Rep. Christine Chandler, left, was fêted Sunday afternoon, February 22, at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op in Los Alamos. Being celebrated was the passage of the medical malpractice bill in the State Legislature in the closing days of the session. Also pictured is Dr. Angela Bratton. Images © Thomas Graves

Rep. Christine Chandler, center, was fêted Sunday afternoon, February 22, at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op in Los Alamos. Being celebrated was the passage of the medical malpractice bill in the State Legislature in the closing days of the session. Images © Thomas Graves

From left, Amy Storey, Karyl Ann Armbruster, Rep. Christine Chandler and Dr. Angela Bratton. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Ryn Herrmann, forefront left, raises a toast to Rep. Christine Chandler, standing to her right Sunday afternoon, February 22, at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op in Los Alamos. Being celebrated was the passage of the medical malpractice bill in the State Legislature in the closing days of the session. Images © Thomas Graves

Amy Storey, left and Karyl Ann Armbruster at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op Sunday afternoon to celebrate Rep. Christine Chandler. Images © Thomas Graves

Morris Pongratz, left, and Norman Delamater Sunday afternoon, February 22, at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op in Los Alamos at a gathering in honor of Christine Chandler © Thomas Graves

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Leading a toast in honor of Rep. Christine Chandler’s successfully leading the charge to get HB 99 on medical malpractice reform passed, Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Ryn Herrmann said, “How great is it to have something to celebrate”. Supporters said the legislation, which is awaiting the governor’s signature, “will help recruit and retain doctors in a state facing a serious provider shortage”.

Chandler said the reason legislators got the bill through is because of the groundswell of support from constituents and that is what drove the legislation through.

We had a very good bill – a very fair and even bill. It didn’t go too far one way or the other, but it was the collection of voices that really helped push it through. Physicians and patients and all of you watching the hearings,” Chandler said.

She noted the number of amendments that had been added to the bill and that enough votes to strip those amendments off were needed.

“This meant that we needed some number of Democrats to vote to do that. I have to say that Republicans came through 100 percent on this bill. We worked well with the Republicans; we were conferring on what to do, how to proceed and what the tactics should be, so that was a good thing in the House. The Republicans in the Senate were very cooperative also. I think that’s a testament to how important they saw the legislation to be and we worked together to get it through,” Chandler said.

She called out Sen. Leo Jaramillo and Sen. Bobby Gonzales, noting that their leadership was pressing to retain the amendments that were proposed.

“That meant they had to step outside what their leadership was asking them to do, and I think that’s very important to acknowledge…I didn’t even have to cajole them, they immediately supported stripping the amendments. So that was very helpful for us and I just wanted to make sure to mention that. So that’s a vote that kept the bill in tact – enough to make it a meaningful bill. Otherwise, it would have been stripped of a lot of its effect,” Chandler said.

Rep. Christine Chandler, far right with Dr. Madhavi Garimella. center and Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Ryn Herrmann. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Rep. Christine Chandler with Karyl Ann Armbruster. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos County Assessor George Chandler, Barbara Calef and former Los Alamos County Council Chair Denise Derkas. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Scene from Sunday’s event at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op in honor of Rep. Christine Chandler. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Scene from Sunday’s event at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-Op in honor of Rep. Christine Chandler. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

From left, Barbara Calef, Eduardo Santiago, Dr. Madhavi Garimella, Dr. Angela Bratton and Dr. Michelle Carr. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Jody Benson, left, and Amy Storey. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com