Politics

Open Primaries Act Passes First House Committee

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The Open Primaries Act passed the House State Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee today at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Legislative Session News:

SANTA FE – Today, House Joint Resolution 3, the Open Primaries Act, sponsored by Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Corrales) passed the House State Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee.

New Mexicans continue to register in growing numbers without a party affiliation under the current state constitution. But these voters are barred from participating in primary elections.

A constitutional Read More

Bill To Tackle Auto Theft Problem Passes First Committee

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HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE – Tuesday, House Bill 156, the Crime of Illegally Dismantling Stolen Vehicles Act, sponsored by Rep. Abbas Akhil (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Daymon Ely (D-Albuquerque), passed the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee.

House Bill 509 addresses a major source of crime in New Mexico, especially in the Albuquerque metro area, by making it a felony to own or operate a “Chop Shop”.

“Chop Shops” are defined as places where an individual receives, stores, disassembles, or alters stolen motor vehicle parts to sell the parts for Read More

Legislative Roundup: 23 Days Remaining In Session

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The New Mexican:

Round up the usual suspects: Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, interrupted Tuesday’s House floor session to report a crime: Someone had stolen her cookie basket and left a ransom message on her phone saying if she didn’t deliver more cookies, the basket would be a goner.

She said she tracked the phone number back to staff members working for House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe. Egolf noted the presence of state police in the Roundhouse and said they’d get on the case right away.

Ezzell had a basket of fresh cookies on her desk soon thereafter.

Honoring Wes: The Read More

United States Supreme Court Lifts Stay On Public Charge Rule: Implementation Will Impact People With Disabilities

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THE ARC News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Arc is deeply troubled at the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to grant the Administration’s request for a stay of the nationwide injunction on the discriminatory public charge rule, allowing the implementation of the rule to move forward.

The public charge rule will have a dire impact on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) by allowing the federal government to deny admission into the U.S. based on a person’s disability and the use of vital programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), housing Read More

Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard Unanimously Appointed State Investment Council Vice Chair

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Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard in her office in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

State Investment Council News:

SANTA FE – Today State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard was unanimously appointed as the next vice chair of the State Investment Council (SIC).

She will be the first elected official to serve in the vice chair position in recent memory as well as the first land commissioner.

The vice chair position was previously held by SIC member Peter Frank.

This is the first time that both the chair and vice chair positions on the SIC have been held by women, with Read More

Governor Pushes $25 Million Senior Citizen Trust Fund

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

By MICHAEL GERSTEIN
The New Mexican

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham touted a plan today to create a $25 million trust fund for senior services.

The meeting was moved to the hallway outside the Governor’s Office suite after a woman collapsed against the wall inside her office suite and state Human Services Department Secretary David Scrase, a medical doctor, rushed through the crowd to tend to her before she was wheeled away in an office chair.

The woman appeared to be okay.

During the news conference, Lujan Grisham argued to dozens in attendance that senior programs

Read More

House Democrats: Bill To Add Protection For Pregnancy And Related Conditions Passes First Committee

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HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE – Today, House Bill 25, which amends the Human Rights Act to add protection for pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions unanimously passed the House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee.

Sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque) and Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics (D-Albuquerque), House Bill 25 expands the protections afforded to pregnant workers under the Human Rights Act, ensuring pregnant employees can earn a living and help uplift our state’s economy.

“It’s time to end these discriminatory practices and show the country that New Read More

CD3 Candidate John Blair Speaks At Local Event

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CD3 candidate John Blair discusses his campaign and values with Los Alamos voters Sunday at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op in Central Park Square. Courtesy photo

CD3 candidate John Blair speaks with Los Alamos voters Sunday at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op. Courtesy photo

From the John Blair for CD3 Campaign:

In a crowded primary of Democratic candidates for CD3, John Blair is working hard to gain support from Los Alamos voters before June 2, 2020.

At an informal meet-and-greet event Sunday afternoon, Blair addressed a crowd of more than 30 interested residents at the Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op in Central

Read More

Legislative Roundup: 24 Days Remaining In Session

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The New Mexican:

Rally in the Rotunda: Immigrant rights groups gathered at the Roundhouse on Monday for a rally in support of a bill to expand the Working Families Tax Credit to immigrant families, a proposal to fund more wage theft investigators and an initiative that would require state agencies to keep residents’ personal information confidential. 

Members of Santa Fe-based Somos un Pueblo Unido, Albuquerque-based El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos and the ACLU of New Mexico packed the Rotunda wearing yellow and green t-shirts, holding signs and cheering on speakers. 

Rep. Javier Read More

CIR: Jeff Bingaman On ‘Impeaching A President’

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Sen. Jeff Bingaman

CIR News:

During a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 3 at Hotel Santa Fe, retired U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) will react and respond to the Senate trial of President Trump by offering key reflections on his experience in the January 1999 trial of President Bill Clinton. 

Interviewed by Amb. Vicki Huddleston, Sen. Bingaman will provide a behind-the-scenes look at an impeachment trial, reviewing the oft-cited trial rules set by the US Senate in 1999 for such a trial, and the role that evidence, including witnesses and partisanship played in President Clinton’s eventual Read More