Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Immigrant Day Of Action Rally Monday In Santa Fe

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 28, 2018

Immigrant Day of Action Rally Monday outside the State Capitol in Santa Fe. Courtesy/Somos Un Pueblo Unido

Somos Un Pueblo Unido News:

New Mexicans will rally to honor the economic contributions of immigrants and protest detentions and deportations

SANTA FE – Immigrant families, workers and youth, as well as labor, faith and civil rights leaders from across New Mexico, will hold a rally beginning at noon Monday outside the State Capitol in Santa Fe to recognize the vital contributions immigrants make to the state and speak out against the devastating impact that new federal policies Read More

Dist. 43 Candidate Lisa Shin Shares Vision

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 28, 2018

Lisa Shin, owner of Los Alamos Family Eyecare, PC, has announced her candidacy for Dist. 43. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY

Los Alamos Daily Post

kirsten@ladailypost.com

Lisa Shin has announced her candidacy for representative of New Mexico House Dist. 43. Shin, a Republican, joins the race for the elected seat along with Democrats and Los Alamos County Councilors Christine Chandler and Pete Sheehey.

Shin said she welcomes the opportunity to run for public office and shared her vision.

“I am very excited about the prospect

Patterson: NEA-New Mexico Urges Wise Investments In Education With New State Revenue

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 28, 2018

By BETTY PATTERSON

NEANM President

SANTA FE ― NEA-New Mexico appreciates that both the Governor and the Legislative Finance Committee propose increasing support for public education. After years of decreases, every additional dollar is vitally important for increasing student success in New Mexico.

We share with legislative leaders and the Governor an understanding of the enormous economic, fiscal and political constraints which must be considered as they make Read More

Pearce On White House Immigration Framework

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 27, 2018

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce Friday released the following statement after the White House released priorities and principles for immigration reform and border security:

“As we know firsthand in New Mexico, our immigration system is broken. We need pragmatic reforms to ensure flaws and failures intertwined throughout the system do not continue for generations to come. It is the responsibility of Congress to find a solution and we have made serious progress in bipartisan

Conservation Voters New Mexico Releases 2018 Legislative Priorities

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 27, 2018

CVNM News:

SANTA FE ― Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) released its legislative priorities Thursday, outlined in the first edition of CVNM’s legislative agenda, which includes priorities such as using Volkswagen settlement funds to transition from dirty diesel to clean electric school buses, protecting the Gila River and protecting ratepayers from PNM’s attempts to pass on the full cost of closing the San Juan Generating Station.

On behalf of its 12,000 members, CVNM advocates in the New Mexico Legislature for responsible public policies that represent the

Regional Coalition Defends LANL Tax Stabilization Bill

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 26, 2018

RCLC News:

The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) is presenting its defense of the Lab Tax Stabilization Bill (SB17), which seeks to maintain the gross receipts tax paid by DOE national labs housed in New Mexico.

The presentation is 2 p.m. today at the New Mexico Legislature Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee, Room 311.

RCLC Executive Director Andrea Romero will represent the Coalition in providing testimony to the Committee when the Bill is reviewed. Coalition Board members and community stakeholders are expected to be present in the audience

Letter To The Editor: Kathleen Parker, Back At You

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 26, 2018

By KHAL SPENCER

Los Alamos

Kathleene Parker (link) notes that I did not comment on the hot-button issue of immigration. That was the point of one of my other points–specifically, don’t create hot button issues.

Immigration is the obvious one. Both the left and right are staking out combative positions on immigration and playing to their respective bases while eschewing common ground.

The right has a valid point that illegal immigrants, whether DREAMers or otherwise, are here illegally. If the nation has immigration laws, they need to be either obeyed or changed

Governor Signs Feed Bill

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 26, 2018

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez signed House Bill 1, known as the Feed Bill, which provides funding for the New Mexico Legislature through this year’s session as well as the interim period preceding next year’s session.

The Governor also exercised her line-item veto power Thursday on a $19,100 appropriation for the Senate Rules Committee. The Senate Rules Committee has a backlog of 85 nominations awaiting hearings for confirmation, some of which have languished for years, including public safety, law enforcement and other positions. The Senate Rules Committee Read More

Committee Chair: Budget Outlook Opportunity To Put New Mexico Back On Track

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 26, 2018

New Mexico House Rep. Patty Lundstrom (D-Gallup)

House Democrats News:

SANTA FE – Updated revenue projections were presented Thursday to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, which project additional revenue to the previous estimate from December 2017.

Compared to the previous estimate, the new projection estimates an additional $157.9 million in the state’s recurring revenue and an additional $31 million in one-time revenue for the 2018 Fiscal Year. Also presented was an additional $93 million in recurring revenue for the 2019 Fiscal Year projections compared to the December Read More

New Mexico Ethics Watch Hires Kathleen Sabo As New Executive Director

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 26, 2018

NMEW News:

New Mexico Ethics Watch (NMEW) has announced that its Board of Directors has hired Kathleen Sabo as the organization’s next executive director. Sabo is transitioning into the job and will assume full-time duties as Feb. 5.

A Connecticut native, Sabo received her B.A. from Fordham University in New York City and her Juris Doctorate from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She moved to New Mexico in 1991 and is a member of the New Mexico Bar. Sabo has concentrated chiefly on legislative matters, providing legislative analysis to the Read More

Tobacco Tax Bill Passes First Hurdle

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 26, 2018

Sen. Howie Morales

NMDP News:

SANTA FE ― Sen. Howie Morales (D-28-Catron, Grant, & Socorro) bill to increase the excise tax on cigarettes and tobacco products by $1.50 in New Mexico has passed the Senate Education Committee.

By a vote of 4-2 along partisan lines, the panel endorsed the measure that would generate $89 million more annually for public school classrooms in the state, and would keep over 11,000 children from starting smoking and get thousands of adults to cease smoking. Senators heard from many supporters of the legislation

Sig Hecker: Update On Nuclear North Korea Jan. 27

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 25, 2018

Former LANL Drector Siegfried S. Hecker

COMMUNITY News:

A presentation on “Update on Nuclear North Korea and a Tour around the Rest of the Nuclear World” with former LANL Director Siegfried S. Hecker of Stanford University is 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1967 18th St. in Los Alamos.

The fear of a nuclear crisis in North Korea that gripped much of the United States in 2017 was followed by a ray of hope in early 2018. Hecker will provide an assessment of the North’s nuclear

County Council Reviews Strategic Leadership Plan

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 25, 2018

Accreditation Manager and Senior Management Analyst Norma Jean Valdez of the Los Alamos Fire Department leads a discussion on the Strategic Leadership Plan during a special meeting Tuesday night. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY

Los Alamos Daily Post

kirsten@ladailypost.com

The Los Alamos County Council took stock of progress made on the priorities and goals in the Strategic Leadership Plan during a special meeting Tuesday night in Council Chambers.

Additionally, council members discussed making possible changes to the priorities and Read More

Christine Chandler To Run For House Dist. 43

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 25, 2018

House Dist. 43 candidate Christine Chandler on the House floor Wednesday afternoon. She has worked as a legislative analyst for three sessions at the New Mexico Legislature in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo

By CAROL A. CLARK

Los Alamos Daily Post

caclark@ladailypost.com

Christine Chandler of Los Alamos has announced her candidacy for representative of New Mexico House Dist. 43. She seeks the Democratic nomination in the June 5 Primary Election.

Chandler is vice chair of the Los Alamos County Council and has a sustained record of community service. In addition to being vice chair and former Read More

Udall, Heinrich Urge Secretary Zinke To Keep Public Lands In Public Hands

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 25, 2018

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall led a letter, also signed by Sen. Martin Heinrich, urging Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to keep public lands public by prohibiting widespread sale and transfer of public lands.

The senators asked Zinke to uphold the Department of the Interior’s responsibility to retain America’s public lands so every American can continue to access public lands.

In response to a growing movement by some states to sell or transfer federal lands to states or give states management authority,

Heinrich Slams Solar Tariff Decision

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 24, 2018

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, issued the following statement after President Trump announced his decision to impose up to 30 percent tariffs on imported solar panels and modules that will jeopardize tens of thousands of American solar jobs:

“Imposing these tariffs isn’t going to create a single manufacturing job and instead harms hundreds of locally-owned companies, jeopardizes tens of thousands of workers, and stifles

USDA Provides Funding To Increase Access To Educational And Health Care Services In Rural Areas

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 24, 2018

USDA News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett Friday announced that USDA is awarding grants for broadband projects to increase access to job training, educational and health care services in rural areas in 35 states.

“Broadband technology helps provide career opportunities and deliver critical medical services to rural residents,” Hazlett said. “It allows rural hospitals to better diagnose and treat patients. It helps treat people who are struggling with opioid and other substance use disorders. It also helps bring

Redistricting Reform, Registration Of All Qualified Voters Are Among Common Cause New Mexico’s 2018 Legislative Priorities

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 24, 2018

CCNM News:

Common Cause New Mexico (CCNM) has announced its priorities for the short 2018 legislative session.

“We’re focusing on both state and federal constitutional amendments to make voter choices more meaningful through redistricting reform and to address the increasingly heavy influence of political spending,” CCNM Legislative Director Heather Ferguson said.

Among the measures supported by the good-government group:

1. A Constitutional Amendment for a State Redistricting Commission, House Joint Resolution 4, sponsored by

DEA On Step To Increase Opioid Addiction Treatment

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 24, 2018

DEA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The United States Drug Enforcement Administration Tuesday announced a deregulatory measure that will make it easier for residents of underserved areas to receive treatment for opioid addiction.

As published today in the Federal Register, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can now become DATA-Waived qualifying practitioners, which give them authority to prescribe and dispense the opioid maintenance drug buprenorphine from their offices. Prior to the enactment of the Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 2000, only physicians

Public Education Dept., Arts Education Community Join Forces To Adopt National Core Standards

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 23, 2018

Public Education Secretary-Designate Christopher Ruszkowski

ART EDUCATION News:

SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico Public Education Department announced the adoption of statewide New Mexico Core Arts Standards. The new standards are expected to enrich the state’s educational communities with tradition, innovation and creativity – and make New Mexico’s students more globally competitive.

“A 21st century multi-medium arts education is an essential component of preparing our children for their futures—especially in a state with some of the greatest artistic talent in the world. It is Read More

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