Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

GOP Representatives Present Bipartisan Bill 241 To Ease Teacher Leave Penalty

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 3, 2017

House Republican Communications News:

SANTA FE — Thursday afternoon, Reps. Jason Harper (R-Sandoval) and Dennis Roch (R-Quay) presented House Bill 241 to the House Labor and Economic Development Committee. The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Reps. Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos) and Christine Trujillo (D-Bernalillo) as well as Sen. Craig Brandt (R-Sandoval).

Their bill, also called the “Teachers Are Human, Too” bill, would allow teachers to use up to ten days of sick leave without it negatively affecting their annual performance evaluations. It would also give local Read More

Udall Outlines Priorities For Senate Committee On Indian Affairs For The New Congress

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 3, 2017

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement Tuesday at the first business meeting of the committee in the 115th Congress:

“Congratulations, Senator Hoeven. I look forward to working with you to address the many issues affecting Indian Country. I’m sure you’ll agree that we need to work with Tribes to improve health care and education in their communities; housing; economic development; infrastructure; public safety – and the many other pressing

State Auditor’s Investigation Finds Public Officials Likely Violated Ethics Code In Hobbs

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 3, 2017

State Auditor Tim Keller

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) notified the City of Hobbs of the results of an investigation into allegations about violations of the Code of Ethics.

The investigation found that public officials were not filing required financial disclosures or recusing themselves from official business when personal interests were involved.

“This was a failure of multiple elected officials to follow their own ethics ordinance,” State Auditor Tim Keller said. “These rules help ensure decisions are being made in the

Governor Announces 300 New Jobs To Support Facebook’s Massive High-Tech Data Center

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 3, 2017

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Susana Martinez announced Wednesday that 300 new jobs have become available as a result of Facebook coming to New Mexico. Affordable Solar, an Albuquerque company, will invest $45 million to build three cutting-edge solar farms that will help support Facebook’s massive high-tech data center, which is expected to create thousands of long-term construction jobs in the first phase alone.

“Not only is Facebook’s massive data center expected to create thousands of long-term construction jobs

State Auditor Tim Keller Announces Legislative Agenda

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 2, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Jan. 27, State Auditor Tim Keller announced the Office of the State Auditor’s (OSA) agenda for the 2017 Legislative Session.

The four-part plan is aimed fixing loopholes that allow deficit spending by the state and increasing accountability in state government.

“Our office is engaged throughout the legislative process to support initiatives that protect taxpayer dollars, crackdown on corruption and prevent deficit spending,” Keller said. “With thoughtful legislation to make the most of our tax dollars, we can make a difference

Heinrich Supports Confirmation Of Ryan Zinke For Interior Secretary, Highlights Success Of National Monuments In New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 2, 2017

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, right, meets Jan. 10 with Interior Secretary Nominee Ryan Zinke. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) voted Jan. 31 in support of Secretary of the Interior nominee U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources business meeting.

“While we are clearly not going to agree on every issue, I believe its very important to have a Westerner in this role — particularly one who is committed to keeping public lands in public hands,” Heinrich

Workers And Community Groups Win Temporary Restraining Order In Lawsuit Against Department Of Workforce Solutions

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 2, 2017

COURT News:

SANTA FE ― Late Tuesday, New Mexicans whose legal rights were violated by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions won a major victory in their lawsuit filed Jan. 17, 2017 to remedy the agency’s failure to enforce our state’s wage payment laws.

Among other claims, the lawsuit challenges the Department’s illegally-imposed $10,000 cap on investigating wage theft claims and the Department’s illegal practice of not investigating or taking any enforcement action on wage claims that go back more than one year. Under these policies, the Department

Senators Steinborn And Moores Renew Call To Ban Coyote Killing Contests In New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 2, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― A bipartisan pair of state lawmakers have teamed up again to introduce legislation to ban coyote killing contests in New Mexico.

Senate Bill 268 was reintroduced Jan. 30 in the New Mexico legislature by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces) and Sen. Mark Moores (R-Albuquerque).

Moores and Steinborn previously passed legislation through the State Senate in 2015. The measure aims to put a stop to the dozens of organized competitions held annually in New Mexico, in which participants compete for prizes for killing the most coyotes

Michelle Hall: Why I’m Running For UNM-LA Advisory Board

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 2, 2017

By MICHELLE K. HALL, Incumbent

UNM-LA Advisory Board

The community of Los Alamos is a place I am lucky to call home. It has splendorous beauty and passionate and caring people. I cannot thank Los Alamos voters enough for their approval of the UNM-LA mil levy. With passage of the levy, it is critical for the campus to have strong advisory board members that bring a diversity of knowledge and experience to guide them toward a strong and vibrant future. I bring the skills and experience of a small business leader, former faculty member at the University of Arizona, and grant writer to help guide the institution. Read More

Letter To The Editor: Trump’s Misleading Attacks On Mexico

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 2, 2017

By JOSEPH A. D’ANNA

Los Alamos

Throughout the election process and now as President, Donald Trump has viciously and relentlessly attacked Mexico and its people over trade and immigration. In reality, Trump’s attacks are baseless and contrived.

First, there is no rational basis to blame Mexico for the NAFTA trade agreement involving the US, Mexico and Canada. Mexico did not initiate NAFTA, and it did not coerce the US government to sign the trade agreement.

The Reagan administration initiated negotiations with Mexico to expand the global economy, the negotiations were concluded with Mexico Read More

Letter To The Editor: In Support Of Ellen Ben-Naim

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 2, 2017

By ROSE MARTIN

Retired Pinon Elementary Teacher

I enthusiastically support Ellen Ben-Naim for the Los Alamos School Board. I would like to confirm the qualifications and experience that makes Ellen an excellent choice.

I’ve taught at Pinon for 25 years and during my tenure I saw first-hand Ellen’s commitment to our school community. Ellen has a master’s degree in education, a life-long career in teaching and a demonstrated commitment to serving our students, parents, teachers and school staff.

At Pinon School she was a knowledgeable

Schiferl: Why I’m Running For UNM-LA Board

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 1, 2017

By SHEILA K. SCHIFERL

Los Alamos

Why am I running for the UNM-LA board? The challenges for UNM-LA revolve around careful allocation of resources and improving administrative procedures – numbers, details, budgeting. I’ve always been a numbers and detail person. I’ve been a theoretical physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, working both in statistical methods and applied metallurgy. Even within the Lab, I was the “math/detail person,” checking whether the results of both experiments and computations made physical sense. I have an MS and Read More

AG Announces Consumer Protection Settlement With Western Union; New Mexico Consumers To Get A Piece Of $586 Million Consumer Restitution Settlement

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 1, 2017

Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

SANTA FE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a settlement with Colorado-based The Western Union Company, resolving a multistate investigation which focused on complaints of consumers who used Western Union’s wire transfer service to send money to third parties involved in schemes to defraud consumers.

In addition to New Mexico, 49 states and the District of Columbia participated in this settlement. Western Union also settled claims by the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice related to

LAPS On Budget Cuts And State Solvency Package

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 1, 2017

LAPS News:

With several line-item vetoes, the Governor has signed the FY17 Legislative Solvency Package. The estimated LAPS budget impact for this school year includes:

Budget Cuts from the Special Legislative Session in November 2016

Operational – $405,880
Transportation – $78,217
Instructional Materials – $27,539

Budget Cut from the January 2017 Legislative Solvency Package, Senate Bill 114

Operational – $528,682 (estimated)

The total cut for Los Alamos Public Schools in the 2016-17 school year is an estimated $1,040,318.

School Board President Read More

CIR: Emile Nakhleh On Trump And The Middle East

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 1, 2017

Professor Emile Nakhleh

CIR News:

As the world takes an increasingly isolationist, nativist turn, how do we navigate between our values–such as a commitment to cultural diversity–and our national self-interest, which may feel that such an approach to diversity opens opportunities for instability and terror?

CIR brings Professor Emile Nakhleh this Thursday to Santa Fe. In exploring the interplay between our national interest and values, he will help us put some context into President Trump’s recent ban on immigration from several Middle Eastern

Stewart Files SB 244 Expanding Consumer Protections For New Mexicans Living In Homeowners Associations

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 1, 2017

Sen. Mimi Stewart

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― This week Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Bernalillo) filed SB 244, which significantly expands consumer protections available to New Mexicans living in homeowners associations.

According to industry data, there are approximately 260,000 New Mexicans residing in nearly 2,000 community associations (both homeowner and condominium) across the state.

“The fact is a significant number of New Mexican families are impacted by the operations of home owner associations and their interests and needs should be protected,” Stewart

Transparency; Ethics Bills Clear House Committee

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 1, 2017

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The House State Government, Indian and Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HSIVC) passed two bills Jan. 26 aimed at creating a more open and ethical government.

House Bill 73, the “Revolving Door” bill, and House Joint Resolution 8, creating an Independent Ethics Commission both passed committee with strong bipartisan support bringing a more transparent state government one step closer to reality.

“To best serve the people of our state, eliminating any incentive for state employees to turn a profit at the expense of New Mexicans is a powerful action

Luján Staffers Meet With Los Alamos Residents

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 1, 2017

Los Alamos resident Christa Breslford meets with Patrick Duran of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján’s office Tuesday at projectY in Central Park Square. Duran held mobile office hours as part of the congressman’s outreach to citizens throughout the state. Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com

Patrick Duran of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján’s office speaks with Christa Breslford of Los Alamos Tuesday at projectY. Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Governor Acts On Three New Bills

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 31, 2017

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Today, Gov. Susana Martinez acted on the following legislation:

Signed Senate Bill 113 – Reduce Appropriations and Transfer Funds [MESSAGE]
Signed Senate Bill 114 – School District Cash Balances [MESSAGE]
Signed House Bill 4 – Revert Balances of Certain Funds [MESSAGE]

“I told lawmakers on day one that we had to solve our budget deficit in a way that didn’t raise taxes or cut classroom spending,” Martinez said. “For the last several weeks, my staff and I met with lawmakers from both parties to make this happen. While they sent over a package that Read More

DPNM: New Mexicans Categorically Reject Violence And Discrimination

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 31, 2017

DPNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE – The Democratic Party of New Mexico issued the following statement regarding this morning’s bomb threat at the Jewish Community Center in Albuquerque in which about 200 people, including some 90 children were inside at the time:

“The Democratic Party of New Mexico condemns any type of violence against our communities solely based on how they pray. Diversity is our country’s and our state’s greatest asset. Whether it is a bomb threat against the Jewish Community Center or someone setting fire to a Mosque in Texas, the Democratic Party of New Mexico Read More

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