New Mexico Chief Justice To Deliver State Of The Judiciary
Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon
AOC News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon will deliver the State of the Judiciary address at noon Tuesday, Jan. 24 in the State Capitol, House chamber.
The Chief Justice will outline the Judiciary’s legislative priorities for the 2023 session and highlight accomplishments by the state court system.
The speech will be livestreamed on the Legislature’s website during a joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate.
To view, go to nmlegis.gov/webcast. Read More
Governor Appoints Military Police Veteran Joshua Jones To Fill Sandoval County Commission Vacancy
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday the appointment of Joshua Jones to the Sandoval County Commission.
Jones is a veteran who served in the Military Police and was previously a Wounded Warrior Fellow for former U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland in New Mexico’s first congressional district. He works as the national director of government and cultural alliance for Velocity BioGroup, a national strategic consulting firm for health care product deployment.
Jones is an active member of the community and serves as Sandoval County Planning and Zoning Commissioner for District Read More
Array Of Legislation Unveiled During First Week Of Session
Olivia Ponce butters rolls and buns in March as cafeteria staff at Capital High School prepare for lunch. Students in New Mexico would receive free breakfast and lunch under a proposed bill. Courtesy/Jim Weber/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By ROBERT NOTT and DANIEL CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The 112 members of the New Mexico Legislature have unveiled scores of bills and other pieces of legislation they hope will cross the finish line before the end of the 60-day session.
As of Friday, 284 had found their way to the state’s legislative website.
The session started Tuesday and ends March 18. As lawmakers Read More
NMCC: New Mexico Elections Are Decided At The Ballot Box, Not Through Political Violence
NMCC News:
ALBUQUERQUE — An arrest has been made in relation to the string of shootings targeting Democratic, New Mexico elected officials over the course of the last several weeks.
The suspect arrested for organizing the attacks has been identified as a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for office in November, has repeatedly made false claims that the election was rigged, and appears to have attended the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in Washington, D.C.
Statement of Common Cause New Mexico Executive Director Mario Jimenez:
“In light of yesterday’s arrest, Common Cause New Mexico continues Read More
Rep. Stansbury, Sen. Heinrich Highlight Millions In Funding Secured For New Mexico’s First Medical Sobering Center
Jan. 18, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) met with City of Albuquerque officials to discuss how over $4.2 million in direct federal investments that they secured is developing the Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub, the first medical sobering center in New Mexico. Courtesy photo
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (N.M.) met with City of Albuquerque officials recently to discuss how more than $4.2 million in direct federal investments that they secured Read More
New Mexico Legislators Recall Time In Armed Forces And How It Eventually Led Them To Politics
Military veteran Sen. Harold Pope, D-Albuquerque, looks out over the Rotunda at the State Capitol on Thursday. Pope served in the Air Force. Gabriela Campos/The Santa Fe New Mexican
Sen. Craig Brandt, center, on the Senate floor at the Roundhouse on Wednesday. Brandt served in the Air Force. Javier Gallegos/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By Robert Nott
The Santa Fe New Mexican
They left behind their civilian lives to join the cause for very different reasons.
Uncle Sam drafted one into the U.S. Army at the height of the Vietnam War.
Another joined the U.S. Marines during the same conflict, not quite Read More
NACo, NLC, MLA & GFOA Announce New Local Government Legal Center
NACo Executive Director Matt Chase
NACo News:
WASHINGTON D.C. — The National Association of Counties (NACo), the National League of Cities (NLC), the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) and Government Finance Officers (GFOA) announce the formation of a new coalition known as the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC).
NACo, NLC, and IMLA are founding members of the LGLC and GFOA is an associate member of the LGLC.
The LGLC will provide a strong and unified local government voice before the U.S. Supreme Court and lower courts in cases that are of consequence to municipal operations. Read More
Join ECECD For Advisory Council Meeting Jan. 23
ECECD News:
ECECD Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky announces a Virtual and In-Person Advisory Council Meeting 9-11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23
Public Comment:
Individuals are invited to provide oral or written public comment pertaining to topics related to any agenda items.
If you would like to provide comment, email shay.everitt@ececd.nm.
Application For PRC Tribal Advisory Council Closes Monday
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE — The application period for the Public Regulation Commission Tribal Advisory Council is open through Monday, Jan. 23.
Created by the governor’s Dec. 30, executive order, the PRC Tribal Advisory Council is designed to advise the commission on issues relevant to New Mexico’s Native American communities and provide recommendations on how the PRC may best address those issues.
The PRC Tribal Advisory Council will be comprised of one representative from the eight northern Pueblos, one from the eleven southern Pueblos, one from one of the Apache tribes, Read More
New Mexico Seeks To Regulate Polluted Water Discharges In Face Of Changing Federal Rules
NMED Communications Director Matt Maez
By SCOTT WYLAND
The Santa Fe New Mexican
As a changing climate depletes New Mexico’s rivers, lakes and streams, conservationists and regulators believe it’s time for the state to protect its surface waters rather than depend on the federal government to do it.
The 23-year drought in the U.S. Southwest is underscoring the need to treat every drop of water as precious, with no room for collateral damage from polluters, water advocates say.
The problem with the state relying on the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate its surface waters was brought Read More
Two GOP Lawmakers Seek Increased Fentanyl Possession Penalties … Which Some Opponents Call Wrong Move
Rep. Bill Rehm
By PHAEDRA HAYWOOD
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Stronger, more addictive and cheaper to manufacture than many other drugs, the synthetic opioid fentanyl has ravaged the country in recent years — becoming one of leading causes of death among adults ages 18 to 45.
New Mexico is no exception.
The rate of fentanyl overdose deaths in the state has increased nearly sevenfold since 2016, according to state Department of Health data, jumping from 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016 to 16 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. The drug has caused the death of nearly 600 people in New Mexico since 2016. Read More
Mesalands Community College Board In Tucumcari Extends President Dr. Gregg Busch’s Contract Into 2028
Dr. Gregg Busch
MCC News:
TUCUMCARI — Mesalands Community College’s Board of Trustees went into executive session in its monthly meeting recently to complete the evaluation of President Dr. Gregg Busch.
Coming out of executive, board member Theresa Stevens proposed extending Dr. Busch’s contract four more years. The motion was seconded and approved through a unanimous vote.
Dr. Busch has worked closely with Washington, D.C. meeting with President Biden and members of Congress to provide resources to eastern New Mexico and Tucumcari on behalf of Mesalands Community College. During his Read More
New Mexico House Appropriations & Finance Committee To Incorporate Public Feedback In Budget Hearings
DPNM News:
SANTA FE — The House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC) Chairman announced Friday that the Committee will begin taking input from members of the public during agency budget hearings, to give New Mexico’s diverse communities a voice in the budget process.
The new public comment policy will begin at the Committee’s next meeting Monday, Jan. 23.
Following the introduction of the House’s budget for fiscal year 2024 on the House Floor yesterday, HAFC will begin the critical work of reviewing Executive requests and public comment to ensure that the needs of people across the Read More
Fisher: Predatory Lending Finally Ending In New Mexico
By KRISTINA G. FISHER
Associate Director
Think New Mexico
Jan. 1, 2023, we marked the end of four decades of predatory lending in New Mexico, thanks to a new law that reduces the maximum annual interest rate on small loans from 175 percent, one of the highest rates allowed anywhere in the nation, to 36 percent.
As Think New Mexico explained in our 2020 policy report making the case for this reform, the 36 percent interest rate cap is actually a return to a highly effective consumer protection law that was in effect from the mid-1950s through the early-1980s.
In the 1950s, the New Mexico legislature Read More
Heinrich, Leger Fernández Host Event With Tribal Leaders To Celebrate STOP Act Becoming Law
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich stands with Tribal Leaders Wednesday in celebrating the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act becoming law. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. 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.) joined Tribal leaders to celebrate the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act becoming law.
The STOP Act prohibits the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking Tribal cultural Read More
Legislature: Bills Rolling In To Address Crime And Causes
Kieffer Nymark does push-ups during the physical assessment test Jan. 16 at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. Legislators are weighing many get-tough measures to address crime in New Mexico, including funding to expanding police forces. Photo by Javier Gallegos/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By ROBERT NOTT,
NATHAN LEDERMAN
Santa Fe New Mexican
Lawmakers from both major parties are vowing to do something this year about the crime that worries and frightens New Mexicans.
Just one week into this year’s 60-day legislative session, more than 20 bills have been filed to crack down on crime, Read More
Stansbury And Kim Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Boost Wildfire Communications & Information Sharing
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) and Young Kim (Calif.-40) introduced the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Wildland Fire Communications and Information Dissemination Act (H.R. 369) to boost communications and information sharing efforts between first responders, fire management response officials and community members during wildfires.
Rep. Joe Neguse (Colo.-02) joined as an original cosponsor.
Rep. Stansbury initially introduced the bill with Rep. Kim during Read More
Heinrich, Vasquez Highlight Federal Funding Secured To Promote Animal Science Education, Create Workforce Opportunities For Area Students
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez met with students and leaders from Hatch Valley Public Schools. Courtesy/Heinrich
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez met with students and leaders from Hatch Valley Public Schools. Courtesy/Heinrich
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez talks to students from Hatch Valley Public Schools. Courtesy/Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
LAS CRUCES — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) met with students and leaders from Hatch Valley Public Schools Thursday to discuss how direct federal Read More
Chacón: First Bill Of Legislative Session Sparks Division
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
Santa Fe New Mexican
A routine budget bill to pay staff salaries and fund other operations of a legislative session usually sails through both chambers of the Legislature when lawmakers reconvene in Santa Fe every year.
Not this year, though.
The so-called feed bill, the first piece of legislation considered by both chambers, continued to sow division between Republicans and Democrats on Thursday over a $2.5 million special appropriation to fund a study on the feasibility of creating district offices for legislators with full-time staff. As it currently stands, New Mexico Read More
Simonich: Lundstrom’s Loss No Cause For Tears Or Fears
Rep. Patty Lundstrom
By MILAN SIMONICH
Santa Fe New Mexican
After being ousted as chairwoman of the committee that helps shape the state budget, Rep. Patty Lundstrom offered an immodest assessment of herself.
Lundstrom, D-Gallup, authorized a statement saying she’s spent her 22 years in the Legislature “protecting our female and minority populations”.
Many women and men would disagree with her. In the last four years, Lundstrom twice voted to keep on the books a 1969 law criminalizing abortion.
The Legislature in 2021 finally repealed the dormant anti-abortion statute after voters unseated Read More
