Welcome to the e-Voices MONDAY MINUTE, your weekly email newsletter from New Mexico Voices for Children. Please take a minute to add your voice to the pressing issues of the day. Also, tell us what issues you'd like to know more about so we can tailor the MONDAY MINUTE to your interests. Thanks!

February 19, 2007

Half Time
The legislative session is now past the halfway mark, and despite the outside chill, things are heating up. Last week the state Legislature reached a compromise on two bills to regulate payday lenders (SB 393 and HB 92). It's not as tough as we'd like, but it's a good start at protecting people from these predators. Also, two of the bills that would create a Working Families Tax Credit (SB 317 and HB 436) were amended so they no longer require our lowest-paid New Mexicans to choose between it and the Low Income Comprehensive Tax Rebate.

Some of these bills still have committee hearings to clear, and then they all go to their respective chambers for a floor vote, so they are still a ways from being a reality.

What you can do:

  • Please take a moment to call your state representative and commend them for their work on these two important issues and ask them to support the legislation without watering it down.
  • You can call the state legislative switchboard at 986-4300 and asked to be transferred to your legislator.
  • You can find out who your state legislators are and how to contact them here: http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/legislatorsearch.asp

Smokin' Legislation
Speaking of good legislation, the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act (HB 283) has been sailing through its committee assignments. It would ban smoking from most indoor public places, including places of employment. Our young warriors, through our Youth Link program, have been working hard on this issue, so please ask your legislators to support it as well.

Coincidentally, legislation is in the works in Washington that would give the Food & Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco products and marketing. If the legislation passes, it would, among other things, keep Big Tobacco from increasing the nicotine levels in their products to make them even more addictive - something they've recently been accused of doing. We'll keep an eye (or a nose) on this and keep you posted.

Horse Business
Many nonprofits accept gifts of automobile as contributions, but NM Voices has a leg up on that idea. Four legs, actually. We're now the proud parents if a dun-colored Appaloosa colt named Bright Eyes. This generous donation comes from one of our board members and we're hoping to find a good home for him and raise some hay to support the work we do.

If you're interested in purchasing this colt, or know someone who is, please contact Felicia Griffin, Director of Development, at 244-9505 ext. 21, or email fgriffin@nmvoices.org.

Presidential Trivia
And now for a little holiday fun, take the Presidents' Day Trivia Test.

1) When we celebrate "Presidents' Day" what momentous event(s) are we actually celebrating?
a. Abraham Lincoln's birthday (Feb. 12)
b. George Washington's birthday (Feb. 22)
c. Both presidents' birthdays
d. Valentine's Day

2) Which president made Washington's birthday an official federal holiday?
a. Andrew Jackson
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. Chester Alan Arthur
d. Richard Nixon

3) Which other two presidents were also born in February (although not in the same centuries)?
a. Ronald Reagan and William Henry Harrison
b. Jimmy Carter and Rutherford B. Hayes
c. Millard Fillmore and William Howard Taft
d. William Henry Harrison and William Howard Taft

4) Which month has the most presidential birthdays?
a. February
b. June
c. July
d. October

5) In what year was Washington's birthday first celebrated?
a. In 1968, when it was designated as the third Monday in February
b. In 1885, when it was made an official holiday
c. In 1732, when he was born

Answers:
1) b. Washington's birthday. Even though we call it "Presidents' Day" it only officially celebrates George the first. So take down that silhouette of Lincoln that your kids made out of black construction paper!
2) c. Chester Alan Arthur. What, you've never heard of Chester Alan Arthur? Neither had we, but now we know who to thank for your favorite February holiday.
3) a. Ronald Reagan and William Henry Harrison. Now go make two more construction-paper silhouettes!
4) d. October, even though our nation's birthday is in July. (Go figure.)
5) c. 1732. Duh! Don't you think they celebrated it the year he was born? And the year after that, and the year after that...

Free Tax Help
Don't forget that if you are over the age of 65 or have an annual income under $36,000 you can get free tax preparation through TAX HELP New Mexico. Offices are open statewide and some offer services in Spanish and Navajo. TAX HELP NM is a program of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). Get more information here: http://www.cnm.edu/taxhelp/.

Sign the Statement
If you haven't signed on in support of the Race Matters Coalition Statement of Principles, please consider doing so today. It's an easy way to say that the Race Matters work to eliminate disparities for New Mexico's children of color is important to you. Click here to review the statement and sign on: http://www.nmvoices.org/racematters_endorsement.htm

Your financial support is critical to our work. Please consider making a contribution today at http://www.nmvoices.org/donate.htm