Governor Lujan Grisham Signs Bills Into Law Expanding Renewable Energy & Infrastructure Modernization
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Today, House Bill 50, House Bill 233 and Senate Bill 29—a slate of bills protecting New Mexico’s environment and promoting a clean energy future while strengthening the state’s economy—were signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham.
House Bill 50, sponsored by Rep. Nathan Small, expands infrastructure for renewable energy by making transmission line projects eligible for Industrial Revenue Bonds available through cities and municipalities. Signed into law today, House Bill 50 becomes effective July 1, 2020.
“House Bill 50 promotes jobs for New Mexicans by adding another Read More
Heinrich Questions Energy Secretary On Proposed Cuts For LANL Cleanup, Safety Oversight Of Defense Nuclear Facilities
Scene of Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hearing today in Washington. Courtesy photo
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today to examine President Trump’s budget Read More
Skolnik: Staying Safe In An Age Of Anti-Science Authoritarianism
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
Our staying safe during a disease outbreak requires that we have clear, science-based information available to us at all times. Sadly, however, we are living in an age in which many people reject science. We are also living in an age when one widely watched news network consistently purveys false information about a range of science related matters, now including coronavirus.
Worse than that, however, is that we have a government which demands loyalty over truth and which is muzzling our scientific, medical, and public health institutions. Coordinating communications Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs House Bill 10 Which Ends Student Co-Pays For Reduced-Fee Lunches
At the Roundhouse Monday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs House Bill 10, which eliminates student co-pays for reduced price school breakfast and lunch. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Monday signed House Bill 10, which eliminates student co-pays for reduced price school breakfast and lunch.
This bill, which passed both chambers of the Legislature with unanimous support, complements the Governor’s Childhood Hunger Initiative, a comprehensive plan to address one of the highest food insecurity rates in the nation.
“Many of our families miss the criteria Read More
Nathan: People Of Los Alamos Fortunate To Have Rep. Christine Chandler Representing Them In Santa Fe
By FRED NATHAN, JR.
Founder & Executive Director
Think New Mexico
I am writing to commend Rep. Christine Chandler for her outstanding leadership in passing the New Mexico Work and Save Act, which will make it easier for thousands of hard-working New Mexicans to save for their retirement.
During this year’s legislative session, Rep. Chandler sponsored House Bill 44, the New Mexico Work and Save Act, which creates a system of voluntary state-sponsored Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) that private sector workers can contribute to through their jobs using automatic payroll deductions.
Governor Signs State Pension System Solvency Bill 72
By JENS GOULD
New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed a bipartisan bill into law that aims to put New Mexico’s state pension system on a path to solvency.
Senate Bill 72, one of the high-profile bills of the 2020 session, calls for increasing contributions from public workers and the state in a bid to eventually eliminate the Public Employees Retirement Association’s $6.6 billion unfunded liability.
“By paying out more than it was taking in, PERA was on a path to eventual bankruptcy,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement on Monday. “Now we’ve reversed course, and I’m confident Read More
Remembering ‘Bloody Sunday’ In Selma
By CHRISTOPHER KLEIN
www.history.com
- On the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” a look back at the assault on civil rights marchers in Selma, Ala., that led to the Voting Rights Act. Courtesy/history.com
Nearly a century after the Confederacy’s guns fell silent, the racial legacies of slavery and Reconstruction continued to reverberate loudly throughout Alabama in 1965.
Even the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 months earlier had done little in some parts of the state to ensure African Americans of the basic right to vote.
Perhaps no place was Jim Crow’s grip tighter than in Dallas Read More
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Launches Awareness Campaign To Encourage Accurate Census Count For New Mexico
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) announced Thursday that he will be launching an awareness campaign to highlight how the “Census Counts” for New Mexico.
Udall will be encouraging New Mexicans to fill out this year’s Census forms to ensure an accurate count and to ensure New Mexico receives its fair share of federal funding for critical programs.
For each New Mexican who is not counted by the Census, New Mexico loses more than $5,000 in funding per year for vital federal community programs, while undercounting the state’s population by just one percent would result Read More
DPNM Wraps Up 2020 County Pre-Primary Conventions
DPNM Party Affairs Director Hayden Cuffman addresses Democrats at the Taos County pre-primary convention. Courtesy/DPNM
DPNM News:
The 2020 Democratic county ward, and precinct pre-primary conventions came to an end this week with Union County’s successful convention in Clayton.
During the last five weeks, Democratic Party of New Mexico staff and officers traveled to nearly ever pre-primary convention to assist with the convention process, support the candidates and hear directly from voters.
County pre-primary conventions are a chance for Democrats in each county to come together Read More
Heinrich Launches Online Coronavirus Resource Center
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is providing New Mexicans with critical resources and raising awareness about the health threat posed by COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.
Friday, Heinrich launched a Coronavirus Resource Center on his website to provide information about the virus and tools to help New Mexicans stay healthy.
“It’s critical that we all stay informed about the coronavirus and what we can do to protect ourselves from it and other illnesses. If you have any questions, please be sure to speak with your health care provider and utilize these Read More
Governor Names John Salazar IT Secretary
STATE News:Bill Making State More Military Friendly Signed Into Law
NMDP News:
SANTA FE — A House Democratic bill making it easier for New Mexico’s active military service members, military families and veterans, to obtain the professional licenses they need to be successful was signed Wednesday by Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham.
House Bill 30, the Expedited Licensure of Military Families Act, sponsored by Rep. Eliseo Lee Alcon (D-Gallup), Rep. Debra Sarinana (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Harry Garcia (D-Grants) and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque), waives fees and expedites the process associated with obtaining occupational and public school Read More
Governor Signs New Mexico Senior Dignity Fund Into Law
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed two pieces of legislation Wednesday establishing important protections for New Mexico seniors.
House Bill 225 establishes the Kiki Saavedra Senior Dignity Fund, a crucial investment in improving and delivering high-priority services for seniors all across New Mexico.
The Legislature, in House Bill 2, appropriated $7.3 million for the initiative, a priority of Gov. Lujan Grisham’s for the 2020 legislative session.
The legislation is named in honor of the late state Rep. Kiki Saavedra; it was co-sponsored by Rep. Debbie Armstrong, Read More
Udall, Senators Introduce Comprehensive Bill To Break Up Cozy Relationship Between FAA And Aviation Industry
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, introduced comprehensive legislation to improve safety for aviation passengers by revitalizing oversight of the aviation industry.
The Restoring Aviation Accountability Act would reform the federal government’s role to implement strong safety standards for and oversight over the aviation industry in the wake of two Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashes Read More
NWF Commends Udall And Grassley Oil &Gas Bill
NWF News:
Restoring Fiscal Responsibility to Oil and Gas Leasing on Our Public Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Wildlife Federation commends Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) for introducing a bill to modernize oil and gas fiscal policies on America’s public lands.
The “Fair Returns for Public Lands Act” is a common-sense approach to ensure the oil and gas industry pays its fair share.
“For decades, oil and gas companies have enjoyed an unfair advantage, paying far below market value to lease and develop energy on our public lands. This short changes American taxpayers Read More
PRC Chair Reflects On 2020 Legislative Session
Public Regulation Commissioners. Courtesy/PRC
By THERESA BECENTI-AGUILAR
PRC Commission Chair
The PRC Commissioners have worked hard in 2019 at reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to the public interest
We have sought to restore the public’s trust after the preceding decade at the PRC. We have a very good consumer relations division, work well with all utility companies and have been scrutinizing telecommunication companies to ensure they remain in compliance.
In July 2019, the PRC held its first “Rural Networks Conference” in Farmington. The purpose of this conference was to bring Read More
State GOP Response To Governor Signing ‘Red-Flag’ Bill
From the Republican Party of New Mexico:
ALBUQUERQUE — Today, the rights of law-abiding New Mexicans were snatched away from them.
By penning her name to the Red Flag bill, Gov. Lujan Grisham fired a shot against our Constitutional rights.
It looks like special interests outweigh the citizens of New Mexico again. This is a gun grab that violates our 2nd Amendment rights, due process and search and seizure practices and opens the door to all kind of legal problems.
“This bill was rammed through the legislature with a total disregard of New Mexicans’ rights. There were many Constitutional and legal Read More
Governor Signs Controversial ‘Red-Flag’ Bill Into Law
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act today at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy/SFNM
By JENS GOULD
New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed high-profile firearms legislation today, hailing the new law as a measure that can prevent gun violence and issuing a warning to any sheriffs who might refuse to enforce it.
Under the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act, law enforcement can seek a court order to temporarily take firearms and ammunition away from a person who is found to pose a threat. A court hearing must then be held within 10 days,
Governors Call For Dedicated Cybersecurity Grant Fund
NGA News:
Legislation Will Strengthen Preparedness and Response Among States and Localities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Governors Association (NGA) commends Congress for taking a critical step forward in helping states and localities enhance their cybersecurity efforts and urges passage of legislation this year to provide a dedicated cybersecurity grant fund for states and localities.
The rise of cyber incidents, intrusions and disruptions highlights the urgent need to establish a comprehensive approach to protect critical infrastructure at all levels of government.
Governors Read More
New Mexico GOP Chair Addresses Primary Ballot Challenge
By STEVE PEARCE
New Mexico GOP Chairman
The Republican Party of New Mexico is extremely serious about our mission: “TURN NEW MEXICO RED IN 2020”.
I have never seen such an exciting group of candidates as we are placing on the ballot for the June Primary. They are more diverse than we have ever had, they have a greater breadth of experience and demonstrate the resolve needed for a Republican to win in New Mexico.
Yesterday, the Albuquerque Journal published an article in which they state:
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld has been denied a spot on the New Mexico Republican primary ballot in June.
