Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Letter To The Editor: 2016 Legislation/Clearing The Air

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 12, 2016

By MARCO V. LUCERO

Los Alamos County Sheriff

This letter is to provide clarification to those who have submitted letters in opposition to SB-203.

First of all I want to make it clear that none of my testimony at our State Capitol is self-serving. The legislation I support and have always supported since my election as your sheriff has been to enhance public safety, protect our children and to better serve our communities as law enforcement officers. If one wants to consider self-motivation for their lobbying, consider the articles written in opposition to SB-203.

Should SB-203 pass, this will Read More

Poll: New Mexico Business Leaders Concerned About Ethical Behavior Of Elected Officials

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 12, 2016

CFED News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― A poll of New Mexico business leaders recently found widespread concern with the history of unethical behavior from New Mexico’s elected officials, the impact that big campaign donors have on state government and how contracts are awarded in the state.

They believe that the campaign finance system needs significant reform and voiced support for proposals that increase transparency of lobbying, disclosure of contributions and spending in elections. They also advocate creating an ethics commission

Capt. Mark Kelly Applauds New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee For Advancing Legislation

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 12, 2016

NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly

NMSD News:

TUCSON, AZ ― Retired Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly, the Co-Founder of Americans for Responsible Solutions, applauded the New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee’s bipartisan vote Tuesday, Feb. 9, to advance Senate Bill 331, which closes loopholes in New Mexico law by requiring the state’s courts to report relevant mental health records to the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

New Mexico currently has no law requiring the state to report

Udall, Heinrich: Tech Transfer Funding To Help NMSU Students Move Innovations To Marketplace

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 11, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will invest $368,760 in New Mexico State University’s Next Generation Entrepreneurship (Next Gen) project.

The funding will allow NMSU to enhance entrepreneurship programming at its main campus and extend it to the four NMSU community college campuses in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Grants and Las Cruces. The program provides students who have developed technologies ripe for commercialization with technical

Chandler And O’Leary Analyze Bills At Legislature

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 11, 2016

Los Alamos County Vice Chair Susan O’Leary, left, and retiring Probate Judge Chris Chandler are serving as analysts during the 30 Day Session at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK

Los Alamos Daily Post

When you really need to get something done, give it to a couple of busy people with penchants for public service. Officials did just that when they tapped the expertise of Los Alamos Attorney and Probate Judge Christine Chandler and Los Alamos Council Vice Chair Susan O’Leary.

Despite everything on

AG Recognizes Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month; Offers Trainings To Students Across New Mexico

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 11, 2016

Attorney General Hector Balderas

NMAG News:

Attorney General’s Community Outreach Division offers trainings to engage students in a constructive dialogue about healthy dating behaviors and the dangers of teen dating violence

SANTA FE – Today, in recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced his office’s continued efforts to educate students across New Mexico about the dangers of teen dating violence and the importance of healthy relationships.

“We want to help break cycles of abuse in our state by equipping young people with the information Read More

House Approves Bipartisan Proposal To Establish An Independent Ethics Commission

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 11, 2016

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The House of Representatives approved a proposed constitutional amendment to establish an independent state ethics commission.

House Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by Rep. Jim Dines and co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn, passed on a vote of 50 to 10 Tuesday evening. Passage of this resolution would give New Mexico voters the option to adopt this commission in the next election.

“New Mexico needs an ethics commission that is independent and transparent,” Dines said. “I appreciate the input and guidance

Udall Disappointed In Unprecedented Supreme Court Decision To Halt Clean Power Plan

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 11, 2016

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change:

“I’m extremely disappointed in the Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision to halt the administration’s signature effort to fight global warming. The court may have put a stay on the Clean Power Plan, but no one is putting a stay on climate

House Approves Bill To Fix Prevailing Wage Standards

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 11, 2016

Rep. Nora Espinosa

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The House of Representatives passed a bill to exempt public school and road projects from current prevailing wage requirements. The bill, House Bill 200, is sponsored by Rep. Nora Espinosa and passed by a 35 to 32 vote.

“This bill will make more money available in the budget for actual construction costs,” Espinosa said. “It will allow the state and school districts to build more classrooms and miles of highway.”

Last June, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruling ordered the State to set

New Mexico House Unanimously Passes Protection For CYFD Workers

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 11, 2016

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 142, Crimes Against CYFD Workers, creating criminal statutes that would make it a crime to assault Children Youth and Family Division workers.

House Bill 142, sponsored by Representative Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces), would make the assault against a CYFD worker a full misdemeanor offense and includes offenses such as, assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery and assisting another in committing a battery.

“We ask a lot of our CYFD workers, who often times

Op-Ed: Support Growing For Senate’s Bipartisan Approach To Solving Real ID Compliance

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 11, 2016

STATE News:

The list of citizens, commerce organizations, lawmakers and some of the governor’s most staunch supporters is growing for the State Senate’s bipartisan solution to become compliant with federal Real ID regulations.

Gov. Susana Martinez’s steadfast refusal to put this issue behind us and accept a proposal that can satisfy the citizens of New Mexico must come to an end.

Even some of her most ardent supporters, including the Albuquerque Journal and the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, among others, have each publicly supported the Senate’s amended

House Passes Bill To Preserve Access For New Mexico Residents To Out-Of-State Medical Care

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 10, 2016

Rep. Terry McMillan

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― The House of Representatives passed legislation to preserve access to out-of-state medical care for New Mexicans on a vote of 34 to 27. The bill, House Bill 270, is sponsored by Rep. Terry McMillan.

“The uncertainty in New Mexico’s law is jeopardizing medical care for thousands of New Mexicans who rely on out-of-state providers for treatment and services,” McMillan said. “We need this legislation to make the rules clear for out-of-state providers and to ensure that New Mexicans will continue

Balderas Urges U.S. Senate To Pass HANGUP Act

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 10, 2016

Attorney General Hector Balderas

NMAG News:

SANTA FE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas is urging the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to pass the ‘‘Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone Calls Act of 2015’’ or ‘‘HANGUP” Act.

In the letter, Attorney General Balderas and 24 state attorneys general, called on the committee to pass the Act, which repeals a recent amendment to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to allow debt-collection robocalls to consumers’ cell phones.

“While New Mexicans need to repay loan obligations

Annual YMCA Day At The Round House

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 10, 2016

Celebrating YMCA Day last Thursday at the State Capitol, front row from left, Los Alamos Teen Center’s Sylvan Argo and Michael Booten, Española YMCA Teen Center’s Benjamin Sandoval and Ben Sandoval. Back row from left, YUSA Government Relations Judy Barrett Miller, YMCA Board President Christina Sierk; Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, YMCA Board Member Eric Vasquez and YUSA’s Cezar Gonzales. Courtesy photo

Michael Booten shares his experience with starting up several programs at the new Los Alamos Teen Center. Courtesy photo

YMCA News:

Thursday, Feb. 4 was declared

Working Families Denied Tax Credit In HB 229

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 9, 2016

Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard

STATE News:

SANTA FE – During Monday’s debate for House Bill 229, a proposal to help working families failed. The Working Families Tax Credit and Capital Gains Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla, would have rolled back the Capital Gains tax breaks and raised the New Mexico Working Families Tax Credit from 10 percent to 17 percent of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

House Democrats argued that trickle-down economics have proven year after year to fall short of promises to build a robust economy. The Working Families Tax Credit was Read More

Udall, Heinrich Welcome President’s Proposal To Fully Fund Land And Water Conservation Fund

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 9, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich applauded President Obama’s announcement that he will work to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an innovative conservation program that has helped to preserve public lands, create and expand city parks, and provide access to outdoor recreation across the New Mexico and the nation.

Funding through the LWCF has helped conserve special places from the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Bernalillo County to the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks and Rio

House Education Committee Passes Truancy Bill

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 9, 2016

Rep. Jimmie Hall

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Legislation to ensure all New Mexico students make it to class passed the House Education Committee by a vote of 7-5. The bill, HB 240, is sponsored by Rep. Jimmie Hall It would establish programs to prevent truancy, and it would also allow driver’s licenses of habitually truant students to be suspended.

“In order to learn, our students need to be in class,” Hall said. “The steps outlined in this bill would help schools identify and assist students before they make skipping class part of their daily routine.”

Native American Suicide Prevention Bill Passes Panel

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 8, 2016

Sen. George K. Muñoz

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Senate Bill 250, sponsored by Sen. George K. Muñoz, passed the Senate Indian and Cultural Affairs Committee.

The bill appropriates $150,000 to fund a clearing house Native American suicide prevention which provides culturally appropriate suicide prevention, intervention and post-event assistance statewide to Native American individuals, families and tribes, nations and pueblos.

“Although Indian Health Services is legally responsible to provide healthcare to Native Americans,

House Approves Budget With Increased Funding For Public Safety And Education

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 7, 2016

STATE News:

Budget funds critical public safety initiatives to protect New Mexicans and enhance early childhood programs

SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed the FY2017 budget on a bipartisan 38-31 vote. The budget is fiscally responsible, while still funding priorities that will keep our communities safe, protect New Mexico’s children and provide students with a quality education.

“We worked hard to secure support for necessary priorities. This budget will fund the initiatives that have been passed this session aimed to protect New Mexico families,” Read More

Udall, Heinrich, Luján Welcome Partnership To Allow Public Access To The Sabinoso Wilderness

Submitted by Chris Clark on February 7, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján welcomed a partnership between the Wyss Foundation and the Wilderness Land Trust to open up the Sabinoso Wilderness for public access.

Created in 2009 through legislation championed by Udall, Heinirch, Luján and former Senator Jeff Bingaman, the Sabinoso Wilderness is currently surrounded by private land and therefore inaccessible without trespassing on private property.

That will soon change thanks

LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems