By Leonard Lee Rawson
I would like to thank Heath Haussamen for allowing me to respond to the latest posting by the representatives from New Mexico Youth Organized. I am a supporter of free speech and the right to disagree with elected officials, and am glad to learn that the two men in charge of the New Mexico Youth have long ties to this state.
The main reason I could not support Senate Bill 800 is because it was unconstitutional. The failure to “cooperate” with the secretary of state violated an individual’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination (attorney general’s analysis). Unlike this independent-expenditure, third-party group, I have taken an oath to uphold both the N.M. and U.S. Constitutions.
Another reason I could not support this bill is the simple fact that it did not go far enough; it placed no limits on the actions of political action committees or political parties, and did not provide enough limits as to the amount and origin of donations to independent-expenditure third parties like New Mexico Youth Organized.
As an elected official, you would think I would vote for a bill that placed no limits on outside groups so I could get re-elected with greater ease, but I did not. I chose to vote ‘no’ and ensure that when we do pass this needed legislation, it is honest and strong. My ‘1,000 year’ amendment was on the Senate floor for about 10 minutes while I made my point as to the weakness of the bill — hardly an obstruction.
I do not relish the attacks being brought against me by an independent-expenditure third party. If this group is truly for campaign finance, it should abide by the law it supports and report all donors and file as a campaign committee, not as a non-profit. The IRS may see the group as legal, but we are talking about actions being taken on behalf of a candidate for New Mexico Senate, not a federal office.
This is the way I, and many voters I have spoken to at their doors, clearly see it. We have many non-profits here in our community. They are working diligently to improve
Another false accusation
I am also falsely accused of helping health insurance lobbyists and of voting against health-care consumers. I assure you that I am not an advocate of the insurance industry and urge you to check with my colleagues in
• Commissions and other compensation that a broker or agent will receive contingent upon the policy being issued.
• History of rate changes for the type of policy being considered over the preceding five years.
• For each of the preceding five years, the medical loss ratio for a policy with a substantially similar experience rating, as defined by the superintendent, that a health insurer offers to a purchaser.
Their attack mailer notes: “This is valuable information to anyone trying to comparison shop in the complex health insurance marketplace.” Fair enough, but how would this information assist you in shopping? Your decision is based on the benefits of the plan and the corresponding premium. Requiring additional information from insurance companies, which has no bearing on the purchase decision, will only drive up insurance costs. Do we really want insurance companies cutting coverage or underpaying agents, resulting in poor service, so they can make more sales?
Sounds like another ‘subprime’ mess in the works to me. Thus, it seemed to me that this was not a relevant or safe piece of legislation, but was instead a political stunt.
Let’s end these deceptive practices
Sadly, the true youth of
I hope we can have a clean, honest and low-cost campaign to decide who will represent the 37th Senate District in
Rawson, a Republican, is the District 37 state senator and the minority whip. He is up for re-election this year.