Progress Now New Mexico

Farmers, Activists, Local business owners to discuss climate change, and the importance of sourcing local food 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – JULY 23, 2013 – A coalition of local business and community leaders will host the “I Will Act On Climate” bus tour as it arrives in Albuquerque’s South Valley on Wednesday, July 24 as part of a 27-state bus tour to highlight local support for climate change standards and to call on residents to act on climate change. The bus will arrive at Skarsgard Farms on Wednesday for a press conference at 1:00pm.  Speakers include Farm Owner Monte Skarsgard; Ron Curry, Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; small business owners from Bocadillos Catering and representatives from Edible Santa Fe Magazine, La Montanita COOP and New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light. The event will conclude with a hayride tour of Skarsgard Farms.

  The “I Will” bus is traveling to local communities like Albuquerque, which have been directly affected by climate change, to highlight the need for local and federal action to address the issue. The bus tour comes after President Obama took action on climate change by announcing the nation’s first-ever limits on carbon pollution, as well as infrastructure improvements and new investments in clean energy and energy efficiency. Nearly two-thirds of voters (65 percent) support “the President taking significant steps to address climate change now,” according to a February 2013 poll for the League of Conservation Voters.

The “I Will” Act on Climate bus tour (#ActOnClimate) is supported by a diverse set of local, state-based, and national public business, health, and environmental organizations. Across the country, organizations are joining in this effort by bringing the ‘I Will’ bus to their community, highlighting impacts of climate change and opportunities created to address the issue.

Local spokespeople will be available for interviews.

What: "I Will Act On Climate" bus tour stop in Albuquerque and Press Conference 

When: Wednesday July 24, 2013 – 1:00 PM         

Where: Skarsgard Farms, 7525 Rays Court SW, Albuquerque 87105  

Who: Monte Skarsgard owner of Skarsgard Farms, Robin Seydel of La Montanita Coop, Sister Joan Brown of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, Karla Arvizu Bocadillos Catering, Sarah Wentzel-Fisher of Edible Santa Fe, Ron Curry of the Environmental Protection Agency

Contact:

Aric Caplan at 301-998-6592 [email protected]  

The time for common sense immigration reform is now. To some that sounds like rhetoric; to millions it sounds like an almost attainable dream. We often use these words lightly: immigration reform and dream. Well, not everyone. Not folks who are living in limbo, not folks who have gone through a fifteen to twenty year process to become Americans, not their friends, and not their family. I’m family to both ends of the spectrum, to those who live in limbo, and those who struggled for years to become American citizens. To us, the words immigration reform and dream are one in the same and millions of dreams are on the verge of finally coming true now that Congress has introduced and is holding hearings on comprehensive immigration reform. 

If you’ve ever observed the swallows coming home to San Juan Capistrano in Calif., then you have seen migration. For many in our global community migration is just as natural. In many parts of the world, migrating for the promise of freedom and economic opportunity is a part of life. As Americans we often do this too, we just don’t think of it as migration. That’s why so many New Mexicans are transplants from other parts of our country. Our country works best and our economy prospers when we all do our part and work as one nation. Immigration reform will allow this to happen.

Raised by Salvadorian immigrants, I witnessed the drawn out – sometimes unfair –process that my parents undertook to become American citizens.  Yet there was more than just the struggle that I was able to witness. I witnessed proud parents teach their children about democracy and constantly heard stories of what it was like to grow up in a country that lacked it. I witnessed first hand my parents’ iron will to succeed as my father worked double shifts and overtime, and while my mother cleaned multiple houses on a daily basis. They instilled a work ethic in us as kids that always meant failure was not an option. They also applied this iron will to succeed to their citizenship process - failure was not an option.  

Our story is not much different than many new American immigrants’ except that many new American immigrants have not had the option of a pathway to citizenship as my parents did. You see, my parents were fortunate to have a pathway to becoming Americans because of President Reagan’s Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. For far too long, too many of our friends, family members, and loved ones have not had the option to start the journey on their pathway to citizenship – to them it has only been a dream.

We find ourselves in historic times as we inch closer to comprehensive immigration reform. We are on the verge of so many first generation Americans being able to witness their parents start their journey to becoming new American citizens, as I was lucky enough to do growing up.  What I love about New Mexico – I too am a proud transplant – is that New Mexicans know that it’s not about what you look like or where you were born that makes you American - it’s how you live your life and what you do that defines you.  A common sense pathway to citizenship not only keeps faith with this, but also respects New Mexico’s rich diversity and proud legacy of embracing immigrant communities who contribute to our culture.

I’m proud to live in a state that respects and values our immigrant community and their cultures. I’m proud to live in a city that celebrates International Workers Day every May 1st. I am a proud New Mexican transplant, a proud United States Marine, and the proud daughter of two amazing immigrants. More importantly, I’m the proud daughter of two amazing Americans. 

-Marsha Garcia, Hispano Media Director, ProgressNow New Mexico

New Mexicans have an astounding ability to unite as one and move forward. Out of many cultures, New Mexico’s strength is grounded in the ability to work together as fellow Americans. As we stand together as a nation in light of the tragedy in Boston, we continue to work towards a brighter future for all Americans and our aspiring new citizens. Today, the bipartisan Gang of Eight unveiled their framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. In New Mexico, we know that it’s not about what you look like or where you were born that makes you American – it’s how you live your life and what you do that defines you here in the country.

In these historic moments we look to our United States Senators to lead the way as only New Mexicans can.

“People from around the world come to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their families”, said Senator Tom Udall. “They bring with them a hope for the future, a desire for success, and cultural vibrancy that makes America great. One of our greatest traditions as a nation, I believe, is our history of welcoming legal immigrants to our land to contribute.  Comprehensive immigration reform is necessary to fix our broken borders and I believe that solutions to this problem need to also take into account the interests of families who have put down roots in our country.”  - Senator Tom Udall

[AUDIO]: National Republican Calls Reporter a “Dumb F*ck,” Angry Over Being Forced to Resign for Racist Comments

   ALBUQUERQUE – The Santa Fe Reporter has just released an audio recording and transcripts of embattled National Republican Committeeman and former Modrall Sperling attorney Pat Rogers verbally berating one of their reporters. 

Rodgers, apparently angry over ProgressNow New Mexico’s actions last year that exposed his now-infamous statement that Republican Governor Susana Martinez “dishonored” Colonel George Custer’s memory by meeting with tribal leaders, was caught on tape calling Santa Fe Reporter journalist Justin Horwath a “dumb f*ck.”

 Audio and additional excerpts from the conversation are here. 

Additionally, Rogers threatens litigation during a later exchange with the Santa Fe Reporter but revealed that he “hasn’t decided yet” who would be the target of such legal action.

 During the firestorm of media attention surrounding Rogers’ comments last year that led to his resignation from the Modrall Sperling law firm, ProgressNow New Mexico and a diverse array of Native, Hispanic, and LGBT communities called for Rodgers to step down from his national Republican post. 

As the face of the New Mexican Republican Party, Rogers represents New Mexico on a national stage and his actions reflect back on the state as a whole. Following this newest revelation that Rodgers is openly berating journalists and threatening specious litigation, ProgressNow New Mexico is renewing its call for Governor Susana Martinez to denounce Rogers and for him to resign as a Republican National Committeeman.

“The national Republican Party is in the process of changing its image to reflect a commitment to openness, respect, and accountability,” said Pat Davis, Executive Director of ProgressNow New Mexico. “Yet, Republican’s are wondering why they’re still having such a hard time connecting to voters. It’s a good bet that media strategies like this one don’t help.”

Republicans across the country are coming out for equality.  But not in New Mexico, and certainly not Governor Susana Martinez.

The legislature sent Republican Governor Martinez two versions of the same bill, HB180 and SB258, making it easier for the state to help our active duty and retired service members and their spouses obtain professional licenses like those issued from the state for contractors and barbers.  It’s a good idea that seems simple enough.

The only difference?  The Senate version contained an amendment, offered by Sen. Jacob Candelaria, to be sure domestic partners of gay service members would be covered too.  

On Friday she made her choice: Governor Martinez vetoed the version to extend help to partners of gay service members.  

In the post-“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era, openly gay service members are proudly serving and dying for our country.  And their partners back home bear the same burdens as their straight neighbors. But helping gay soldiers, veterans and spouses be successful in New Mexico was too much for Martinez.

Whether Governor Martinez likes it or not, New Mexico is ready for marriage equality and it’s time we show our support!    Last month millions of Facebook users changed their profile pictures to support equality and our New Mexico version was one of our most popular posts.

We can’t undo the governor’s veto, but we can show our LGBT family, friends and neighbors – including the partners of our proud gay service members – that we support them.

I'm showing my support and pride. Will you?

Show your support for equality in New Mexico with our equality project sticker! 

..

Just $5 

Text link: Buy Now. Click here to reach our store.

Whether on the bumper of your car, on your bulletin board at work or on the front door of your business this sticker says you and New Mexico stand for equality.  

-- 3"x3" bumper sticker --

Proceeds from the $5 sale support our work organizing for progress.

New state-based campaign launches supporting federal action; petitions to be delivered to DC offices of US Senators Udall & Heinrich Monday

April 3, 2013

Read the full report here. (click to read)

  New Mexico has the seventh-worst rate of gun violence in the country, according to a new state-by-state analysis of gun violence released today by the Center for American Progress.

  The report examines how each of the 50 states fare across 10 key gun-violence indicators such as firearm deaths among children, firearm homicides among women, and law-enforcement agents feloniously killed with a firearm, among others. The analysis ranks each state according to the rate of each indicator of gun violence. These rankings are then compiled to create an overall aggregate ranking of the states across all 10 indicators.

  The analysis finds that New Mexico:

•   New Mexico’s gun-death rate is 40 percent higher than the national average.

•   Weak laws make New Mexico a favorite state for gun traffickers to purchase guns.

•   In 2010 New Mexico had the seventh-highest rate of women being killed by men—the majority of which occur with a firearm.

  From 2001 through 2010, 2,932 people were killed by guns in New Mexico.  That is more than 70 percent more than the number of U.S. combat deaths in the Afghanistan war.

  ProgressNow New Mexico and a coalition of community partners and victims led an effort in the 2013 legislative session to pass HB77 closing New Mexico’s gun show loophole.  The session ended before the State Senate could vote on the measure.

The United States Senate is set to take up a package of federal gun violence prevention bills as early as next week.  Today, ProgressNow New Mexico and New Mexicans for Gun Safety launched a united effort to encourage Senators Udall and Heinrich to support universal background checks supported by 83% of New Mexicans and other common sense bills like limiting the sale of high-capacity magazines and increasing the penalties for criminal gun traffickers. 

Gov. vetoes min. wage protections even after ABQ whistleblower threatened w/ machete by employer for complaining

  Santa Fe – Governor Susana Martinez’s first veto of the 2013 session came this afternoon as she vetoed SB395, a proposal to protect minimum wage workers whose employers exploit them and steal from their minimally due compensation.

  Just weeks after an Albuquerque minimum wage malt shop employee was threatened with a machete and a bat by his employer’s son after he blew the whistle on his boxx stealing from his check, Governor Martinez similarly struck a blow against those same workers by vetoing a bill that would have protected the identity of whistleblowers who file minimum wage complaints with the state.

According to a KRQE story on the incident: "About an hour after that whistleblower went to the media about his boss' decision to not pay the new minimum wage; he says the boss' son showed up at his door, ready to take batting practice." 

  “The recent Albuquerque case shows exactly why specific protections for wage theft protection blowers are absolutely necessary,” says Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico.  “Since her campaign, the governor has promised to stand up for the law and prosecute offenders to the utmost; but with this veto she chose to protect those who subvert the law and turned her back on those who stand up for it.”

"Standing up for your paycheck shouldn't require a batting helmet and armor chest plate, but in New Mexico it does; and Governor Martinez just said that is OK."

  SANTA FE – Do you ever wonder how Governor Martinez decides who gets a job in her administration and who doesn’t? If you said “show me the money,” you’d probably be right.

Results from an ongoing ProgressNow New Mexico investigation show that Governor Susana Martinez rewards her favorite donors with cushy state jobs in what is just the latest example of the pay-to-play cronyism that’s becoming a hallmark of the Martinez administration.

Butch Matthews, for example, was reappointed to the State Transportation Commission after giving a total of $58,750 in personal and business donations to Martinez’s gubernatorial campaign, her SusanaPAC, and her Reform New Mexico Now PAC.

And then there’s Paul Kienzle III, an Albuquerque lawyer who recently received a controversial appointment to the State Game Commission by Governor Martinez. Kienzle was a member of Martinez’s campaign committee and served as the attorney for Martinez’s Reform New Mexico Now PAC, which was scrutinized during the 2012 elections for violating campaign finance laws. New Mexico’s sportsmen’s community was livid after Kienzle’s recent appointment – the board is supposed to include representatives from five areas of the state but Kienzle is the third Martinez appointee from the Albuquerque area – and a spokesman for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation was quoted as saying, “We're just disappointed the governor took off an everyday New Mexico sportsman and replaced him with what seems to be a political associate."

The examples of Martinez’s pay-to-play appointments displayed below represent only the most recent results of our investigation. Check back soon for more information on Martinez’ pay-to-play appointments.

ProgressNowNM to deliver rainbow-colored "tower of petitions" to committee hearing marriage equality bill

6,500+ petitions, stacked 4-feet tall, to be presented

  Santa Fe -  ProgressNow New Mexico, a progressive non-profit organization, will present a rainbow-colored "tower of petitions" in support of marriage equality almost 4-feet tall to members of the House Voters & Elections Committee this morning when they meet at 8:00 am to hear HJR3, a constitutional amendment permitting voters to chose marriage equality for all New Mexico couples.

More than 6,500 persons signed petitions to the legislature supporting the legislation sponsored by Rep. Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) and opposing a counter bill, HJR4 sponsored by Rep. Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell) which would have prevented the recognition of marriages between same-sex couples. HJR4 was tabled in an earlier hearing.

The petitions, printed in various colors of the rainbow and stacked in the colors of the LGBT pride flag, is almost 4-feet tall.  Laid end-to-end, the petitions would stretch more than 1.1 miles.

"New Mexicans are making their voice heard on this issue and we want to be sure legislators see exactly how many people support their children, neighbors and coworkers whose relationships are just as loving and valid - except for recognition - as their own," says Pat Davis, Executive Director of ProgressNow New Mexico.

"All New Mexico families matter and that's the message we are delivering with these petitions."

The fines that can be levied against oil and gas companies that pollute New Mexico's land and water have not been updated since 1935. That's right: a company that pollutes NM's land or water pays the same penalty today that they did in 1935. 

New Mexico is in the midst of an historic drought and everything that can be done to protect our water must be done. HB 286 is having it's first hearing in the Legislature today -- the bill would update the Oil and Gas Act of 1935 and modernize the penalties for polluting our land and water.

  From an article today in El Grito:

After Congressman Steve Pearce told the state legislature that the unemployed in his district couldn’t get jobs because they are all on drugs (really); his Tea Party companion State Rep. Ezzell introduced a bill to shame the unemployed by requiring them to pee in a drug testing cup before applying for job help from the state.

Since Rep. Ezzell receives state benefits too, it only seemed right that she should be willing to take the same test to receive her legislative benefits. 

So we tracked her down and asked her if she would pee in our cup.  See what happened next:

  Bills like this been found unconstitutional in other states but the right wing extremists in the Roundhouse don’t care. 

Just like the last bill and sponsor we profiled in our last edition of “Profiles in Crazy,”  (remember Cathrynn Brown’s “prosecute the rape victim” bill we exposed two weeks ago?), Rep. Ezzell would rather embarrass and vilify New Mexicans going through hard times than help them get back up on their feet.

SANTA FE – Secretary of State Dianna Duran announced Friday night that she was putting her pending voter purge process on pause after ProgressNow New Mexico published her letter and raised concerns about the legality of the process.

  Secretary Duran’s announcement comes days after ProgressNow New Mexico first reported on a letter the SOS sent to all 33 county clerks informing them that the SOS would use the lists of potentially ineligible voters compiled by county boards of registrars to cancel or remove individual voter registrations “by either court action or pursuant to the requirements of the NVRA [National Voter Registration Act].”

  While the NVRA forbids Duran from removing any voters from the rolls until 2015, bringing state-based legal action against New Mexico voters would have allowed Duran to begin purging voters before the federally mandated timeframe. The latest email from Secretary Duran to the county clerks excludes any mention of legal action and explicitly states that her office “will comply with NVRA requirements.”

  Duran wrote in her email that “we have been somewhat delayed because of what are apparently organized efforts to spread disinformation about the voter file and the law” -- an apparent reference to ProgresNowNM’s report and subsequent complaints by “a couple of county clerks” to the Department of Justice about Duran’s plan to use county boards of registrars to compile purge lists.

  “There are rules in place that govern the removal of voters from the voter file and Secretary Duran was originally willing to sidestep those rules and initiate legal action against New Mexico voters,” said Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico. “This latest indication that Secretary Duran will – instead of bringing court actions – comply with the NVRA requirements is great news for New Mexico voters. Our voter rolls certainly need to be updated and there are already rules in place to govern that process.  New Mexicans simply want to make sure that no eligible voter is being denied their constitutional right and that all the rules are being followed by all of our elected officials.”

Here Comes the Purge!

SOS does about-face, will try to purge voters before federally approved date

  SANTA FE – In August, after Secretary of State Dianna Duran created a list of 177,000 New Mexico voters and sent them misleading postcards making it seem like they were being purged from the voter roll, the Secretary insisted that she was not conducting a voter purge. She asserted that she was not conducting a purge because, under federal law, she is not allowed to remove anyone from the voter file until 2015.

But now it’s almost February and it seems Secretary Duran’s New Year’s resolution was to forget everything she said last year.

  ProgressNow New Mexico has obtained a copy of a letter Duran sent to all 33 county clerks informing them that – because of the illegality of her office or any county clerk doing it – she will use New Mexico’s boards of registrars to create a list of suspicious looking registrations that she can then investigate and potentially remove from the voter file.

First, a little background:

·      The previous SOS did not properly maintain the voter rolls during her tenure and Dianna Duran is now under a federal obligation to remove ineligible voters from the rolls. However, Duran may not remove any voter through the purge process until 2015.

·      Each county must convene a board of registrars no later than the March 15th after a general election. The purpose of these boards is to “review the list of eligible voters.”

·      The boards of registration cannot direct the county clerk to remove the names of any voters based on any confirmation mailings (i.e. the postcards sent out last August).

  The letter Duran sent to the county clerks asserts that 1) the SOS cannot provide a list of voters to be purged and 2) her office will “advise counties and boards of registration that the registration of any individual identified in the review shall not be cancelled nor removed from the official list of eligible voters” but 3) “any individuals identified by the board of registration shall be reviewed and investigated by the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State can then either determine whether cancellation is appropriate by either court action or pursuant to the requirements of the NVRA.” (emphasis added)

Duran is relying on an opinion she sought from the office of Attorney General Gary King which says the boards must meet even though they cannot recommend voters for purge to the various county clerks.  Cobbling that opinion together with her belief that she may challenge a voter's registration in court - instead of the statutory clerk-centered process - Duran has created a "Super-Purge" process.

Essentially, Secretary Duran is trying to circumvent New Mexico’s county clerks and her federal obligation not to remove voters from the rolls before a certain date. By having the boards of registrars provide the SOS with a list of potentially ineligible voters she can then begin to purge voters from the rolls before the federally mandated 2015 start date.

Though the law provides Duran with no authority to conduct investigations, she insists that she will do so.  Her previous investigations into voters resulted in her claiming to have found 64,000 illegal voters.  She later revised that number down to two, each of whom self-reported. She also "investigated" a violation of the election code by her friend Governor Martinez and found nothing wrong even though the county clerk referring the matter to her claimed an impropriety existed.

PED’s $150 million mistake and cover up puts entire state budget at risk

Senate Finance Chair: I’m “shocked and dismayed”

  Santa Fe – A legislative committee notified the legislature on Monday that the state is set to lose between $93 and $151 million in federal special education funding – a reduction of 96-156% - because the Public Education Department underfunded and underreported special education funding formulas, then quietly sought a waiver from the law but was denied.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith wrote in January to US Education Secretary Duncan that he was “shocked and dismayed” after being alerted to the problem by the LFC.  LESC staff only discovered the mistake a month earlier while conducting unrelated research.

Though federal law requires states to fund special education to a certain level, New Mexico failed to do so beginning in FY10 and has continued to underfund it since. Seven other states sought and most received waivers from the law through 2011, but under Governor Martinez and secretary-designate Skandera the PED did not seek a waiver until the Spring of 2012 at which point it was denied because the state was reporting a surplus.

Without a waiver, federal special education funding could be reduced by  96% in FY13 and up to 151% (meaning we could owe money) as FY12 reports are submitted, while we must still maintain the same levels of funding for special education programs. The state must make up the difference.

Though USED has already denied New Mexico’s waiver request, the state has asked for additional time to provide more data. That deadline is Friday.

Among other findings of the reports

Sec.-designate Skandera's PED staff was aware of the underfunding upon entering office but failed to apply for a waiver for the already passed FY10 and FY11 until August 2012.

The PED never notified the LESC or publicly announced the shortfall, potential liability to state budgets or the waiver application.

USED denied PED’s waiver from federal funding requirements in December, but the PED never notified the Legislative Education Study Committee that it requested and been denied a waiver of maintenance of effort funding requirements for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The USED noted that data provided by PED in the IDEA waiver application, submitted in August, did not match data submitted under another waiver.  In short, the USED said that the PED was not being truthful with funding data.   

USED denied the request because the state had posted  a $278 million surplus for the years in question – already designated for other projects – which USED says should be used to pay back the difference in lost funds.

“This is the administration's second $150 million mistake. We can't afford any more of these,” says Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico.

“Instead of being honest with the public and budget makers, the administration quietly submitted a waiver application hoping the approval would make it all go away.  But they were caught by USED fixing the numbers and now taxpayers are going to pay for their mistake.”

UPDATE: The Huffington Post put this story on their front page after ProgressNow NM drew attention to this bill. Click here to read their story which includes reaction from our Executive Director.

Slate and Business Insider have both also picked up this story. Those articles can be accessed HERE and HERE.

Santa Fe, New Mexico - Victims of rape and incest will be felons if at least one New Mexico lawmaker gets her way.  “Exhibit A” legislation, proposed as HB206 this week in the state legislature, forces women to carry fetuses conceived from rape to term so they can be showcased as “evidence” in court. The bill also criminalizes women who seek out abortions resulting from rape or incest.

The actual language of the proposed bill says enough:

“Tampering with evidence shall include procuring or facilitating an abortion, or compelling or coercing another to obtain an abortion, of a fetus that is the result or criminal sexual penetration or incest with the intent to destroy evidence of the crime.”

If passed, victims of rape and incest who seek to end a pregnancy resulting from rape could be sentenced to three years in prison. 

“In addition to being blatantly unconstitutional, the bill turns victims of rape and incest, who have just been through a horrible sexual assault, into felons and forces them to become incubators of evidence for the state,” says Pat Davis of ProgressNow New Mexico, a progressive non-profit opposing the bill. “According to Republican philosophy, victims who are ‘legitimately raped’ will now have to carry the fetus to term in order to prove their case. “