Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Pearce To Support Armed Forces And National Security

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 31, 2017

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The House of Representatives voted to fund critical national defense programs through H.R. 3219, Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018.

This appropriations package, also known as a “minibus,” included the Department of Defense, Military Construction – Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Energy and Water Development, and Legislative Branch funding bills.

“I remain committed to providing our armed forced with the tools and resources they need to complete their critical mission and protect

Readout Of Secretary Ryan Zinke’s Trip To The West

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 31, 2017

Secretary Ryan Zinke meets with ranchers, local stakeholders on variety of topics. Courtesy photo

DOI News:

LAS CRUCES ―Thursday, Secretary Ryan Zinke of the Department of the Interior participated in Day One of his five-day trip to the Western United States.

Zinke started the morning with a helicopter tour of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, as part of his ongoing review of National Monument designations in the United States. Organ Mountains is one of the National Monuments under review in accordance with President Donald Trump’s

New Mexico Ranked Second Most-Likely To Flip Democrat In Governor’s Race

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 31, 2017

NMDP News:

Last week, National Journal released their list of Governor-Race Power Rankings, which put New Mexico in the number two slot for a flip to a Democratic governor.

The publication recognized the failure of Republican economic agenda pushed by Gov. Martinez.

“New Mexicans are very familiar with the failed Republican economic agenda that has hurt our state over the past seven years. It’s clear Democrats’ plan to increase wages, provide tools and training to succeed, and invest in our economy will bring a better deal for

Pearce Votes Transparency In Border Wall Funding

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 31, 2017

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce July 27 voted against a procedural motion in the House of Representatives that adds full funding for the construction of a physical border wall to the national security appropriations bill without debate or a vote.

Votes such as this one are procedural motions that establish how bills will be debated on the floor. Including the funding for the border wall in Thursdays procedural motion is a unique and rarely used maneuver.

“I fully support securing the border

Luján Amendment To Require Army Corps Of Engineers To Reimburse New Mexico Communities Passes House

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 31, 2017

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The House of Representatives approved an amendment authored by U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and co-sponsored by Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham that would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize the reimbursement of local communities for environmental infrastructure projects constructed jointly with the Army Corps of Engineers.

A number of local governments in New Mexico and other parts of the country have financed joint construction projects with the Corps, but have not been

U.S. Representatives Lujan Grisham, Ros-Lehtinen Introduce Care Corps Demonstration Program

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 31, 2017

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Representaives Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced legislation to create a Care Corps demonstration program that is designed to provide support for family caregivers and help meet the growing demand for the care of aging and disabled Americans.

The Care Corps Demonstration Act will place volunteers in communities to work with seniors and individuals with disabilities who need extra support to live independently. In exchange, volunteers

Meet Gubernatorial Candidate Jeff Apodaca At Bathtub Row Brewery In Central Park Square Today

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 30, 2017

Gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca

POLITICAL News:

Gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca is visiting Los Alamos 4-5:30 p.m. today to share his vision for New Mexico.

The Democrat will speak at 4:15 p.m. and the community is invited to attend and discuss issues most important to them.

Los Alamos residents Kelly Myers and Molly Cernicek are hosting Apodaca’s visit. Read More

Keller Releases Audit Of Dora Consolidated Schools

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 29, 2017

State Auditor Tim Keller

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― State Auditor Tim Keller has released a special audit of Dora Consolidated Schools, a school district in a small town south of Portales.

The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) initiated the audit after it received several complaints from concerned citizens. The OSA reviewed procurement, asset acquisition and disposition, and compliance with statutes and regulations over multiple years. The audit resulted in thirteen findings including probable violations of the State Procurement Code, Anti-Donation Clause,

Luján Introduces Legislation Promoting Makerspaces

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 29, 2017

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) has introduced legislation, the Library Innovation Space Act, which will establish a grant program that will promote the development of makerspaces at public libraries to support innovation, economic developmen, and job creation.

To describe them simply, makerspaces are community centers with tools.

Luján says makerspaces combine manufacturing equipment like 3-D printers or small fabricators with community and educational resources for the purposes

County Council Tables Sheriff’s Office Resolution, Considers Appointing Charter Review Committee

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 29, 2017

Los Alamos County Sheriff Marco Lucero speaks with County Council during its special meeting Wednesday night. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A line of Los Alamos County residents wait their turn Wednesday night in Council Chambers to give feedback on the proposed resolution to restore the duties of the Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY

Los Alamos Daily Post

kirsten@ladailypost.com

After engaging in a lengthy discussion and hearing an abundance of comments from the public, the County Council Read More

Los Alamos County Submits Comments To NNSA On Draft Solicitation For LANL Site Management And Operating Contract Competition

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 28, 2017

COUNTY News:

Both County Council Chair David Izraelevitz and County Manager Harry Burgess submitted letters to NNSA Wednesday outlining concerns about the draft solicitation for LANL site management and operating contract competition, just ahead of the July 26 comment deadline.

Burgess’ letter highlighted primary concerns that the County would like to see addressed, and the letter from Chair Izraelevitz offered more details and attached documentation.

Burgess listed 13 points in his letter, which ranged from concerns over the structure of the contract to a lack of recognition and language Read More

Annual Sackcloth And Ashes Hiroshima Day Peace Vigil Comes To Los Alamos Aug. 5

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 28, 2017

Scene from a previous sackcloth and ashes peace vigil gathering at Ashley Pond Park. Courtesy/CCNS

CCNS News:

People are scheduled to gather at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at Ashley Pond Park in Los Alamos to participate in the annual sackcloth and ashes peace vigil to commemorate Hiroshima Day.

Former Catholic priest John Dear and Jay Coghlan of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, will be speaking at the Peace Vigil.

There will be a quiet walk, then sitting in sackcloth and ashes for 30 minutes, then returning to the park, where participants will reflect together on the experience as well as the current

Udall To Protect Medicaid For New Mexico Families

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 28, 2017

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Senate continues to debate the Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and drastically cut Medicaid, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall will vote for a measure to protect Medicaid coverage in New Mexico and across the country.

“Medicaid is quite simply a lifeline for New Mexico. Across our state, more than 900,000 New Mexicans are able to see a doctor when they get sick, without the fear of going broke, thanks to the coverage they receive under Medicaid. Many of these folks are

Community Invited To Meet Gubernatorial Candidate Peter DeBenedittis In Los Alamos Monday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 28, 2017

Meet gubernatorial candidate Peter DeBenedittis at 6 p.m. Monday at The Karen Wray Gallery in downtown Los Alamos. Courtesy photo

POLITICAL News:

SANTA FE — Progressive Democratic candidate for governor of New Mexico, Peter DeBenedittis, will be in Los Alamos at 6 p.m. Monday at The Karen Wray Gallery, 1247 Central Ave., Suite D2. All are welcome.

The candidate is eager to meet Los Alamos residents and to hear their ideas on how New Mexico’s economy, education, and health care systems can be brought from being “worst to first.”

Peter DeBenedittis has lived in Santa Fe since 1995 Read More

County Council Tables Sheriff’s Office Resolution

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 27, 2017

It was a roller coaster ride during the Los Alamos County Council’s special meeting Wednesday night in council chambers. The room was packed with residents who offered their thoughts on Councilor Pete Sheehey’s proposed resolution to restore the duties of the Sheriff’s Office. The resolution would provide a budget of $200,000 to cover the duties, hire a fulltime deputy, an administrative assistant and to attend training and other expenses. Furthermore, the resolution would provide vehicles as needed to the Sheriff’s office. During the course of the meeting, Read More

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Holds Listening Session On Human Trafficking In New Mexico’s Indian Country

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 27, 2017

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, held a stakeholder meeting on ways to more effectively prevent, prosecute, and improve data collection on human trafficking in Indian Country.

Federal data on human trafficking in Native communities is limited, but available information suggests human trafficking in the United States frequently targets vulnerable populations, which would include Native Americans who disproportionately face high rates of poverty and trauma.

In order to address Read More

AG Balderas Unveils New PSAs Launching Statewide Medicaid Fraud And Facility Abuse & Neglect Detection

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 27, 2017

STATE News:

This is the first time an Attorney General in New Mexico has requested that the federal government allow the office to proactively search through data to identify patterns of fraud

ALBUQUERQUE – Wednesday afternoon, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a new statewide Medicaid Fraud and Facility Abuse & Neglect Detection Initiative that will utilize a new proactive approach of identifying patterns of fraud.

Attorney General Balderas also will be contacting state agencies and Medicaid providers regarding the new initiative and asking for the partnership of both Read More

Pearce: Seven Years Of Dodd-Frank

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 27, 2017

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Congressman Steve Pearce released the following statement on the signing of the Dodd-Frank Act seven years ago:

“Today marks the 7th anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act, creator of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Out of all the impacts of Dodd-Frank, it is the damaging effects that the CFPB had on small and rural communities that stands out the most. What was supposed to serve as a consumer watchdog, quickly evolved into a machine that over-regulated our local banks out of existence. I have spent the last 20 years fighting

Pearce Statement On CFPB Arbitration Rule

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 27, 2017

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The House of Representatives has voted to pass House Joint Resolution 111 to disapprove of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) final rule that prohibits financial service providers from using arbitration.

“The CFPB enacts rules that hurt rural communities, like ours in New Mexico, more than any other. Rather than provide true protections, as originally intended to do, the CFPB works in its own interest without any accountability or transparency. This anti-arbitration

Interior Not Top-Heavy Enough To Relieve Field

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 26, 2017

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke

DOI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has repeatedly said he wants to fill growing staff shortfalls in national parks and refuges by moving employees from headquarters and regional offices to “front line” field positions.

But figures obtained by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) indicate that there are not enough bodies in these agencies’ rear echelons to fill the gaps.

PEER looked at staffing in the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in 2007,

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