Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Senate Panel Corrals Open-Primaries Bill

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 1, 2019

By ANDREW OXFORD

aoxford@sfnewmexican.com

Don’t worry, political parties. New Mexico is not going to cut you off. Not yet, anyway.

The Senate Rules Committee reined in legislation on Wednesday that would have required political parties pay for their own primary elections if independent voters are not allowed to participate.

Backers saw Senate Bill 418 as a sort of compromise in New Mexico’s ongoing debate over whether to open up its closed party nominating elections.

Currently, a voter must be registered as a Democrat to vote in the Democratic primary

Landmark Bipartisan Education Bill Headed To New Mexico Senate Floor For Vote

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 1, 2019

STATE News:

The Senate Finance Committee Thursday unanimously voted in favor of SB 1, the bipartisan landmark education bill sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart and Sen. Gay Kernan to increase teacher salaries, support at-risk students and expand extended learning opportunities.

“SB 1 is the culmination of the hard work of the Legislative Education Study Committee and the Legislative Finance Committee–along with input from educators, community members and policy experts,” Stewart said. “This landmark bill is the largest new investment in New Mexico’s public education

GOP Chair Pearce Begins Statewide Radio Broadcast

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 1, 2019

State GOP Chairman Steve Pearce

RPNM News:

Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce is starting a weekly statewide radio broadcast on Network New Mexico.

He will discuss critical issues important to everyone living in New Mexico.

On this week’s show, Chairman Pearce talked with Otero County Commission Chairman Couy Griffin about the Cowboys for Trump visit.

He also spoke about the abortion issue, 2nd Amendment gun rights issue, and other key issues being addressed in the New Mexico State Legislature.

Link to the Feb. 27 broadcast: https:////networknewmexico.com/Audio/INM/INM-001_Week_of_022719.mp3

Legislative Roundup: March 1

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 1, 2019

By The New Mexican

Days remaining in the session: 15

Lab taxes: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed Senate Bill 11, which would allow the state to maintain its tax revenues if nonprofit organizations become the primary contractor at Los Alamos or Sandia national laboratories.

Nonprofits operating in the state are exempt from paying gross receipts taxes. Senate Bill 11 ends this exception if a nonprofit organization receives the contract to run a national lab.

As it stands, some $77 million in gross receipts taxes are paid annually by the contractor at

Governor Signs ‘GRT Bill’ SB 11 Into Law!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs the GRT Bill into law today as lawmakers look on from left, Sen. Carlos Cisneros, Sen. Richard Martinez, Rep. Christine Chandler and Rep. Andrea Romero. Cisneros, Martinez, Chandler and Romero successfully ushered the bill through the Senate and House. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Moments ago, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB 11, Gross Receipts for Non-Profit Organizations!

Having passed both the House and Senate, SB 11, co-sponsored by Senators Carlos Cisneros and Richard Martinez and Representatives Christine Chandler and Read More

Rep. Bill Rehm Introduces Resolution Outlining Recall Process For Elected Officials

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

HOUSE GOP News:

SANTA FE – Rep. Bill Rehm (R-Albuquerque) has introduced House Joint Memorial 11 (HJR 11), which outlines the process to recall a publically elected official in New Mexico.

HJR 11 would allow voters a recall by filing a petition which would cite specific acts or failures on the part of the office holder. Any petition would require the signatures of at least 25 percent of the voters who participated in the election for the office in question. If certified, there would be a special election held within 90 days.

“The

Chief Justice Judith Nakamura On State Of Judiciary

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Judith Nakamura

COURT News:

Supreme Court Chief Justice Judith Nakamura addressed a joint session of the Legislature Jan. 17 to outline plans for improving and streamlining court operations to better serve New Mexicans.

In her State of the Judiciary speech, the Chief Justice also appealed to lawmakers to support a constitutional amendment to extend the time for the partisan election of newly appointed judges, improve judicial salaries to help attract well-qualified attorneys as applicants for judgeships and fund key budget requests from the courts. Read More

Los Alamos High School Graduate Dr. Nora Lamartine Provides Health Care To Legislators In Santa Fe

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

LAHS 2006 graduate Dr. Nora Lamartine works her shift Tuesday as Doctor of the Day at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo

By BONNIE J. GORDON

Los Alamos Daily Post

bjgordon@ladailypost.com

It’s Tuesday, Feb. 26 and Dr. Nora Lamartine is doing her shift at the New Mexico Roundhouse as the Doctor of the Day.

During the legislative session, doctors from the New Mexico Academy of Family Physicians take turns staffing an office at the Capitol that provides free medical care to legislators 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and in case of an emergency, to anyone at the Roundhouse.

The New Mexico Medical Society Read More

House Bill Seeks Transparency For Ethics Probes

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

By ANDREW OXFORD

aoxford@sfnewmexican.com

If New Mexico’s proposed ethics commission decides to investigate allegations of misconduct by a public official or a lobbyist, the public would have a right to know about it under a bill approved Wednesday by a legislative committee.

The House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted to enshrine transparency provisions in the rules for a new panel that would serve as the state’s government ethics watchdog.

Three out of four voters in last year’s election backed a constitutional amendment creating

Legislative Roundup: Feb. 28

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

Pastor Vince Torres prays with a group gathered Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda to celebrate Pastor’s Day at the New Mexico Legislature. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

Denee Reyes sings with musicians from churches around New Mexico during a celebration Wednesday in the Capitol of Pastor’s Day at the Legislature. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

By The New Mexican

Days left in the session: 16

Lottery bill: Ask Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, to explain one of his bills and he’ll often get out a piece of paper and a marker, then start drawing an answer

House Of Reps. Celebrates ‘Dolores Huerta Day’

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

Civil Rights icon and activist Dolores Huerta, center, is honored today by members of the House of Representatives. Courtesy photo

Dolores Huerta, center, is honored today by members of the House of Representatives. Courtesy photo

NMDP News:

SANTA FE ― Today, the House of Representatives passed a memorial declaring today, Feb. 27, as “Dolores Huerta Day.”

House Memorial 62, sponsored by Reps. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque) and Christine Trujillo (D-Albuquerque), celebrates Dolores Huerta as an icon and activist who has worked tirelessly to promote

Senate Approves Ban On Coyote-Killing Contests

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

Sen. Mark Moores

By MILAN SIMONICH

msimonich@sfnewmexican.com

In a clash between urban and rural lawmakers, the New Mexico Senate voted 22-17 today to outlaw coyote-killing contests that are staged for prizes or entertainment.

The proposal, Senate Bill 76, now advances to the House of Representatives. Similar bills have twice cleared the Senate in the last four years but died in the House.

Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, said he had a simple reason for co-sponsoring the latest attempt to end the contests targeting coyotes.

“I don’t want

Measure To Create Teacher & Principal Evaluation System Passes House

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE ― Monday, the House of Representatives passed the Teacher and Principal Evaluation Act. House Bill 212, sponsored by House Majority Floor Leader, Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque), moves New Mexico’s evaluation system toward meaningful measures that will ensure fair professional standards that will ensure the best educators for our students.

This important measure will replacethe former punitive teacher evaluation system that resulted in many teachers leaving the profession.

“Educators in every stage of their career

Two Steps Forward For Humane Wildlife Management

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

APV News:

SANTA FE — Monday, the New Mexico House Judiciary Committee voted 7-5 to pass House Bill 366, the bill to restrict the use of traps, snares, and poisons on public lands.

The bill will next be heard on the House floor. Later in the day, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-3 to pass Senate Bill 76, the bill to prohibit coyote killing contests, sending that bill to the Senate floor.

HB 366 represents a reasonable solution designed to protect wildlife, companion animals, and citizens enjoying public lands from unnecessary and accidental suffering, injuries, and death.

Heinrich Questions Top Military Officials On Trump’s National Security Declaration

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2019

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday on the Department of Defense budget, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questioned Commander of United States Strategic Command General John Hyten and head of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command General Terrence O’Shaughnessy on President Trump’s national emergency declaration to fund his border wall.

Earlier this month, President Trump declared a national emergency and said that he would take up to $3.6

Bill To Prevent Telemarketers From Calling Personal Cell Phones Passes House Floor Unanimously

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 27, 2019

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Tuesday, a bill to prevent telemarketers from calling personal cell phones passed the House Floor unanimously.

House Bill 424, sponsored by Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo), would update the language in the Telephone Sales Solicitation section of the Unfair Practices Act to reflect the growing use of cell phones.

“This bill would update the statute to make it clear that these restrictions also apply to cellular phones,” Rep. Matthew McQueen said. “Cell phones belong on the ‘do not call’ list, and I’m pleased to see this bill, which will help prevent

Teacher: Why I Value My Yearly Evaluation…

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 27, 2019

By DAWN BILBREY

8th Grade Teacher

I’m an 8th grade English teacher, which means that grading papers is a hallmark of my job. Early on in my career the amount of grading I had to manage was overwhelming.

Thankfully, I had a mentor teacher who taught me the art of rubrics. Her guidance helped me to better organize my grading practices and to better define my teaching practice. Using a rubric helps me to stay objective in my grading and eliminates wasted time, while providing my students with a roadmap for success to follow in their own projects.

Much like my students rely on the rubrics for my assignments, Read More

Grandson Of Nelson Mandela Visits State Capitol

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 27, 2019

Speaker of the House Brian Egolf shakes hands with Ndaba Mandela Tuesday at the State Capitol. Courtesy photo

House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) presents Ndaba Mandela a gift on behalf of the House of Representatives Tuesday following Mandela’s invocation. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) presented Ndaba Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, a gift on behalf of the House of Representatives Tuesday following Mandela’s invocation.

During the invocation, Mandela

Bills To Support New Mexico’s Firefighters Advance

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 27, 2019

HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:

SANTA FE – Two bills to provide support for New Mexico’s firefighters have passed the House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.

House Bill 324, sponsored by Rep. Deborah Armstrong (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-Albuquerque), would amend the Occupational Disease and Disablement Law to add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of conditions that are presumed to be caused by a firefighter’s employment.

House Bill 512, sponsored by Rep. Rodolpho “Rudy” Martinez (D-Bayard), Rep Anthony Allison (D-Fruitland), Rep. Nathan Read More

Legislative Roundup: Feb. 27

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 27, 2019

Teresa Marie Garicia celebrates winning an award with friends and family following The Community Heroes Award Ceremony sponsored by the New Mexico Coalition against Domestic Violence Tuesday at the Capitol Rotunda. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

Derrick Williams, 8, holds his mother Teresa Marie Garicia’s award following The Community Heroes Award Ceremony sponsored by the New Mexico Coalition against Domestic Violence Tuesday at the Capitol Rotunda. Garcia was nominated by S.A.F.E. House as an advocate for fighting against Domestic Violence in the state.

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