[LWVNM Action] Fwd: A View From Just Outside the Roundhouse: Legislative Roundup: The Good, the Bad, the Unfinished

Sun Apr 13 21:38:21 MDT 2025

FYI
On Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 6:43 PM Meredith Machen via Action <
action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> Dede Feldman’s review of the legislature is similar to mine! She says
> there were lots of pocket vetoes and calls out the governor for some of her
> inexplicable vetoes.
>
> Meredith Ross Machen
> 505-577-6337
> Meredith.machen at gmail.com
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Dede Feldman <dede at dedefeldman.com>
> Date: Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
> Subject: A View From Just Outside the Roundhouse: Legislative Roundup: The
> Good, the Bad, the Unfinished
> To: <meredith.machen at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> *A View from Just Outside the Roundhouse . . . April 13, 2025*
>
>
>
> *Friends, Neighbors and Former Constituents,*
>
>
>
>
>
> * Legislature 2025 is Now History*
>
>
>
> The results are in, and it’s a decidedly mixed bag.  This time, I give the *legislature
> a B*, and *the Governor a D-*.
>
>
>
> Friday was the last day the Gov. had to sign or veto the 195 bills (out of
> about 1200) that passed the 2025 legislature.  She vetoed 35, not counting
> pocket vetoes and the line-item vetoes she made on many bills, including
> the budget and capital outlay appropriations. It’s one of the largest
> percentages since Gov. Gary Johnson (a.k.a. Governor NO).  Many of the
> vetoes (like the one that cut funding for oversight of CYFD) protect her
> departments’ independence or her own power (like the one to allow her to
> hire and fire Game and Fish Commissioners). Most maddening was her veto of
> a lobbyist transparency bill, which, as sponsor Rep. Sara Silva said
> ironically, would have allowed us to see which lobbyists were lobbying her
> against this bill!
>
>
>
> Here's my tally of the Good, the Bad and the Unfinished.
>
>
>
> *The Good: *
>
>
>
> *Health Care*
>
>
>
> The best part of the session was the speed at which both houses created a
> plan to reconfigure our failing behavioral health system and create a *behavioral
> health fund* to stimulate and organize services for people struggling
> with addictions and mental health. The package also included several crime
> bills—one deals with people too *incompetent *to stand trial. Another one
> increases penalties for fentanyl-related crimes.  The bipartisan measures
> came after last year’s catastrophic special session on crime and were
> passed by mid-session. This is the way it’s supposed to work!
>
>
>
> The legislature also created a Medicaid Trust fund to hedge against the
> looming loss of federal funds, which cover 2/3 of the cost of medical
> services to over 40% of our citizens.
>
>
>
> *Protections for Medical Providers, Women, Immigrants*
>
>
>
> More than most states, New Mexico protects its most vulnerable.  Women can
> get abortions; trans people are treated like human beings and immigrants
> live in “immigrant-friendly” cities. But the long arm of the Trump
> administration is coming for them.  *Senate Bill 57* will protect the
> privacy of doctors and medical providers at UNM who may be called upon to
> perform abortions for out-of-state women and *SB 36* prevents state
> employees from sharing sensitive information with anyone outside the agency
> (like ICE) who might come knocking in search of suspicious people.
>
>
>
> *Environment*
>
>
>
> *A big win* happened here thanks to the persistence of *Land Commissioner
> Stephanie Garcia Richard* and others who finally convinced lawmakers to
> increase royalty rates on prize oil and gas leases on state land to a
> reasonable rate (*SB 23*).
>
> Other wins include a Strategic Water Supply (*HB 137*); protection
> against PFAS chemicals (*HB 212*); a *Community Benefits Fund* that will
> invest $210 million in clean energy projects and jobs (*SB 48*) and
> revamping the Game and Fish Department into the Wildlife Department (*HB
> 5*).
>
>
>
> *Good Government*
>
>
>
> •*Open Primaries* will allow registered independents (DTS) to vote in
> either the Democratic or Republican primaries.  This bill will enfranchise
> thousands (many of them young people) who could not vote before in
> important elections where the winner is often decided. A long time coming!!!
>
>
>
> •A constitutional amendment to end the *“Pocket Veto”* will be on the
> ballot in 2026.  This time the Governor rejected 17 items passed by the
> legislature by simply failing to sign them, without explanation.  Under the
> proposed amendment, an unsigned bill would become law, and the governor
> would be required to give reasons for all vetoes.
>
>
>
> *Guns*
>
>
>
> • Expansion of red flag warning law to allow law enforcement to require
> those who pose an imminent danger to relinquish their guns if they have
> been deemed by the courts, families or law enforcement too dangerous.
>
>
>
>
>
> *The Bad:*
>
>
>
> We are now experiencing a remarkable failure to address an undeniable NM
> crisis: the *shortage of medical providers* of all kinds.  How long have
> YOU had to wait to get an appointment?  This failure is due to continued
> conflict between trial lawyers and the doctors over malpractice insurance
> rates and attorneys’ fees. About ten other measures suggested by the Santa
> Fe nonprofit *Think NM* to allow interstate compacts, tax reductions, and
> more failed as well.  Shameful.
>
>
>
> *SB 4*, the Clear Horizons bill, sponsored by *Sen. Mimi Stewart*, would
> have established in law greenhouse gas emissions limits that would put us
> on pace for zero carbon emissions by 2050.  Its defeat in the Senate
> Finance Committee by a few powerful Democrats was the biggest loss of the
> session.
>
>
>
> For the third year in a row, *taxes on alcohol* escaped a long-overdue
> hike. *HB 417*, which brought together alcohol tax approaches in one
> bill, was turned down in the House Taxation Committee.  Then, an overall
> tax package, which contained an alcohol tax increase, was vetoed by the
> Governor.
>
>
>
> The *Governor’s veto of $80 million* appropriated to build *affordable
> housing* in Bernalillo County.  The unified city-county plan depended on
> this funding, particularly in the wake of expensive cuts from Housing and
> Urban Development (HUD). The veto will have drastic implications, just as
> the city is beginning to make progress on the issue.
>
>
>
> *The Unfinished:*
>
>
>
> The lack of measures to address *juvenile crime* became glaringly obvious
> on the session’s last day when a mass shooting occurred in Las Cruces. The
> Governor has threatened to call another special session to deal with this
> and other crime measures.
>
>
>
> The *Medical Malpractice* problem is an open wound and must be dealt with
> or the patients (i.e., us) will die.
>
>
>
> *Modernization* measures to amend the constitution and provide a salary
> to NM’s volunteer legislators and lengthen the sessions failed once again.
> Although advocates saw their efforts to get staff for legislators bear
> fruit this year, we are still in the basement when it comes to having a
> professional and representative body.
>
>
>
> *CYFD* continues to be a big problem for NM’s kids, and the Governor is
> resisting help and oversight from the legislature and now, the Attorney
> General.  She vetoed the funding and other measures for CYFD oversight.
>
>
>
> My biggest disappointment was the veto of the *lobbyist disclosure bill*
> I had been promoting to shine some light on the activities of professional
> lobbyists.  Lobbyists outnumber legislators in Santa Fe, sometimes by as
> many as 10 to 1. This year, they spent about half a million to wine and
> dine legislators this session, to what end…nobody knows.  Lobbying reform
> might happen next year, as the Governor’s message indicates that she will
> support a bill next session if some of the details are changed.
>
>
>
> *Save the Date. *
>
>
>
> *Sunday May 4 4:00 p.m.* *A Root Beer Float Party* to gather signatures
> and $5 contributions for Tim Keller for Mayor.  It will be at my place,
> 1821 Meadow View Dr. NW. Come by to get some face time with the Mayor and
> support public financing! Bring a mug.
>
>
>
>
>
> *Bill O’Neill: Senate District 13 will miss his Door Knocking, Artistic
> Flair*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> When I decided to leave the Senate and give way to some “new blood” in
> 2012, I was relieved that Bill O’Neill, then a representative, was
> interested. I didn’t want to leave District 13 in the lurch, and he was a
> kindred spirit in two important ways.  First, he loved to go door-to-door
> and meet people, as I did (and do). We talked about it together as almost a
> spiritual practice.  Second, he was a writer—a very different one from
> me.  He knew I was working on *Inside the New Mexico Senate* as I left
> the legislature. Partially, I saw leaving as the only real way to tell my
> unvarnished truth about it, without creating so many enemies that I would
> no longer be effective.  He encouraged me every step of the way. And I
> returned the favor when the difficulties of getting anything published
> reared their ugly heads for him. He finally had the success he deserved—and
> he enjoyed it!
>
>
>
> The courage he displayed early in standing up to Gov. Susanna Martinez on
> the driver’s license issue and his success in getting us to “ban the box”
> to alleviate the hiring prejudice against ex-cons have been underestimated.
> And I especially appreciated his sponsorship of open primaries, independent
> redistricting and other good government measures.  I will miss his
> greeting, “Hey, you,” and his great contributions to Senate District 13.
> RIP Bill, faithful public servant.
>
>
>
>
>
> *Shameless Plug Department*
>
>
>
> Anyone looking for a house?  We’re selling an adorable house that was
> previously our daughter Abby’s home at 4th St. and Guadalupe Trail in
> Alameda. Check it out here
> <https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zillow.com%2Fhomedetails%2F10119-4th-St-NW-Albuquerque-NM-87114%2F6737484_zpid%2F%3Futm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Demo-SendToFriendHDP-image&cf=7452&v=c4d49f5df3246466495f6c020e7e04747a2ac81e7fea38ff406f14b94d563399>
> or call Bennett Hammer at 505-239-5045.
>
>
>
> Meanwhile, have a good month!  Enjoy the flowers, pray for April showers
> and that the wind stays away.  Next time—city politics.
>
>
>
> Dede Feldman
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Contact Dede*
>
>
>
> Senator Dede Feldman
> 1821 Meadow View Drive NW
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1821+Meadow+View+Drive+NW+%0D%0AAlbuquerque,+NM+87104?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Albuquerque, NM 87104
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1821+Meadow+View+Drive+NW+%0D%0AAlbuquerque,+NM+87104?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
>
> E-mail
>
> dedefeld at comcast.net
>
>
>
> Web-Site
>
> www.dedefeldman.com
> <https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dedefeldman.com%2F&cf=7452&v=432ce42d1d7c88143591d629ec9388377ba718c3779a81009aacc500eaee6e1c>
>
>
>
> Blog
>
> http://
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> This message was sent to *meredith.machen at gmail.com
> <meredith.machen at gmail.com>* from *dede at dedefeldman.com
> <dede at dedefeldman.com>*
>
> Dede Feldman
> Friends of Feldman
> 1821 Meadow View NW
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1821+Meadow+View+NW+%0D%0A+Albuquerque,+NM+87104?entry=gmail&source=g>
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