Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

DOE Announces $80 Million In Funding To Increase SuperTruck Efficiency

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 1, 2016

DOE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. ― Building on the notable successes of the SuperTruck initiative, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Reuben Sarkar today announced SuperTruck II, an $80 million funding opportunity, subject to congressional appropriations, for research, development and demonstration of long-haul tractor-trailer truck technology. Sarkar made the announcement at the GreenTruck Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sarkar also announced more than $12 million in selections for three new cost-shared projects focused on the research,

Governor Signs FY 2017 State Budget, Campaign Finance Reporting And Local Economic Development Legislation

Submitted by Chris Clark on March 1, 2016

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez signed the state budget (House Bill 2) Monday, which as a result of persistently low oil and gas prices, reduces spending in the current fiscal year by roughly $31 million and reduces the base budgets of most state agencies for Fiscal Year 2017 as well (by a total of roughly $53 million).

The $6.2 billion budget increases spending in target areas – including education, public safety agencies, and Medicaid. Under the spending plan, state police officers, correctional officers, and some teachers will receive compensation

New Mexico Is 7th Worst State For Women In U.S.

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on March 1, 2016

WalletHub News:

According to a WalletHub Study, New Mexico is the seventh worst state for women in America.

With March being Women’s History Month and women outnumbering men in all but nine states today, the personal-finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2016’s Best & Worst States for Women.

To identify the most women-friendly states, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 15 key metrics. Our data set ranges from “median earnings for female workers” to “women’s preventive health care” to “female uninsured rate.”

Women’s Read More

Martinez Signs Legislation To Help Fund Local Veterans Cemeteries

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 29, 2016

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Susana Martinez signed legislation Friday that will help fund local veterans cemeteries throughout the state. House Bill 185, sponsored by Representative David Adkins (R-Albuquerque), will allow taxpayers to voluntarily donate their tax return dollars into a fund that will help pay for rural veterans cemeteries.

“In a state as large and rural as ours, we need to ensure that more of our veterans can be laid to rest closer to home,” Martinez said. “New Mexicans have always stood ready to answer

Udall, Heinrich, Luján Welcome $2.55 Million For New Mexico Acequias

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 29, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Friday, Feb. 26, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $2.55 million for New Mexico acequias, including design of the Chamisal y Ojito acequia and other acequia projects if funds remain.

Acequias, or community irrigation ditch systems, have provided irrigation water to thousands of small family sustenance farms for centuries. The lawmakers had pressed the Army Corps of Engineers to include in its

New Mexico Has Lowest Rate Of Workers With Paid Sick Leave In Nation

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 29, 2016

VFC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Nearly 50 percent of workers in New Mexico do not receive paid sick leave benefits at their jobs.

This means that these workers cannot stay home or see a doctor when they or a family member are ill without losing wages. This is just one of the many reasons that poverty is so persistent in New Mexico. That’s among the conclusions of the report “Valuing Families at Work: The Case for Paid Sick Leave” being released today by New Mexico Voices for Children.

“No parent should ever have to make the terrible choice between paying their bills and caring for a sick child,

Bills Aimed At Protecting New Mexicans Become Law

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 29, 2016

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Two bills sponsored by Rep. Nate Gentry were signed into law Sunday by Gov. Susana Martinez.

HB 72, or “Jaydon’s Law,” gives judges access to the full criminal histories of violent repeat offenders. The bill is named for Jaydon Chavez-Silver, an Albuquerque teen who was killed during a drive-by shooting while at a house party.

“Judges need this information to make good pre-trial decisions and keep our communities safe,” Gentry said. “As a former prosecutor, Governor Martinez understands the importance of this legislation, and I’m pleased she has signed it into law. It Read More

Zoe For President: New Candidate Announces Her Run For Commander In Chief In 2064

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 29, 2016

Zoe. Courtesy/Y-USA

Y News:

The Y organizes Zoe for President, symbolizing potential of all children

The YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) and The Family YMCA in Los Alamos have launched Zoe for President, a campaign to elect a one-year-old girl as the nation’s Commander in Chief … in 2064.

The campaign highlights the potential the Y sees in all kids to grow up and change the world if they’re nurtured properly and supported along the way. Through Y initiatives like childcare, academic enrichment, mentorship, college prep, job training and more, kids have the opportunities to succeed, grow, and one Read More

DHS Grants New Mexico Extension Of REAL ID Compliance

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2016

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted New Mexico an immediate extension of REAL ID compliance deadlines to allow the state to implement a law passed last week by the legislature.

In a letter sent last week, the lawmakers urged DHS to grant the extension to ensure New Mexicans can continue to access federal facilities and airports.

“REAL ID has caused unnecessary confusion and uncertainty for many New Read More

New Mexico GOP Releases Statement On Democrat Allegations Against Justice Nakamura

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2016

GOP News:

ALBUQUERQUE – The Republican Party of New Mexico released the following statement on the Democrats’ allegations against Justice Judy Nakamura:

“This is a desperate attempt by the Democrats to smear Justice Nakamura’s campaign and the Republican Party’s efforts to support her. It was planned that this message come from the campaign, rather than Justice Nakamura personally. We recognize that the language in the letter could have more clearly reflected this intention.”

“This was an honest mistake amongst both parties, and there Read More

Letter To The Editor: Thank You To Senator Heinrich For SCMC Meeting

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2016

By PETE SHEEHEY

Los Alamos County Councilor

I attended the recent National Nuclear Security Administration Supply Chain Management Center (NNSA SCMC) Small Business Information Meeting (see Roger Snodgrass article “Small Business Pow-Wow…”).

I want to thank Senator Heinrich for his efforts to make this meeting happen, in response to concerns of many constituents about SCMC contracts potentially taking business and jobs away from New Mexico.

At the meeting, many local business people were able to talk with SCMC and other government officials about the details of Read More

New Mexico’s First Bernie Sanders Campaign Office Opens In Santa Fe

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 28, 2016

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders

POLITICAL News:

New Mexico’s only campaign office for Bernie Sanders is in Santa Fe.

The office has been open and running for several months at the La Tienda in Eldorado. With the arrival of warmer weather, more-and-more people are finding their way to the office for bumper stickers, volunteering for phone banking or have questions answered about the Sanders campaign platform.

The New Mexico primary may not be until June, but this Santa Fe campaign office is already sparking a lot of interest in the Sanders candidacy

Veterans For Peace Release Statement On Torture Rhetoric In 2016 Presidential Campaign

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 28, 2016

VFP News:

ST. LOUIS, MO ― Veterans For Peace strongly condemns and denounces the pro-torture rhetoric being used in the 2016 presidential campaign.

Recent statements by several presidential candidates, most notably Donald Trump, but also Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and others, have advocated the use of waterboarding and other torture techniques, euphemistically-dubbed “enhanced interrogation,” or have failed to rule out torture in the interrogation of terror suspects.

In doing so, these candidates have effectively admitted they would violate U.S. and international

New Mexico Attorney General’s Office Provides Good Government Training To Ukrainian Officials

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 27, 2016

Ukrainian Delegation meets with Director Tania Maestas of the Open Government Division of the Office of the NM Attorney General. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The Open Government Division of the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General provided ethics and good government training Feb. 25 to Ukrainian government and legal officials.

The officials are in New Mexico in conjunction with the Santa Fe Council on International Relations and the training was provided at the Santa Fe Office of the Attorney General location.

The following officials took

Letter To The Editor: Scalia

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 27, 2016

ROY M. MOORE

Los Alamos

The death of Justice Scalia has been treated with great dignity and respect by all persons involved. However, I lost my respect for the man when he decided in Bush vs. Gore that the state of Florida should stop counting votes so that an unelected Supreme Court could determine the next president.

By every counting method, Gore would have won that election had the counting of votes in a democratic republic be allowed to continue. Mr. Scalia decided that Mr. Bush would be harmed if he lost, I guess not caring about the harm to Gore and the nation and the lost respect of

Udall Staff Serving ‘YoU’ In Los Alamos Tuesday

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 27, 2016

SENATE News:

On Tuesday, March 1, a representative from the office of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall will hold Udall Serving “YoU” Office Hours for Los Alamos residents who need help with issues related to federal agencies.

The office hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Residents of Los Alamos and surrounding communities are encouraged to stop by.

“If you need assistance with a federal agency, my staff will guide you through the process and do whatever they can to help,” Udall said. “I encourage you to meet with them during our Udall Serving

Format Update For Capital Projects Meeting March 1

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 27, 2016

COUNTY News:

On March 1, the Los Alamos County Council will discuss the public input received over seven meetings held in the last two months regarding capital projects, and determine a path forward for selection and funding.

The Council has considered over 14 hours of public comment on a variety of topics and needs related to Quality of Life, Parks & Recreation, Economic Development and Infrastructure. The format for the Council meeting on Tuesday evening (6 p.m., Council Chambers) will now focus upon creating a final list of projects.

That list – which will be created in real time with a Read More

Maria Sanchez-Gagne Announces Candidacy For DA In First Judicial District

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2016

Maria Sanchez-Gagne

POLITICAL News:

SANTA FE – Santa Fe native and long-time prosecutor, Maria Sanchez-Gagne, announced today that she will be seeking the position of District Attorney for the First Judicial District, representing Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties.

Sanchez-Gagne is collecting petition signatures and will formally file her declaration of candidacy with the Secretary of State on candidate filing day March 8.

“I am pleased to announce my candidacy for this position. I have served our community for 20 years as a criminal prosecutor seeking justice for victims, Read More

Small Businesses Pow-Wow with NNSA And Politicos In Albuquerque

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2016

At the Albuquerque Convention Center last week, speakers included from left, Sen. Tom Udall, Master of Ceremonies; Mark Holecek, manager Kansas City NNSA Field Office; Frank Klotz, NNSA Administrator; Sen. Martin Heinrich at podium; Rep. Michelle Lujan-Grisham; Rep. Steve Pearce and Scott Bissen, director, Supply Chain Management Center. Courtesy/Ricardo Quinto

ROGER SNODGRASS

Los Alamos Daily Post

On rare occasions, New Mexico’s entire congressional delegation gets together in the same place all at once. Last week, the state’s two senators and three Read More

Rep. Luján Endorses Hillary Clinton For President

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2016

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

POLITICAL News:

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján from New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District released the following statement this morning, announcing his decision to endorse Hillary Clinton for President of the United States:

U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton

“As President of the United States, Hillary Clinton’s first priority will be the hardworking people in New Mexico and across the country, as she fights to keep us safe, expand opportunities for every child, and ensure that when the American people get ahead, they can stay ahead. Secretary Clinton Read More

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