Guv lays out agenda topped by universal health care

There weren’t a lot of surprises in Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2008 state of the state address, which he delivered earlier today.

Home following an unsuccessful presidential bid, the governor thanked those who supported him and named a handful of proposals – most with national significance – that he will push during the 30-day session. He said he wants the Legislature to focus on universal health care, energy efficiency, ethics reform, domestic partner benefits and combating domestic violence.

The proposals he named were expected. Before the Senate and governor entered the House chambers for the state of the state address, Speaker Ben Lujan spoke about the full agenda the governor will try to squeeze into the short session.

“I need to remind you that a 30-day session is very short,” Lujan told House members. “… To achieve our goals, it will mean that all of us must be working together.”

At the top of Richardson’s agenda is health care. The governor is proposing a plan he says would provide coverage to all New Mexicans though both government and private programs.

It’s a plan the governor called “pragmatic,” but he signaled that he knows what’s to come on the contentious issue.

“There will be competing legislation this year. From one side, we will see legislation that would place health care totally under government-control. This is unacceptable,” Richardson said. “From the other side, there will be voices calling for the status quo, who prefer an unchecked, unregulated health-care system dominated by HMOs and health insurance companies, a system that covers only those who can afford it, leaves the most vulnerable behind and values profits over patients. Let’s agree that the status quo is also unacceptable.”

“Some may say we cannot afford to take on this task in a 30-day session,” Richardson said. “I ask, how can we afford not to? The time for universal health-care coverage is now.”

On energy conservation, Richardson called for a tax credit for New Mexicans who install energy efficient cooling and heating systems and for mandatory energy-efficiency requirements for utility companies.

On drunken driving, Richardson wants tougher penalties for tampering with ignition interlock devices. On domestic violence, he wants to increase penalties for repeat batterers. He wants the state to grant the same rights and benefits for domestic partners that are given to married couples. Richardson didn’t specify which ethics reforms he will propose, but said such reform is “unfinished business” from the 2007 session.

“As public officials, we know that holding the highest ethical standards is not a privilege, but our moral responsibility,” Richardson said.

You can watch Richardson’s speech by clicking here and read it here.

Meanwhile, House Republicans laid out their own agenda for the session in an audio recording you can listen to by clicking here. And the state GOP sent out a mock Richardson state of the state address:

“My fellow New Mexicans, I’m here today to talk with you about the state of our state. Unfortunately, I don’t know what that is. I’ve been a little busy,” the mock speech states. “Someone told me that we’ve bankrupted our transportation fund. Anyhow, I’m back now, though, in the job that I love, the greatest job on the face of the earth… except for the one I spent the last year chasing. And now, I look forward to pushing a legislative agenda of government-run health care and domestic partnerships, and maybe we’ll raise a few taxes in the process. But one thing’s for sure, New Mexico, I’m back and here to stay… unless, of course, I’m asked to do another job, like run for vice president, which would be much better than this job, which is the greatest job on the face of the earth.”

Welcome to the 2008 Legislature.