Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Statement On Attempted Override Of Governor’s Veto Of HB 241 – Attendance Component In Teacher Evaluations

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 18, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Rep. Jim Smith (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe) released the following statement after the House of Representatives failed to override Gov. Susana Martinez’s veto of House Bill 241:

“In her veto message, Gov. Martinez stated that she would be willing to consider changes to attendance measures as part of a comprehensive teacher evaluation system. Attendance measures account for just five percent of a teacher’s overall evaluation. House Bill 241 sought to address only the attendance component in teacher evaluations, and we respect

Letter To The Editor: Leave Nonprofits Alone … Bill 412 Is Double Taxation!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 18, 2017

Lou Santoro

President

The Family YMCA Board of Directors

House Bill 412 calls for closing many exemption loopholes to address the budget crisis that our state faces. No doubt, there are many aspects of the Tax Reform Bill that need just that—reform. However, HB 412 also calls for eliminating the sales tax exemption for nonprofits—all nonprofits large, small, 501c3, churches etc., thus subjecting nonprofits to sales and gross receipts tax.

Under HB 412, nonprofits would need to collect and pay GRT on all contracts (local, state, federal), grants from foundations and United Way, fees from programs, Read More

House Of Representatives Honor New Mexico Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― March 9 the House of Representatives honored New Mexico’s law enforcement officers and first responders.

Reps. Yvette Herrell (R-Otero) and Patricio Ruiloba (D-Bernalillo) invited public safety personnel from across the state to join members on the House floor so they could be recognized and honored for their commitment to service.

Herrell also sponsored a certificate to acknowledge the dedication of New Mexico’s first responders, public safety professionals and volunteers. The certificate recognized the sacrifices these

New Mexico Ethics Watch: House Judiciary Committee Substitute For HJR 8, Creating Ethics Commission

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

ETHICS News:

New Mexico Ethics Watch has significant concerns regarding the revised version of the constitutional amendment creating an Ethics Commission for New Mexico that the House of Representatives has sent to the Senate for consideration.

The House Judiciary Committee made sweeping changes to the legislation, changes that critically undermine a prospective commission’s independence, impartiality, and effectiveness. The legislation now before the Senate is flawed. The Senate should restore the resolution to the text it had at introduction before passing this

Lottery Scholarship Gap Bill Goes To Governor

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Lottery Scholarship Grace Period legislation, SB 420, sponsored by Sen. Bill Soules of Las Cruces, March 15 was passed by the full New Mexico House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.

The bill allows students to take up to 16 months off before beginning college, and still qualify for the state Lottery Scholarship assistance. The measure was the top priority for NMSU students. It was passed earlier in the session by the Senate, and now goes to the Governor for signature.

“I am pleased that legislators

Udall, Tester, Cantwell Introduce Measure To Create Jobs By Fostering Entrepreneurship In Indian Country

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and former committee chairs Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced the Native American Business Incubators Program Act, legislation to help launch small businesses and encourage job creation in Indian Country.

Their bill, S. 607, creates a competitive grant program to establish and fund business incubators that will assist in cultivating

Chile License Plate Bill On It’s Way To Gov. Martinez

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― March 15, the Senate endorsed House Bill 393 on a bipartisan 31 to 7 vote. House Bill 393 is Rep. Cathrynn Brown’s proposal to create a specialty chile license plate for New Mexico. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Susana Martinez for her signature.

The specialty license plate would be available to New Mexicans for a fee of thirty-five dollars. Twenty-five dollars of the fee will be used to fund educational programs at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. The museum will design the license plate with guidance provided by the

Secretary Zinke Issues Lease For 56 Million Tons Of Coal

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

USDI News:

WASHINGTON. D.C. ― U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the approval of a $22 million coal lease on the Greens Hollow tract in central Utah to Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Bowie Resource Partners, LLC.

Coal mining in the area currently supports nearly 1,700 mining and related jobs.

Secretary Zinke also announced Bureau of Land Management (BLM) career veteran Michael Nedd will serve as Acting-Director of the BLM. Previously, Nedd served as Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management; his selection

Citizens Needed For County Board Vacancies

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 17, 2017

Senior Management Analyst Libby Carlsten encourages community members to apply for a vacancy on one of the County boards or commissions. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post

Los Alamos County is facing many issues from water rate hikes to selecting the next public art piece, and to make the right decisions the County needs its citizens’ help.

There are a number of openings on County boards and commissions that citizens can volunteer for. Vacancies include Art and Public Places, Fuller Lodge Historic Districts Advisory Board, Personnel Read More

Los Alamos School Board Elects New Officers

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 17, 2017

Jenny McCumber, left, and Andrea Cunningham at Tuesday’s meeting of the Los Alamos Public Schools Board of Education in the Administration Building on Trinity Drive. The meeting was the first to include newly elected members Ellen Ben-Naim and Stephen Boerigter. Newly elected school board officers include McCumber as president. McCumber, Andrea Cunningham and Stephen Boerigter supported McCumber, while Ellen Ben Naim and Bill Hargraves voted for Hargraves. Cunningham was the sole candidate for vice president. McCumber, Boerigter, Ben-Naim and Cunningham voted for her, while

State Auditor Tim Keller Releases Third Annual Fund Balance Report, Recommendations

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) released the third annual Fund Balance Report that tallies unspent funds in government accounts.

The OSA Government Accountability Office compiled data from the most recent financial audits of 431 funds in 91 state agencies. Most of the dollars reside in funds for thousands of specific projects and programs. The report highlights the long-term challenges of red tape and bureaucracy, which tie up millions of dollars intended to make it out into the economy

Letter To The Editor: Support Legislation To Require Background Checks For All Gun Sales

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

By NINA SAMMONS

Santa Fe

As a voter in Sen. Liz Stefanics’ district, I encourage my fellow residents to call our legislators to support legislation to require background checks for all gun sales.

The law requires sales from gun shows or the internet to include a background check on the buyer ensuring that guns don’t end up in the hands of criminals or those with a dangerous mental illness. Polling has shown that this policy is supported by 87 percent of New Mexicans and 84% of New Mexican gun owners.

Please contact your legislators and let them know you support background checks

Heinrich Calls On Trump To Address Wiretap Claim

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 17, 2017

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement calling on President Trump to come clean on his unsubstantiated accusation that President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower prior to last year’s election:

“If President Trump wanted to put this to bed, he’d come clean with whatever ‘evidence’ he claims to have. But instead, he’s using this as a way to redirect the public’s attention from a possible FBI investigation into connections between the Trump

Funding For REDI Net Manager Position Fails

Submitted by Kirsten Laskey (ladp admin) on March 16, 2017

Councilors Rick Reiss, left, and Pete Sheehey motion to approve funding for REDI Net to hire a general manager during Tuesday’s County Council meeting. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY

Los Alamos Daily Post

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) failed to receive approval from the Los Alamos County Council to provide funds to REDI Net to hire a new general manager. REDI Net is the public organization which provides broadband network services in Northern New Mexico.

The MOA was discussed during the regular County Council meeting Tuesday Read More

Opioid Overdose Prevention Bill Moves To House Floor

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 16, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The House Health and Human Services Committee has passed legislation to prevent opioid drug overdoses in New Mexico. House Bill 370, sponsored by Reps. Sarah Maestas Barnes (R-Bernalillo) and Rebecca Dow (R-Grant, Hidalgo and Sierra), passed by a vote of 6 to 0.

The bill aims to increase awareness and access to naloxone. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, blocks the effects of opioids and is used to treat suspected opioid overdoses. House Bill 370 would require federally-certified opioid treatment centers to provide patients with overdose education,

Sen. Martin Heinrich: President Trump’s Budget Outline Does Not Reflect Our Core Values And Principles

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 16, 2017

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich issued the following statement after President Trump released his Fiscal Year 2018 budget outline that cuts $54 billion from non-defense discretionary spending.

The President’s budget boosts Defense Department spending by 10 percent, cuts the State Department by 28 percent and the Environmental Protection Agency by 25 percent, eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and provides $1.5 billion for construction of the border wall.

“President Trump’s proposal irresponsibly Read More

House Passes Ban On Conversion Therapy

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 16, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 121 Wednesday evening, a bill that would ban so-called conversion therapy for individuals under 18 years of age.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jacob Candelaria (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Andrés Romero (D-Albuquerque). Conversion therapy, aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity, has been rejected by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association.

“This discredited practice is not based on medical science. It’s based on dangerous misinformation,” Read More

Ethics Commission Proposal Advances To Senate

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 16, 2017

Rep. Jim Dines (R-Bernalillo). Courtesy photo

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― March 9 the House of Representatives unanimously passed House Joint Resolution 8, a proposal to establish an independent ethics commission in New Mexico. HJR 8 is sponsored by Rep. Jim Dines (R-Bernalillo).

HJR 8 would amend the New Mexico Constitution to create a seven-member independent commission, no more than three of which may belong to the same political party, to investigate and adjudicate ethics complaints against state officers and employees in the legislative and executive branches

Freedom Of The Press … Sunshine Week Editorial

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 16, 2017

By CHRIS WOOD, President

New Mexico Press Association

Recognizing that a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate, the intent of the legislature in enacting the Inspection of Public Records Act is to ensure, and it is declared to be the public policy of this state, that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of public officers and employees. It is the further intent of the legislature, and it is declared to be the public policy of this state, that to provide persons with such information Read More

Letter To The Editor: How Ironic …

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 15, 2017

By ANDREW DELOREY

Los Alamos

How ironic that the Los Alamos GOP chairman should write, “No matter what political party a citizen chooses to associate with, it should be their first and most precious duty to protect the republic.” (link)

We have a GOP president that likely has many undisclosed conflicts of interest regarding his domestic and international business relationships. He has assaulted the first amendment by threatening and excluding the media. The media is diverse and every president has adversaries; that is by design. He has assaulted the first amendment by discriminating

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