Tourism Commission Meeting Underway At Fuller Lodge
Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess, right, welcomes New Mexico State Tourism Commissioners holding their quarterly meeting this afternoon at Fuller Lodge. From left, Chris Stagg of Taos, Jennifer Kimball of La Fonda in Santa Fe and Scott Hutton of Hutton Broadcasting in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
New Mexico Tourism Secretary Rebecca Latham, right, with from left, Belia Alvarez, John Garcia and George Brooks at the quarterly Tourism Commission meeting underway at Fuller Lodge. Courtesy photoLetter To The Editor: In Los Alamos Thoughtful Inquiry And Rational Discourse Are Expected And Required
By NANCY SCHICK Legislators Unveil Plan To Reboot State Tax Code
HOUSE REPUBLICAN News:
SNATA Fe – Today a bipartisan group of legislators introduced their bill to reform New Mexico’s sales tax structure. Their plan, House Bill 412, also called the New Mexico Tax Reform Act, aims to simplify the state’s Gross Receipt Tax (GRT) on sales and services and make it more competitive with surrounding states.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Jason Harper (R-Sandoval), Sen. John Arthur Smith (D-Luna) and Sen. Carlos Cisneros (D-Taos).
New Mexico is one of only two states that uses a GRT, and it is often rated as one of the worst consumption taxes in the country. The complexity Read More
Gun Laws And Statistics: A Sometimes Toxic Mix
By KHALIL SPPENCERElena Giorgi states the oft-repeated claim that “states that have closed the loopholes have seen a huge reduction in gun homicide.” I wish Ms. Giorgi and others would cite their sources for these claims because as far as I know, there is no evidence of such a huge cause and effect between closing private sales “gun show loopholes” and seeing resulting “huge” reductions in gun crime. Indeed, states with so-called “weak” gun laws range from those with very high gun homicide statistics to some having the Read More
New Mexico Voyeurism Bill Dies In House Committee
HOUSE REPUBLICAN News:
SANTA FE – This afternoon the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee tabled a bill to expand the definition of voyeurism. The legislation is sponsored by Reps. Sharon Clahchischilliage (R-San Juan) and Monica Youngblood (R-Bernalillo).
House Bill 159 would add attempted acts of voyeurism of victims age 18 or older to the New Mexico criminal code. The bill also would make attempted voyeurism of a minor a fourth-degree felony. Currently, attempted voyeurism of a minor is a misdemeanor and attempted voyeurism of an adult is not a crime.
Under existing law, an individual Read More
Heinrich Demands Answers On Trump Administration’s Handling Of Classified Information
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
In a letter sent to Acting Director of National Intelligence, Heinrich asks for answers regarding the process used to grant access to classified information.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, is calling into question the manner in which the Trump Administration has been accessing and handling sensitive and classified information.
“We’ve seen a pattern of carelessness and lack of accountability from this administration that puts Read More
Bill For Firefighters With PTSD Heads To House Floor
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of Los Alamos participates in a Labor Committee meeting Monday voting in support of HB157 to provide support for firefighters suffering from PTSD. Photo by Michael Redondo
STATE News:
- HB157 Establishes PTSD as Disease that May Result from Firefighters’ Duties
After passing the House Labor and Economic Development Committee Monday, House Bill 157, legislation that establishes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a disease that—when diagnosed in a firefighter without previous health issues—can be presumed to have been caused by the firefighter’s service, Read More
Letter To The Editor: Let’s All Voice Support For Two Bills Aimed At Protecting New Mexico Wildlife
At 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, New Mexico’s Senate Conservation Committee will hear two bills aimed at protecting wildlife here in New Mexico.
Senate Bill 286, which will ban the use of traps and poisons on our public lands, was introduced by Sen. Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas) and Sen. Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs). Currently, traps and poisons can be left not far from public trails, are random in their damage, and put wildlife, endangered species and even pets at risk.
Senate Bill 268, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces) and Sen. Mark Moores (R- Albuquerque), will
Local GOP Meets At UNM-LA Thursday
GOP News:
The Republican Party of Los Alamos invites all republicans to attend its monthly meeting this Thursday at the Jeannette Wallace Hall (Building 5) at UNM-LA.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. with light refreshments followed by a presentation by Dr. Lisa Shin on her experience at the Republican National Convention and the Presidential Inauguration. Read More
Letter To The Editor: Don’t Give Up Constitutional Rights For Promise Of Security
By JAMES FOLEYI am a little frustrated with politicians that believe our constitutional rights are worth giving up for the promise of security. There are too many of these laws that require you to give up your rights to be safer.
The reality is if you buy into to what they are selling, you lose your rights for little or no improvement in security. Politicians and lobbyists try to convince you that there is a big problem and they have the answer. They are using fear to get you to do something they want you to do. They will try to convince you that the new law is common sense and required to stop the Read More
Attorney General Balderas: Protect New Mexico Kids By Banning Conversion Therapy
Attorney General Hector Balderas
From the Office of Attorney General Hector Balderas:
SANTA FE — Ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee that convened this afternoon, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced his support for SB 121, legislation that would ban the practice of “conversion therapy” for minors in New Mexico.
The so-called “therapy” involves the systematic shaming and humiliation of gender non-conforming children in order to instill self-hatred. This discredited practice is not based on medical science–it is based on prejudice. It has been rejected by the Read More
DEA Removes Marijuana Misinformation
DEA News:GOP Women Meet At Roundhouse Friday
LAFRW News:The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women (LAFRW) will be having a day out this Friday, Feb. 17.
They will join the NMFRW at the Roundhouse followed by lunch and a tour of the New Mexico Supreme Court Building.
Anyone interested should send an email to losalamosfrw@gmail.com, for more information. Read More
Letter To The Editor: Don’t Like It … Then Leave It!
By GERALD M. ANTOSHouse Committee Passes Memorial To Help Prevent Animal Abuse And Family Violence
Rep. Jim Dines STATE News:
Letter To The Editor: The Last Thing The World Needs Is A Stronger And Greater USA
By Dr. DOUGLAS T. REILLYSenate Passes Bipartisan Medical Canabis Reform
STATE News:
SANTA FE – With solid bipartisan support, the Senate today passed by a vote of 29-11 legislation that strongly reforms New Mexico’s medical cannabis laws for the first time in 10 years.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley (D-16-Bernalillo), who also was the sponsor of the original medical cannabis law in New Mexico. Last-minute changes to SB 177 were made on the Senate floor including requiring that veterans be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition to enroll in the program, like any other patient or applicant, and mandating that patient renewals occur annually, Read More
House Education Committee Hears From Teachers
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, center, presents House Bill 158 with her expert witnesses LAPS Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus, right, and Pojoaque Valley Schools Superintendent Dr. Mel Morgan at Saturday’s House Education Committee hearing at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo 
New Mexico House Education Committee listens during Saturday’s hearing to teachers speak about their experiences with the state teacher evaluation system. Courtesy photo 
More than 80 teachers line up to speak at Saturday’s special House Education CommitteeLetter To The Editor: About House Bill 50 On Gun Safety
By ELENA E. GIORGIFriday Feb. 10, the House Judiciary Committee passed with a vote of 7 to 6 House Bill 50 (HB 50), co-sponsored by our representatives Stephanie Garcia Richard and Richard Martinez. HB 50 would close background check loopholes for buying guns in New Mexico. In our state it’s not illegal to avoid background checks when purchasing a firearm.
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, New Mexico is the 10th-worst state for gun deaths: There were 14.6 gun deaths for every 100,000 people in the state in 2010. That’s 40 percent higher than the national average of Read More
Teachers Are Human Too Bill Passes 2nd Committee
House Republican News:
SANTA FE – The House Education Committee approved House Bill 241, a bill sponsored by Reps. Jason Harper (R-Sandoval) and Dennis Roch (R-Quay) to allow teachers to use their contractually allotted sick leave without fear of penalty.
The legislation, also known as the “Teachers Are Human Too” bill, would allow teachers to use up to 10 days of sick leave and all personal days without it negatively affecting their annual performance evaluations. The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Reps. Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos) and Christine Trujillo (D-Bernalillo) Read More
