The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce's 2008 legislative card and complete legislative package have been posted on the GACC's website home page, and can also be accessed here.

• Thursday, January 31, 2008 • 48th Legislature, Second Session

LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Movement on Health Care Bills

This morning, the House Health and Government Affairs Committee moved HB 214, the Health Security Act, forward to its next committee with No Recommendation. HB 214, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Gonzales, is the single payer government controlled health care bill which the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes.

The committee vote this morning to move the single payer bill forward was a unanimous 6-0 vote with two committee members, Rep. Justine Fox-Young (R) and Rep. Paul Bandy (R), absent during the vote. Below is a complete list of those representatives serving on the House Health and Government Affairs Committee.

We will continue to work hard on your behalf to defeat HB 214. A government sponsored bill and government controlled health care system is absolutely unacceptable.

Yesterday, this same committee essentially “gutted” HB 62, the Health Solutions Act, which the Chamber believes is the best legislation that will get the uninsured covered, slow down our rapidly rising health care costs, improve accountability, maintain private sector involvement and keep business at the table as health care reform moves forward.

The Chamber is working closely with Secretary of Human Services Pam Hyde and the Governor’s staff to restore HB 62 to its previously acceptable form and to offer amendments which strengthen the bill so that we can achieve the goal to cover the 400,000 uninsured in New Mexico which will significantly help in containing our rising health care costs. The bill is next heard in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.

Please let your legislator know you support the Chamber’s efforts to restore HB 62 to its previously acceptable form and to strengthen it.

House Health and Government Affairs Committee

Rep. Mimi Stewart, Chair, Democrat
Rep. Nick L. Salazar, Vice Chair, Democrat
Rep. Paul C. Bandy, Member, Republican
Rep. Justine Fox-Young, Member, Republican
Rep. John A. Heaton, Member, Democrat
Rep. Jeff Steinborn, Member, Democrat
Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela, Member, Democrat
Rep. Jeannette O. Wallace, Member, Republican

House Appropriations and Finance Committee

Rep. Henry "Kiki" Saavedra, Chair, Democrat
Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela, Deputy Chair, Democrat
Rep. Danice Picraux, Vice Chair, Democrat
Rep. Ray Begaye, Member, Democrat
Rep. Richard J. Berry, Member, Republican
Rep. Donald E. Bratton, Member, Republican
Rep. Joni Marie Gutierrez, Member, Democrat
Rep. John A. Heaton, Member, Democrat
Rep. Rhonda S. King, Member, Democrat
Rep. Larry A. Larrañaga, Member, Republican
Rep. Antonio Lujan, Member, Democrat
Rep. Patricia A. Lundstrom, Member, Democrat
Rep. Kathy A. McCoy, Member, Republican
Rep. Brian K. Moore, Member, Republican
Rep. Nick L. Salazar, Member, Democrat
Rep. Don L. Tripp, Member, Republican
Rep. Jeannette O. Wallace, Member, Republican
Rep. Peter Wirth, Member, Democrat

The Chamber Legislative Roundup, published twice per week during the New Mexico Legislative Session by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce (http://www.abqchamber.com/), provides information on local and state public policy and business issues that affect you. For questions, email to GACC VP of Communications & Special Events Beverly Cruz at bcruz@abqchamber.com.

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