Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Udall Votes For Short-Term Agreement To Keep Government Open

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 10, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined the full Senate Friday in voting 63-36 for a short-term agreement to keep the government running until April 28.

The bill also includes a measure that would expedite a bill to change the law requiring a Defense Secretary to have been out of military service for at least seven years. President-elect Donald Trump’s expected nominee for Defense Secretary, Marine Gen. James Mattis, retired in 2013.

The stop-gap budget, called a “continuing

Udall On Trump’s Nominee For EPA Administrator

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall responded to President-elect Trump expected nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as EPA Administrator:

“Global warming is one of the greatest threats to public health, our environment and our national security. And New Mexico is in the bull’s eye, as farmers and anyone who relies on water and weather know all too well. The American people accept that the science is real; the facts can’t be denied, and we need to take urgent action to stop the impacts from growing

Attorney General Files Suit In Massive Real Estate Contract Scheme; Issues Consumer Alert

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016

Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Thursday, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that he filed a lawsuit against Jesus Cano for an alleged real estate contract and mortgage scheme involving potentially hundreds of victims and properties in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia Counties.

The lawsuit alleges Mr. Cano and his associates perpetrated fraud and would prey on Spanish-speaking and Hispanic communities in central New Mexico taking anywhere from $1,000 to $46,000 from victims with the empty promise

EM Names Sue Cange New Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 10, 2016

EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Sue Cange

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― EM announced Dec. 8 that Sue Cange has been named its principal deputy assistant secretary.

“Sue is a trusted and effective leader with a deep understanding of EM’s cleanup mission and passion for advancing our mission,” EM Assistant Secretary Monica Regalbuto said. “With a strong track record of leading organizations to complete cleanup work safely and efficiently, she will be integral to our progress.”

Cange has nearly three decades of DOE leadership

Udall On 75th Anniversary Of Bataan Invasion

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 9, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thursday U.S. Sen. Tom Udall commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Bataan invasion, which began Dec. 8, 1941 – just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor – when soldiers from the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment became the “first to fire” to defend the Philippines from Japanese bombers.

The 200th Coast Artillery Regiment was made up of members of the New Mexico National Guard and were deployed to the Philippines before the onset of hostilities against the Japanese in September 1941.

Letter To The Editor: Taxpayers Should Set Capital Priorities

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 9, 2016

By JIM REDMAN

Los Alamos

I am outraged that the Council should be trying to repeat the “Kiddie Pool” bond ruse with a new recreational bond election (link).

Having raided the taxpayers capital fund for the projects that Council and staff feel important we find that it is short money for popular “recreational” projects. Thus the bond election hoping that the tax payers will vote for a property tax increase to fund these projects.

We have seen excessive spending by Councils in recent memory and I have no confidence in any Council’s judgment in spending our money. As taxpayers, we need to be sure Read More

Whacking At Wicked Problems Of Nuclear Weapons

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 9, 2016

William Perry, left, and Eric Schlosser converse at the Lensic Theater this weekend during the nuclear weapons summit in Santa Fe. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com

An unarmed Minuteman III ICBM blasts out of the silo during an operational test launch Feb. 25, 2015 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. U.S. Air Force photo courtesy of 30th Space Wing Public Affairs

By ROGER SNODGRASS
Los Alamos Daily Post

The Minuteman III, the fixed land-based missile of the American nuclear triad, was the obvious loser during several dialogues on nuclear weapons in Santa Fe this weekend. An Read More

Udall Welcomes EPA Proposal To Ban TCE In Dry Cleaning Under Lautenberg Chemical Safety Law

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 9, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to ban uses of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) under the newly reformed bipartisan chemical safety law.

It is the EPA’s first effort to ban an existing chemical since it failed in its attempt to ban asbestos in the early 1990s. Used as a degreaser and spot remover in dry cleaning, TCE is a neurotoxin linked to cancer, developmental

Udall Won’t Run For Governor Of New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 8, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

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

Staying in the Senate is the Best Way I can Fight for New Mexico. –Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement:

“I am very grateful for the support of so many New Mexicans who have personally urged me to run for governor in 2018. Under the current governor, our state has fallen behind in education and jobs. We have failed to take full advantage of our abundant natural resources and our potential for developing a renewable energy industry. While I firmly believe that I have the backing and the experience to properly address

State Auditor Tim Keller Releases Special Audit

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 7, 2016

New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller released a statewide special audit of untested sexual assault evidence kits, commonly known as “rape kits.”

The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) conducted the special audit to determine why a backlog of 5,440 untested kits amassed in New Mexico and develop best practices to clear it and prevent it from happening again.

In New Mexico, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 20 men have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime and 65 percent of sexual assault victims are minors. Although

Los Alamos County Council Unanimously Approves Resolution Adopting 2016 Comprehensive Plan

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 7, 2016

Los Alamos County Councilor James Chrobocinski, at right, asks clarifying questions of P&Z Chair Phil Gursky prior to moving to approve the 2016 Comprehensive Plan this evening, which Council approved 7-0. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

P&Z Chair Phil Gursky answers questions from councilors about the Comprehensive Plan at this evening’s County Council meeting. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Three citizens spoke during public comment this evening about the open space area south of the Los Alamos County Airport being designated mix use in the Comp Plan Read More

Letter To The Editor: Addressing Misunderstandings Related To Open Space, Mixed Use and Industrial Use

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 6, 2016

By JAMES CHROBOCINSKI
Los Alamos County Councilor

Owner/Broker Zia Realty Group

I would like to address some misunderstandings regarding a couple of lots addressed in the new Comprehensive Plan that have been a topic of conversation lately.

The lots in question are two of three lots directly across from the Los Alamos County Airport. All three lots are currently zoned as “INDUSTRIAL USE”. The County Council chose to designate the two lots along the road as “Mixed Use” with the third lot along the canyon that includes the Canyon Rim Trail being designated as “Open Space”.

Apparently, in

Letter To The Editor: The Problem Is Us…

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 6, 2016

By RICK NEBEL

Los Alamos

This is in response to the recent Letter to the Editor (letter) by the League of Women Voters.

My understanding is that Hillary Clinton spent twice as much as Donald Trump on the last election. How did THAT work out for her! Money isn’t the problem. The problem is us.

The reason candidates use attack ads is because they work. This isn’t anything new. About 100 years ago H. L. Mencken told us that “nobody ever went broke or lost an election by underestimating the taste of the American public.” He also told us

Udall, Heinrich Urge Passage Of Foster Care Reforms

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 6, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined 23 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to congressional leaders urging them to include strongly supported reforms to the foster care system in any end-of-year budget agreement.

The Family First Prevention Services Act would allow states to use federal foster care funds to pay for programs that improve home life, such as mental health services and in-home parenting programs, which are crucial in light of the growing number of children in the foster

League’s Lunch With A Leader Features Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto At Mesa Public Library Dec. 13

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 6, 2016

Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto

LWVLA News:

The League of Women Voters will hold its monthly community event, Lunch with a Leader at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Mesa Public Library.

This month’s speaker is New Mexico State Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto of Albuquerque. Sen. Ivey-Soto will speak on the recent election, upcoming ethics legislation, and public safety.

The senator is a life-long public servant. He is a former director of the State Elections Office, prosecutor and teacher as well as a member of the League of Women Voters. He started two small businesses that focused on helping others and improving Read More

DOE Secretary: U.S. Commits To IAEA Monitoring For Six Metric Tons Of Plutonium Disposition

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2016

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

VIENNA – At an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz today announced the United States is embarking on an effort to dilute and dispose of six metric tons of excess plutonium from the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, and that the United States is prepared to work with the IAEA in 2017 to develop a monitoring and verification plan for the disposition process.

Below are Secretary Moniz’ remarks at the conference, which begin with a message from President Obama to the conference:

“Let me start Read More

Letter To The Editor: Character, Thoughtfulness And Ideas Count – Money Should Not

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2016

By REBECCA SHANKLAND and BARBARA CALEF

Co-presidents, League of Women Voters of Los Alamos

In the wake of the election, we’ve been reflecting on a topic that is close to the hearts of members of the League of Women Voters and others: the corruption of political discourse by money. The League was founded in 1920 when women got the vote. Since then, its mission has been to educate voters.

Question: How many political messages did you receive daily during the recent campaign?
Question: How many of them used a “survey” or “quiz” that concluded by asking for money?
Question: How many

Williams Announces ‘State Of Chamisa Address’

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2016

By MATT WILLIAMS

Los Alamos School Board

I would like to announce that I will be giving a community presentation at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at Chamisa Elementary School Gymnasium on Meadow Lane in White Rock.

The agenda will include discussion of a recent School Board resolution, current fiscal outlook for LAPS, and upcoming LAPS elections. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.

The presentation will be informative to all Los Alamos residents, particularly for White Rock residents. If there are any particular items or questions that you would like to be considered, Read More

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Welcomes Decision To Reject Easement For Dakota Access Pipeline

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, the incoming vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to reject the current route for the Dakota Access Pipeline and explore alternatives:

“I appreciate the president and the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision today to deny an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline crossing under Lake Oahe in North Dakota and to explore alternate routes. Over the last seven months, thousands of people, including Indian nations from

State Initiates Special Audit And Plan To Resolve Potential Tax Underpayments By Insurance Companies

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 4, 2016

State Auditor Tim Keller

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Nov. 30, State Auditor Tim Keller announced that the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) outlined a plan for the resolution of longstanding questions about revenue collection at the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI).

The plan includes the initiation of an in-depth audit, to be conducted by an independent firm, to determine amounts that may be owed to the state. The plan also includes recommendations for multiagency coordination for oversight of the audit findings and responsibilities for any settlement

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