Candidates File For 2020 Primary 9 A.M. To 5 P.M. Today
POLITICAL News:
Individuals interested in running for office in the 2020 Primary Election must file their candidacy between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. today in Council Chambers at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.
The following County offices are open for election in 2020, each County office with a four year term:
- County Council (3 positions); and
- County Clerk.
The County Clerk also is the proper filing officer for the following districted positions based on an individual’s voter registration record:
- State Senator;
- State Representative;
- District Court Judge;
- District
Governor Signs Labor Bill At Center Of Open Records Debate
By JENS GOULD
New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill into law Thursday that aims to streamline New Mexico’s collective bargaining statute to better protect public workers, amid disagreement over how the legislation might affect access to open records.
House Bill 364 updates New Mexico’s Public Employee Bargaining Act and provides a timeline for the state to restructure its unusual system of 52 local labor boards, which supporters say leads to inconsistent labor policy and long delays on petitions to unionize workplaces.
“Our public employees — including teachers, sanitation Read More
Udall Joins Civil Rights Pilgrimage In Alabama
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This weekend, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) joined more than 35 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on a Civil Rights Pilgrimage in Selma, Birmingham and Montgomery, Ala.
The members of Congress spent the weekend-long event visiting locations that were at the center of the fight for equality during the Civil Rights Movement as part of a congressional delegation trip coordinated by the Faith and Politics Institute.
“It was deeply moving and humbling to join this pilgrimage – to walk in the footsteps of the heroic Americans Read More
Results From RPNM State Pre-Primary Convention Saturday
The Republican Party of Los Alamos was represented at the State Pre-Primary Convention, from left, Clyde Jaeger, Joshua Muck, Dianne Coane, 2nd Vice Chair Paul Jaramillo, Chairman Bill McKerley, LAFRW President Shona Neff, Treasurer Gary Stradling, Heather Muck and David Reagor. Courtesy/GOP
Delegates had been elected from their counties to attend the Convention, and they selected federal candidates for New Mexico’s June 2
Results From DPNM State Pre-Primary Convention Saturday
DPNM News:
Speakers emphasize Democratic unity, enthusiasm
The Democratic Party of New Mexico held its state pre-primary convention Saturday following weeks of DPNM staff and officers traveling to county and ward conventions.
More than 1,000 delegates from 28 New Mexico counties attended the meeting, where Democrats heard from candidates, approved a new platform, and voted to determine ballot order.
Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Marg Elliston was elected Chair of the Convention and oversaw speeches and presentations from elected officials, candidates, and party leaders. Throughout Read More
Philippa Fung Wins League Of Women Voters Essay Contest
The League of Women Voters Los Alamos honors essay contest winner Philippa Fung, from left front row, Jody Benson, Philippa Fung, Becky Shankland, Barbara Calef and Lynn Jones. From left back row, Karyl Ann Armbruster, Adelaide Jacobson and Julie Williams-Hill. Courtesy/LWVLA
LWVLA News:
Phiippa Fung, a freshman at Los Alamos High School, is the winner of the League of Women Voters essay contest celebrating the centennial of women’s right to vote. She won the award of $400, and the League judges were delighted to acknowledge her grasp of the history that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Read More
New Mexico Governor Signs Slew Of Bills Friday
By THE NEW MEXICAN:
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gave her pen a workout Friday, signing a slew of public safety, child welfare, anti-discrimination, economic development and veterans bills.
The governor signed into law a crime prevention package — House Bill 184 and House Judiciary Committee substitutes for House Bills 6, 35 and 113 — that will increase the penalties for being a felon in possession of a firearm and brandishing a firearm in the commission of a felony.
In addition, the legislation will:
- Create funding for the training of school resource officers, including instruction on de-escalation
Luján Addresses Democrats At NM Pre-Primary Convention
Senatorial candidate Ben Ray Luján
POLITICAL News:
POJOAQUE – Today, Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico’s Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, addressed delegates at the statewide pre-primary nominating convention at Buffalo Thunder Resort.
Below are his remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Good morning New Mexico!
Thank you for all that you do to fight for our state and protect our democracy.
Each of you has a story that explains why you are here today. A story that connects to our shared values and principles, shaped by trials and tribulations, and intertwined with hopes and aspirations. Read More
Senators Demand Health And Human Services Provide Report On Patient Abuse
HHS Secretary Alex Azar
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wednesday, U.S. Senators Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), all members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, wrote to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar requesting that the Department provide the Committee with an unredacted copy of the internal audit report on the Indian Health Service (IHS) management response to former IHS pediatrician Stanley Patrick Weber’s Read More
U.S. Sen. Udall Presses Energy Secretary Brouillette On Massive Cut For Los Alamos Environmental Cleanup
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, pressed U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette Wednesday on the Trump administration’s attempt to slash funding for environmental cleanup at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fiscal Year 2021 budget request and failure to request funding for road infrastructure critical to safe transport of material to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southeastern New Mexico.
Udall began his questioning by holding Brouillette Read More
Senators Tom Udall And Martin Heinrich Vote for $8.3 Billion Emergency Coronavirus Response Package
U.S. Senate News:
- Federal response to novel coronavirus grants more than $2 billion to the CDC
- New Mexico will receive more than $5.9 million to fund state public health response
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) voted Thursday in favor of a $8.3 billion bipartisan, bicameral, emergency supplemental Appropriations bill to respond to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
The funds include a major boost of $950 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to state Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs Crime Package
State News:Tales Of Our Times: American Trilogy Evolution Of Debate, Government By The People, And Party Bosses Rule Congress
The signing of the Constitution by Junius Brunus Stearns. Courtesy image
By JOHN BARTLIT
Los Alamos
The presidential impeachment proceedings had faults on display and served us well by turning our attention back to the nation’s founders. Republicans howled about unfair treatment by Democrats in the House.
Democrats howled about unfair treatment by Republicans in the Senate. Howls of the crowd were close to evenly split from start to finish. Neither party emphasized that both parties simply follow the rules the two parties have created for themselves in Congress.
Strangely, a majority of Read More
Governor Signs Public Sector Labor Law Reform Bill
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs House Bill 364 Thursday at the Round House. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
Santa Fe – The New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO released the following statement:
“New Mexico’s Public Employees Bargaining Act (PEBA), enacted in 2003, established a framework for collaborative relationships between State and local governments, institutions of higher education and local public-school districts and their public servants. In the intervening seventeen years, New Mexico’s PEBA was not amended to reflect best practices and evolving labor law standards.
House Read More
Governor Signs Measure Extending Tax Holiday
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday that she has signed into law a bill to extend the Small Business Saturday tax holiday for another five years.
The measure suspends collection of the Gross Receipts Tax on the sale of qualified items at New Mexico-based businesses that have fewer than 10 employees on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Sponsored by Rep. Doreen Y. Gallegos and Sen. Steven P. Neville, HB 170 extends the sunset date on the tax holiday to July 1, 2025 – meaning Small Business Saturday is alive and well for the next five holiday Read More
Momentum Builds For U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Bill To Establish Bandelier National Park And Preserve
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to elevate Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico to a National Park and Preserve received a key hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks.
VIDEO: Heinrich Opening Remarks On Establishing Bandelier National Park and Preserve
“When I talk to people about what makes New Mexico unique, Read More
Democratic Party Of Los Alamos Meets Monday
DPLA News:
The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9 in Room 631, Building 6 on the UNM-LA Campus.
This month’s speaker is New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón.
Colón will talk about the State Auditor’s responsibilities and recent issues his office has addressed. He also will discuss how his background shapes his approach to the position and answer questions from the public. Read More
State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard And New Mexico Game Commission Sign Hunting Agreement
Land Commissioner Stefanie Garcia Richard
From the New Mexico State Land Office:
State Land Office Lowers Price Tag for Department of Game and Fish, Expands Hunting Access on State Trust Land, Creates Pilot Dispersed Camping and Backpacking Programs in High Use Areas, Increases Hunter Scouting Period from seven to fourteen Days
SANTA FE – Today the New Mexico State Land Office (SLO) and the State Game (GC) Commission signed an easement agreement that allows hunters and sportspeople with a valid license through the Department of Game and Fish (DGF) to access 8.8 million acres of state trust
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Introduces Legislation For Low Or No Emission Bus Grants
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the Low or No Emission Bus Access Act of 2020 Tuesday to bolster federal investment in low and no emission buses and infrastructure and improve the grant application process.
“The Low or No Emission Bus Access Act improves both funding and the application process for state and local governments so they can better access the resources they need to modernize their aging bus fleets. When we support low or no emission vehicle projects, we provide communities with much-needed upgrades to Read More
Governor Signs Retirement Security Measure Into Law
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed bipartisan and urgently needed legislation that puts New Mexico’s pension system on a path to solvency while also providing retirees the opportunity for larger cost-of-living allowances in the future.
Senate Bill 72 provides an immediate $55 million cash infusion for the Public Employee Retirement Association to begin reducing its $6.6 billion unfunded liability. It also requires increased contributions from current employees and employers, and it changes, over time, the COLAs retirees receive. Read More
