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States helpding guardsman because fed wont { January 19 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local_state_government/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19859_3481709,00.html,00.html http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local_state_government/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19859_3481709,00.html,00.html A call to settle down for session Help for the military goes out front By Shea Andersen and Erik Siemers Tribune Reporters January 19, 2005 SANTA FE - The governor's short game is now in play. Capitalizing on the good will that New Mexicans, especially lawmakers, have for soldiers, Gov. Bill Richardson is hoping to win an early victory at the Legislature. In his State of the State address Tuesday, Richardson proposed a package of benefits for New Mexico National Guard members and soldiers now serving in Iraq. The popular idea has the sort of momentum Democrat Richardson is hoping will get him through a 60-day session. House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, a Grants Democrat, has seen it before. "He's got a short game, a long game and a medium game," Martinez said. "Obviously, this is part of his short game, getting things through that have a lot of support." Doing so, Martinez said, sets a nice tone for the session. "Nothing succeeds like success," Martinez said. "No problem with that." Martinez sees Richardson's push as an annual strategy the first-term governor he has tried out at each session of the Legislature. With a crowd of military men and women in uniform looking down from the House gallery Tuesday, Richardson prompted two standing ovations during his State of the State address when he referred to their hardships. "Let us honor all the National Guardsmen and reservists that are here today," Richardson said, to loud applause. Now he is hoping those sentiments will carry several sweeping initiatives designed to help soldiers and put New Mexico in national headlines. "New Mexico will become the first state in the country to do the following: to pay for $250,000 worth of life insurance for every New Mexico active-duty and New Mexico National Guard member, 4,027 of them," Richardson said. The plan isn't cheap, and it isn't without questions. Just picking up the tab for life insurance, Richardson estimates, would cost $800,000 from New Mexico's general fund. "Let this initiative be one of the first enacted," he said in his 44-minute speech. Richardson also is hoping to make half of military retirement pay exempt from state taxes, an idea that so far has no cost estimates. But support for military members is a popular topic, and legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle seem eager to help. "It will pass quickly," said House Minority Whip Terry Marquardt, an Alamogordo Republican. "The majority of the Legislature wants to show our support for our armed forces. It is a way of showing our appreciation." The notion of providing more benefits for military members is also popular nationwide, with efforts now afoot in Congress and other states. "The first state to pass such legislation will get a lot of notoriety," Marquardt said. Fox News is already on the story, said Maj. Kim Lalley, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico National Guard. A crew for the national cable network was scheduled to be in New Mexico today. But getting the military benefits bill isn't a slam-dunk, said Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, a Belen Democrat. Sanchez said the governor's plan could produce what he termed an "anti-donation problem" that warrants further exploration. New Mexico's anti-donation clause prohibits direct state subsidies to private individuals. Just handing state money to a member of the military to cover life insurance, Sanchez and other Democrats said, could run afoul of the law. "We need to look at it very carefully," Sanchez said. That could mean the early success Richardson is hoping for could take more time. "As much as we would like to support the governor, these are going to be looked at deliberately," Sanchez said. "We have to make sure all of the pieces of legislation are constitutionally sound." But Richardson isn't going to give up, said his spokesman, Billy Sparks. Martinez said he has seen this sort of push from Richardson before and said he believes it might work. He said questions about the anti-donation clause could be worked out. "The one that seems to be fast-tracking is the one that gives life insurance benefits," Martinez said.

soldiers-mental-toll 15 000 more troops iraq { May 16 2003 } 1700 soliders have deserted in iraq { December 5 2003 } 20 000 more troops 6 louisiana national guard soldiers mourned { January 11 2005 } 63 percent voters call for immediate troop withdrawal Abandoned pets problem while troops gone { April 12 2005 } America will stay in iraq says bush Army accepting more recruits with felonies { April 22 2008 } Army allows criminals for recruitment Army captain sues government about iraq assignment Army covers up soldier dissenters assassination Army keeping soldiers on duty { June 2 2004 } Army misses recruitment by 42 percent { May 16 2005 } Army not meeting recruiting goals { February 21 2005 } Army orders mother of 7 to duty { November 9 2003 } Army plans to keep troop level through 2006 { January 25 2005 } Army raises enlistment age for reservists { March 21 2005 } Army recalling thousands who left service Army recruiter threatens warrant on recruitee { May 11 2005 } Army reserve becoming broken force says general { January 6 2005 } Army reserve fears troop exodus Army sergeant refused iraq duty charged with desertion Army spread thin caling on same units Army stop loss prevents soliders from leaving army { January 28 2006 } Army trying to keep troops from leaving { January 5 2004 } Army will ease standards for recruits { October 1 2004 } Awol desserters crisis hits armed forces Black army recruits down 41perc since 2000 { March 6 2005 } British troops may stay 10 years Delayed troop return frustrates families Draft discussed by senator on hill Female soldiers eyed for combat Fewer army recruits lined up { July 22 2004 } Franks US stay for years { July 10 2003 } Ged no longer required for recruitment { September 20 2005 } General war has not ended { May 30 2003 } GI bill cant cover soldiers community college { April 29 2008 } Gis want home { August 10 2003 } Iraq combat veterans committing increased homicides { January 13 2008 } Kennedy calls for troops withdrawal Low morale plagues us troops in iraq Marine suicide by cop rather than return to iraq Marines come up short on recruits { February 3 2005 } Marines to reactive thousands reserves { July 2006 } Military opposes draft bill introduced by democrat Mississippi guardsmen denied leave for katrina { September 11 2005 } National guard 10 year record lows on recruiting { July 25 2005 } National guard recruiting slips National guard shipped { June 26 2002 } National guard treated like prisoners { November 25 2004 } New generation of homeless vets emerges { December 2008 } Pentagon delays us troops trip home Pentagon extends tour of duty for 6500 soldiers { October 30 2004 } Reservist commits suicide over city job { March 19 2004 } Reservists may face longer tours of duty { January 7 2005 } Reservists reservations { September 26 2002 } Returned iraq veteran soldier fires at police officer { July 23 2007 } Returning soldiers traumatized by occupation Scores denies leave time to displaced katrina families { September 11 2005 } Seattle high school attempts banning recruiters { May 18 2005 } Seventh day adventist marine jailed { January 5 2005 } Sick wounded us troops wait months barracks Soldier paid to get shot to avoid iraq { August 15 2007 } Soldier sues US military over extended service Soldier who married iraqi to be discharged { December 1 2003 } Soldiers are threatened with iraq duty Soldiers contest stop loss policy in court { December 6 2004 } Soldiers marry iraqi women Soldiers returning hard time to adjust { September 12 2003 } Soldiers sued over forced extension of service { October 20 2004 } Soldiers trying not to report States helpding guardsman because fed wont { January 19 2005 } Strained army extends tours to 15 months { April 12 2007 } Thousands of soldiers older than 50 deployed { October 17 2004 } Top democrats call for iraq pullout Tour of duty extended reserve forces Troop r and r budget wont cover costs Troops buy their own body armor { September 30 2005 } Troops have tough questions for rumsfeld { December 8 2004 } Troops questioned rumsfeld on long deployments { December 8 2004 } Troops return after 2 years { January 4 2004 } Troops to stay assignment seven years Unconfirmed mutiny in iraq Us forces extended tours duty US soldier suicide rate highest for 26 years { August 16 2007 } Us troops question presence in iraq { October 17 2003 } War veterans neglected abused at top medical facility { February 18 2007 } Worst recruiting years for army in decades { September 30 2005 } Files Listed: 88

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