2008 Legislature: Start of 'spirited session'

Governor anticipates big debate over health care bill

Barry Massey | The Associated Press

1/14/2008 -

Gov. Bill Richardson is back and so is the Legislature.

Lawmakers convene today for a 30-day session, and the governor will map out his priorities during a State of the State speech to a joint meeting of the House and Senate.

Richardson said his speech will have a simple message for legislators: "Health care. Health care. Health care."

"It's going to be an address saying that we have a responsibility in this Legislature, with the governor, to produce universal health care for every New Mexican and to start it with a comprehensive bill — not piecemeal," Richardson said.

Also on the governor's to-do list for the Legislature are proposals that lawmakers have considered but rejected in past sessions: domestic partnerships to give certain unmarried couples — homosexual or heterosexual — the same rights and benefits as married couples; and ethics and campaign finance reforms such as limits on campaign contributions and an independent commission to investigate allegations of ethical misconduct.

House and Senate leaders Monday outlined a list of ethics-related legislation they said are worthy of discussion during the upcoming session. "This isn't saying these bills will get through," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen.

On the list: campaign contribution limits based on the federal system; creation of an ethics commission; a study of whether to take the Elections Bureau out of the Secretary of State's Office and make it independent; and more money for the secretary of state to improve access to campaign finance reports.

"While it's not everything, it seems to me to be workable," House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, D-Grants, said of the package.

One of the main items of legislative business is writing a $6 billion budget to finance operations of public education and government agencies — from prisons to courts and tourism. Lawmakers also will parcel out more than $500 million in financing for capital improvements across the state.

Also on Richardson's agenda are initiatives to encourage energy conservation. One measure is a tax credit for people who buy energy-efficient heating and cooling systems for their homes. Another proposal will establish mandatory targets for electric utilities to increase energy efficiency.

"I anticipate a spirited session," Richardson said, acknowledging "there are going to be some differences on health care."

Richardson's appearance before the Legislature comes less than a week after he dropped out of the Democratic presidential race.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said Richardson's presence in the Capitol — rather than on the presidential campaign trail outside New Mexico — will help in building support for the governor's health care proposal and other legislative items.

"There is no question that it's more effective if you're here looking people in the eye than if you're trying to do it from afar. That's not just true for the governor; it's true for everybody," said Denish.

Richardson wants to phase in health care coverage for all New Mexicans through a combination of private insurance and government programs. Employers with six or more workers would have to contribute to a state-run fund that will help pay for covering the uninsured. Individuals would need to obtain coverage by buying private insurance, enrolling in a taxpayer-subsidized program or showing they can pay for their health care expenses.

The governor proposes establishing a new agency — the Health Coverage Authority — to make decisions about benefits and who will qualify for state subsidized coverage.

Under Richardson's proposal, the agency would be under the control of the governor because cabinet-level department secretaries and gubernatorial appointees represent a majority of the authority's governing board. The governor would appoint the authority's executive director.

The structure and powers of the authority will be hotly debated in the Legislature because some lawmakers and health care advocates want a more independent agency.

But Richardson opposes such a change. "I believe this is an executive function of the governor, ... and I am going to insist on it," Richardson said at a news conference last week.

GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS:

• What: Gov. Bill Richardson delivers his 2008 State of the State address
• Where: House Chambers, State Capitol
• When: Approximately 1 p.m. today
• Online:  The State of the State address will be streamed online at www.knme.org. The full text of the speech will be available at www.governor.state.nm.us.

ON THE WEB INFO:

• Legislature: www.legis.state.nm.us/
• Governor: www.gov.state.nm.us/