New Mexico State News

Vol. 2, No. 4--May 11, 2005

Progress for Progressive Democrats in New Mexico

A reason to come together in New Mexico to have a voice was election reform. We had requested a recount and it never happened even with a Democratic Governor and Democratic Secretary of State. Governor Richardson wanted election reform instead. Many progressives never had been to the legislature before but were willing to come, call, email and lobby for Voter Verifiable Paper Ballots and random audits which were not included in the Governor's bill. After a long struggle and lots of debate, we passed a bill requiring both.

Some of these same Democrats across the state who never before participated in party politics celebrated their success and decided to take action. They joined forces with many long time faces in the Democratic Party in New Mexico because they decided that they want to have a voice in the democratic party and have a vote on resolutions, platform and eventually the candidates that run for office.

To do this, people from across the state ran in their precincts, wards, and state central committee in order to have a vote and a voice. These people want their party back. They do not want our elected Democrats moving to the middle or right.

A resolution to "Bring the Troops Home" was written with input from about eight different progressives from different counties by email. It was submitted and passed at precincts, wards and county meetings. San Juan, Sandoval, Bernalillo, Taos, Santa Fe and Los Alamos Counties passed this resolution at each of their county meetings. As it arrived at New Mexico State Resolutions Committee, there was some bickering about putting a date on it to bring home the troops. Progressives knew we were making a statement. On Saturday in Socorro, the resolution to Bring The Troops Home was passed in New Mexico. There is a resolution in Congress sponsored by Representative Lynn Woolsey which 43 congressmen have already signed on with their support.

"We hope Tom Udall will consider signing on now that the DPNM has passed such a resolution." Our Congressman has always been known to listen to people in our communities," said Paul Stokes of Sandoval County.

Bernalillo County had passed a resolution to support a living wage in communities in New Mexico. It was not brought before the state central committee so it was brought up from the floor on Saturday. There was reluctance to bring this forward at the State Resolutions Committee Meeting and at the Socorro Meeting but it was finally added to the packet of resolutions. Another additional resolution was brought forward from the floor by Giovanna Rossi Director of PRO-CHOICE NM, regarding a woman's right to choose.

Progressive democrats at the meeting joined with GLTB advocates to fight for the wording on a Resolution to oppose restrictions on civil marriage based on sexual orientation. This was included and passed.

Other resolutions that were passed dealt with full funding of Medicaid; Full funding of Veterans Health Care; Support of Land Grants; Separation of Church and State; Repeal the Patriot Act; CAFÉ Standards; A Cap on Pay Day Loans; and No Privatization of Social Security.

After the State Party meeting, progressives across the state gathered to begin to discuss the formation of a Progressive Caucus within the party structure. The group was chaired by Moe Maestas of Albuquerque. There was representation from Deming, Portales, Taos, Carlsbad, Farmington, Las Cruces, as well as Santa Fe and Albuquerque. This group decided to move forward to form a caucus and will work on purpose, mission, organizational structure in the next few months.

The state party rules do not specify any accommodations for caucuses and will need to be amended. There were also breakout groups for a Veterans Caucus, a Native American Caucus and a Hispanic Caucus. The Young Democrats and Democrat Women also met after the meeting.

"After organizing people from many areas of the state for the last two months, I see the need for caucuses like the need for labor unions. If management is not meeting the workers needs, then they organize to have a voice and demand their rights. The caucus movement across the country is a movement to be the progressive voice within the Democratic Party. We all have to have a voice by having a vote in this process. I strongly believe that in order to take our country back, we need to take our Party back The Resolutions will no longer sit in a drawer and not be part of a platform for endorsing candidates or for use at the legislature."

Submitted by: Charlotte Roybal
Progressive Caucus of New Mexico
1-505-930-0563
croybal@aol.com

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF NEW MEXICO, passed on April 23, 2005:

A RESOLUTION TO BRING HOME THE TROOPS

Whereas the actions of the United States of America in Iraq show that the United States wishes to establish a permanent presence in Iraq, including the establishment of a number of military bases;

Whereas our military is being drained of its capability to respond to crises in other parts of the world;

Whereas more than 150 billion dollars have been spent for the Iraq occupation and, over the next year, the continuing occupation will take an additional 81 billion dollars away from priorities at home;

Whereas there have been more than 1500 US soldiers killed, thousands of US soldiers wounded, and untold thousands of Iraqi citizens killed in the continuing conflict in Iraq;

Whereas our military presence in Iraq continues to result in the death and wounding of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens;

Whereas our occupation of Iraq has worsened an insurgency that has as a principal goal the expulsion of outside influences;

Whereas our occupation and the associated violence in Iraq has increased recruitment by terrorist organizations intent on attacking the US; and

Whereas elections have been held in Iraq, and the Iraqi people want to resolve their own problems and establish their own government free of outside influences;

Be it resolved that the Democratic Party of New Mexico supports our troops, opposes the continued military occupation of Iraq, and urges the Government of the United States of America to plan immediately for the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq. This plan should specify a target date for the completion of the withdrawal. The target date should be no later than June 2006. Withdrawal should begin soon to signal our good intentions. The United States should announce that it has no plans for a long-term presence in Iraq, except for that associated with normal diplomatic relations between countries.

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