Political News

New Mexico Senate Approves Bill Requiring Background Checks On All Gun Sales

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 16, 2019
State Sen. Gabriel Ramos, D-Silver City, speaks Thursday in opposition of Senate Bill 8. Ramos was one of the four Democrats who voted against the bill, which would prohibit the sale of a firearm without conducting a federal instant background check. The Senate approved the measure. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
 
State Sens. Richard Martinez, D-Española and Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, sponsors of Senate Bill 8, speak together as Senate members deliberate on the bill. Senate Bill 8 would prohibit the sale of a firearm without conducting a federal instant background check. Photo
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Ringside Seat: Senate Leader Kills Own Bill In An Hour

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 16, 2019
Senate President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen
 
By MILAN SIMONICH
The whirlwind at the strangest place in New Mexico began at 7:25 a.m. Thursday.
 
Mary Kay Papen, the 86-year-old president pro tempore of the state Senate, arrived at her spacious office in the Capitol. Papen means it when she says she has an open-door policy.
 
So I buttonholed her to ask about a controversial bill she had introduced. The measure, Senate Bill 127, would prohibit out-of-state retailers from shipping alcohol to customers in New Mexico.
 
What led Papen to
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New Mexico Families Celebrate Senate Committee Passage Of Medicaid Buy-In

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 16, 2019
NMTH News:
 
SANTA FE — After testifying on Thursday before the Senate Public Affairs Committee, dozens of New Mexico families who have been working with the New Mexico Together for Healthcare campaign to support SB 405, The Medicaid Buy-in Act, celebrated the committee’s vote in favor of the bill.
 
The Medicaid Buy-in Act calls on the Human Services Department to create and implement by 2021 a program to allow New Mexicans not currently eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or Affordable Care Act subsidies to pay monthly premiums to “buy-in” to Medicaid.
 
Althea Yazzie of Twin Lakes
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House Bill 321 Would Hike Vehicle Registration Fees

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 16, 2019
By ROBERT NOTT
New Mexico motorists would pay higher vehicle registration fees under a bill to help fund roads and buses.
 
House Bill 321, introduced by Rep. Jim Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Taos and Rep. Rudy Martinez, D-Bayard, would impose the extra fees effective July 1.
 
The hike would apply to all passenger vehicles, tractor trailers, road tractors and buses, but not trailers. For example, someone owning a vehicle weighing less than 2,000 pounds would pay an extra $27 a year over current fees. A vehicle
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NM Unions Distribute 3,750 Pounds Of Groceries To Families Recovering From Government Shutdown

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 16, 2019

New Mexico Unions distribute 3,750 pounds of donated groceries today to families recovering from the government shutdown. Courtesy/NMFL

New Mexico union members distribute 3,750 pounds of donated groceries today to families recovering from the government shutdown. Courtesy/NMFL

New Mexico Unions News:

ALBUQUERQUE — More than 100 government workers received 3,750 pounds of donated groceries today from a pop-up food bank organized by the New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the New Mexico Alliance for Retired Americans Read More

Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler’s Bill Capping Predatory Payday Lending Passes House Labor Committee

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 16, 2019

Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler

STATE News:

SANTA FE – HB 386, Installment and Small-load Maximum Interest, sponsored by Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos, together with Rep. Susan Herrera and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero passed its first committee Friday.

The bill caps so-called “payday” lending at 36 percent; currently payday lenders can charge up to 175 percent interest. After the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs committee, the bill will move onto House Judiciary.

Several organizations have been actively working to pass a 36 percent cap for several years in Read More

LAPS School Board Meeting Wrap-up For Feb. 12

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 16, 2019
New Mexico’s House Education Committee meeting recently at the State Capitol building. Photo by Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus
 
LAPS News:
 
The Los Alamos Public School’s Board met for a regular school board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 12; here are the highlights of what was discussed.
 
To begin, the board recognized the Los Alamos High School science department staff for winning the 2019 New Mexico Excellence in STEM Award. The program, sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab Tech Engagement Office in Albuquerque, honors students and teachers making strides in science,
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U.S. Election Assistance Commission Awards Secretary Of State Toulouse Oliver ‘Outstanding Innovations’

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 15, 2019

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver on the floor of the House of Representatives during opening day of the session Jan. 15 in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

STATE News:

  • Blind and Visually Impaired Absentee Ballot System Recognized

SANTA FE – New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver has received the 2018 “Clearie” Award for Outstanding Innovations in Elections by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for her implementation of a new electronic ballot software system that allows blind and visually impaired voters to independently and Read More

Indiscriminate Traps Harm Endangered Mexican Wolves

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 15, 2019
WEG News:
 
SANTA FE — As a bill to ban recreational and commercial trapping works its way through the New Mexico legislature, indiscriminate trapping is proving an enormous impediment for endangered Mexican gray wolves’ already uphill battle toward recovery.
 
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reports that, since Nov. 2018, five lobos have fallen victim to traps in New Mexico. One of the wolves, female 1565 died in veterinary care. Another, male 1669 lost a leg. Male 1556 was treated and released but was later observed limping. Two other wolves were captured and released without
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Balderas Signs Multi-State Letter Urging FTC To Protect New Mexicans From Identity Theft

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 15, 2019
Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas and a coalition of 31 Attorneys General sent a letter Wednesday to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging the commission to maintain and strengthen its Identity Theft Rules, which were originally adopted in November 2007.
 
The letter cites the proliferation of identity theft in many states, and the growth in technology since the rules were adopted.
 
“Banks in our state have a responsibility to protect New Mexican consumers when they see signs of fraud,” Balderas said. “These
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Fifty Local High School Students Advocate For Gun Control Legislation At Roundhouse In Santa Fe

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 15, 2019
Students make a statement Wednesday at the Roundhouse. Courtesy photo
 
Students gather Wednesday at the Roundhouse with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, front row, third from right. Courtesy photo
 
STATE News:
 
Remembering Parkland: With names of school shooting victims on their shirts and red roses in their hands, about 50 local high school students advocated for gun control legislation Wednesday at the Roundhouse, the eve of the one-year anniversary of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
 
After staging a die-in, in which they lay
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GOP Senator’s Bill Calls For State-Run Pot Shops

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 15, 2019
By STEVE TERRELL
A Republican state senator on Thursday introduced a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana but, unlike a Democratic House bill, would have the state operate retail marijuana stores.
 
Sen. Mark Moores of Albuquerque said in a phone interview Thursday that, considering the number of western states that have adopted laws treating marijuana more like alcohol, legalization in New Mexico is inevitable.
 
“It’s a just matter of how we want to do it,” he said. “We should do it in a smart way.”
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Udall & McCain’s 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act Clears Senate

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 15, 2019

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall:

  • Legislation championed by Udall and the late Senator John McCain would engage young people, veterans, Native communities in conservation service projects

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced Tuesday that the Senate has passed the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act of 2019 (21CSC), legislation he championed with the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to reinvigorate the nation’s conservation service corps, bolstering public-private partnerships to engage youth and veterans in conservation-related civilian Read More

Udall, Heinrich Secure Historic New Mexico Conservation Wins In Public Lands Package

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 14, 2019
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Tuesday, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich voted to pass the Natural Resources Management Act, a historic bipartisan public lands package that includes several New Mexico conservation priorities championed by Udall and Heinrich, including landmark legislation to permanently authorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), along with three major bills to establish wilderness within the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks (OMDP) National Monument and Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
 
The historic package of over 100
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Letter To The Editor: Comments On Politics…

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 14, 2019
By TERRY GOLDMAN
Los Alamos

Mark Twain is quoted as saying: Lies, damned lies and statistics! Some of our NM political figures are trying hard to replace the last with ‘politics’.

Rep. James Townsend complains that the “rocket docket” bills are not being sufficiently vetted by committees and more reviews are required. Yet these bills were passed by substantial bipartisan majorities before being vetoed by the previous Governor.
 
So the complaint is window-dressing (to use a polite term) to make it appear that Republicans are doing something to protect New
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Legislative Roundup: Feb. 14

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 14, 2019
Katherine Sanchez, left, and Carol Nelson, both lobbyists for the Sierra Club, speak Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda with Scott Bol of the New Mexico Wildlife Center about a rescued redtailed hawk that serves as an educational ambassador for the Española-based wildlife rehabilitation center. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
 
A rescued redtailed hawk that serves as an educational ambassador for New Mexico Wildlife Center in Española makes a visit to the state Capitol Wednesday. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
 
SFNM News:
 
Days remaining in
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Schmidt: Let Me Introduce Myself…

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 14, 2019
By KATRINA SCHMIDT
Los Alamos County Councilor

As the newest member of County Council, I want to introduce myself to those of you whom I haven’t yet met. 

I am excited to have the opportunity to represent the people of Los Alamos and serve as a public official.

I began my professional career in public affairs working for the International Affairs Division of the Niigata Prefecture, a region of Japan comparable in population to the state of New Mexico. I presently teach fourth grade at Barranca Mesa Elementary and previously taught eighth grade in my home state of Wisconsin.

In my daily interactions, Read More

Head2Head: Who Do You Trust?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 14, 2019
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post

One of the most powerful factors pushing polarization is, of course, the rise of social media. People follow pages or people that reflect their own politics and then get “news” from them in their feed. If most of your friends agree with your politics, they’re weighing in and sharing things with you that you’re inclined to accept as true.

This is fine as far as it goes, but sometimes friends and other sources you’re inclined to trust, re-tweet questionable information. You trust THEM, so you trust what they sent you.

Sharing information Read More

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