Political News

Quay County Gun-Rights ‘Sanctuary’ Status Catches Fire

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
Old hotels, restaurants and curio shops line Route 66 Avenue in Tucumcari. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
 
A mural referencing Route 66 and the Wild West days of old Tucumcari begins to weather off 1st Street in Tucumcari. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
 
By STEVE TERRELL
TUCUMCARI — Back when this Eastern New Mexico town was founded as a tent city in 1901, it was unofficially known as “Ragtown.” Another nickname — “Six Shooter Siding” — later emerged, reportedly because of the
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In Lobo Land, A Senator Sticks Up For Coyotes

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
New Mexico State Sen. Jeff Steinborn
 
By MILAN SIMONICH
If hunters, trappers and ranchers had an enemies list, state Sen. Jeff Steinborn might be at the top of it.
 
On Monday, Steinborn is sure to clash with livestock owners and many rural legislators who represent them.
 
He is to present his Senate Bill 76, which would outlaw contests staged to see who can kill the most coyotes. It has cleared one legislative committee and is on to another.
 
He also will be pitching a bill that would change the name of the state Department of Game and Fish
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NACo Hosts Legislative Conference March 2-6

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019

NACo News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Counties (NACo) will convene its annual Legislative Conference March 2-6.

Nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials from across the country will focus on pressing federal policy issues facing county governments.

Attendees will hear from national experts, consider policy resolutions and meet with administration officials and members of Congress.

Conference highlights include:

 

Featured General Session Speakers:

Monday, March 4
9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET
Washington Hilton Hotel, International Ballroom Read More

State Auditor Colón Announces New Leadership Team

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019

State Auditor Brian Colón, center, with his new leadership team. Courtesy/OSA

From the Office of the State Auditor:

SANTA FE – New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón today announces the appointment of several key leadership positions at the Office of the New Mexico State Auditor.

This announcement comes after his selection of Natalie Cordova, CPA as Deputy State Auditor.

“I am proud of the exceptional group of leaders who join Natalie and me at the Office of the State Auditor,” Colón said. “These individuals mirror my passion for public service and bring high levels of expertise to their roles. Read More

CPB To Present ‘Strengthening Civil Society’ Thought Leader Award To U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CPB News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will present U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico with its distinguished “Strengthening Civil Society” Thought Leader Award at the America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) Public Media Summit today in Washington, D.C.

CPB’s Thought Leader Award recognizes and honors American leaders who affirm the essential services that public media provides to citizens in areas of education, journalism and the arts.

“Rep. Luján has been a steadfast supporter of public broadcasting and finds great Read More

Bill To Make Baby Changing Stations More Accessible To Parents Heads To House Floor

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
Rep. G. Andrés Romero
 
HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:
 
SANTA FE ― A bill to make baby changing facilities equally available to men and women in restrooms of public accommodation, Friday passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.
 
House Bill 205, sponsored by Rep. G. Andrés Romero (D-Albuquerque), requires that newly constructed public restrooms have equal access to safe baby changing stations for men and women.
 
“Being a new parent can be challenging, and those challenges are made worse when parents don’t have equal access to baby changing stations in restrooms.
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House Dems Rework Tax Overhaul Proposal

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
By ANDREW OXFORD
Democratic lawmakers proposed a new overhaul of the state’s tax code on Monday, offering a revamped version of a bill filed earlier in the session and roundly criticized.
 
Rep. Jim Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, who chairs the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, said House Bill 6 had since been “changed substantially.”
 
Perhaps most notably for the average taxpayer, the 131-page bill adds brackets to the state’s personal income tax.
 
The state currently levies a 4.9 percent income tax on families filing
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Senators Pare Back Proposed Childhood Ed Agency

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, sponsor of a bill to create an early childhood education department, stands on the Senate floor Monday at the State Capitol in Santa Fe. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
 
By ROBERT NOTT
A bipartisan group of state senators on Monday balked at creating a new department to centralize early childhood education programs, stripping the proposed agency of about half of its responsibilities.
 
Members of the Senate Education Committee voted 5-4 to amend Senate Bill 22, which would establish the centralized
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UNM Poll: New Mexico Voters Confident In Elections

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
By ANDREW OXFORD
Finding a polling place. Waiting in line. Filling out a ballot.
 
Most New Mexico voters don’t seem to have many complaints about that part of Election Day.
 
But while a new survey has found plenty of confidence in the democratic process as it plays out at the polling place, it also found plenty of concerns about the sanctity of New Mexico’s elections, whether it is the specter of hackers, the influence of big-spending campaign donors or a news media that many view as biased.
 
And the recent survey found many back what
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House OKs Bill To Revamp Teacher Evaluation System

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
By ROBERT NOTT
For years many educators, public education supporters and teacher union representatives have said New Mexico’s teacher evaluation system is punitive and unfair.
 
But immediately after taking office in early January, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order requiring the Public Education Department to retool that system.
 
On Monday night, the House of Representatives took a step toward making that goal a reality when it voted 52-14 to give a “do pass” recommendation to House Bill 212, which would
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Legislative Roundup: Feb. 26

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2019
Daniel ‘DC’ Casillas of Albuquerque, who works with On Set FX, applies movie makeup to Nicole Montoya of Glorieta as part of a demonstration Monday during Film and Media Day at the Capitol in Santa Fe. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
 
By The Santa Fe New Mexican:
 
Days left in the session: 18
 
Confirmed: The Senate on Monday voted 34-0 to confirm Jackie White as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
 
White, 44, previously worked as a captain for the Albuquerque Fire Department. She heads the agency responsible for coordinating
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SB 458 Requiring Transparency In Land Deals To Be Heard In Senate Conservation Committee Tuesday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 25, 2019

STATE News:

  • Bill backed by Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard would require public notice on land exchanges and sales, proposals for large transmission lines and pipelines

SANTA FE – SB 458, introduced by Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-15), will have its first hearing at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb 26 in the Senate Conservation Committee. The bill requires public notice and input prior to the land office taking final action on proposed land sales, land exchanges and rights-of-way (ROW) permits for large-scale electrical transmission lines and oil/gas pipelines involving state trust lands. Read More

Voices Of Los Alamos Meets 6:30-7:30 p.m. Today

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 25, 2019

Former State Sen. Dede Feldman

COMMUNITY News:

The Voices of Los Alamos will meet 6:30-7:30 p.m. today at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos. The meeting will feature former New Mexico Sen. Dede Feldman who will discuss the creation of an independent ethics commission at the state legislature.

The creation of an independent ethics commission would guarantee oversight and accountability for state officials and politicians.

In the last election, New Mexicans voted to create “a seven-member state ethics commission tasked with investigating alleged violations of ethical conduct by state Read More

Udall Fights To Improve VA Outreach, Health Care And Benefits For Native American Veterans

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 25, 2019
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to introduce bipartisan legislation to improve VA outreach, health care and benefits for Native American veterans through establishment of a VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs.
 
The Advisory Committee will facilitate communication and understanding between the VA and Tribal governments to better address the unique barriers Native American veterans face when accessing
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NMPED Plans Overhaul Of School Rating System

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 25, 2019
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy/SFNM
 
By DILLON MULLAN
The New Mexico Public Education Department aims to scrap the state’s A-F grading system for public schools, which critics have said puts too much emphasis on student test scores.
 
Under proposed changes to the state’s plan to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, the agency says it will replace an accountability system that identifies schools as failing with one that classifies them by the amount of state and federal support they require.
 
“This
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House Passes Senate Bill Preserving GRT At Labs

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 25, 2019
Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos on the floor of the House of Representatives during the opening of the 60-day session Jan. 15 at the State Capitol in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By ROBERT NOTT

In a defensive maneuver, New Mexico lawmakers are trying to position the state to maintain its tax revenues if nonprofit organizations become the primary contractor at Los Alamos or Sandia national laboratories.

Currently, nonprofits operating in the state are exempt from paying gross receipts taxes. But Senate Bill 11 removes this exception Read More

Letter To The Editor: What Is The Legislature Thinking

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 25, 2019
By GREG WHITE
Los Alamos
 
Our Legislature is failing to look at the whole picture on a number of bills that will not only hurt but actually kill New Mexicans.
 
SB 226 seeks to put us on Daylight Savings Time year round. In 1973, Public Law 93-182 enacted year round DST for the whole U.S. beginning Jan. 6, 1974. In October of 1974, it was repealed re-establishing Standard time for the entire U.S. on Oct. 27, 1974. The reason: a significant measurable spike in serious and fatal car accidents involving children going to school in the dark during the months of January and February 1974. The DOE
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Birth Pains Accompany Creation Of Ethics Commission

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 24, 2019
By ROBERT NOTT
Lawmakers and open government proponents Friday raised questions about transparency and possible conflicts with other investigative agencies as New Mexico legislators try to flesh out details of the long-discussed creation of a state ethics commission.
 
House Bill 4 would create an independent state agency overseen by seven commissioners with power to investigate and enforce compliance with laws on governmental conduct, election campaigns, lobbyists, gifts and financial disclosures by state officers, employees and contractors,
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New Mexicans Paying High Costs For Poor Roads

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 24, 2019
Vehicles head south on Interstate 25 after merging onto the highway in Santa Fe. A new report by The Road Information Program says congested and poor-quality roads statewide cost New Mexico drivers an average of $769 each in lost time and wasted fuel. Among the unfunded but needed projects it cites is an expansion of I-25 between Santa Fe and Bernalillo. Photo by Olivia Harlow/The New Mexican
 
Cars travel under a bridge at the La Cienega exit of Interstate 25 on Wednesday. A report issued that day by The Road Information Program said poorly maintained roads in the state are costing drivers
Read More

Legislative Roundup: Feb. 24

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 24, 2019
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By The New Mexican
 
Days left in session: 20
 
School safety: The House Judiciary Committee on Saturday advanced a bill that would allow certain retired police officers and contract security employees to carry deadly weapons on public school campuses. The vote was 8-0.
 
House Bill 129 would require those working a campus detail to have a Level 3 security guard license.
 
The sponsor, Rep. Linda Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, told the committee the bill allows school boards or charter schools to make the
Read More
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