| 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! Hard Work Deserves Fair Pay As you are aware, the battle to raise the minimum wage is heating up again. When the state Legislature failed to raise the state's minimum wage, the battleground moved to the cities and counties where a number of municipalities are making plans to raise the minimum wage within their own jurisdictions. Albuquerque City Council President Martin Heinrich has introduced a three-year phase-in to $7.50/hr. that will be considered at a special meeting of the City Council at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 20 in the Albuquerque City Council Chambers. Several other cities throughout the state are drafting similar proposals. No doubt you'll hear strong arguments for and against. We encourage you to attend your local City Council hearings and get involved. For data on how an increase in the minimum wage will impact jobs, economic development, inflation and working families, see our policy brief at: http://nmvoices.org/attachments/minimumwage.doc
A coalition of nonprofit organizations has banded together as the Health Care for All coalition to advocate for universal health care access for New Mexico. The coalition is studying various models of health care financing and delivery. We proposed legislation in this past session to study the cost of several of these models, and while we weren't successful in securing funds for the study, the coalition is feeling empowered by the broad base of support for real health care reform. The coalition is continuing its push for a cost study of various models of universal health care and invites your active participation in their work. For more information, contact Charlotte Roybal, Coordinator of the Health Care For All Campaign at roybalhanm@aol.com.
The Children's Cabinet, chaired by Lt. Governor Diane Denish, is holding a series of Town Hall meetings around the state to share their goals for the coming year and to hear from YOU what our children need most. We've listed the remaining meeting locations and times below. Please consider attending and giving your input, especially regarding the need for quality child care, full funding of Medicaid, the need for universal health care access, and any other issues of concern to you. Shiprock: Thursday, April 20, 1:30-4 p.m. @ Shiprock Chapter House Farmington: Thursday, April 20, 6-8:30 p.m. @ City Building, 3041 E. Main Grants: Friday, April 21, 1:30-4 p.m. @ Cibola County Convention Center Alamogordo: Wednesday, April 26, 6-8:30 p.m. @ Civic Center, Main Hall Mescalero: Thursday, April 27, 1:30-4 p.m. @ Inn of the Mountain Gods Socorro: Friday, April 28, 9-11:30 a.m. @ New Mexico Tech, Galena Room Roswell: Wednesday, May 17, 6-8:30 p.m. @ ENMU, Occupational Tech Center, Room 124 Clovis: Thursday, May 18, 1:30-4 p.m. @ Clovis Community College, 417 Schepps Blvd. Tucumcari: Friday, May 19, 9-11:30am @ Convention Center Albuquerque
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