NM Rep. Rebecca Dow speaks to constituents
By Mary Alice Murphy
New Mexico District 38 Rep. Rebecca Dow met with constituents, Republicans and Democrats, Saturday afternoon in Silver City.
In breaking news, she said today, Tuesday, on the record, that by Sunday, a news release should come from the governor on changes to the teacher evaluation. The major changes should adjust absences and student outcomes tied to the teacher evaluation. "This was a commitment she made to the Republican sponsors of two separate reform bills."
Dow said she read all bills as thoroughly as she could. "Often the bills sounded good in theory, until you read the penalty."
Streamlining the state financial situation did not seem to be on the table. The Democrat-controlled Legislature, House and Senate, proposed $1.5 billion in new taxes, with $400 million passed at the same time as well over $400 million in new expenditures were passed.
"The climate of the Legislature was tense," Dow reported. "The first couple of weeks it was fun, getting acquainted with other legislators and learning the ropes."
House Bill 412 did not pass, but it had 117 tax reform issues, including closing loopholes on those who have exemptions. An interim committee will continue working on the bill for next year.
She said one thing brought back was a tax on food, but not on essential food items. Gov. Susana Martinez has already promised a special session.
Dow said she supported a tax on online vendors, such as Amazon. "I did not support a tax on cigarettes or a $14 tax on a gallon of wine. That would have been really hard on local brewers and distillers."
"I want to remove things that are barriers or that increase mandates or costs," Dow said. "One of the biggest ideas was to close loopholes on those who are exempt."
She said the state needs new sources of revenue, not just more taxes on existing businesses.
On health care, she said so many in New Mexico rely on Medicare, Medicaid and Centennial Care that the only thing that can fix getting the state less reliant on those federal dollars is health care reform.
"There was so much posturing on both sides," Dow said. "We need real economic development, because the state has lost 30,000 people since the last census."
She noted that there was talk that the House might send a team to the citizen's race of the Tour of the Gila.
Dow said she needs constituents to come to her with their ideas.
The following comments are major excerpts from her words in a Facebook page right after the session, when she said she was happy to be home.
My first session was a huge learning experience. In addition to committee and floor votes, a lot happens behind the scenes. As an advocate of less government, I believe if we can get things done without another bill on the books, all the better.
Some of my successes include changes to an overreaching environmental rule, changes to a Department of Health Services process that was shutting down rural durable medical providers, a commitment from DHS to pilot a home visiting program using a federal Medicaid waiver process, saving a $1.3 million water project in Silver City, and advocating for the transfer of the New Mexico Veterans Administration from the Department of Health to Veteran's Affairs.
Disappointments include standing with the governor against a veto override on teacher absences. Although a veto override would have been an extraordinary measure, the issue of teacher evaluation and need for reform is real! The frustrating part was all the efforts to help teachers that didn't make the headlines. There were several significant bills that would have reformed teacher evaluation far beyond sick days. These were killed in committee by special interest groups. If they had passed, sick days would have been fixed along with other evaluation changes that are needed. Instead politics prevailed at all levels and no issues were resolved. I hope my Republican governor pulls through for all of us who stand with teachers as well as conservative values. Time will tell!
The Senate and 4th floor spent too much time battling out their differences to get good work done. All of us had good bills left on the table! These bills would have improved schools for teachers and students, would have created economic development and removed barriers for new business to come to our state, and would have made NM a better place to raise a family.
I also learned that killing a bill is just as important as passing one. One example would be gun control. Bloomberg spent over half a million dollars and hired six lobbyists in an attempt to pass gun control bills in New Mexico. Every bill failed!
I can't even tell you how many ridiculous bills were introduced by legislators, without regard to those impacted, by people who have big out-of-state money, yet are totally out of touch with who we are as New Mexicans. If they prevail they will transform our family values and our way of life.
I'm optimistic that the bills that passed for ethics, election and campaign reform will bring more transparency to our law-making process. I am committed to the bigger picture of overall improved education, tax reform, economic development and common sense governance.