U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, D-N.M. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)

U.S. Rep. Harry Teague said Friday that he will vote against the health care reform bill expected to come up for a vote in the U.S. House next week.

“I had hoped to have a chance to vote on a bill that provided affordable health care options to all American families, but after reviewing the final health care reform proposal, I do not believe that the bill does enough to contain costs and it definitely does not do enough to rein in the out of control insurance companies that are driving up healthcare costs in this country,” Teague said in a statement.

“In fact, I believe we are doing more for the insurance companies than we are for the people who need this coverage, and that is why, despite the positive steps it takes, I must vote against this bill,” Teague said.

Earlier this week the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the health care reform bill would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion in the first decade and $1.3 trillion in the second ten years.

In addition to cost concerns, Teague also mentioned what his constituents had told him in his “over 100 public meetings” in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional district, which the freshman Democrat represents.

“People had strong opinions on both sides, but for the most part, we agreed that our health care system is broken and needs reforming,” Teague said. “It is overly bureaucratic, it costs way too much, it covers too few, and it undermines our nation’s economic strength. Health care spending has spiraled out of control, piling costs on businesses, local governments, families and individuals.”

New Mexico’s other two Representatives are considered likely yes votes on the health care reform legislation. A handful of Democrats who voted no against House’s version of a health care reform bill announced today that they would vote for this version. Teague voted no against the House version of health care reform last year.

Teague’s full statement is available below.

Washington, DC-Congressman Teague released the following statement in advance of the Health Care vote on Sunday.

“Living without health insurance coverage is something that I have experienced in my own life. Like so many New Mexico families, both my parents worked to make ends meet, but they still could not afford health insurance for our family. When I was 17 years old, tragedy struck our home when both my parents got sick at the same time. I had no choice but to drop out of school and go to work to help support our family.

I had hoped to have a chance to vote on a bill that provided affordable health care options to all American families, but after reviewing the final health care reform proposal, I do not believe that the bill does enough to contain costs and it definitely does not do enough to rein in the out of control insurance companies that are driving up healthcare costs in this country. In fact, I believe we are doing more for the insurance companies than we are for the people who need this coverage, and that is why, despite the positive steps it takes, I must vote against this bill.

There are some pieces of the final health care reform proposal that I agree with, like ending the despicable practice of insurance companies canceling or denying coverage to people because of pre-existing conditions and it closes the Medicare Part D donut hole, guaranteeing lower drug costs for seniors. These are much needed changes that I support, but they aren’t enough to rein in insurance companies and make health care truly affordable.

I have hosted 100 public meetings in southern New Mexico and health care reform was almost always a topic of conversation. People had strong opinions on both sides, but for the most part, we agreed that our health care system is broken and needs reforming. It is overly bureaucratic, it costs way too much, it covers too few, and it undermines our nation’s economic strength. Health care spending has spiraled out of control, piling costs on businesses, local governments, families and individuals.

The only way to fix that is to focus on lowering the cost of care. This bill mandates that every individual buy health insurance, but it does little to address the cost of health care, which is why many New Mexicans are uninsured in the first place. It tells businesses to do the right thing and provide insurance for employees, but doesn’t guarantee or require affordable options.

There is no doubt that we need to do more to improve health care in this country and that is why in my short time in Congress, I have supported expanding SCHIP. I voted to provide funding to community health centers and to protect seniors’ access to care through Medicare. I have fought to improve healthcare for our veterans. And, I cosponsored the bill to eliminate the anti-trust exemptions that allow the health insurance industry to work behind closed doors to fix prices without fear of investigation or oversight.

Moving forward, I will continue to fight for a health care system that puts patients before profits and that brings health care costs under control so people don’t have to choose between paying the rent and a doctor’s appointment.”

The House is expected to vote on the Senate reconciliation bill — while at the same time affirming that the House passes the Senate version of health care reform in a procedural method called “deem and pass.”

Politifact explains:

The House Rules Committee is in charge of writing rules for floor debate. The rule dictates what amendments can be offered to a given bill and how long it will be debated, for example. A self-executing rule is essentially a two-for-one special; when the House votes to adopt a self-executing rule, it simultaneously adopts a separate bill or amendment, which is specified in the rule itself. The House “deems” another bill to be passed as it adopts the rule.

While self-executing rules are not uncommon, it has not been used for a piece of legislation this large (though, admittedly, this is one of the more significant bills that Congress would ever pass).

The House is expected to vote on the legislation on Sunday. So far, there are 26 Democrats undecided on their vote, including Harry Teague from New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. Supporters of the bill need 14 of the undecided votes to support the bill to get to the 216 needed for passage.

Weh was awarded a Silver Star for a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam, the basis of the advertisement.

An e-mail by The Independent asking if the commercial would be airing on cable or the more-expensive network TV option was not immediately answered by the Weh campaign.

“I have time for one more tour of duty, and this time I’m asking the voters to send me to Santa Fe, so that we can change the way business is done there and put people back to work,” Weh said in a press release.

“The state transportation commission felt strongly that there was not clear cut evidence that they actually make the roads safer,” New Mexico Department of Transportation Spokesperson Mark Slimp told KRQE yesterday.

Some have said that the cameras are just ways for the city to make money; the Paseo del Norte red light camera is the one where the most drivers have been caught speeding or running red lights.

The change in policy will also affect two red light cameras in Las Cruces and Santa Fe.

“There seems to be many competing studies out there that make confusing claims about the efficacy of the devices currently in use,” State Transportation Commission Chairman Johnny Cope said in a press release. “While the true safety impact of the use of these cameras is still murky at best, one thing has become clear to the Commission — more and more New Mexico cities seem to be putting driver-generated revenues ahead of sound traffic management techniques; frankly, that concept really troubles me.”

Update:

Governor Bill Richardson says that he is on board with the red light camera ban.

“After six years of red light cameras in New Mexico, I remain deeply skeptical of this excessive, big-brother approach to public safety,” Richardson said in a press release. “I fully support the ban of these cameras and vans on state and federal roads and highways, and I commend the Transportation Commission for taking a decisive stand on this issue.”

“That makes this legislation the most significant effort to reduce deficits since the Balanced Budget Act in the 1990s,” Obama said during a Rose Garden signing ceremony for a jobs bill. “This is but one virtue of a reform that will bring new accountability to the insurance industry and greater economic security for all Americans, so I urge every member of Congress to consider this as they prepare for their important vote this weekend.”

“I’m encouraged by the Congressional Budget Office’s report that health insurance reform will significantly reduce the federal deficit,” Rep. Ben Ray Luján said in a release Thursday. “Health insurance reform is fiscally responsible, and it will take on health insurance companies, provide more choices and make health insurance more secure and affordable for families and small businesses.”

“Each of us faces a question about whose side we are on today,” Rep. Martin Heinrich said earlier today on the House floor. “Will we continue to protect the insurance companies or will we stand up for the American people?”

But the man everyone’s watching is Rep. Harry Teague. Teague, who represents New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, voted against a previous version of health care reform and is currently undecided on the current version of health care reform, a Teague spokeswoman told The Independent yesterday.

The Independent will update this post as statements as we receive statements from members of the New Mexico Congressional delegation.

The CBO report is embedded below:

“Reagan was more pragmatic than those who now quote him,” said former Senator Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, who was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee in the Reagan years. Both Mr. Domenici and Mr. Simpson began their Senate careers among its most conservative Republicans; each left office labeled as a relative moderate in a party that had shifted farther right on economic and social issues. “Those who claim they’re better Republicans than we are — put their solutions in front of us and let’s see if they’re doable,” Mr. Domenici said.

Simpson served with Domenici in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997.

Domenici retired last year from the U.S. Senate after health problems. He was replaced by now-Sen. Tom Udall.

Though then-presidential candidate John McCain made numerous references to “Joe the Plumber” while on the campaign trail, Wurzelbacher was in the national news recently for attacking the former GOP presidential candidate, saying “McCain was trying to use me.”

“I don’t owe him s—,” Wurzelbacher continued. “He really screwed my life up, is how I look at it.”

Wurzelbacher will start his New Mexico swing on Thursday with events with state Sen. Kent Cravens, who is running for lieutenant governor. Wurzelbacher and Cravens will be appearing throughout New Mexico, from Farmington to Carlsbad.

Also, Wurzelbacher will attend a luncheon for the libertarian think thank the Rio Grande Foundation on Thursday.

Farmington is is hoping to become a test city for the Google Fiber for Communities project. Google’s project would “test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country.”

The high-speed internet would have speed of over 1 gigabit per second — faster than the DSL or cable internet connection you have at home.

Google will chose one or more cities for the pilot project.

Here is the full text of Rep. Luján’s letter:

Dear Mr. Schmidt:

I want to commend Google on its plan to build and test ultra-high speed broadband networks in trial locations across the country through its Google Fiber for Communities project. As our country becomes increasingly dependent on internet technology to conduct our everyday activities, we must continue to invest in the development of Internet technology that will ensure high-quality access for all communities.

I am writing in strong support of Think BIG Farmington’s proposal to become a test site for the Google Fiber for Communities project. This letter follows the nomination for Farmington, New Mexico that I submitted through Google’s website.

The community of Farmington is diverse, encompassing rural areas of San Juan county and part of the Navajo Nation. The history of Farmington is as rich in history as it is culture, and the history of area communities can be dated back to over 2000 years ago. Farmington has long been a center for commerce in northwestern New Mexico–its farming and ranching economy flourished in the early 1900s and then, later, its natural gas economy.

Google and the city of Farmington will both benefit greatly from this advanced network. By selecting Farmington as a pilot community, Google can advance its gigabit speed internet network while gaining technological experience in a unique geographic region. Furthermore, Farmington has the infrastructure to support this project, and the city would make an excellent partner in your mission to experiment with next generation computer applications and new deployment techniques. Technological advancements are key contributors to economic growth, and building your network in Farmington will equip the community with tools to drive productivity, prepare students for high-tech jobs, improve access to education, and generate a higher standard of living for its residents.

The Google Fiber for Communities project will create more jobs and help grow small businesses in New Mexico, two key objectives that I have been a strong advocate for during my time in Congress. I urge your full consideration of Think BIG Farmington’s proposal, and thank you for your continued commitment to innovation.

Sincerely,

Ben Ray Luján
Member of Congress

The long-time senator from New Mexico — he first got elected in 1983 — is one of the most low-keyed leaders in the Senate — more a work-horse than a show-horse. Bingaman hails from a family of educators, hence his interest in education policy. He was one of two senators on the National Education Goals Panel and has sponsored bills to discourage students from dropping out. Like Lugar, he was given the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He graduated from Harvard and attended Stanford Law School.

If Huffington Post had done a similar list for hte House two years ago, then-Rep. Heather Wilson might have made the list. Like Lugar, Wilson was a Rhodes scholar before winning election to Congress.

One striking finding is the continued loss of news reporting staff. The study estimates that 5,900 newspaper jobs were lost in 2009, broadcast TV staffs are half what they were in the 1980s, local TV networks shed 450 jobs and that top news magazines like Time and Newsweek continued to shed staff. Cable news is an anomaly, as Fox News increased its monetary investment in staff — but much of that went to the salaries of brand-name hosts. CNN’s investment in news-gathering dropped “for the first time in years” while MSNBC is more difficult to gauge since MSNBC shares costs with its sister network, NBC.

Fox News and CNN grew their audiences, with Fox News leading the way, while the top-tier of news Web sites maintained their online dominance. Of the top 4,600 “news and information” Web sites, the top 7 percent had 80 percent of the total web traffic. Meanwhile, traditional news gathering operations like network news broadcasts, local news broadcasts, magazines and newspapers all continued to decline in traffic, though the ratings for nightly broadcast news broadcasts still far exceed any cable TV network programming.

Spanish-language media bucked the trends somewhat, as the two major Hispanic TV broadcasters grew their audiences. There was also good news for small Spanish-language print publications.

As for the fiscal foundation of news gathering operations, only cable posted financial gains in 2009. This is because of a 12.9 percent drop in advertising spending according to ZenithOptimedia — the largest drop in spending on ads since the Great Depression.