New Mexico in Focus; 1033; Roundhouse: PPD and American Indian Day, Standing Rock, Taxes and Behavioral Health, ACA and Repeal

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND THE NELITTA E. WALKER FUND FOR KNME-TV, THE KNME-TV ENDOWMENT FUND AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU. >> THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, TRIBAL LEADERS TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES AT THE STATE CAPITOL. >> AMERICAN INDIAN DAY HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE IS SIMPLY A RECOGNITION, AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RESPECT FOR GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE STATE AND VARIOUS NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES IN THIS STATE. >> AND, WE LOOK AT HOW BERNALILLO COUNTY IS USING NEW FUNDS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. >> NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. THIS WEEK WE DON'T HAVE A LINE OPINION PANEL BUT LATER THIS HOUR, I SIT DOWN WITH LOCAL EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR NEW MEXICO IF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS REPEALED. WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM NEW MEXICANS WHO TRAVELED TO

STANDING ROCK LAST YEAR TO OPPOSE THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE PROJECT. WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE DURING THIS YEAR'S 60-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON BILLS THAT ADDRESS ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT? PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION HAVE FAILED AT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT ONE LAWMAKER THINKS THE ISSUE SHOULD GO TO THE VOTERS. CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND ASKS WHY AND IN A FEW MINUTES THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE SHARES HOW HER OFFICE IS TRYING TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY WITHOUT NECESSARILY SPENDING MORE MONEY. >> REPRESENTATIVE DINES, YOU'RE TRYING TO CREATE A NEW COMMISSION, IN A YEAR WHEN WE ARE HAVING A FISCAL CRISIS. WHY IS THIS THE TIME TO DO THIS THING? >> VERY GOOD QUESTION. FIRST ANSWER IS THE FACT THAT THIS WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL IT HAS TO BE VOTED ON BY THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS IN 2018, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION IN ORDER FOR ENABLING LEGISLATION. SO WE ARE A FEW YEARS DOWN THE

ROAD BEFORE THAT WILL OCCUR, NO. 1. AND NO. 2, IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY ITEM. I THINK WE CAN PASS ALL THE BILLS WE WANT TO HERE IN SANTA FE BUT UNTIL WE SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING TO GO AHEAD AND CHECK AND BALANCE -- HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES THROUGH ETHICS COMMISSIONS, THEN IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO GAIN THAT TRUST OF THE PUBLIC. >> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS WILL SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN? >> I THINK IT WILL SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN FOR VARIOUS REASONS. I THINK NO. 1 IS IT IS REALLY, AND AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND IT UP HERE, IT IS REALLY AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ITEM BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS RIGHT NOW A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE NOT COMING TO NEW MEXICO BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED CORRUPTION. THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE LAST YEAR WHERE 91% OF 250 BUSINESS PEOPLE AROUND OUR STATE FELT THAT THE CORRUPTION THAT IS HERE IS CAUSING BUSINESSES NOT TO COME INTO NEW MEXICO OR HAVING BUSINESSES LEAVE NEW MEXICO. THAT IS NO. 1. NO. 2, IS THE FACT THAT IT IS

VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE PUBLIC'S STANDPOINT TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE WILLING TO POLICE OURSELVES BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO DO THAT NOT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AS IT IS DONE NOW, WE WANT TO HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND OUT IN THE OPEN. AND THAT ALSO, I THINK, WILL HELP GAIN THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC. THE THIRD THING IS TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY OF THIS COMMISSION TO MAKE DECISIONS AND TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND SO I THINK ALL THOSE COMBINED MAKE IT TO WHERE IT IS NOT ONLY TIMELY BUT NEEDED. >> MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER UPDATE THE SYSTEM THAT WE USE TO TRACK MONEY IN POLITICS BUT THIS IS A REALLY TIGHT BUDGET YEAR, SO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIND THE MONEY TO DO IT? BUDGETARY YEAR IN SANTA FE AND I, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, SERVING STATE AGENCIES ARE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE FOR EXTREMELY LIMITED FUNDS BUT WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO MAKE A VERY IMPORTANT UPGRADE TO THE

CAMPAIGN FINANCE INFORMATION SYSTEM TO MAKE IT MORE TRANSPARENT AND HAVE THE INFORMATION BE MORE DIGESTIBLE AND MEANINGFUL TO THE PUBLIC SO WE ARE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE FOR THOSE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS NOT ONLY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ALSO SO THAT MY OFFICE CAN BETTER ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT WE ARE CHARGED WITH ENFORCING AROUND CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING. >> WHEN YOU SAY MAKE THAT INFORMATION MORE DIGESTIBLE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? LIKE THAT WE CAN LOOK IN THERE AND DOWNLOAD STUFF MORE EASILY? >> EXACTLY. WE WANT TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE THE PUBLIC BUT ALSO OUR OWN OFFICE INTERNALLY THE ABILITY TO CROSS REFERENCE INFORMATION SO IF A LOBBYIST REPORTS MAKING A CONTRIBUTION AND A LEGISLATOR REPORTS RECEIVING THAT CONTRIBUTION, THAT THOSE THINGS MATCH; THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM BY THE DATE AND THE AMOUNT AND THE LOBBYIST AND THE LEGISLATOR. RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS SO LIMITED, YOU CAN'T EVEN FIND THOSE THINGS TO MAKE THEM MATCH UP AND IT IS A REAL PROBLEM. >> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THE FOLKS AT NEW MEXICO ETHICS WATCH ABOUT THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS THAT

THEY SAY ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT FILLED OUT PROPERLY, NOT COMPLETED. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO IMPROVE THAT SITUATION? >> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST WE APPRECIATE THE REPORT THAT ETHICS WATCH PUT OUT. IT DID BRING UP SOME IMPORTANT POINTS. THE PURPOSE OF HAVING FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS IS SO THAT WE THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND WHETHER OUR ELECTED LEADERS HAVE ANY POTENTIAL FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE DECISIONS THEY ARE MAKING. SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE STATE. SO, THE FIRST THING THAT WE ARE DOING AS AN OFFICE IS WE ARE FIRST REVIEWING THE FORMS WHEN THEY COME IN TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMPLETE AND THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN MISSED ON THEIR FACE. THE NEXT THING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IS PUTTING THOSE FORMS ONLINE SO THAT WE HAVE 100% TRANSPARENCY AND ANYBODY IN THE STATE CAN LOOK UP AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT THEY CHOOSE AND SEE WHERE IS THEIR INCOME COMING FROM, WHERE MIGHT THERE BE ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS. >> YOU'RE ALSO WORKING ON

TIGHTENING THE RULES IN THIS OFFICE FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING. WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? >> THAT IS RIGHT. PIECES OF LEGISLATION MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS CURRENTLY THAT WOULD BOTH ENHANCE CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE, ESPECIALLY AROUND INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS FIX CERTAIN ASPECTS OF OUR CURRENT CODE SUCH AS THE VOTER ACTION ACTS AND HOW PUBLIC MONEY IS SPENT ON CAMPAIGNS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AT THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO, MY OFFICE IS ALSO WORKING IN A PARALLEL FASHION TO DRAFT NEW RULES THAT CREATE CLARITY AND PROVIDE EXPLANATIONS FOR CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD REPORT AND PROVIDE THEM WITH GUIDELINES ABOUT HOW THEY CAN SPEND THE MONEY AND HOW THEY CAN RAISE THE MONEY MOVING FORWARD. WE REALLY WANT VERY ROBUST, VERY MEANINGFUL INFORMATION WHEN CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS ARE REPORTING THEIR EXPENDITURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS. >> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE CLARIFY WHAT CANDIDATES CAN

SPEND MONEY ON? >> THEY NEED CLARIFICATION BECAUSE OUR STATUTES ARE ACTUALLY, IN MANY CASES, EXTREMELY BROAD AND EXTREMELY VAGUE AND AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE, I AM ACTUALLY CHARGED WITH THE DUTY OF HELPING TO PROVIDE CLARITY TO CANDIDATES AND CAMPAIGNS AND THEN ALSO ON THE BACK END, TO ENFORCE THE LAWS WHEN THEY ARE VIOLATED. SO, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO A CANDIDATE OR CAMPAIGN, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AND THIS IS HOW YOU NEED TO DO IT, SO THAT ON THE BACK END, IF THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN, IF THAT CANDIDATE OR CAMPAIGN IS WHAT WE CALL NOT COMPLIANT, WE CAN ENFORCE THOSE LAWS ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE. >> MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAT IN THIS CHAIR BEFORE YOU, HAVE TOLD US THIS OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE THINGS WE EXPECT IT TO DO. DO YOU AGREE? >> IT IS ACTUALLY EXTREMELY TRUE THAT THIS OFFICE IS HISTORICALLY AND CURRENTLY CRITICALLY UNDERFUNDED. IN FACT, FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE ARE PROJECTED TO HAVE A SHORTFALL WITH ABOUT 25% LESS STAFF THAN ACTUALLY

EXISTS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART. SO, YES, THIS OFFICE IS OVER WORKED AND UNDERFUNDED AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET ADEQUATELY FUNDED NOT ONLY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR BUT FOR THE NEXT, SO THAT WE CAN DO THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ESPECIALLY ON ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY ENFORCEMENT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES ETHICS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN STATE GOVERNMENT THIS SESSION THROUGH OUR PEOPLE, POWER DEMOCRACY PROJECT. VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT AND SEE OTHER STORIES. OUR CORRESPONDENT, ANTONIA GONZALES ALSO WENT TO THE ROUNDHOUSE FOR AMERICAN INDIAN DAY. SHE SPOKE WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE LEADERS ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES AND WHAT RELATIONSHIP THEY WANT BETWEEN THEIR TRIBES AND STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. [NATIVE DRUMMING]

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MEET TODAY IS OUR LAWYERS. MY DAUGHTER HAS HIGH EDUCATION GOALS FOR HERSELF AND WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SPEAK WITH SEVERAL LAWYERS THAT HAVE GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT BEING A LAWYER, YOU KNOW, EVEN AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE TO GIVE US A CHANCE. ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING TODAY. THE TRIBAL COUNCIL, ME BEING ON THE STUDENT COUNCIL AND ME BEING HERE AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, IT TAUGHT ME HOW TO HAVE LIKE AN OPEN MIND. >> IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BECOME A FUTURE LEADER? >> I WOULD LIKE TO BE FUTURE LEADER, LIKE MY FATHER ALONG WITH BEING A LAWYER. >> AS A FATHER, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE STATE LAWMAKERS DO TO HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN THE STATE? >> I THINK IT IS VERY CRITICAL

IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, OUR SINCE TIME BEGAN, SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO STRESS OUR ISSUES HERE DO MATTER AND ARE OF CONCERN FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS BACK IN MESCALERO. THIS IS OUR HOMELAND SO WE HAVE TO TAKE PRIDE IN THIS PLACE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OUR MIND. >> THEY HONOR THE STANDING NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE. WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN >> WELL, THE SALT LAKE IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE TERM WATER IS

LIFE, YOU KNOW. BECAUSE, WE BELIEVE THAT OUR SALT WATER IS LIFE AND WHAT SHE PROVIDES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PEOPLE AND SO WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO PROTECT HER, SO, IT IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING THAT THEY ARE DOING AT STANDING ROCK, THE SIOUX TRIBE, AND, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IT IS MORE OF A THREAT BUT WE STILL IN ZUNI FEEL THAT SOMETIMES THE SALT LAKE IS THREATENED BY VANDALS AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT REALLY DON'T KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE AND THAT IT IS A PROTECTED AREA. >> WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU BRINGING DIRECTLY TO NEW MEXICO LAWMAKERS TO HELP ENHANCE YOUR TRIBE? >> WITH OUR NEEDS, FUNDING FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT AREAS, BASICALLY AN AREA WE OUTLINED AND SET ASIDE FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND ONE OF OUR GOALS IS A WASTEWATER SYSTEM. THIS IS ABOUT THE THIRD FUNDING CYCLE THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THE STATE. THE WATER HAS BEEN FUNDED, IT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND SO NOW WE NEED A SEWER SYSTEM,

BASICALLY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT DEVELOPING AN AREA, ECONOMICALLY TO WHERE OUR COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT, BECAUSE, REALLY, WITH BEING A TRIBE, IT IS HARD, ESPECIALLY IN OUR REMOTE AREA, REMOTENESS OF THE ZUNI PUEBLO, IT IS VERY HARD TO DEVELOP THINGS TO WHERE WE COULD HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TO BASICALLY ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR PEOPLE. >> ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WORKING WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE BRINGING TO THEM? >> WE ARE JUST WAITING TO SEE IS GOING TO GO AS FAR AS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE NEEDS IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES. BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING PART OF THE PUEBLO COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS WE HAVE MADE A POSITION AND WE HAD A TELEPHONE CONFERENCE WITH CONGRESSMAN PEARCE, WHO IS PRETTY CLOSE TO VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, SO, IT WILL

DEVELOP A POSITION PAPER FOR ALL THE PUEBLOS, THE 19 -- ACTUALLY 20 PUEBLOS AND PRESENT IT TO CONGRESSMAN PEARCE. >> INDIAN DAY HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE IS SIMPLY A AND RESPECT FOR GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE VARIOUS NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES IN THIS STATE. AND SO TO BE RECOGNIZED AND HAVE A CELEBRATION IN REGARDS TO THAT GOVERNMENT, MEANS A LOT TO MEMBERSHIP AND TO THE TRIBES THAT COME AND MAKE THEIR WAY TO SANTA FE EVERY >> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES BETWEEN THE TRIBES AND THE STATE? >> PEOPLE I REPRESENT BRING TO ME THE IDEA WE WISH WE HAD BETTER COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TRIBES

AND STATE. OFTENTIMES, TRIBES ARE LOOKED UPON AS PEOPLE WITH THEIR HANDS OUT ALL THE TIME. THEY HAVE THIS IDEA IN THEIR MIND THEY ALWAYS LOOK AT US LIKE THIS, BUT, RATHER, MY ABILITY TO ARTICULATE POSITIONS, I AM TRYING TO EDUCATE FOLKS ON THE TRUE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT TRIBES PROVIDE TO THE STATE BY WAY OF EMPLOYMENT, BY WAY OF TAXES, BY WAY OF COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE RIGHTS OF WAYS THAT GO STRAIGHT THROUGH TRIBAL NATION, WHETHER IT BE A ROAD, HIGHWAY, FREEWAY, RAILWAY, PIPELINES, ELECTRIC LINES, RIVERS. WE ARE A VITAL COG TO ALLOW THE STATE TO OPERATE THE WAY IT DOES, SO WITHOUT THOSE RIGHTS OF WAY THROUGH TRIBAL LAND, IS IT REALLY THE TRIBES THAT ARE LIKE THIS OR IS IT THE STATE LIKE THIS OR SHOULD WE BE LIKE THIS AND WORK TOGETHER ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES. SO, BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE AND FACILITATE A BETTER DIALOGUE BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT I

HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO DO IN THIS FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THIS SESSION. >> WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE NATIVE AMERICAN LEGISLATORS NOT ONLY HERE IN NEW MEXICO BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY? >> PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT HAVING A SEAT AS A NATIVE THIS REALM IS IMPORTANT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT GIVES OUR PEOPLE A VOICE, THAT WITHOUT SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY LIVES AT THE PUEBLO, THAT GREW UP AT THE PUEBLO, THAT UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT HAS THE CEREMONIES AND CULTURAL AND LEGENDS AS A PART OF WHO THEY ARE, THEY CAN BRING THAT TO THE TABLE AND AGAIN EDUCATE THE PEOPLE THAT I AM SITTING WITH THAT COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE; THAT MY ABILITY TO ARTICULATE TO THEM WHAT TRIBES MEAN IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE, I BELIEVE, AS A TRIBAL MEMBER, AS A TRIBAL LEGISLATOR NOW, IT WILL BE

MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE WAY THAT I CAN CONVEY THAT MESSAGE AND EDUCATE FOLKS. AND THAT MY MESSAGE IS, FOR INSTANCE, TODAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, ONE, NOT READ ON PAPER THAT COME FROM A BOOK OR THAT IS DESCRIPTIVE OR A USE OF QUOTES FROM SOMEBODY ELSE. ALL THOSE MESSAGE THAT I SPEAK OF COME FROM THE HEART AND I HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS CONTEMPORARY WORLD AS TRIBAL PEOPLE, WE NO LONGER FIGHT OUR BATTLES WITH STONES, BOWS OR ARROWS, BUT NOW TODAY WE FIGHT OUR BATTLES AND PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND PLACES WITH OUR MIND AND WITH YOUR HEARTS AND TONGUES. SO IF WE CAN DO THAT AND TRUST IN OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT, WE'LL ENSURE OUR PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTED THE BEST WAY THEY CAN. [NATIVE DRUMMING] >> IN 2014, VOTERS IN BERNALILLO COUNTY VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF A TAX TO PAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, THIS CAME AFTER THE SHOOTING DEATH BY POLICE OF

JAMES BOYD, A HOMELESS MAN WHO WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC AS WELL AS OTHER SHOOTINGS BY POLICE INVOLVING PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. THIS TAX WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2015 AND IS PROVIDING UP TO $20 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR MORE PROGRAMS. CORRESPONDENT MEGAN KAMERICK TALKS WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATES ABOUT WHAT PROGRESS WE MADE IN GETTING MORE SERVICES TO MORE PEOPLE IN DISTRESS. >> I AM JOINED TODAY BY JIM OGLE. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASKFORCE AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, ALBUQUERQUE CHAPTER. KATRINA HOTRUM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS DIRECTOR FOR BERNALILLO COUNTY, AND DOUGLAS CHAPLIN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US. >> GOOD TO BE HERE. >> KATRINA, YOU ARE OVERSEEING THE EFFORTS OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASKFORCE JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE THIS TAX WAS IMPLEMENTED TO EXPAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES BRINGING 17 TO 20 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR INITIATIVES APPROVED OR FUNDED SO FAR. CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA? >> CERTAINLY. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE BEEN INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HOSPITAL IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH WHAT IS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED AND ALSO THE HUMAN STATE. TO DETERMINE WHAT IS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SO WE COULD BUILD ON THAT. >> WHAT DO WE HAVE? WHERE ARE THE GAPS? >> YEAH. SOME OF THE THINGS APPROVED SO FAR, ARE MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS AND THAT IS INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, OR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, THAT WILL BE GOING ON SCENE AND WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES TO SEE IF WE CAN DIVERT AND DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS. >> THE PHONE CALLS THAT MY RELATIVE IS IN CRISIS, THEY WOULD GO OUT WITH THE POLICE. >> THAT IS RIGHT. >> ANOTHER INITIATIVE WE WORKED ON THAT HASN'T COST ANYBODY MONEY IS WITH NEW

MEXICO CRISIS AND ACCESS LINE. WE, ON THE BERNALILLO COUNTY SIDE, HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH 911 DISPATCHERS ON TRANSFERRING APPROPRIATE CALLS TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LINE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE ACCESSING THAT. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE HAVE APPROVED AND WE ARE WORKING ON REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT WILL BE COMING OUT QUICKLY ON REDUCTION OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS AROUND A THREE MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT. >> REACHING KIDS WHO ARE YOUNG AND MIGHT BE IN TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS; ABUSIVE SITUATIONS. >> BEYOND REACHING KIDS, WE ARE LOOKING AT SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES IN THESE EFFORTS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF WE PROVIDE THAT CHILD SOME STABILIZATION AND SUPPORT, WE CAN ACTUALLY STOP THE CYCLE OF ABUSE AND HOPEFULLY HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN AS THEY TURN INTO ADULTS. THE OTHER IS YOUTH TRANSITIONAL LIVING AND THAT IS REALLY FOCUSING ON HOMELESS AND MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED SOME STABILIZATION AND SUPPORT. INVESTMENT IS $650,000. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAMS

THAT WOULD FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS PRE-AND POST CRISIS THAT WOULD GO OUT. IT IS REALLY A PEER SUPPORT MODEL TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO STABILIZE THEM IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PUT ABOUT THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN SUPPORT OF HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THOSE ARE THE BIG INITIATIVES. >> HOW HAS COMMUNITY INPUT PLAYED A ROLE IN DECIDING THESE PRIORITIES? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. SO, WE HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING HARD BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND UNM TO GET COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND THE BIG WAY THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT IS THROUGH SUBCOMMITTEES AND THEY ARE MEMBERS IN FOUR CATEGORY; HOUSING, COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, CRISIS AND PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION AND IN THAT, WE HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS MEMBERS, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN COMMUNITY THAT ARE SITTING ON THESE COMMITTEES PROVIDING INPUT ON

WE HAVE MADE A BETTER EFFORT AT TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLICATIONS, I THINK, YOU'LL POSTING ON YOUR WEBSITE. >> WE WILL. WE'LL HAVE THAT AND OTHER RESOURCES ON THE SITE. >> AS AN ADVOCATE AND A MEMBER OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASKFORCE, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS RIGHT NOW IN BERNALILLO COUNTY AND THEIR FAMILIES? >> FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THINK WHAT I WOULD ARGUE IS DEALING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS AND THINGS LIKE MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAMS TO GO WITH THAT, AND PART OF WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO PUSH THINGS IS TO MINIMIZE THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE, WHICH IS PART OF THE REASON THAT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAMS ARE IMPORTANT AND SOME OF THE STUDIES THAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS WE

BELIEVE WILL PRODUCE INFORMATION WHICH SAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS WITHOUT THE POLICE AS WELL AS, I THINK, WE'LL STILL NEED THE POLICE INVOLVED WITH MOBILE CRISIS TEAM, BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT SEE A HYBRID IN ANOTHER YEAR OR SO DOWN THE ROAD. >> THIS IS ONE OF THE POINTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT ON POLICE HERE, THE INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MENTAL CRISIS; BIG POINT OF CRITIQUE, A LOT OF SHOOTINGS AROUND THAT. SO, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IN BERNALILLO COUNTY WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS? >> IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS FOR SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, IT IS ABOUT 4% OF THE ADULT POPULATION WHICH COMES TO AROUND 22,000 OR SO FOR BERNALILLO COUNTY. >> I WANT TO GO TO YOU, DOUG. YOU'RE MAYOR RICHARD BERRY'S DESIGNEE TO THE ALBUQUERQUE BERNALILLO COUNTY GOVERNMENT

COMMISSION. >> A MOUTHFUL. >> THAT IS WORKING ON THESE INITIATIVES. CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE GONE TO OTHER CITIES TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE CALLED CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTERS AND TO TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS -- THEIR FAMILY MEMBER CALLS AND INSTEAD OF TAKING THEM TO DETENTION CENTERS, TAKE THEM TO ONE OF THESE. WHERE ARE THINGS WITH THAT? ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? >> WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON NOW AND THE MESSAGE WE TAKE AWAY SUGGESTION IS TO MAKE SURE YOU PLACE BEFORE YOU BUILD A BUILDING. BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BUILD THE BUILDING IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROPER RESPONSE TO MEET NEEDS. THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY, WITH FOLKS LIKE JIM OGLE, UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH AND THE STATE TO IDENTIFY -- AND TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO BETTER

MEET NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING MENTAL ILLNESS. THAT WAS A BIG TAKE AWAY. >> IT SOUNDS VERY EFFECTIVE FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD. IT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TAKING SOMEONE TO JAIL. >> IT IS VERY MUCH AN ALTERNATIVE TO TAKING PEOPLE TO JAIL. WE ARE WORKING IN A LOT OF WAYS TO AVOID THAT AT ALL COST. THE COUNTY JUST ANNOUNCED THEIR RESOURCE CENTER DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE. >> THIS IS REENTRY. >> REENTRY CENTER. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH APD WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY ON WAYS TO AVOID TAKING PEOPLE TO JAIL, ALTERNATIVES TO THAT. IN FACT, I SAW STATISTICS YESTERDAY DURING A MEETING THAT SHOWS TAKING FOLKS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SOME FORM OF MENTAL ILLNESSES IS SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, THEY ARE CHANGING THEIR CULTURE IN TERMS OF HOW THEY APPROACH THESE CASES AND THE WAY THEY ARE GOING ABOUT DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS IS VASTLY DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT WAS EVEN TWO YEARS AGO. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT REENTRY CENTER THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN THE JAIL OR METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER, THEY ARE COMING OUT, WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW PEOPLE JUST ARE DISCHARGED AND THEY END UP WHEREVER THEY CAN FIND -- >> THERE IS A COUPLE THINGS. JUST BACKTRACKING AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT DOUG SAID, THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE SO CRITICAL. ONE OF THE WAYS WE HAVE DONE A DIVERSE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY ON PUBLIC INEBRIATE INTERVENTION PROGRAM. THAT HAPPENS OVER AT MAT FOR BERNALILLO COUNTY. IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS RESOURCE REENTRY CENTER IS GOING TO DO IT IS GOING TO REALLY IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIGH NEED, WHO ARE AT RISK OF RECIDIVISM. >> GOING BACK TO JAIL. >> YEAH. AND REALLY WORKING WITH THEM WHILE THEY ARE IN JAIL IF THEY ARE WILLING AND THEN HAVING -- CONNECTING WITH RESOURCES SO THAT WE HAVE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION INTO THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS ONE COMPONENT. THE OTHER IS BEING A RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE WHO IS DISCHARGED, A WARM PLACE TO BE, CHARGE YOUR PHONE, WHAT DO YOU NEED HELP WITH? AT SOME LEVEL OF CASE

MANAGEMENT WE COULD PROBABLY BE VERY INSTRUMENTAL AND BESIDES ASKING THEM, YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT A CUP OF COFFEE, WHERE ARE YOU GOING AFTER THIS? HOW CAN WE ASSIST YOU? DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE THESE RESOURCES OUT THERE AND TRYING TO CONNECT AND BOND WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS, TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM STEERED IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION AND A CHANGE FOR THEIR LIFE, SO WE DO HAVE RESOURCES OUT THERE. THIS IS REALLY A BIG FRONT DOOR FOR US TO ACCESS INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE ON THE VERGE OF HAVING A CRISIS OR DON'T STABILIZE WELL IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THEM AND GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED FOR THEM. >> JIM, I MEAN, NOT EVERYONE WHO HAS A FAMILY MEMBER WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WINDS UP IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. A LOT OF THEM DO, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FAMILIES OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS BECAUSE IN THE PAST THEY REACH OUT IN CRISIS SITUATIONS, SOMETIMES THOSE HAVE ENDED TRAGICALLY. WHAT DO THEY NEED AND DO YOU THINK THESE INITIATIVES THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ARE MEETING THAT NEED? >> I THINK THERE ARE TWO OR

THREE THINGS. ONE IS WHEN A PERSON REALLY COMES OUT WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, THAT IS WHAT I AM LARGELY INVOLVED WITH, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. SO, THEY NEED SOME TRAINING, SOME UNDERSTANDING THERE. BUT, THE SYSTEM ALSO NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THESE PEOPLE AND RECOGNIZE THE EARLY SYMPTOMS AND BE ABLE TO TRY TO DIVERT THEM, SO, PREVENTION, YOU KNOW -- >> BEFORE THEY REACH A BREAK. >> BEFORE THEY REACH THE BREAK AND BEFORE THEY REALLY GET BAD. THERE IS ANOTHER THING NOW THAT THE PEERS REALLY NEED AS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THIS, AND LET'S SAY THEY ARE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY OR WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THAT IS SOMETHING TO REALLY WORK FOR, WHICH MEANS EMPLOYMENT, AND THE REAL PROBLEM IN THE RECIDIVISM THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO GET BACK

INTO THE JOB AREA. >> DO YOU THINK THESE INITIATIVES WE ARE WORKING ON ARE GOING TO HELP TOWARDS THAT? >> I THINK THERE ARE SOME THINGS PLANNED THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT TO DO THAT. I SEE IT IN SOME OF THE PLANNING AND I DON'T THINK WE ARE THERE YET. YOU TAKE THIS CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF JAILS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY REALLY NEED IS EMPLOYMENT AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN IN JAIL TO GET THOSE -- GET THAT EMPLOYMENT. SO, THE EMPLOYERS IN THE COMMUNITY REALLY NEED TO SORT OF STEP UP AND BE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND CITY TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING THERE. >> DOUG, A KEY PART OF STABILIZATION IS HOUSING AS WELL, SO THERE IS PLANS TO EXPAND UNDER THAT. EXISTING PROGRAM THAT BRINGS IN SUPPORTS. >> SURE. SO, OUR HOUSING, HOUSING FIRST MODEL, AND BASICALLY THE UNDERLYING IDEA THERE IS THAT THE HOUSING IS A FOUNDATION

AND STABILIZATION AND THEN WRAPPING THE RIGHT SERVICES FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL'S RECOVERY TO MAKE THAT SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ENDEAVOR. >> WE ARE EXPANDING THAT? >> WE ARE LOOKING AT EXPANDING IT. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS DOING THIS IN SCATTERED SITE FASHION. PEOPLE GET A VOUCHER AND THEY GO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND UNIVERSITY, UNMH, AT A SINGLE SITE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. AND THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IS IT GIVES INDIVIDUALS A PLACE TO LIVE THAT WAS DESIGNED AND MANAGED IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO RECOVERY, TRAUMA INFORMED, IT WOULD CREATE SAFE PLACES, IT WOULD CREATE A CONTROLLED ACCESS OR GATED COMMUNITY FOR THEM AND THEIR SUCCESS. AND THEN IT WOULD HAVE SERVICES. AND WE ARE STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE WOULD BE, THAT WOULD SUPPORT RECOVERY OF EACH OF THE INDIVIDUALS. >> KATRINA, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? WHAT ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE FOR

THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND HOW DO WE KEEP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED? >> SO, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE HOPEFULLY MONEY ROLLING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH THESE INITIATIVES, AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING ON REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND GETTING MONEY OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY SO WE SEE EFFECTIVE CHANGE. THE FIRST ONE YOU WILL SEE IS THE REDUCTION OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE PROPOSAL WHICH -- THE PROPOSAL IS ALREADY OUT AND WE ARE LOOKING AT CONTRACT FINALIZATIONS AT THIS POINT. SO, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF INITIATIVES WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT COMING TO LIFE. >> MOBILE CRISIS TEAM. >> MOBILE CRISIS TEAM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAMS AND, AGAIN, STILL PARTNERING ON THE HOUSING PIECES, BUT I THINK IN THE FUTURE YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE MORE EFFORT INTO PREVENTION AND TEACHING AND TRAINING OF AND GETTING COMMUNITY UP TO SPEED ON WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS AND HOW TO ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. WE USE A PROGRAM CALLED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AND WE HOPE TO ROLL THAT OUT TO MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL. AND THEN ALSO MORE PREVENTION EFFORTS AND THOSE THINGS.

>> THERE IS MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING ON AND TALKING ABOUT THIS AND WE'LL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON THE WEB. >> THANK YOU. >> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP RECENTLY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT ALLOWS THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE PROJECT AND THE KEYSTONE XL PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD. THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN THE CAMP NEAR STANDING ROCK RESERVATION. NOW THEY CAME NOT ONLY TO PROTECT THAT KEY WATER SOURCE FOR TRIBAL MEMBERS BUT ALSO TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE SPIRITUAL IMPORTANCE OF THE WATER AND LAND. NOW THE FILMMAKER TONY ESTRADA WAS AT THE OCETI SAKOWIN, ROSEBUD SIOUX, PAPA SIOUX AND SACRED STONE CAMPS FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER AND SPOKE WITH SOME WATER PROTECTORS WHO CAME FROM NEW MEXICO TO SUPPORT OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT. SOME BROUGHT FOOD, SUPPLIES AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEY SPOKE ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS THEY FEEL TO NATIONAL AND NOW INTERNATIONAL ISSUE. [NATIVE DRUMMING/SINGING]

>> I LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THINGS THAT I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT AND TRY AND MAKE SOME SORT OF DIFFERENCE. WE DID A FUNDRAISER AND SPENT 20-FOOT U-HAUL, RENTED IT FOR THE WEEK AND LOADED IT UP WITH ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY, ALMOST FOUR CORDS OF WOOD. WE HAD BLANKETS, WE HAD WINTER COATS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, TONS OF FOOD, AND WE RENTED A CAR TO BRING UP SOME WATER PROTECTORS AND LOADED THE U-HAUL AND BROUGHT IT ALL UP. BRING PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS AND DONATIONS AND SUPPORT TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE PUEBLO ALLIANCE CAMP WHO HAVE BEEN HERE HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AND ALSO TO COME TRIBES, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF ALL RACES THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER IN UNITY HERE. WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN HERE.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE VIEWED AS SUBHUMAN. THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO COME IN AND PROTECT CORPORATE INTERESTS RATHER THAN ACTUAL PEOPLE. THAT IS WHY I HAD TO BE HERE. TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT WAS USED ON PEACEFUL PROTESTORS. THIS IS ALL FOR WATER RIGHTS AND OIL COMPANIES -- REALLY IS OUR MAIN WATER SOURCE AND THIS WILL HURT THE WATER FOR THE ROCK BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI. >> BEING UP HERE IS JUST BRINGING MY CULTURE. YOU KNOW WE ALL PRACTICE THAT PUEBLO WAY AND A LOT OF US WERE BROUGHT UP BY GRANDPARENTS SO THAT COMES UP WITH US AND WE JUST OFFERED OUR SURROUNDINGS, REMIND THEM TO PRAY EVERY MORNING AT CORN MEAL, TO PUT ON THOSE ASHES TO PROTECT US AS OUR DAY GOES ON, PUT ON REGALIA TO HAVE THAT IN

OUR DAY IN OR PATH. EVERYTHING GETS SO DISTRACTING SOMETIMES UP HERE WITH MANY THINGS, MANY EMOTIONS. WE JUST STAY ON A PATH WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT IS NECESSARY AND IT WILL BE A GREAT OUTCOME. IN AND IT FELT SO GOOD BECAUSE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE CHAOS AND ALL THE STUFF GOING ON, JUST TO HAVE THE TIME TO HOLD A KID AND REALIZE THIS WHOLE REASON IS FOR YOU, YOUR GREAT GRANDKIDS, FOR YOU TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE AND TO VIEW WITH YOUR OWN EYES, IT IS SO MAGICAL AND TAKES EVERYTHING AWAY. >> I HAVE MET SOME OF THE MOST THE WORLD, WITNESSED HUNDREDS OF INDIGENOUS NATIONS FROM ALL

OVER THE WORLD COME AND THEMSELVES, OFFER PRAYER, SONG, AND MAKE TOBACCO OFFERINGS TO THE SACRED FIRE AT THE MAIN CAMP AND I HAVE WITNESSED A GATHERING LIKE NONE OTHER. >> I HAVE BEEN HERE IN STANDING ROCK AND WHAT I SAW WAS JUST EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER UNITING AND PRAYING AND YOU KNOW EVERYBODY WAS PRAYING FOR THE SAME THING AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CONTINUE, NOT JUST AT STANDING ROCK, BUT FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES AND I THINK WE HAVE A BIGGER VOICE IF WE STAND TOGETHER. CONTINUE GATHERING IN THIS WAY, WHETHER IT BE ON THE GILA RIVER DOWN HERE IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, IF, IN FACT, A EFFECT THERE. THAT WE CAN AMASS WITH THOUSANDS, 20,000 PEOPLE THERE AND PROTECT THAT LITTLE LIFE LINE, THAT LITTLE WATERWAY, SO

THAT WOULD BE THE MESSAGE THAT WE CAN DO THIS AS A PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER IN A GOOD WAY, WALKING SOFTLY ON THE EARTH AND NOT THINKING JUST ABOUT PROFIT AND GREED AND POWER. >> ONE SIDE OF THE LINE YOU HAVE INVESTMENT OF MONETARY THE OTHER SIDE, THE INVESTMENT IS TO SPIRITUAL VALUE, THE SACREDNESS OF THAT AND THAT IS WHAT BRINGS AND DRIVES PEOPLE. >> NO DIFFERENT THAN THE EARLIER PART OF THIS HISTORY OF AMERICAS, WHERE PEOPLE BOARDED BOATS TO COME OVER HERE SEEKING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, PLACES TO WORSHIP AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SOMEWHAT CONTRADICTORY THAT NATIVE PEOPLE CANNOT HAVE PLACES OF WORSHIP AND PLACES WHERE THEY CAN HAVE SACRED OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR HIGHER POWER. >> IT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER CELEBRATING HUMANITY, EARTH, WATER, AIR, SKY AND THAT IS WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO SEE, YOU KNOW. I WANT THEM TO BE INSPIRED TO

NOT ONLY TAKE ACTION AGAINST WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR PEOPLE AND TO OUR WATER, BUT TO ALSO JUST BE INSPIRED TO TREAT THEIR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AS A BROTHER OR SISTER, BECAUSE WE ARE ALL, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW. WE ARE ALL RELATIVITIES. [NATIVE SINGING] >> NEW MEXICO IS PROBABLY ONE THE WHOLE UNITED STATES, IN THE WHOLE WORLD ALMOST. YOU HAVE NAVAJO, PUEBLO, APACHES AND SOME OF THE UTES, ALL THESE CULTURES, CHOOSING TO LIVE TOGETHER AND THAT IS WHAT STANDING ROCK IS TRYING TO PROMOTE. WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, OR THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE ALL DRINK WATER, WE ALL NEED TO LIVE AND WE ALL NEED TO FIGHT FOR THAT RIGHT TO LIVE. >> AS A PARENT IN THE URANIUM

MINING, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE POISONS, THE PEOPLE AND WATER. CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE COAL MINING ON THE NAVAJO NATION, WHERE THEY ARE SENDING FLURRY POISONS THE AQUIFER. IN NAVAJO NATIONS THEY HAD THE GOLD MINE SPILL INTO THE ANIMAS. IT POISONS THE WATER. >> SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COMING, SOME OF THE DRUMMING THAT WE HERE ON THE GROUND LEVEL IS THE TRANSPORTATION OF URANIUM, WHETHER IT BE PLUTONIUM RODS TRAVELING IN ON THE FEDERAL HIGHWAYS THAT CRISSCROSS THE NAVAJO NATION. SOME OF OTHER ISSUES WOULD BE ELIMINATING OR VOIDING SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENT JUSTICE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IN THE PAST. SUCH AS CLEANING UP THE HAZE IN THE GRAND CANYON AS WELL AS THE POWER PLANT ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE AIR QUALITY.

A LOT OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN COULD BE IN JEOPARDY. >> WATER AFFECTS US ALL. THAT IS MAINLY WHY I CAME UP HERE. BUT AS SOON AS I CAME UP HERE, I REALIZED IT WAS MUCH MORE THAN JUST WATER WE ARE FIGHTING FOR. IT IS MORE OF AN INDIGENOUS CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN A WAY THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY FIGHTING FOR WATER BUT FOR OUR BASIC RIGHTS AS AMERICAN INDIGENOUS CITIZENS. >> THIS ISN'T JUST AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE, THIS IS A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THIS IS A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. YOU KNOW, IT IS ABOUT WATER, YES, IT IS ABOUT LAND RIGHTS, YES, BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT 500 YEARS OF RAPE AND MURDER AND CULTURAL GENOCIDE. WE ARE JUST SICK OF IT. >> THIS WEEK, U.S. SENATOR TOM UDALL ADDRESSED THE JOINT SESSION OF THE NEW MEXICO HE TALKED ABOUT HOW A REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

MR. UDALL AND OTHER HEALTH LEADERS FEAR IF THE ACT IS REPEALED WITH NO INSUFFICIENT REPLACEMENT, MORE THAN 360,000 NEW MEXICANS HAVE GAINED HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH ACA OR MEDICAID EXPANSION AND COULD STAND TO LOSE IT. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW MEXICANS WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS OR HIGH MEDICAL NEEDS COULD SEE A DRASTIC CHANGE IN THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE. WE WANTED TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EVERYDAY NEW MEXICANS. I AM JOINED TODAY BY LINDA WEDEEN, CEO OF BE WELL NM, NEW MEXICO'S HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE; ROXANNE ROXANE SPRUCE BLY, INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WITH BLY AND ASSOCIATES, WHICH HELPS PEOPLE IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NATIVE PEOPLE, AND, GABRIEL SANCHEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON, CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY AT UNM, AND DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH FOR LATINO DECISIONS. LINDA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE. SENATOR UDALL ALSO SAID ACA REPEALED WITH NO REPLACEMENT COULD SET NEW MEXICANS BACK TO THE DAY OF NO CARE IF THIS HAPPENS, USE OF TAXPAYER SUBSIDIZED ER SERVICES AS A

LAST RESORT. YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING? >> YES, I DO. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ACA DID FOR PEOPLE, WAS, A, MAKE HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE. THEY COULD GET ACTUAL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SO THAT WE HAD MORE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID THAT COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD TO GET HEALTHCARE WITH SUBSIDIES. IT ALLOWED PEOPLE, THEN, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HEALTHCARE TO GO INTO WHETHER IT WAS PRACTITIONERS, DOCTORS, HOSPITALS, CARE AND THE HOSPITALS WOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR TREATING THOSE PEOPLE. WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS IF THAT ALL GOES AWAY, HOSPITALS ARE PROBABLY STILL GOING TO TREAT SOMEONE WITH EMERGENCY CARE BUT NOT GET COMPENSATED. THAT PUTS A HUGE BURDEN ON NEW MEXICANS, HOSPITALS, ALL THE ANCILLARY SERVICES AROUND HOSPITALS, PRACTITIONERS, LABS, ET CETERA, THAT WILL BE DOING THINGS AND NOT GETTING COMPENSATED, BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT GET HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE THEY

WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD OR EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING TO THE HOSPITAL IF THEY GET SICK. THAT IS A REAL CONCERN TO US. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE BE ABLE TO GET PREVENTIVE CARE WHICH IS FREE SO THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. >> PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STATE, PREVENTIVE STUFF, ISN'T IT? >> EXACTLY. >> INTERESTING. GABE, GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> ALWAYS. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIGGER POLITICS OF THIS AS WELL. COULD YOU ACTUALLY, IN YOUR MIND'S EYE, ACTUALLY SEE THIS BEING FLIPPED AND REPLACED POLITICALLY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT REPLACEMENT? COULD THAT HAPPEN? >> IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT AT LEAST QUICKLY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ELECTION THIS WOULD HAPPEN QUICKLY. THE REALITY IS, I THINK, WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP NOTED THAT NOT IT BUT WOULD REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY DROPS IN INSURANCE OR MAKE IT LESS COSTLY, THAT BAR HAS A LOT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

VERY SCARED ABOUT IT. IT WAS MORE POPULAR THAN A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO. ALL THESE FOLKS THAT HAVE INSURANCE IN PLACES LIKE NEW MEXICO ARE GOING TO BE ANGRY AT SOMEBODY AND WHERE MIGHT POINT THAT BLAME. SO I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST A YEAR OR TWO YEARS OUT. FOR ALL MY COLLEAGUES, THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO SAY TODAY IS WITH A MAJOR HUGE GRAIN OF SALT BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING BY THE DAY. >> I REFERRED TO SENATOR UDALL, OF COURSE. PART OF THE SPEECH HE MADE TO THE LEGISLATURE LAID OUT SOME NUMBERS. WE ARE TALKING A LOSS, AND LINDA MADE THIS POINT TOO, OF 2.2 BILLION IN FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDING IN 2019 AND ALMOST 27 BILLION BETWEEN 2019 AND 2028. NEW MEXICO COULD NOT HANDLE THAT. SO, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? IS IT ON OUR SENATORS, ON US? HOW DO WE GET IN THE GAME HERE? >> ANOTHER SCARY THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT IS WHAT ABOUT JOBS, BECAUSE, THE CONTEXT IS NEW MEXICO HAS SEEN THE GREATEST INCREASE IN OUR INSURED POPULATION SINCE 2013. WE BENEFITED THE MOST SO IF YOU TAKE IT AWAY, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE THE MOST. ONE NUMBER A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GOING ON ABOUT, 33,000 JOBS WILL BE LOST IF IT IS REPEALED, ALMOST 4% JOB LOSS,

THE GREATEST OF ANY STATE IN THE U.S. IF THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED, AT A TIME WHERE NEW MEXICO DESPERATELY NEEDS JOBS. SO, THAT IS THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THIS IS HAPPENING. WHAT CAN WE DO? WE HAVE GOT TO RELY ON THE DELEGATION, BUT I THINK IT IS UP TO THE PUBLIC TO BASICALLY SEND SIGNALS THAT, HEY, ACA IS WORKING IN NEW MEXICO AND THE RECENT INCREASE WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH BE WELL NM IS A SIGN OF THAT. PEOPLE WERE WORRIED. THEY ARE SAYING, LOOK, SYMBOLICALLY WE WANT TO ENGAGE AND BE INSURED AND THAT IS POSITIVE. >> ROXANE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. WE HAVE OF COURSE RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE NATIVE COMMUNITY. IN GENERAL TERMS, WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH REPEAL OF OBAMA CARE. >> TWO MAJOR EFFECTS, OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST WOULD BE CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 60% OF THE NATIVE POPULATION ON MEDICAID PROGRAM AND NEARLY 40,000 ARE IN THE ADULT EXPANSION CATEGORY THAT IS A CENTRAL ACT.

INDIVIDUALS WITH COVERAGE ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE TEND TO BE LOWER INCOME, THEY HAVE HIGHER INCIDENTS OF DISEASE, ESPECIALLY CHRONIC DISEASE. LOSS OF INSURANCE AND PEACE OF MIND THAT COMES WITH HAVING INSURANCE IS CATASTROPHIC FOR FAMILIES. THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET CARE THEY NEED. IF THEY DO NEED ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY CARE OR SPECIALTY CARE THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM, THEY COULD BE LEFT WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MEDICAL DEBT. SO THE EFFECTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL IS CONSIDERABLE. THERE IS THE EFFECTS ON THE INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM ITSELF, WHICH FOR DECADES HAS BEEN WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED AT 54% OF THE ACTUAL NEEDS AND MEDICAID EXPANSION AND THE INCREASED NUMBERS OF NATIVE AMERICANS WITH HEALTH COVERAGE HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE THIRD PARTY REVENUE WHICH HAS ALLOWED THAT SYSTEM TO STABILIZE, STRENGTHEN, EXPAND AND GROW, THE ABILITY TO HIRE MORE PROVIDERS, TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT SERVICES. YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO ACA A LOT OF NATIVE PEOPLE WERE RELYING ON THE PROGRAM NOW CALLED PURCHASE REFERRED CARE, AND AT THAT TIME, IF THEY NEEDED

SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THE INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM, THOSE SERVICES WERE RARELY PAID FOR UNLESS IT WAS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION. WHEN I BEGAN MY WORK, FREQUENTLY I WOULD ENCOUNTER ELDERS WHO COULD NOT GET APPROVAL FOR THINGS LIKE CATARACT SURGERY, THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY AND CRITICAL TO GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. REPEALING THE ACT HAS SIGNIFICANT EFFECT FOR NATIVE PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALS, AND COMMUNITIES, FOR THE TRIBES AND FOR THE INDIAN HEALTH SYSTEM ITSELF. ANOTHER COMPONENT OF IT THAT PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN RECOGNIZE IS THAT IT PERMANENTLY REAUTHORIZED THE INDIAN HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACT WHICH CONTAINS A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW FOR AN ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR INDIAN PEOPLE AND FOR TRIBES. AND SO THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY LIMIT THE ABILITY OF TRIBES TO EXPAND THEIR SYSTEMS. >> THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. THE OTHER THING THAT INTERESTS ME WHEN IT COMES TO NATIVE AMERICANS IN OUR STATE, EVERYBODY, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THIS TOO, IS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES. WHERE DOES ACA -- HOW DOES THAT INTERSECT AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ACA WENT AWAY.

>> SPECIFICALLY HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES AND COVERAGE TO PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN AND INCLUDED BENEFIT, BUT, AGAIN, THAT INDIAN HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT ACT CONTAINS A PROVISION THAT ACTUALLY DIRECTS THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE TO ESTABLISH INTEGRATIVE PROGRAMS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. SO, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT DISEASE IN MANY NATIVE COMMUNITIES IS IT SORT OF IS A TRIFECTA. YOU HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM DIABETES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DEPRESSION, WHICH IS SOME SORT OF VICIOUS CYCLE IN ITSELF. SO THE ACT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF PROVIDING INTEGRATED APPROACH TO CARE AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT, THAT CAN REALLY, OVER THE LONG TERM, IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF INDIAN PEOPLE. >> THAT IS PART OF THE PEACE OF MIND, THAT CHANCE TO HAVE SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD TURN MORE POSITIVE. >> LINDA, PICK UP ON THAT. >> ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD IS THAT ONE OF THE THINGS NEW

MEXICO DID WAS ENACTED LEGISLATION WHICH ACTUALLY CREATED THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE AND A PART OF THAT LEGISLATION, IT ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A SPECIFIC NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM TO PICK UP ON THE THINGS THAT ROXANE WAS TALKING ABOUT, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT JUST FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE STATE, IT IS FOR ALL. AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT NATIVE AMERICANS IS A HUGE PART OF OUR POPULATION, OBVIOUSLY. IT IMPACTS THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY, IMPACTS THE OTHER COMMUNITIES. WE TRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY GET THE WORD OUT AND EDUCATE EVERYONE THE VALUES OF HAVING THESE TYPES OF SERVICES. WITHOUT THE EXCHANGE BEING THERE TO DO THAT, IT LEAVES ALL THESE OTHER LITTLE POCKETS OF THINGS TO HAPPEN AND THERE IS NOT A REAL COORDINATED EFFORT, BUT OUR CONCERN IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE JUST, YOU KNOW -- IT TOOK ABOUT, NOW THIS IS OUR FOURTH OPEN ENROLLMENT, IT HAS TAKEN US THAT MANY YEARS TO GET THAT

MESSAGE OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE STATE. IT'S A HUGE RURAL STATE. IT IS HARD TO GET OUT THERE. IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE BUT WE WORKED HARD AND WORKED WITH PARTNERS LIKE THE NATIVE AMERICAN GROUPS THAT WE WORKED WITH AND OTHER PARTNERS, HISPANIC, YOU KNOW, PARTNERS, ET CETERA, SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE STATE. BUT IF WE ARE NOT THERE TO DO THAT, IT WILL BE FRAGMENTED AGAIN. >> I KNOW NATIONALLY WE ARE UP A LITTLE BIT ON PEOPLE SIGNING UP. HOW DID IT TURN OUT IN NEW MEXICO THIS CYCLE? >> WE ENDED UP JUST A LITTLE ABOVE WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, BUT THAT IS GREAT. SINCE WE STARTED BACK IN 2012 OR '13 THE AVERAGE IS 23%. IT IS NOW DOWN TO 10%. THAT IS A HUGE DEDUCTION. >> THAT IS IN THE NATION, THAT IS RIGHT. SO, THAT IS INDICATIVE BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF UNINSURED PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH THEM VERY HARD AND

THEY WON'T GET INSURED, NO MATTER WHAT. >> BLOCK GRANTS TO THE STATE, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT FOR THE FOLKS IN BRIEF AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR NEW MEXICO IF IN FACT THAT CAME TO PASS? >> QUICKLY ON INEQUALITY ISSUE. MOST FOLKS DON'T REALIZE, PRE-ACA, NEW MEXICO HAD THE GREATEST INEQUALITY BY RACE IN ACCESS TO INSURANCE. YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICAN AND THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. ACA PLUS, THE GOVERNOR'S VERY WISE DECISION TO EXPAND MEDICAID HAS REALLY SHRUNK THOSE INEQUALITIES BUT OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE URBAN INSTITUTE SAY IF THIS WERE TO BE REPEALED, THE NATIVE AMERICAN UNINSURED RATE WOULD TRIPLE. THAT IS CONTEXT ON EQUALITY. BLOCK GRANTS ARE ANOTHER INCREDIBLY COMPLEX SITUATION THAT A LOT OF FOLKS HERE, BY THE WAY, WERE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE BEFORE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP AND DISCUSSION OF REPEAL, LARGELY BECAUSE A LOT OF FUNDING THAT COMES FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT IS LIKE A DECREASING PYRAMID, RIGHT? OVER TIME THE STATE HAS TO KEEP UP MORE OF THE OVERALL

COST. WE WERE ALREADY ON THE TRAIN TRYING TO FIGURE AT A TIME WHEN THE BUDGET IS SO TIGHT, CAN WE AFFORD THAT. AND THE BLOCK GRANTS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR RURAL AREAS TO EXPAND ACCESS AND IN MANY CASES, THE THING THAT IS MOST SCARY ON THE MARKETPLACE SIDE, IS ALL THE FUNDING THAT WAS FOR OUTREACH TO FIND FOLKS, EDUCATE THEM, BRING THEM INTO THE SYSTEM, IF THAT GOES AWAY, YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I, BUT I SUSPECT THAT IS HUGELY PROBLEMATIC FOR THE REST OF THAT POPULATION. >> PICK UP ON THAT AS WELL. THE IDEA ON ONE SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT, HE MAKES A POINT THERE, YOU CAN HAVE MORE LOCAL CONTROL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, VERSUS THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW. DO YOU SEE ONE WAY AS BETTER THAN THE OTHER? IS A BLOCK GRANT A PROBLEM FOR YOU? >> I THINK IT IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS FRAMED IN A MESSAGE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STATES TO HAVE MORE AUTONOMY OVER THEIR MEDICAID PROGRAMS AND MORE LATITUDE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS A FIXED AMOUNT OF MONEY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE ALL THE BENEFITS OR COVER ALL

THE BENEFITS YOU HAVE BEEN OFFERING TO ALL THE INDIVIDUALS ON THE PROGRAM, IT DOES GIVE STATES MORE AUTONOMY IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY START CUTTING. CURRENTLY THERE ARE STANDARDS IN TERMS OF ELIGIBILITY, BENEFITS AND SO FORTH, BUT IF THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LATITUDE, THEY COULD BEGIN CUTTING THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE WELL BEING OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE PROGRAM. THAT IS THE DANGER. IN ADDITION, THE FIXED BUDGET, THAT IS A PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM CAN EXPAND IF THERE IS MORE PEOPLE ON IT OR CONSTRICT, ESPECIALLY IN ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, MORE PEOPLE TEND TO BE MEDICAID, SO HAVING IT FIXED, WITH THAT CAVEAT OF THE LATITUDE, IT COULD BE A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION FOR NEW MEXICO. >> I AGREE 100% WITH WHAT ROXANE IS SAYING. THE OTHER THING WITH THE BLOCK GRANT, IT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND. AND WHAT HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT PLACES TO CUT BACK BECAUSE OF THE HUGE BUDGET DEFICIT, THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AND THEY COULD MOVE THAT MONEY

SOMEWHERE ELSE. SO, THE GRANT DOESN'T NECESSARILY GET COMMITTED TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT INITIALLY WAS INTENDED TO BE. THAT WOULD BE A HUGE CONCERN. >> WORST TIME AS POSSIBLE. >> LET'S ASSUME JUST A WHOLE CLOTH REPLACEMENT, THAT FOLKS -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FOLKS TALK ABOUT THAT IS GONE NOW IS THE LIFETIME CAP, PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ARE THEY THINKING CORRECTLY? IF ONE PIECE GETS PLUCKED, THE WHOLE THING UNRAVELS. DO WE NEED TO HAVE THIS COMPLETELY WHOLE AS IT STANDS OR CAN WE GO TO ROLL BACK CERTAIN THINGS? >> THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO, QUOTE, REPAIR IT. YOU KNOW. IT IS FIRST TIME IT EVER HAPPENED. IT WAS NEW, BRAND NEW. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF THINGS LEARNED BUT, YES, THERE IS PLACES THAT THINGS CAN BE IMPROVED ON, BUT, THE WORRY IS THAT THEY WILL PLUCK IT. PLUCKING IT IS DIFFERENT THAN IMPROVING.

SO, I THINK THERE IS PLACES THAT THINGS COULD BE CHANGED BUT THERE IS KEY THINGS THAT NEED TO REMAIN AND CERTAINLY IS PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, PREVENTIVE CARE, WHICH IS HUGE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT IF THEY START PULLING THOSE OUT, IT WILL UNRAVEL, TOTALLY UNRAVEL, AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE -- OVER 30 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE NATION HAVE INSURANCE NOW BECAUSE OF THE ACA. A LOT OF THAT WILL GO AWAY. >> WE NEED TO WRAP UP HERE. GABE, FINISH UP WITH LET'S ASSUME IN NEW MEXICO, WE CLEAR THIS, ACA STAYS. DO WE BUILD ON THIS? CAN WE TAKE WHAT WE HAVE, THIS FOUNDATION, LIKE YOU'RE MENTIONING, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS ON THIS COVERAGE. IS THIS OUR CATAPULT FORWARD TO SOMETHING BETTER IN NEW MEXICO? >> IT CAN BE. I AGREE COMPLETELY. I MEAN THE THING ABOUT THIS IS, IT IS NOT A BLACK OR WHITE ISSUE. KILL IT KEEP IT. BOTH SIDES UNDERSTAND THERE COULD BE SOME IMPORTANT REMEDIES HERE, PRIMARILY ON COST.

OUR CENTER JUST DID A MASSIVE SURVEY OF NEW MEXICANS ASKING ABOUT A BUNCH OF HEALTH CARE ISSUES AND EVEN AMONG THE FOLKS THAT ARE INSURED, THEY SAY COST IS THE NO. 1 OBSTACLE TO RECEIVE PREVENTIVE CARE, THAT IS EVEN HIGHER AMONG THOSE UNINSURED. 67% SAY THEY SKIP SEEING A DOCTOR BECAUSE OF THE COST. WE CAN STILL WORK ON THIS, BUT IT IS COMING AT A TIME WHEN NEW MEXICO DESPERATELY NEEDS THOSE JOBS, THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COMES ALONG WITH IT. I THINK MOST FOLKS AGREE, LET'S USE THIS AS A BUILDING BLOCK, MAYBE MEND IT, BUT DON'T END IT. I THINK IN NEW MEXICO, MORE SO THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY, IT IS CRITICAL FOR US RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT POINT. IT IS ABOUT -- SOMEHOW WE ARE DIFFERENT HERE. WE HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS AND WE HAVE TO TEND TO THAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> I AM GENE GRANT. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK IN FOCUS.