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Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - NM is called to advocate for justice in public policy with a particular emphasis on alleviating poverty and hunger and supporting ELCA members and congregations, as well as our ecumenical and interfaith partners in the ministry of advocacy.

Action Alert #2: February 7, 2025

Dear Partners in Advocacy,


A forgotten favorite book that until recently had been buried deep in a stack that I hadn't attended to for some time, Lutheran Pastor Dennis Jacobsen wrote, "The world as it should be is in direct opposition to the world as it is. The world as it should be is rooted in truth, love, and community. In the world as it should be, the voice of conscience is heard. In the world as it should be, people act according to the values of their faith. In the world as it should be, fairness and mutuality reign."


As people of faith, we are called to engage in what Jacobsen describes as the "nightmare that the world has become." On Monday some of you joined me in Santa Fe where we witnessed and were a part of an impressive rally challenging just one reality of our day. As we consider just our beloved state of New Mexico there is much to engage as we strive for the "world as it should be." I invite you to engage in our legislative process in the coming weeks and in specific calls to action I've included below. As communities of faith engaged in the public arena, we have many opportunities to help craft the world as it should be.


We have a good core of volunteers who help me follow and speak on legislation important to LAM-NM, but I welcome more. If you have a particular interest in one of our policy categories, please be in touch.


Not counting memorials, joint resolutions, and the like, 621 bills have so far been introduced. Two weeks remain before the deadline for introduction. Days are getting longer, and some committees are now scheduled on Saturdays. Late nights and long weekends will soon be the norm. As you reach out to your legislators, please remember to thank them for their public service. Remember, they are volunteers.


We are now just under two weeks until our big day! Thanks to many helping hands, plans are coming together nicely. I will share the complete list of speakers at our Issue Briefing next week. For the Bishop's Luncheon, I am thrilled to share that we have selected House Majority Leader Rep. Renna Szczepanski as our Legislator of the Year for 2024. Leader Szczepanski will join us as we honor her for her work on HB7 last session. Another special guest at the luncheon will be Bill Jordan, who recently retired from NM Voices for Children and is familiar to us all. Bill was a vital partner to LAM-NM during his many years with Voices. This event is open to all and if you've never attended before, make this the year!


Next week includes several special days at the Roundhouse. Tuesday is Legislature Modernization Day and Thursday is Disability Rights Day and New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness Day. Please join me for either or both days! You will find a link below to sign up for the NM Coalition to End Homelessness event.


I will close by sharing a response from the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Elizabeth Eaton, to the deeply disappointing and disturbing posts now on various social media platforms, started by Michael Flynn and amplified by Elon Musk, attacking Lutheran Social Services and other Lutheran agencies, accusing them among other things of being "money laundering organizations." (The nightmare that the world has become.)


Peace be with you,


Kurt


Kurt Rager

Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico

2025 Issue Briefing & Bishop's Luncheon


Registration is open for the 2025 Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon that will be held on Thursday, February 20th! We are pleased that First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, a long-time member of our advocating congregation program, will return as host for the morning Issue Briefing. And, after a one-year hiatus, we will return to the La Fonda Hotel for the Bishop's Luncheon.


Schedule


8:30 a.m. - 9:15 Check-in, refreshments & fellowship at First Presbyterian

(208 Grant Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501)


9:15 a.m. Welcome and Opening Devotion

9:30 a.m. Guest Speakers

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. Bishop Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni

11:15 a.m. Advocacy Agenda and Issue Briefing


Noon-12:15 p.m. Transition to La Fonda Hotel

(100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501)


12:30 p.m. Bishop's Luncheon Begins

2:00 p.m. Lunch concludes


The registration cost per person remains the same as last year at $40 per person. However, on February 17th, it will increase to $45 per person.


Please register and buy your tickets HERE!


(Please note, this is not a fund-raiser as the registration charge covers only the anticipated cost for the luncheon.)


This will be the first year for our new Bishop of the Rocky Moutain Synod, the Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni. Bishop Johnson Aelabouni was elected last spring and began her service on July 1, 2024. We hope you will join us in offering a warm welcome to the Bishop as she hosts her first Bishop's Luncheon.

Bishop Meghan

Border Servant Corps

Sign-On Support Needed!


Dear Friend of Border Servant Corps,


Border communities in New Mexico are at a crossroads. As policies shift and resources hang in the balance, we must come together to ensure that asylum-seekers, humanitarian organizations, and local communities have the support they need.


In response, Border Servant Corps (BSC) is calling on leaders, advocates, and community members to sign on to the NM Border Resiliency letter—a united call for sustained funding, infrastructure, and compassionate, coordinated resiliency at the border.


By adding your name, you will help to show decision-makers that—regardless of political rhetoric—our communities stand for dignity, welcome, and resilience.


The deadline to sign is Monday, February 10, 2025, and we encourage you to share this with your friends, faith community, and networks. Every signature strengthens our message.


Together, we can ensure that New Mexico remains a place where justice, compassion, and action meet.



Sign the letter here!
Learn more about the Effort!
Learn more about Border Servant Corps

Immigrant & Workers' Day of Action

A few pictures from Monday...


Immigrant and Workers' Day of Action. News reports put the crowd at about 1300. Definitely more! Thanks to all connected to LAM-NM who participated. Apologies for not getting pictures of everyone!






Food and Hunger

HB 2, the General Appropriation Act (the state's budget for FY'26) is in its' beginning stages of hearings before the House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC). The process of bringing together the Executive Budget Request and the Legislative Finance Committee's budget recommendation will be the task in the coming weeks before HB2 is moved out of the committee, through the House Floor, and then is sent to the Senate.


Both proposals include priorities for LAM-NM, including a $10 million appropriation to NM Food Banks for food purchases, full funding of Healthy Universal School Meals for all K-12 students in NM, and $4 million for NM college students struggling to meet their basic needs. LAM-NM will also support other components of the Governor's Food Initiative.


LAM-NM will also track and support legislation that will protect and enhance funding for SNAP and TANF, and that will reduce barriers and increase participation. 

Affordable Housing / Homelessness

LAM-NM is a member of the New Mexico Housing Alliance and together we are prioritizing several bills that will address excessive fees imposed on tenants, SB267, impact the sale of mobile home parks, prohibit excessive rental increases to owners within a mobile home park, and provide a $750,000 appropriation for attorney support for tenants facing eviction.


LAM-NM will also support legislation and appropriations that will assist people experiencing homelessness and homeless prevention programs.


House bills that we are actively supporting include:


HB 216 - No Use of AI for Rent Manipulation

HB 114 - Ban Restrictive Discrimenatory Covenants

HB 98 - Automatic Expungement of Eviction Records


Senate bills that we are actively supporting include:


SB 267 - Housing Application Fees

SB 216 - Rent Control & Certain Entities

SB 145 - Housing Trust Fund & Affordable Housing


As bills continue to be introduced we will update you and offer options for your support. Please watch for more information in our next Action Alert.


LAM-NM is a partner with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. Join Kurt and others and attend their focus day. You can register HERE

Paid Medical Family Leave

HB 11 is this year's Paid Medical Family Leave Act legislation. Primary sponsors are Rep. Chandler, Sen. Stewart, Rep. Serrato, and Rep. Roybal Caballero. HB11 passed through its first committee, House Health & Human Services, by a 6-4 vote. It now moves to House Commerce and Economic Development but has not been scheduled yet.


The key challenge at this point, HB11 is still a few votes short, if a full House vote was taken. Holdouts at this point include:


Rep. Art De La Cruz - District 12

Rep. Meredith Dixon - District 20

Rep. Tara Lujan - District 48

Rep. Cynthia Borrego - District 17

Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena - District 33


If one is your Representative, we ask you to express your support for HB11 by email or calling their office. Click on their name to find contact information

Good Governance

We still await several key legislative proposals. However, several bills that LAM-NM will focus on are underway. LAM-NM will support the listed legislation unless noted. More information on each bill can be found by clicking on the red bill number:


SB 16: would create what is known as a semi-open primary system in New Mexico. SB 16 will all registered voters that are not members of the major parties (thus, "Independents"), to pick a ballot of one of the major parties and vote in primary elections. SB 16 is in the Senate Rules Committee but has not been scheduled.


SJR 1: proposes to have a paid legislature with salaries being determined by an independent citizen's commission. New Mexico is the only true volunteer legislature in the U.S. A paid legislature would make it more possible for New Mexicans to serve and would lead to a legislature that more accurately reflects the diversity of our state. SJR 1 was replaced by a committee substitute and passed through the Senate Rules Committee. It now moves to the Senate Finance Committee.


SB 90: would prohibit legislators from registering as lobbyists for two years following the end of their elected term. SB 90 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Rules Committee on Friday, 2/10.


SB 248: will update the Lobbyist Regulation Act, making once voluntary reporting required reporting. Current reporting requirements have New Mexico ranks among the lowest of all states concerning reporting. LAM-NM supports clear and comprehensive reporting to provide the public with full transparency of lobbyist and campaign funding. SB 248 is waiting to be heard in the Senate Rules Committee.


HJR 1: proposes to create two, 45-day, legislative sessions instead of the current 60-30 day format. HJR 2 passed through the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee and now moves to the House Judiciary Committee. LAM-NM opposes this joint resolution. 45-day sessions do not provide enough time to do the important work that's needed. LAM-NM will support a proposal that includes two, 60-day sessions, should it be introduced.


HJR 2: proposes to eliminate the governor's ability to veto legislation via what's known as a "pocket veto". LAM-NM believes that any legislation vetoed by the governor should come with an explanation as to why. HJR2 passed through the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee and awaits scheduling in the House Judiciary Committee.


Join Kurt and others for Legislative Modernization Day at the Roundhouse, on Tuesday, February 11th!

Healthcare

LAM-NM believes that healthcare is a basic right that all New Mexicans should have. Each session there are numerous healthcare-related legislative proposals. Due simply to capacity, LAM-NM will mostly select those that relate to Medicaid (funding and expansion via Medicaid Forward legislation) as almost half of all New Mexicans are currently covered by the program, on protecting the Healthcare Affordability Fund, and those proposals that fund and expand behavioral health programs during the 2025 session.


Legislation to create a Behavioral Health Trust Fund, a Medicaid Trust Fund, assistance for County Healthcare indigent funding, and proposals to raise Medicaid provider rates have already been introduced.


HB 186: Known as the Medicaid Forward, this bill would allow the Health Care Authority to amend the state's Medicaid plan to create a state-administered health care plan to open Medicaid to individuals whose income exceeds current income eligibility and to establish an affordability scale and cost-sharing. HB186 is scheduled for the House Health & Human Services Committee on Monday, 2/10, at 8:30 a.m. Please add your name to a petition in support of Medicaid Forward HERE! You may also express support by emailing or calling members of the committee. Contact information can be found HERE!


LAM-NM anticipates legislation will be introduced that will increase the age to purchase guns and ban the sale of automatic weapons. LAM-NM will support both.

Care of Creation

LAM-NM will be supporting a variety of legislative proposals that will enable the state to improve upon its care of our land, water, and air, and that will address and mitigate the impact of climate change. Legislation already introduced includes:


HJR 3: Environmental Rights (The Green Amendment)

SB 23: Oil and Gas Royalty Rates

HB 108: Statewide Public Health and Climate Program

HB109: Extreme Weather Resilience Fund

SB 4: Clear Horizons & Greenhouse Gas Emissions

SB22: Water Quality & Pollution



Future Action Alerts will include additional information and action steps that we ask of you.

Family Sustaining Income / Tax Policy / Criminal Justice Reform

LAM-NM will be supporting several key legislative proposals that fall under our emphasis areas of Family Sustaining Income, Tax Policy, and Criminal Justice Reform.


Future Action Alerts will include specific legislation, additional information, and action steps that we ask of you.

2025 Advocacy Agenda

The LAM-NM 2025 Advocacy Agenda is developed and approved by our Policy Committee annually. To download a copy of the agenda summary, please go HERE!


Key Areas of Focus:


Hunger

Affordable Housing & Homelessness

Family-Sustaining Income

Health Care

Tax Policy

Criminal Justice

Care of Creation

Good Governance

2025 Legislative Advocacy Days


Returning this Year!


LAM-NM is planning several days for you to join Kurt and other volunteer LAM-NM advocates to work the Roundhouse by lobbying legislators and potentially offering public comment during committee meetings on priority bills for our advocacy agenda. You are also invited to come and watch the process and activity of our state's legislature. There is much to keep you busy!


Please join us one (or more times) on the four consecutive Tuesdays of February 25th, March 4th, 11th, and 18th.


The day before each Advocacy Day, you will receive an email with parking locations and the location to meet.


If you cannot make one of the scheduled days but want to participate in in-person advocacy, please email Kurt for other possible days to meet at the Roundhouse.


Let your voice be heard!

Sign Up for Advocacy Days Here!

How to Access the Legislature


Both House and Senate committee meetings will always be accessible via a webcast, as will all Floor Sessions. A broadcast link is included below. For those who want to provide public comment virtually, and not drive to Santa Fe, you will be able to participate via Zoom. You can provide public testimony by using a Zoom link that each committee will publish with their agendas. Rules will vary from committee to committee, as will the posting of agendas, so it's important to plan ahead. Some committees do require that you sign up the day before or before the start of the meeting if you want to speak.


As the session progresses, please continue to watch for and respond to ACTION ALERT emails that LAM-NM will send. Action Alerts will be targeted toward specific LAM-NM priority legislation, will provide information about the bill and why we support or oppose it, and will "ask" for action from you to contact your legislators. In addition, an updated summary email with additional news and events will also be sent each week of the session.


To find out what's happening each day, follow this link HERE.


To watch committee hearings and floor sessions live, follow this link HERE. Recordings of all committee meetings and floor sessions are also available.


To find and track legislation that has been introduced, follow this link HERE.


To find contact information about your representative or senator, follow this link HERE.


To access the Home Page of the NM Legislature, follow this link HERE.

Advocating Congregations


St. Paul Lutheran (Alb.) * First Presbyterian (Santa Fe) * Bethlehem Lutheran (Los Alamos) * St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal (Alb.) * All Saints Lutheran (Alb.) *

St. Luke Lutheran (Alb.) * Peace Lutheran (Las Cruces) * Christ Lutheran (Santa Fe) * St. Timothy Lutheran (Alb.) * St. Andrew Presbyterian (Alb.) * Albuquerque Mennonite Church (Alb.) * First Presbyterian (Las Vegas) * Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal (Edgewood) * Monte Vista Christian (Abq.) * United Methodist Women of New Mexico


While Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico has active participants from many congregations across New Mexico, Advocating Congregations are communities of faith that are committed to prioritizing advocacy in public policy in specific ways on a regular basis.


Learn more about joining the Advocating Congregation Program HERE!


Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM works in advocacy partnerships with the NM Conference of Churches and the Presbytery of Santa Fe.


Connecting faith and public life: We believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God uses our hands, through our direct service work and our voices, through our advocacy efforts, to restore and reconcile our world. Through faithful advocacy, the ELCA lives out our Lutheran belief that governments can help advance the common good.

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Office Location


Our office is located in Albuquerque at St. Paul Lutheran Church.


Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico 1100 Indian School Rd. NE

Albuquerque, N.M. 87102


Kurt A. Rager LAM-NM, Director krager@rmselca.org LutheranAdvocacy@yahoo.com

505-242-2493 (o) 505-269-6470 (c)

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