Dannemann: Libraries Can Be Political Targets
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Communities cherish their local libraries. We count on them not only for books but for music, movies, access to computers and other services. We are so used to them that we often take them for granted.
But recently, libraries have become embroiled in the so-called culture war.
There’s no controversy about the small rural libraries throughout New Mexico. There are more than 50 such libraries, from Chama and Questa to Glenwood and Lordsburg, and including several pueblos. Many are located outside any municipality, with Read More
RPLA Chair Lisa Shin: Speak Up For Our Small Businesses
By LISA SHIN
Chair
Republican Party of Los Alamos
Dear Friends:
Recently, Senor Tortas closed its storefront at the American Legion Post 90 and now operates a food truck. Seeking Chameleon and Professional Skin Care Choices joined the long list of small business closures in Los Alamos, giving us even fewer choices for goods and services essential for our quality of life!
It is vital that our local government avoids a hostile regulatory climate that ultimately drives small businesses away and shuts them down for good. This past weekend, I spoke with a local health care provider who closed his Read More
Lawmakers Call On Interior Department To Implement And Strengthen Proposed And Conservation Rule
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) led a bicameral letter Monday to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, calling on her to support the completion of rulemaking and implementation of the proposed “Conservation and Landscape Health” rule for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: “We strongly support the progress and direction of BLM’s long-overdue draft rule. We believe the final rule should build upon the draft to ensure that the Read More
Joint Meeting Noon Tuesday For Los Alamos Lodgers’ Tax Advisory & Tourism Implementation Advisory Boards
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board and the Tourism Implementation Advisory Board will hold a joint meeting at noon, Tuesday, June 27 in Council Chambers at the County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.
Attached are the agendas for both boards.
There will be paper copies of the agenda available for anyone who needs one at the meeting.
The agenda is the same as the one for June 20 meeting that was canceled.
Note: This meeting is in person and open to the public. However, for convenience, the following Zoom meeting link and/or telephone call in numbers may be used for public viewing Read More
Heinrich, Luján, Menendez Announce Introduction Of Federal Legislation To Address Widespread Catalytic Converter Theft
U.S. SENATE News:
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- Legislation calls for the creation of a Catalytic Converter Task Force comprised of DOT & DOJ officials, local & state law enforcement
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) have announced today the introduction of their legislation to form a federal task force to address the widespread problem of catalytic converter theft.
“With the rate of catalytic converter theft continuing to go up in New Mexico, it’s clear we need to be doing more – including at the federal level,” Heinrich said. “This legislation Read More
Heinrich Announces Major Committee Milestone On Substantial Investments For Military Installations And Veterans In New Mexico
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) welcomed the Senate Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan, unanimous passage of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) bill.
As a member and former Chair of this subcommittee, Heinrich is pleased to announce that the FY24 bill includes substantial investments in nine New Mexico projects.
“These major investments in military construction will ensure that service members at installations in New Mexico and across the globe are Read More
Luján, Matsui Introduce Legislation To Strengthen Robocall Enforcement
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, and U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced the FCC Legal Enforcement Act, legislation that would provide the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with litigation enforcement authority for violations contained in the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regarding robocalls.
Specifically, the legislation would provide the FCC with the authority to commence court proceedings to recover penalties and fines Read More
New Mexico Delegation Urges HUD To Support Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Relief
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to acknowledge and examine the unmet needs of New Mexicans as a result of the 2022 wildfire disasters.
In their letter, the lawmakers ask HUD for clarity on its approach to assessing the states’ needs and request information on HUD’s efforts in collaborating with other federal agencies on relief.
Last year, following the worst Read More
Rep. Stansbury Advocates For Universal Childcare At Democratic Women’s Caucus Hearing
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
STATE News:
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), attended the Democratic Women’s Caucus Hearing Wednesday afternoon and reestablished her commitment to universal childcare both for the nation and for New Mexicans.
“I grew up in a low-income family with a single mom. And you know, there were times where we were housing insecure,” Rep. Stansbury said. “And I think for any family that actually knows the reality of housing insecurity, and what that looks like having to stay with friends on occasion, sleeping somewhere you wish you hadn’t, who experience food insecurity Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s Legislation To Complete Continental Divide Trail Receives Key Hearing
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced important progress on his Continental Divide Trail Completion Act after it was featured during a hearing to consider pending legislation in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks today.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced with U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), would direct the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior to Read More
U.S. Senators Luján And Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Drought Protections For Acequias
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced bipartisan legislation today, that ensures acequias are able to access the same USDA disaster assistance programs available to other agricultural systems.
The ACEQUIA Act amends the Non-insured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) to ensure that Parciantes qualify for drought and other disaster assistance. Additionally, the legislation codifies current agency guidance that Parciantes do not need to obtain a special-use permit to perform routine maintenance Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Introduces Legislation To Cut Taxes For Working Families In New Mexico
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to reintroduce the Working Families Tax Relief Act.
At a time when costs are higher than ever for parents and wages have failed to keep up with corporate profits, the Working Families Tax Relief Act would cut taxes for workers and families by expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It would make permanent the American Rescue Plan’s Read More
Couts: My Endorsement Of Tobias Haag’s Article
By SHERRILL COUTS
Los Alamos
I am seconding Tobias Haag’s sentiments regarding the apparent degradation of culture in Los Alamos county, here https://ladailypost.comhaag-tolerance-in-white-rock-a-bit-rocky/
As a conservative libertarian (conservative in the conventional sense, meaning restrained, not radical right), I don’t have anything to say about LBGTQ+ except just let people do their thing in peace as long as they’re not stomping on anyone else’s toes. Happy murals on the white rock are hardly offensive; indeed, the colors were cheerful before the clowns came along with their Read More
Heinrich Cosponsors American Innovation & Jobs Act
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, has cosponsored the bipartisan American Innovation and Jobs Act, which is being led by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).
Currently, companies and startups investing in R&D can claim tax incentives that help them to invest in developing new, innovative products that lead to additional jobs and a stronger economy.
The American Innovation and Jobs Act supports innovative startup businesses by expanding Read More
Council Action Taken June 13, 2023
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved the Atomic City’s five-year transit plan during its regular meeting Tuesday night.
The plan includes several recommendations, which are:
Increase in Route 1 Peak services, as staffing will allow;
Discontinue Route 2 Peak services;
Support the Saturday service concept recommendation as staffing will allow. Micro-transit options with limited fixed route are identified as the logical service to pilot;
Support for the Route 2T – second loop from 3-5 p.m. to adjust for Read More
Col. Michael J. Power Takes Command Of 377th Air Base Wing In Ceremony Today At Kirtland AFB In Albuquerque
Col. Michael J. Power
KIRTLAND AFB News:
KIRTLAND AFB – Col. Michael J. Power will take command of the 377th Air Base Wing in a ceremony today at Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB).
Power will take the guidon from Col. Jason Vattioni, who has commanded the wing since his arrival in June of 2021.
Power comes to Kirtland from his post at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, where he served as the commander, 90th Maintenance Group.
As a career Munitions and Missile Maintenance Officer, Col. Power has served in a variety of leadership positions in Intercontinental Ballistic Missile maintenance, conventional and Read More
Senators Heinrich, Wyden, Lummis Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Americans’ Data From Unfriendly Foreign Nations
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to protect Americans’ data from being exploited by unfriendly foreign nations and apply tough criminal and civil penalties to prevent employees of foreign corporations from accessing U.S. data from abroad.
“We don’t export advanced technologies or weapon systems to our adversaries for good reason. We shouldn’t allow data brokers to export Americans’ personal data either,” Sen. Heinrich said. “This bill would Read More
Haag: Tolerance In White Rock A Bit ‘Rocky’
Messages painted recently on the White Rock ‘Rock’ on the corner of Rover and N.M. 4. Courtesy/Tobias Haag
By TOBIAS HAAG
White Rock
Passing by the White Rock “Rock” on the corner of Rover and N.M. 4 on my way to LA, I couldn’t help but notice the graffiti that had overtaken the positive message painted the day before. For years, the “Rock” has been a symbol of fun for celebrations, birthdays, welcome homes, and numerous other messages of joy. Since the pandemic, there has been increasing rhetoric of politization, thanks largely to competing media agencies, unstable political representatives, Read More
Robinson: Christine Trujillo, A Woman Warrior, Steps Down
State Rep. Christine Trujillo. Photo by Sherry Robinson/© 2023 New Mexico News Services
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
“Mom, you’re president of the AFL-CIO!”
Not many women ever heard that sentence. In 2001 Christine Trujillo had been teaching for 21 years, served on the state school board, and was president of the 6,500-member American Federation of Teachers-New Mexico. That December she became the first woman and the first teacher to lead the New Mexico Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.
Trujillo routinely juggled so many responsibilities that it took her daughter’s Read More
Gibson: Gross Receipts Tax Increase Should Be Rejected
By ROBERT GIBSON
Los Alamos
On June 27, our County Council will consider a half-percent increase in our local gross receipt tax (GRT) rate. It should be rejected.
Governments provide essential and beneficial services and impose taxes to pay for them. A few tax rate increases are justified. Most are not, although specious arguments are always made that they are needed to provide some essential or popular service.
This proposed increase is unique in that no argument is made that it is needed. Instead, it is proposed to increase County government revenues NOW in case they drop LATER.
Our County government Read More
