Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Council Approves Change To Assessor’s Office Budget

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 3, 2016

Deputy County Manager Steven Lynne and Budget and Performance Manager Karen Kendall brief Council this evening on the Los Alamos County’s FY 2017 proposed budget. Council voted 7-0 to approve the removal of $45,000 in incentive pay and $9,989 in associated benefits from the Assessor’s Office proposed FY 2017 budget and revisit it at the end of the year. This will allow staff time to review salary structure details. Tonight is the final special session on the FY 2017 proposed budget, of which Council is expected to consider final changes and tentatively adopt this evening. Photo Read More

Law Day Op-Ed By Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniels

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 2, 2016

By Chief Justice Charles W. Daniels

New Mexico Supreme Court

As we celebrate national Law Day on May 1 and Juror Appreciation Week in New Mexico, I would like to recognize the vital role each citizen plays in preserving the rule of law by serving on juries in our state courts.

New Mexico courts each year summon about 10 percent of the state’s adult population to participate in jury service. Along with the ballot box, the jury box is one of the two most direct forms of citizen participation in our system of self-government.

The New Mexico and United States

National Rally For Deaf Rights May 4

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 2, 2016

DGM News:

National Rally for Deaf Rights is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 4, at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, hosted by Deaf Grassroots Movement-New Mexico.

At the same time at all state capitols across the United States, the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind people will gather to rally for civil rights for Deaf, Hard of
Hearing and DeafBlind people. The Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind people, family, friends and allies will stand together to raise awareness of the many issues that continue to plague the Deaf community: oppression of American Sign Language as language of instruction

Scenes From Sunday’s Reception For Secretary Of State Candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 2, 2016

Democratic Secretary Of State Candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver addresses the crowd at Sunday’s event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Democratic Secretary Of State Candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

Los Alamos residents hosted a reception for Democratic Secretary of State candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver at the home of Rick Bolton and Kathy Gursky.

Toulouse Oliver served nine years as Bernalillo County Clerk and Sunday shared her plans to bring reform, transparency Read More

Signs Of The Season

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 2, 2016

The political season is gearing up in Los Alamos County and campaign signs are sprouting up around the community in preparation for the June 7 Primary Election. Signs spotted Sunday along Sherwood Boulevard in White Rock include those for Democratic County Councilors Kristin Henderson and Pete Sheehey who are seeking re-election and Democrats Chris Chandler and Antonio Maggiore (got Antonio?) running for Council. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Campaign signs along Sherwood Boulevard Sunday feature Democratic County Councilors Kristin Henderson and Pete Sheehey seeking Read More

Democrats Pitch In To Clean Up Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 1, 2016

Los Alamos Democrats pitched in Satirday for the annual ‘Clean Up Los Alamos Day’ in an effort to beautify the community. From left, Amy Storey, Cecelia Frank, Karyl Ann Armbruster, Chris Chandler, Robyn Schultz, Shelby Redondo, and Michael Redondo. Photo by Brad Storey

COMMUNITY News:

Members of the Democtratic Party of Los Alamos joined with other organizations and individuals to participate in Saturday’s 13th annual Clean Up Los Alamos Day.

Groups and neighborhoods pitched in to help beautify the community and prepare for wildfire season. The County invited volunteers Read More

Rep. Garcia Richard Hosts Town Hall At Mesa Library

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 30, 2016

During her Town Hall meeting today at Mesa Public Library, House Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard discusses House Memorial 3, which she sponsored to name a submarine the USS Los Alamos. The Memorial passed with unanimous support in the 2016 legislative session. Courtesy photo

House Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard discusses highlights from the 2016 legislative session during her Town Hall meeting today at Mesa Public Library. Courtesy photo Read More

Udall Welcomes Roberta Jacobson’s Confirmation As Ambassador To Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 30, 2016

Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta Jacobson. Courtesy/tufts.edu

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a longtime advocate for Senate reform, released the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Roberta Jacobson as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.

“Roberta Jacobson is one the most qualified people ever nominated to be ambassador to Mexico. Her nomination was approved with bipartisan support by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

LANL Puts Out Big ‘Help Wanted’ Notice

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 30, 2016

LANL Director Charlie McMillan at Tuesday’s Community Leaders Update in Santa Fe talks about reshaping the workforce of the future. Courtesy photo

NNSA Field Office Manager Kim Davis Lebak touts the virtues of a steady budget. Courtesy photo

By ROGER SNODGRASS
Los Alamos Daily Post

An aging workforce and natural attrition, more than budget growth, are pushing Los Alamos National Laboratory toward a hiring spree. The lab will be looking for scientists and engineers as always, but also for business services professionals, support staff, as well as craft and technical employees.

“Taken

Report: Proposed BLM Methane Waste Rule Will Increase Production, Revenue In San Juan Basin

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 29, 2016

Courtesy/EDF

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND News:

A new study by the Conservation Economics Institute has found that the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed methane waste rule will have a net positive impact on oil and gas production and revenue in New Mexico’s San Juan Basin.

An analysis of more than 8,700 low-producing natural gas wells in two counties in the San Juan Basin, San Juan and Rio Arriba, determined that BLM’s rule will have little to no negative impact on these marginal wells. The results of the study indicate that the new rule—which aims to reduce waste from venting, Read More

Auditor Keller Launches Statewide Procurement Study

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 29, 2016

State Auditor Tim Keller

Multi-agency special audit will assess state purchasing practices

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller announced that the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is conducting a statewide procurement study.

The State Auditor selected multiple agencies for the special audit due to their roles in procurement oversight: the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), the General Services Department (GSD) and the Department of Information Technology (DoIT). The study will focus on a variety of aspects of state purchasing such as sole-source Read More

Senate Democratic Leaders Rebut Regents’ Version Of HSC Takeover

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 29, 2016

NMSD News:

In their guest column published April 7, three of UNM Board of Regents, Regents Doughty, Lee and Fortner made a number of inaccurate assertions about the recent reorganization of the UNM Health Sciences Center medical complex (HSC). We believe readers deserve clarification.

They have repeatedly claimed that they dissolved the HSC Board of Directors—in an extremely abrupt and secretive way—because the HSC has become too independent. They have also asserted that it is not part of what they describe as “one university”.

This assertion overlooks some

Governor Appoints Lynn Gallagher Cabinet Secretary For Department Of Health

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 28, 2016

Lynn Gallagher

SANTA FE — Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced her appointment of Lynn Gallagher as Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH).

Gallagher has served as Deputy Secretary of DOH since 2013. Prior to that, she served as the General Counsel for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Gallagher’s appointment follows the passing of Secretary Retta Ward in March.

“Much like Retta Ward before her, Lynn is a dedicated public servant who demonstrates strong leadership and dedication to improving the health of New Mexicans,” Martinez said. “Lynn is passionate about Read More

NMED Hosts Open House On LANL Consent Order In Council Chambers 5-7 p.m. Today

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 28, 2016

NMED News:

NMED Proposes Changes to Consent Order, which Governs Legacy Clean-Up at LANL

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Environment Department’s Hazardous Waste Bureau will host an Open House in Los Alamos to present an overview of their proposed changes to the Draft Consent Order governing legacy clean-up at Los Alamos National Laboratory and to hear citizen and stakeholder input, address concerns, and answer questions.

The Open House is 5-7 p.m., today in the Los Alamos County Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave.

On March 1, 2005, NMED and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Regents of the Read More

Lujan Grisham Introduces Legislation To Provide Stable Funding For Food Banks

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 28, 2016

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced legislation to ensure stable and increased federal funding for emergency food banks that distribute food to communities throughout the state.

Lujan Grisham drew attention to the need for the funding last month at a food distribution site at Pajarito Mesa.

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Lujan Grisham voted for the 2014 Farm Bill that dedicated money for food purchases, along with $100 million a year for food banks to distribute food to communities. But the distribution money

New Awards For Advanced Nuclear Energy Development

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 28, 2016

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Building on the President’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Department of Energy has awarded more than $5 million to undergraduate and graduate students in pursuit of nuclear engineering degrees and other nuclear science and engineering programs relevant to nuclear energy.

The awards include 57 undergraduate scholarships and 33 graduate-level fellowships for students at American colleges and universities.

“Nuclear energy currently makes up 60 percent of the United States’ non-carbon emitting energy portfolio,” Energy

Udall Welcomes Signing Of Historic International Agreement To Fight Climate Change

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 28, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations committees, released the following statement on the signing of a historic agreement reached by the United States and almost 200 other countries to fight climbing temperatures and rising sea levels by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Udall was among a group of 10 senators who attended the United Nations climate talks in Paris last December, where international negotiators reached the deal. Ahead of today’s signing,

GOP Statement On Cruz, Kasich Efforts In New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 27, 2016

RPNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― The Republican Party of New Mexico released the following statement Monday on the news that Sen. Ted Cruz would cease campaigning in New Mexico and let Gov. John Kasich compete here on his own:

“The New Mexico Primary is going to be very important this year, and when every delegate matters, we certainly understand that campaigns will have to decide strategically where to compete, and they have every right to do so,” RPNM spokesman Tucker Keene said. “That said, we believe that every campaign should fight to win in New Mexico, because whoever

DPNM Commends Balderas For Working To Protect Access To Health Care Services In Northern New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 27, 2016

DPNM News:

SANTA FE ― The Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) commended Attorney General Hector Balderas for working to protect access to health care services for women in northern New Mexico.

“We are proud that Attorney General Balderas is standing for women who have lost access to services that keep our families healthy,” said Debra Haaland, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. “Ensuring all New Mexicans have access to quality health care is the right thing to do, and women in rural New Mexico should not have to jump through hoops to get the care they need.”

Recently,

Letter To The Editor: Between Trump And Clinton…

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 27, 2016

By ROY M. MOORE

Los Alamos

I once swore that I would never vote for Hillary for President. It’s funny how life seems to always make one eat one’s words. If the choice be between Hillary and Donald, I would now have to vote for Hillary.

The reason I didn’t like her is because I thought she was self-serving and only interested in her own welfare. But she was a very good Secretary of State and that made me change my opinion of her. What was most important to me, was that she never spoke of her own plans during that time. She was a team player and totally followed the will of her President.

LOS ALAMOS

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