Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

AG Balderas Brings Lawsuit Against Wells Fargo For Opening Thousands Of Fake Accounts

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 17, 2018

Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Thursday that the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Division filed a lawsuit against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. for illegal business practices in opening unauthorized accounts in the name of thousands of New Mexicans.

“As the fiscal agent for the State, and a provider of banking services to thousands of New Mexicans, Wells Fargo has failed to resolve their violations of law,” Balderas said. “It’s deeply troubling that

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham Defends Free Press

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 17, 2018

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham:

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement in response to recent attacks by President Trump on the media, which have included comments claiming the media is the “enemy of the people.” As well as in response to newspapers across the country, including the Albuquerque Journal, publishing editorials discussing the importance of the free press.

“The freedom of the press, enshrined in the constitution, is fundamental to our democracy. Now more than ever in recent Read More

Head2Head: My Turn!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 16, 2018

By Bonnie J. Gordon

Los Alamos Daily Post

bjgordon@ladailypost.com

Last time, we were having a dialogue with the fictional “Uncle Steve” who represents anyone we disagree with on an important issue. Uncle Steve was monopolizing the conversation with his point of view. He agreed to a discussion and we asked him questions and LISTENED to him explain his ideas and reasoning.

Before we leave Uncle Steve and you get to talk, I want you to do one thing: imagine Uncle Steve with your point of view and you with his. Why? Because we’ve all been Uncle Steve in real life. Next time you’re presenting your point Read More

Gov. Gary Johnson Gives New Mexico Press First Shot

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 16, 2018

Gary Johnson

LIBERTARIAN PARTY News:

Former two-term New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who ran for president twice as the Libertarian Party’s nominee, has ended the suspense over whether he would run for Senate from New Mexico. On Aug. 14, Johnson tweeted a video produced by the Elect Liberty PAC, “You Know Gary Johnson.”

In short, he’s running.

In recent days, Johnson has received numerous invitations to appear on national media to discuss his Senate bid. He’s giving New Mexico media the first shot with a press availability this morning.

Johnson, who received the Libertarian Party’s nomination Read More

Attorney General Balderas Seeks Lead Plaintiff Status In Lawsuit Against Pacific Gas And Electric Company

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 16, 2018

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Tuesday that he has filed a motion seeking lead plaintiff status in securities litigation against Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to recover approximately $4 million in losses suffered by the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), the State of New Mexico’s largest public pension fund.

The lawsuit alleges that the fund was severely damaged by PG&E’s misstatements and omissions regarding the safety of their electrical

Udall Statement On EPA’s Proposed Asbestos Rule

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 16, 2018

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing the EPA’s budget, released the following statement Tuesday on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Asbestos Problem Formulation document and Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) for asbestos:

“I’m always troubled when I learn that EPA has ignored its own expert staff, but what most alarms me is that the EPA is proposing to conduct a risk evaluation that excludes among the most common exposures to the known carcinogen asbestos. EPA is ignoring

Letter To The Editor: Regarding GRT Tax

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 15, 2018

By RICHARD NEBEL

Los Alamos

I have a question for Lisa Shin regarding the GRT tax she discussed in her recent column. While I’m not a big fan of the GRT, I think that it is highly likely that it will be reimposed on LANL.

I think that the most likely scenario is that we will have both a Democratic governor and a Democrat controlled legislature after the election. Los Alamos County isn’t the only county that receives GRT money from LANL. The counties adjacent to Los Alamos also receive funding. These counties are heavily Democratic, and I doubt that they are going to be inclined

Apodaca: Would JFK Be A Democrat Today?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 15, 2018

By JERRY APODACA

Governor of New Mexico (1975–1979)

Last week I had to ask my 10-year-old grandson what a meme was. He explained it’s a humorous video or image on social media. The reason I asked was I saw an image on social media that said, “Would JFK be a Democrat today?” It got me thinking, would he?

I have always looked at myself as a JFK Democrat: pro-business with openness towards social issues and fairness for all New Mexicans. JFK once said, “if by a Democrat they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, who cares about the welfare of

Governor Announces DOIT Secretary To Step Down

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 15, 2018

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Monday, Gov. Susana Martinez announced that New Mexico Department of Information Technology (DOIT) Secretary Darryl Ackley will step down to serve as Chief Technology Officer at the Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis at New Mexico Tech effective Aug. 27.

“With people like Secretary Ackley, we’ve been able to accomplish incredible things for New Mexico,” Martinez said. “Darryl has dedicated himself to improving New Mexico and has been a tremendous asset to our state.”

Martinez appointed Secretary Ackley

Udall, Heinrich, Lujan Grisham Announce $3.5 Million In NSF Grants To UNM For Transmission Electron Microscope, Professional Development For HS Teachers

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 15, 2018

UNM News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Monday two funding awards to the University of New Mexico (UNM), totaling $3.5 million, from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The awards will enable UNM to acquire a transmission electron microscope for state-of-the-art research, and will fund the creation of an online professional development program for high school science and mathematics teachers. Together, these initiatives aim to enhance science and computer education for students across

Udall Honors National Navajo Code Talkers Day

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 15, 2018

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Today, on National Navajo Code Talkers Day, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, issued the following statement honoring the service of Navajo Code Talkers during World War II:

“When the first 29 Navajo recruits came to Camp Pendleton, California in the spring of 1942, they arrived with a fierce determination to defend their homeland and the sacred ideals of the United States. The Code Talkers carried that patriotic dedication forward, even as they were confronted daily with

NNMP Calls For AG Probe Of RCLC Audit Findings

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2018

NNMP Vice President David Neal, right, speaks to Santa Fe County Manager Katherine Miller at a February RCLC meeting in Pojoaque. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

By MAIRE O’NEILL

Los Alamos Daily Post

maire@ladailypost.com

Officers of the non-profit group Northern New Mexico Protecting Land, Water Rights also known as NNM Protects (NNMP) has formally asked Attorney General Hector Balderas to conduct a criminal investigation of the findings of “three recent audits” involving the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC), Andrea Romero Consulting, Inc., JLH Read More

Special County Council Meeting Set For Sept. 6

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2018

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Council will meet in Special Session on Thursday, Sept. 6 regarding the findings of the Adams+Crow report titled “Independent Investigation of Improper Use of Public Funds by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities,” which was released last week. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers and will be streamed live as well as broadcast on PAC-8.

Prior to the meeting, County staff will be preparing a response to the Adams+Crow report, which will be sent to the Council to review no later than Tuesday, Aug. 28. The Council will review the Adams+Crow report Read More

O’Leary And Chrobocinski: Attorney General Should Complete Los Alamos County Investigation

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2018

Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary

By Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary, and

Former County Councilor James Chrobocinski

In late February, we read about alleged financial improprieties involving the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) in the Santa Fe New Mexican. As sitting County Councilors, we were aware that Los Alamos County has provided close to $1 million to support this organization since its inception about 10 years ago.

Former County Councilor James Chrobocinski

Los Alamos County has served as the RCLC fiscal agent and our County Council has had Read More

Former RCLC Executive Director Andrea Romero Issues Statement On Recent Audit And Investigation Results

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2018

Former RCLC Executive Director Andrea Romero

Staff Report

Democratic nominee for House Dist. 46 and former executive director of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) Saturday issued a statement regarding the results of a recent audit by the office of State Auditor Wayne Johnson and an investigative report from the law firm of Adams+Crow, which was commissioned by the Los Alamos County Council.

In an email accompanying the statement, Romero said since the controversy over the RCLC began, there have been a lot of assumptions and finger-pointing, particularly in the media.

“I Read More

Democrats Host Campaign Headquarters Grand Opening

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 14, 2018

The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County held the grand opening Sunday of their new campaign headquarters at 1362 Trinity Dr. Suite B (between Subway and Viola’s). State and local candidates were on hand to talk with voters. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Michael Vigil, candidate for Supreme Court Judge, with candidates for Intermediate Appellate Court Judge from left, Megan Duffy, Kristina Bogartus and Jacqueline Medina. The Democratic candidates for all five Appellate Court positions are women. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos

Johnson Designates ‘High Risk Pool’ Agency For Audit

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 13, 2018

State Auditor Wayne Johnson

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― State Auditor Wayne Johnson Tuesday designated the New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool (NMMIP) for a special audit going back five years to 2013. Johnson says the public deserves transparency from government entities like the insurance pool.

“I am deeply concerned with the Board’s lack of responsiveness regarding the requirement that it comply with the Audit Act,” says Johnson’s letter designating the Agency for audit.

The Office of the State Auditor wrote to the Pool in April 2017 asking for documentation demonstrating

Lunch With A Leader Features Geospatial And Population Studies Expert Robert Rhatigan

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 12, 2018

Robert Rhatigan

LWVLA News:

The League of Women Voters’ community event , Lunch with a Leader, is moving from the library to a new venue this month – The United Church at 2525 Canyon Road (between Canyon and Rose across from the Aquatic Center).

This month’s Lunch with a Leader is 11:45 a.m., Aug 21 in Graves Hall at the church. There is parking all around the church and Atomic City Transit Bus #3 stops right outside the church on Rose Street.

The speaker is Robert Rhatigan from the Geospatial and Population Studies group at UNM. Originally from New York City, he moved here with his wife Allyson Read More

Luján Sends Bi-Partisan Letter Calling For House Hearing On Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 11, 2018

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM-03) sent a bi-partisan letter calling on the House Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing to examine the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

Earlier this year, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled, “Examining the Eligibility Requirements for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program to Ensure all Downwinders Receive Coverage.” Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), Tina Cordova with the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, and Jonathan Nez, Vice President

Independent Investigative Report Released On County Role In Regional Coalition Funds Fiasco

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on August 11, 2018

Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess, right, and Deputy County Manager Steve Lynn at a Regional Coalition of LANL Communities meeting in Espanola earlier this year. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

MAIRE O’NEILL

Los Alamos Daily Post

maire@ladailypost.com

A 38-page investigative report with hundreds of pages of back-up documentation was released Thursday to Los Alamos County officials by the law firm of Adams + Crow. The law firm was hired by the County in March as a result of an ethics investigation request made by Councilor Susan O’Leary and former Councilor Read More

LOS ALAMOS

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