PDA – CNM Action Teams Updates
February 7, 2018
Any one is welcome to join one of the Action Teams listed at any time. Contact one of the leaders to be added to the contact list.
End Wars & Occupations meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 4pm at the Unitarian Church (prior to the PDA monthly meeting.)
Leader: Dick Harrison dickannpr@gmail.com (505) 306-5400
Co-leader: Sally-Alice Thompson (505) 514-8186.
We have developed a Candidate Peace Pledge that we will ask all candidates for 2018 political office to commit to:
- To increase public awareness of the causes and costs of war
- To restrain our governments from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations
- To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons
- To seek justice for veterans and victims of war
- To abolish war as an instrument of national policy
- To work toward the end of systemic racism, poverty, militarism, and ecological devastation
- To consistently work in New Mexico for conversion of the current war economy to an economy based on peaceful, life-affirming constructive endeavors
Healthcare not Warfare Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 2 pm at Casa Clara Apartments 1400 Vassar NE in the Community Room (ground floor of the two story building). Next meeting is February 13 at 2 pm.
Leader: Herb Hoffman palaherb@gmail.com
Co-leader: Pat Bartels pbartels8@comcast.net 505-270-9154
We are very close to making our Medicare For All calculator live. This is an on-line tool that will allow anyone to calculate their savings under a Medicare for All plan such as H.R. 676 introduced in the US House by Representative Conyors. Look for a link to the Calculator in the PDA newsletter soon. In addition, we supported HM 9 and SM 3 for the study of a Medicaid buy-in plan for NM. No signature from the Governor is needed for a memorial. HM 9 and SM 3 have passed their respective bodies and this will allow the Legislative Health & Human Services Committee to begin exploring how a buy-in program might work in NM. LHHS will seek public feedback and work with the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance to analyze health coverage costs in the state. 42% of New Mexicans are currently covered by Medicaid and 20% are covered by Medicare, positioning the state well to advance a buy-in program. More than 180,000 low-income New Mexicans still lack health care coverage. It’s time to look at innovative policy ideas to ensure every New Mexican can get medical care when they need it.
Economic Justice Next meeting Tues., Feb. 20 2:30-4 pm at Edna Fergusson Library 2700 San Mateo NE
Leader: Tylka Vetula – (pronounced Till ka Ve two la) vetulat@gmail.com 505-221-0137
We have decided to direct our efforts toward moving from a minimum to living wage at the city, county, state and federal levels. We’re organizing ourselves into 4 focus study groups. Each group will address the following questions: What is the current minimum wage? What is the current legislation? How is the minimum wage structured? Who are the decision makers? Are there others working on this issue with whom we can partner? To get involved please choose which focus study group you want to work with. Contact Tylka who will put you in touch with that coordinator.
Stop Global Warming Next Team meeting – TBA. Email Karen if you’d like to be notified.
Leader: Karen Bentrup karenbentrup@yahoo.com Phone 352-284-2583
Co-leader: Ted Cloak tcloak@unm.edu
PDA lobbied at the Roundhouse, Feb 1st. Team members joined with Union of Concerned Scientists and Sierra Club to be part of the child-to-adult aged citizen lobby efforts on behalf of land, water, wildlife, renewable energy and climate change. Many thanks to the Environmental Alliance of New Mexico for their leadership. (PDA CNM is now a member of the Alliance too.)
Voter Access Protection & Election Integrity
Leader: Paul Stokes stokescorrales@mac.com
Co-leader: Jane Ronca-Washburn janesings72@gmail.com
The Voter Access Protection and Election Integrity Action Team has not chosen to meet. In lieu of that, I send out periodic reports (every week or so) on articles, state and national legislative activity, etc. to the list of people who attended our Action Team special meeting last fall. Contact Paul if you would like to receive his emails.
End Corporate Rule Still in the process of forming.
Leader: Lisa Franzen geolisafranzen@aol.com
Do any of the following ideas interest you? Email Lisa with your interest(s)
- Working for a constitutional amendment to end Citizens’ United and reassert the basic truth that “corporations are not people and money is not speech.”
- Supporting use the Disclose Act to identify special interest groups, lobbyist money influence, and super PACs.
- Promoting and Expanding Public Financing of Campaigns
- Supporting re-imposing the Financial Transaction Act (Robin Hood Tax) which was eliminated in 1966
- Countering ALEC (the conservative and corporate funded American Legislative Exchange Council) with ALICE (American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange) which has merged with progressive organizations to form the State Innovation Exchange. These organizations work to influence State Legislators through the local legislative process.
