HB 376 recieves a Unaminous "Do Pass" from House Judiciary Committee

From the Center on Law and Poverty

 

 

Dear Governors, Presidents and health care staff and advocates:

Yesterday we were victorious in the Judiciary Committee.  Going in there was a level of confidence that the vote would be favorable because of the majority  of Democrats on the panel but it was important to garner as many Republicans votes as possible in preparation for the full House vote which will occur in the next days.  We were told last week that our job would be more difficult with Judiciary.  After the hearing in the House Health Government and Indian Affairs committee last week Regis Pecos called us together to inform us about the next steps we would need to take which included a response to the Human Services Department Fiscal Implications Report.  A response was prepared by Center attorneys, Quela Robinson and Gail Evans, using information previously authored by April Wilkinson and the Jemez health department staff, Erik and Dr. Ron Lujan, Mescalero attorney John Wheeler and a synopsis of workers comments regarding the capacity of MCOs to respond to communities’ health care needs.  At yesterday’s hearing we were ably represented by Representative Roger Madalena, Jemez Pueblo program specialist April Wilkinson, AIPC Health Committee Chairman Ken Lucero and NM Center on Law and Poverty Health Care Team attorney Quela Robinson.  Many tribal leaders and officially designated spokespersons stood up to support HB 376.  The Human Services Department was represented by Julie Weinberg, Director, New Mexico Medicaid and Theresa Belanger, Native American Liaison, New Mexico Medicaid, neither of whom presented substantive data to support the Department’s call for mandatory enrollment of the state’s Native people.  We received important help from Representative Sandra Jeff from Crownpoint who immediately before the hearing secured the votes of Republican House members, Kelly Fajardo and Paul Pacheco.

 

As the saying goes, “nothing succeeds like success” and that is what we will have when the full House votes in the next days.  Regis Pecos told us that it could be as early as Sunday but more likely Monday or Tuesday.  These are the last days of the legislative session and the legislators will work through the weekends.  The House vote is very important because it will set the stage for a victory in the Senate which must also vote on HB 376.  After the bill is voted out of the House, we will need to turn our attention to garnering votes in the Senate.  Today I will compile a list of House members who need to be contacted to ask for their support for passage of HB 376.  You will receive that information later today.  It is important that we take an active role in our victory.  There are many members of the House who support us but we need to demonstrate that we stand strongly behind their votes and through them speak on our own behalf.  Attached is a report of yesterday’s victory by Tristan Ahtone of KUNM.

 

Evelyn Blanchard
Organizer
NM Center on Law & Poverty