Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Luján Amendment To Help Fix Shortage Of VA Doctors Passes Unanimously

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 16, 2016

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District offered an amendment on the House floor to veterans legislation that addresses the need to fix a doctor shortage at Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in New Mexico and across the country.

Luján’s amendment passed by voice vote with unanimous support. Below are his remarks as delivered. Click here to watch Luján’s speech.

“Thank you Mr. Chairman. My amendment directs the VA to produce a report related to the part-time employment

Attorney General Balderas Sues Bristol-Myers Squibb For False & Deceptive Marketing

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 16, 2016

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Thursday, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that he filed a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturer Bristol-Meyers Squibb for false and deceptive marketing of the prescription drug Plavix.

The complaint alleges that the drug company knew that its drug was ineffective in a percentage of the population and may have increased a patient’s risk of internal bleeding, but the company failed to disclose that to prescribing doctors and the public.

“My office will continue to protect vulnerable New Mexican families

Conservation Lands Foundation Applauds First Marine Monument In The Atlantic

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 16, 2016

CLF News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds Thursday’s designation of the New England Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.

President Obama’s proclamation will make this the first national monument in the North Atlantic Ocean.

“In taking this action, President Obama has demonstrated the same bold leadership he has shown in protecting America’s mountains, rivers and forests,” said Brian O’Donnell, executive director of the Conservation Lands Foundation. “The monument will advance the important

Milder: Risk Of Maintaining Sheriff’s Department

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 15, 2016

By KEN MILDER

Former County Councilor

What does the lawsuit stemming from former Governor Gary Johnson’s support of Indian gaming have to do with the current risk associated with retention of the Los Alamos Sheriff’s Office? As it turns out, quite a lot.

During Gary Johnson’s first campaign for governor he promised New Mexico’s tribal nations that he would support their efforts to establish casinos. Once elected, and without authorization from the NM legislature, Governor Johnson executed gaming compacts with the reservations. He did this against advice from state legislators and the attorney Read More

Community Invited To Rep. Garcia Richard Event

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 15, 2016

O’Leary: A Single Excellent Police Department Is The Right Approach For Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 15, 2016

By SUSAN O’LEARY, Vice Chair

Los Alamos County Council

When Los Alamos County was incorporated as a special and unique type of small, one-community County, a conscious decision was made to have a single well-trained, well-funded professional law enforcement agency, the Los Alamos Police Department. At that time there was discussion about just having no Sheriff at all. Some say it was a close call, but the position of Sheriff was maintained as a largely ceremonial post with a nominal salary and a few administrative duties; probably as some kind of compromise decision.

The law of

Governor Joins Stover At Rover Park Sunday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 15, 2016

Tickets Available For Los Alamos GOP Constitution Day Dinner Sept. 24

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 15, 2016

Courtesy image

GOP News:

The Republican Party of Los Alamos is hosting its annual Constitution Day Dinner 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Church of Christ at 2323 Diamond Dr., in Los Alamos.

Tickets are available for this special event, which features guest speaker State Rep. Nora Espinoza who is a candidate for New Mexico Secretary of State. The winners of the Constitution Essay Contest for students of all school levels will be announced and the winners will have an opportunity to read their essays at the event. The elementary winner receives $100, the middle school winner receives $200 and Read More

Senator Padilla: When Is The Special Session?

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 15, 2016

By SEN. MICHAEL PADILLA

Majority Whip

New Mexico is facing a budget crisis of historic proportions, one that must be dealt with now, not later. The state budget crisis requires responsible cuts and reliable revenue sources.

For reasons that are difficult to fathom, the Governor and her Republican allies in the House of Representatives have been downplaying the seriousness of the budget crisis. Both the Governor and the Legislature have an obligation to fix the problem, not to pretend it doesn’t exist.

Now is the time for democrats and republicans to come together

Rep. Garcia Richard Evaluates Proposals During LESC Meeting At State Capitol

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 15, 2016

During a recent meeting at the state capitol in Santa Fe, Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard as an educator and member of the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) evaluates proposals that will affect New Mexico schools, teachers, insurance premiums for New Mexico, charter schools and the Every Child Succeeds Act that replaced No Child Left Behind. Courtesy photo Read More

N.M. Delegation Welcomes News That Facebook Will Build New Data Center In Los Lunas

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 14, 2016

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement welcoming today’s news that Facebook will build its new data center in Los Lunas:

“We welcome Facebook to New Mexico and are proud to help secure this new investment in our state’s future. Facebook will bring innovative opportunities for our economy and much needed jobs. As a leader in energy development, New Mexico is an ideal fit for the new facility, which Read More

New Mexico Human Services Department Announces Nearly 25 Percent Decrease In Uninsured Rate

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 14, 2016

NMHSD News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Human Services Department announced that the number of New Mexicans without health insurance coverage dropped by nearly 25 percent last year. Since Gov. Susana Martinez took office in 2011, New Mexico’s uninsured rate has plummeted by nearly half.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual “Health Insurance Coverage in the United States” report, the uninsured rate in New Mexico dropped from 14.5 percent in 2014 to 10.9 percent in 2015.

“We’ve expanded and reformed Medicaid to make it more patient-centered and provide basic

Letter To The Editor: Importance Of House Bill 145 Concerning Adjunct Instructors

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 14, 2016

By JANE M. GORDON

Los Alamos

Earlier this year when the New Mexico Legislature was in session, the Adjunct Secondary Instructors Bill (HB 145) passed in the House with a vote of 37-25. It was, however, defeated in the Senate.

Had the bill passed, it would have allowed the Public Education Department (PED) to issue an adjunct secondary instructor license to an applicant who has earned at least a bachelor’s degree and has a minimum of three years experience in the subject matter expertise area to teach that subject in the public schools. The bill permitted

Letter To The Editor: Fight For Economic Equality Far From Over

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 14, 2016

By HELENA WHYTE and SYLVIA FINK

AAUW NM CO-PRESIDENTS

While Labor Day is the time when we recognize the social and economic achievements of American workers, the fight for economic equality is far from over.

Only 13 percent of American workers have access to paid leave through their employer. Two-thirds of minimum wage workers in the U.S. are women, and their income remains below the federal poverty line. Couple this with the fact a woman working full time on average still only makes 79 cents to a white, non-Hispanic man’s dollar. It’s easy to see that we still

LANL Clean Up Estimate Still Lacks Details

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 14, 2016

Los Alamos County Councilor Kristin Henderson and Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales at the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities meeting last week in Ohkay Owingeh. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com

By ROGER SNODGRASS

Los Alamos Daily Post

A delegation from the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities is visiting Washington, D.C. this week to attend a National Cleanup Conference.

In scheduled talks on Capitol Hill and with Department of Energy officials, they will not have the benefit of some missing information that has been blamed

NM Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments In Voting Rights Case Wednesday

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 13, 2016

NMSC News:

The New Mexico Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at 9 a.m., Wednesday Sept. 14, in Santa Fe on whether the New Mexico Compilation Commission erred in not ordering that several constitutional amendments passed by a majority of voters in 2008, 2010 and 2014 be made a part of state law.

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico, the lead plaintiff, and a number of groups, which filed Amicus Curia briefs, believe that it did – and that the error will diminish voting rights in the state. Common Cause New Mexico, the NM Association of Counties, the

Obama Faces First Potential Veto Override Of Presidency

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 13, 2016

President Barack Obama faces the first potential veto override of his presidency on a bill that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia. Courtesy/politico.com

POLITICO News:

The House on Friday unanimously passed a bill that will allow 9/11 victims’ families to sue Saudi Arabia for damages.

The Senate also approved the bill unanimously in May. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the legislation, setting up a potential veto override, which would be the first of Obama’s presidency.

Luján Advocates For New Mexico Priorities In Energy Conference Committee

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 12, 2016

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District participated in the first meeting of Senate and House Conferees on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016.

The conference committee is working out differences between House and Senate legislation. Below are his remarks as prepared.

“Thank you Madam Chair. Our work here today on an Energy Bill is one of great importance for our nation, and particularly for an energy state like New Mexico. We need an energy policy that

Four Steps That Could Help Keep Hackers From Hijacking 2016 Election

Submitted by Chris Clark on September 12, 2016

Gary S. Miliefsky

SnoopWall Inc.

COMMUNITY News:

It’s a provocative question that reads like the cover blurb for a paperback spy novel, but it’s drawing serious attention in these days of cyber crime. Could hackers disrupt the U.S. presidential election and, if they did, what would be the implications for our democracy?

“Theoretically, there are several things a hacker could do to interfere with the election,” says Gary S. Miliefsky, CEO of SnoopWall (www.snoopwall.com), a company that specializes in cybersecurity.

“They could delete names from a voter list

Lujan Grisham Announces Federal Funding For Homeless Veterans

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on September 12, 2016

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

VETERANS News:

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that three New Mexico agencies will receive more than $2 million in federal grants through the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program.

The program aims to prevent homeless among veteran families who earn very low incomes.

“This is money that helps our local nonprofits keep veterans and their families in sustainable housing,” Lujan Grisham said. “These services are essential for people who have served our country and deserve our support so they can lead healthy, productive Read More

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