here)

Where are the jobs bills?

At the end of the day, the 30-day legislative session is about the state budget and finances.

At a time when New Mexico families continue to chart their way out of the great recession, lawmakers in Santa Fe should be laser-focused on our economic recovery and creating sustainable, good-paying jobs in New Mexico. Now is not the time to play politics, now is the time to put New Mexico back to work.