No Confirmation Hearing Set Yet For Indian Affairs Department Cabinet Secretary Nominee James Mountain
Indian Affairs Secretary Nominee James Mountain
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
While a number of governor-appointed Cabinet secretaries have been confirmed by the Senate this year, to date there has been no hearing scheduled for one of the most controversial of the appointees.
That’s James Mountain, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s choice to head the state Indian Affairs Department and who has come under fire from critics who say he shouldn’t get the job due to sexual assault allegations from a decade-and-a-half ago.
Mountain, a former governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo and the governor’s Read More
Senate Unanimously Confirms NMDOT Secretary Ricky Serna
New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna received an 11-0 due pass from the Senate Rules Committee today for his confirmation hearing and moving to the Senate Floor was confirmed unanimously in a 36-0 vote at the Roundhouse. Secretary Serna poses for a photo today with his aunt Liddie Martinez who is Regional President of Enterprise Bank & Trust in Los Alamos. Photo by Monique Serna
NMDOT Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna is pictured here with his wife Monique on the floor of the Senate today at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Liddie Martinez Read More
LAHS Student Council CYFD Team Honored At State Capitol
Los Alamos High School Student Council members who organized a CYFD Donation Drive are at the state capitol this morning in Santa Fe with their teacher Lynn Ovaska where they are being recognized for their work. The LAHS Student Council CYFD team includes Andrea Chapman (lead), Lourdes LeDoux and Deeanna Foster seated here watching the discussion on a bill for an adoption tax credit. Courtesy photo
In the back seat leaving the Roundhouse this morning are the LAHS Student Council CYFD team (left to right) Deeanna Foster, Andrea Chapman (lead), and Lourdes LeDoux with teacher Lynn Ovaska (frontRingside Seat: Peacenik Vs. Secretive Senator For Capitol Dishonor
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Some years are more cutthroat than others for statehouse politicians.
This is one of them, as two Democratic legislators vie for the dishonor of introducing the worst bill of 2023.
The contenders are Sen. Bill Tallman of Albuquerque and Rep. Andrea Romero of Santa Fe.
Romero’s retread proposal would further lard the state bureaucracy by creating an expensive and unnecessary agency. Her House Bill 171 would annually snatch $500,000 from the state general fund for the Office of Peacebuilding.
No doubt you’re wondering what this agency would do. Nothing Read More
Rep. Stansbury Votes To Protect Pensioners’ Right To Invest In Values-Based Retirement Plans
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) issued the following statement Tuesday after voting against H.J. Res. 30, which would block retirement plan fiduciaries from considering relevant factors in investment decisions:
“We shouldn’t play politics with our workers’ hard-earned pensions. I proudly stand with our workers and their freedom to decide where and how they invest their money, and strongly oppose H.J. Res. 30. This resolution would repeal a popular, commonsense rule supported by over Read More
On Rare Disease Day, Luján And Heinrich Introduce Legislation To Increase Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Research And Education
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Clinical Awareness, Research and Education Act (CCM-CARE) which would expand National Institutes of Health (NIH) research related to cerebral cavernous malformations.
Nationwide, an estimated 600,000 Americans are affected by Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM), and due to limited research, there is currently no treatment for CCM other Read More
New Mexico Firefighter Recruitment Fund Bill Advances
Capt. Martin Salazar of Albuquerque Fire Rescue
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Nearly a year after two federal prescribed burns ignited a historic wildfire northwest of Las Vegas, N.M., devastating communities in more than 530 square miles of Northern New Mexico, the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee has approved a bill that aims to help attract and retain firefighters to fight such blazes.
House Bill 345 would create a firefighter recruitment fund to provide bonuses to firefighters who join a fire department.
The bill calls for a $5,000 bonus for each new recruit Read More
Legislative Roundup: 17 Days Remain In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican
State school board: A proposal to resurrect a statewide board of education in New Mexico received a passing grade Tuesday from the Senate Finance Committee.
The committee endorsed Senate Joint Resolution 1, a proposed constitutional amendment for voters to consider, on an 8-1 vote.
Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, cast the lone dissenting vote.
The proposal, designed to bring stability to public education, would take New Mexico back to a similar system that was in place before voters approved a constitutional amendment two decades ago to create Read More
Key Community & Child Safety Bills Head To House Floor
NMDP News:
SANTA FE — Two important bills to protect New Mexico’s children and improve the safety of our communities will now head to the House Floor after passing the House Judiciary Committee Monday.
House Bill 234, which will support local business and enhance public safety by cracking down on organized retail crime, passed the House Judiciary Committee today with a bipartisan vote of 8-2.
This robust legislation will help law enforcement take down organized theft rings and stiffen penalties for criminals who target local businesses and retailers. HB 234 is sponsored by Rep. Marian Matthews Read More
Op-Ed: Nuclear Garbage To Be Stored In New Mexico
By Dr. T. DOUGLAS REILLY
Los Alamos
Much has been written about constructing a nuclear waste storage facility in southeastern New Mexico. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has already granted Holtec an initial license for construction and for a similar facility in west Texas.
The mayor of Carlsbad, speaking also for Hobbs, has written a letter supporting this (My View: Dale Janway, Southeastern New Mexico wants nuclear storage, Jan 29, 2022). This facility would be halfway between Carlsbad and Hobbs.
Nuclear Watch NM and the Los Alamos Study Group oppose the facility. Senate Bill 53 would Read More
Episode 2 Of ECECD’s The Early Show With Alax Premieres At Roundhouse During Early Childhood Day Today
Live-action Galactic character Alax from Early Childhood Education & Care Department’s informative online series, The Early Show with Alax, premieres episode two Feb. 28. Courtesy/ECECD
ECECD News:
SANTA FE — The live-action Galactic character Alax from Early Childhood Education & Care Department’s (ECECD) informative online series, The Early Show with Alax, will premiere episode two at the New Mexico State Capitol today, Feb. 28 during Early Childhood Day.
Additionally, Alax will co-host “storytime” with a NM State Representative, reading and interacting with young children Read More
New Mexico Lawmakers Have Many Ideas To Address Behavioral Health Crisis But Lack Coordination
Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Piño
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The initiatives look promising on paper.
One bill would create a $10 million fund to fill vacant behavioral health provider positions. Another calls for $20 million to provide substance abuse treatment for homeless people. A third would give law enforcement the right to take people displaying signs of a mental health crisis to a triage center rather than jail.
Lawmakers have introduced more than two dozen bills aimed at addressing behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse problems — initiatives advocates say would aid Read More
Capital Shoe Shiner Back After COVID Hiatus
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
Santa Fe New Mexican
In an often partisan world of subterfuge, shenanigans and secrecy, it’s hard to find one person everybody trusts.
At the Roundhouse, a place known for political conflicts and bickering, Adam Campos is among the few exceptions.
To call Campos well-liked may be an understatement, since he fits the description like a glove.
Or, in his case, like a custom-made shoe.
The affable Albuquerque Read More
Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez Confirmed To Second Term
Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez
HED News:
SANTA FE — Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez will continue to the lead the New Mexico Higher Education Department (HED) following her reappointment my Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and confirmation by the Senate on Saturday.
“I am honored to continue serving New Mexico students, families, and educators as the cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Higher Education Department and building upon the remarkable progress we have made in making our state a leader in college access, affordability, and student support,” HED Secretary Rodriguez said. “I thank Read More
Legislative Roundup: 18 Days Remain In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Assault weapon ban bill dies: Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-3 to table a bill today that would prohibit the manufacture, sale, trade or ownership of automatic weapons.
Sen. William Soules, D-Las Cruces, said after the hearing for Senate Bill 171 lawmakers on the committee raised issues about whether it is constitutional to ban such weapons in the wake of last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to expand the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.
“There are issues with whether it is constitutional or not with the Read More
Garcia & Shiv: Saving Children’s In New Mexico Lives By Passing Common-Sense Gun Laws
Marsha Garcia
By MARSHA GARCIA & DIVYA SHIV
New Mexico Voices for Children
Over the past 70 years, we’ve done a great deal to make childhood less dangerous.
In the 1950s, children were protected from the last of the dreaded child-killing diseases with the development of the polio vaccine. In 1970, childhood poisonings were decreased when Congress required child resistant packaging on medications. By 1986, all 50 states had enacted laws requiring child car seats to protect children from what was then the number one killer of kids: automobile accidents. And in 1994, Congress passed the Read More
County Tourism Implementation Task Force Meets March 1
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Tourism Implementation Task Force will meet at noon Wednesday, March 1 in Suite 110 at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave. and virtually on Zoom.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the agenda to this meeting here: March 1, 2023 Tourism Implementation Task Force Agenda.
Find the link to this meeting here.
Webinar ID: 856 6132 0617
Passcode: 383539 Read More
House OKs Bill To Grow New Mexico Creative Industries
House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski
NMDP News:
SANTA FE — An innovative new proposal to spur the growth of New Mexico’s creative industries and diversify the state’s economy passed the House of Representatives Friday with a bipartisan vote of 56-10.
House Bill 8, sponsored by House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), and Janelle Anyanonu (D-Albuquerque), would establish a Creative Industries Division within the Economic Development Department (EDD). This new division would support the full breadth of creative industries in the state, Read More
Gov. Lujan Grisham Makes Third Judicial District Court Appointment In Doña Ana County
COURT News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Friday announced the appointment of Mark D. Standridge to fill a judicial vacancy at the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces.
Standridge currently serves as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, investigating and prosecuting felony criminal cases including civil rights and gun related offenses.
He previously worked for the City of Las Cruces as a Deputy City Attorney and represented cases for private practices. Standridge is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the UNM School of Law. He was admitted Read More
Critical Legislation Addressing Election Accessibility And Security In New Mexico Passes Senate
Senate Democrats News:
SANTA FE – Today the Senate passed Senate Bill 180, a critical piece of legislation ensuring the continued security and accessibility of New Mexico’s elections sponsored by Senators Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque) and Leo Jaramillo (D-Española), and Rep. Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque).
If passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law, this legislation enacts a series of election modernization measures, including enacting an Elections Security Program to advise the Secretary of State, streamlining the training for election challengers and watchers, Read More
