Supporting our firefighters

State Representative candidate Bob Walsh talks with a member of the Santa Fe Fire Department at Family Fun Day.

Like many working people all over the state, the firefighters expressed concerns about the raising of the retirement age for PERA workers, as well as the difficulties in getting much-needed grant money to purchase equipment and fund firefighting efforts.

With regard to raising the retirement age, we must find ways of balancing the budget that honor our existing contracts.  "Changing the retirement age for existing workers isn't fair to people," Bob points out. "It's changing the rules in the middle of the game, and that's not something we should be doing."

Bob Walsh at the Legislature

In addition to attending community events and listening to voters' concerns about state government, State Representative candidate Bob Walsh also regularly attends New Mexico House of Representatives committee meetings as part of his role as a citizen activist and future legislator.

A long-time leader in state election reform (Bob was a leader in making paper ballots mandatory), Bob attends meetings of the Voters & Elections Committee.  Concerned about how our tax dollars are spent (or misspent), he also attends meetings of the Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee, the Investments Oversight Committee and Government Restructuring Task Force.

"Most of these committee meetings are open to the public, both in person and on the web," Bob points out.  "I encourage all of us to attend the ones on issues we care about and to become active in shaping policy -- change happens most dramatically at the state and local levels!"

Pancakes on the Fourth!

Bob Walsh celebrated the Fourth of July at Pancakes on the Plaza, our annual celebration of community and, of course, pancakes.

July 4th is a day to celebrate the founding of the great experiment we call America.  And while we have come far and have far to go to realize the vision of our Founding Fathers,  the diversity and celebration of our differences that Santa Fe strives for is a model for what our state and our country can be -- a place where all people, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, can live and prosper without fear of persecution or government intrusion into their private lives.

So today, while we enjoy fireworks and BBQ, let's celebrate the City Different, the promise of America, and our ongoing national quest for a more perfect union!