Previously, The Right To Life Committee of New Mexico reported that Governor Richardson would introduce legislation that would fund Embryonic Stem Cell research at the University of New Mexico hospital. He reinterated this desire in his State of the State message on Tuesday, January 16, 2007.

What Governor Richardson did not mention in his State of the State message is that he no longer is backing a piece of legislation but hopes to get the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee to pass a funding bill that would include $25 million for embryonic stem cell research.

If one or both of these committees reject his proposal, there will not be any funding for Embryonic Stem Cell research in New Mexico.

So it is up to you to contact the lawmakers on these two committees to tell them not to support funding for Embryonic Stem Cell research. The arguments are:

   1.   It is unethical.
   2.   It is immoral.
   3.   Embryonic Stem Cell research, which has never been used on a human being, is a waste of money. Support should be given to Adult Stem Cell research that is already working in and for human beings.
   4.   We are a state with limited income. The $25 million could be put to better use for the citizens of New Mexico.

Do Remember: When legislators are sitting on a committee, they no longer represent just their district but serve all of the citizens of New Mexico. Thus, communication must be made with all committee members.

Following is a list of members on the Appropriations Committee and the Finance Committee with their e-mail addresses. However, if you prefer to call, you need to contact the Legislative Switchboard at 505-986-4300 and ask for each legislator. To write to them, you must write to each legislator adressing the letter to: State Senator _______ or State Representative ________ - State Capitol Building, Santa Fe, NM 87503.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Chairman: Henry "Kiki" Saavedra - (no e-mail address)
Deputy Chair: Luciano "Lucky" Varela - (no e-mail address)
Vice-Chair: Danice Picraux - danice.picraux@nmlegis.gov
Ray Begaye - ray.begaye@nmlegis.gov
Richard J. Berry - rj@cumbrel.com
Donald Bratton - donbratton@valornet.com
Joni Marie Gutierrez - jonig@zianet.com
John Heaton - jheaton@caverns.com
Rhonda King - (no e-mail address)
Larry Larranaga - larry@larranaga.com
Antonio Lujan - alujan@zianet.com
Patricia Lundstrom - plundstrom@nwnmcog.com
Kathy McCoy - Katrina@swcp.com
Brian Moore - brian@ranchmkt.com
Nick Salazar - nsalazar@lanl.gov
Don Tripp - trippsdon@netscape.net
Jeannette Wallace - Wallace@losalamos.com
Peter Wirth - peter.wirth@nmlegis.gov

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Co-Chairman: Timothy Jennings - (no e-mail address)
Co-Chairman: John Arthur Smith - john.smith@nmlegis.gov
Vice-Chair: Carlos Cisneros - carlos.cisneros@nmlegis.gov
Joseph Carraro - joecarraro@aol.com
Sue Wilson Beffort - sue.beffort@nmlegis.gov
Pete Campos - petecampos@newmexico.com
Carroll Leavell - leavell4@leaco.net
Leonard Lee Rawson - lee.rawson@nmlegis.gov
Nancy Rodriguez - (no e-mail address)
Leonard Tsosie - (no e-mail address)

If you have any questions, write info@rtlnm.org or call the State Office in Albuquerque at 505-881-4563.