HB 376 moves to Senate Judiciary Committee

 

From the Center on Law and Poverty:

 

Congratulations everyone! Per Conroy, it’s looking like the bill will be heard in SJC on Friday.  The committee agenda is up for tomorrow (Weds) and no house bills are yet listed. I have asked Greg Geisler to update the FIR for the bill to reflect this important news. I will also alert the SJC analyst as soon as the bill is assigned, as well as SFC analyst Burkhardt once assigned there. I think this definitely bolsters our argument to John Arthur Smith to pull the bill, since the state is now required to spend the funds anyway and the issue is moot. I will only be able to be in Santa Fe on Friday until 4pm, so if our bill is one of the first to be heard, we should be in good shape. Otherwise, I will need someone to sub for me as an expert witness. So, we will need to line up someone in addition to myself and someone from Jemez. Can anyone be available? Now that we have the federal decision, things should get much easier in the committees. I anticipate some resistance on the CoLTS piece from those who would have voted against the bill anyway, but with 6 to 4 dems on our 2 remaining committees, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

 

Best,

 

Quela

 

From Conroy Chino:

 

Good evening everyone,

   First if all congratulations to everyone who worked on getting CMS to come out in favor of the tribes. The question that will likely come up in Judiciary is whether or not we need the legislation if the Feds have ruled in our favor. With the ruling is the issue moot? Can't we make our case with HSD with the ruling in our back pockets?  Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
Conroy 

Governor Bruce Tafoya:

"Good morning Gov. Tafoya here. I agreed, we need to reinforced our position every and which way we can. Also the State and the MCOs dont try to pull a fast one on our people!! Kyndaa Be Well!!"

From April Wilkinson Jemez Pueblo:

"It is my recommendation that a representative from NMICoA serve as the tribal expert to present the elder perspective on Friday, which I believe, is the most compelling argument for Senators to continue to push this legislation.

I can understand that Senators will think that the CMS decision already fixed this issue, but for a long term solution and for the elder population, the legislation is needed.

April Wilkinson"

Form Center on Law and Poverty:

Erik,

Very good information to Cindy Mann that will help her see the breadth of the problem.  The imposition of the Colts program too often results in the opposite of what is desirable and needed in elderly care.  It seems curious and disappointing to me that it is so difficult for people to see the importance of strengthening the local health care system that cannot be replaced by outside providers.  With the pressures on Native families as is the case with non-Native people to establish more nuclear family arrangements tribal societies run the risk of loss of knowledge that informs the philosophy.  The concerns the elderly people have goes much beyond physical care.  Will be calling on everyone to call or email members of the Judiciary committee to voice support for 376.  Hope this is our last committee hearing which it will likely be.  Conroy was able to get a promise from Arthur Smith’s analyst to avoid the Finance committee.

Take care,

Evelyn Blanchard



From Maria Clark Jemez Pueblo:

believe that permanent legislation is needed and CMS’ decision is further support.

 

From Ken Lucero:

 

I agree with Maria. We do need permanent legislation. It will block any other administrations from proposing this to CMS in the future.  

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From the Center on Law and Poverty:

 

There is no question that permanent legislation is needed.  It is a common practice that feds and state are not always conversant about what each is doing or purportedly understand.  It is also the case as we saw on January 23 that a collusive relationship is not out of the question.  This bill needs to be a foundational pillar for future effort.  It also has significance on another level.  This is the first time that leadership, workforce, advocates and supporters have come together in a decisive way in the state legislature.  We need to sustain the strength and unity developed from this effort.

 

Evelyn Blanchard