AG Announces Completion of Internal Review Of Pending Litigation Involving Outside Counsel
Attorney General Hector Balderas STATE News:
- AG confident that pending cases can move forward as meritorious
SANTA FE — Today New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced the completion of an office-wide review of all pending litigation involving outside counsel.
Moving forward, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is committed to utilizing a set of best practices to ensure the Office takes on only meritorious cases that are in the best interest of New Mexicans, as stated in today’s news release.
“As Attorney General, I am committed to operating an open and transparent Read More
Española Students Present Inventions At Annual White House Science Fair
President Obama with students at the annual Science Fair at the White House. Courtesy photo
Española students with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Courtesy photo
JRES News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Last Monday a sixth grade team from James Rodriguez Elementary School (JRES) in Española were part of an exclusive group of 100 elementary, middle and high school students from throughout the nation invited to present their inventions to President Obama at the annual White House Science Fair.
The 2015 Science Fair highlighted the importance of encouraging more women and minorities in science, Read More
U.S. Energy Secretary Moniz Addresses Mexico’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz
DOE News:
Energy Secretary Moniz issued the following statement on Mexico’s greenhouse gas emissions targets:
“We warmly welcome the announcement by the Government of Mexico on new greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The commitment Mexico has made today sends a strong signal of Mexico’s determination to do its share in helping the world reduce emissions globally; it stands as an example for countries around the world to follow as they undertake ambitious goals to combat climate change as we all prepare for the upcoming COP21 meetings in Paris this Read More
Heinrich Introduces Budget Amendment To Protect America’s Treasured Public Lands
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. introduced an amendment to the Senate’s budget resolution that would protect America’s parks and public lands, including national forests, wildlife refuges, and conservation lands, from being sold off as a deficit reduction tactic.
The amendment is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
“Selling off America’s treasured lands to the highest bidder would result in a proliferation of locked gates and no-trespassing Read More
New Mexico Delegation Responds To Report By WIPP Technical Assessment Team
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Steve Pearce and Ben Ray Luján issued the following joint statement on the report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Technical Assessment Team, analyzing the scientific cause of the drum failure that led to the Feb. 14, 2014, radiological incident at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
“Today’s report answers some of the questions about what led to the radiological release at WIPP on Feb. 14, 2014. We thank the scientists, including Read More
DPS Reorganization Act Signed Into Law
DPS Cabinet Secretary Greg Fouratt
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez has signed into law Senate Bill 95, the Department of Public Safety Reorganization Act.
This landmark bill represents the first statutory reorganization of the New Mexico State Police Division (DPS) in its 28-year history and takes effect July 1, 2015. This bill enjoyed widespread legislative support, having passed the Senate 31-9 and the House 54-1.
The primary effect of this bill is the merger of all three DPS law enforcement entities into the DPS:
- New Mexico State Police;
- Motor Transportation Police Department
Rep. Garcia Richard’s Legislative Session Recap
By Dist. 43 Rep. STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARDAs Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “You may delay, but time will not,” and as we learned this legislative session, delaying critical votes has left New Mexico in a state of confusion and panic.
DOE Offers Conditional Commitment To Alcoa To Support Making Aluminum For Automotive Sector
DOE News:U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Leads Effort To Keep Dark Money Out Of Elections
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the Senate debating amendments to this year’s proposed budget resolution, Republicans voted against an amendment offered by Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M. and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. aimed at making it more difficult for corporations and billionaires to secretly influence federal elections through unlimited and undisclosed campaign expenditures – so-called “dark money.”
Their amendment would have facilitated passage of legislation that promotes transparency in political spending and prevents big corporate and wealthy donors from evading Read More
Five-Year Plan Released To Protect Antibiotics
Courtesy imageNMPIRG News:
- Some Good, Some Bad in Obama Administration Plan to Protect Antibiotics … Plan fails to adequately address growing public health threat
The New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG) reports that the National Task Force for Combatting Resistant Bacteria released a five-year action plan today to tackle the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
While the plan takes several important steps necessary to control the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it misses the opportunity to call for critical reforms in the agricultural sector that Read More
Udall, Heinrich Announce $833,700 Grant To Improve N.M. Affordable Housing Options
U.S. SENATE News:- Homewise, Inc. will receive $591,450 to help New Mexicans in Santa Fe and Albuquerque buy homes and make home improvements to improve
Luján Votes To Protect Seniors’ Access To Doctors And Extend Health Care For Children
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District voted Thursday in support of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to protect seniors’ access to doctors through Medicare.
“Year after year for more than a decade, Congress has passed short-term fixes to a flawed system in order to prevent seniors on Medicare from losing access to the doctors they trust. Time and again, rather than enacting a stable payment system for doctors, Congress has kicked the can down the road. Finally,
Rio Grande Trail Commission To Study Corridor For 500-Mile Rio Grande Trail
That rock that was in the middle of the Blue Dot Trail isn’t there anymore. In fact, the trail is in great shape from rim to river, and March and April are the best time to take a walk in White Rock Canyon. Photo/Text by Craig Martin
Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY OPEN SPACE News:
The 2015 Legislature passed a bill, HB 563, creating a Rio Grande Trail Commission to study a corridor for the proposed Rio Grande Trail. The 500-mile trail would extend from the Colorado to Texas borders using existing trails and creating new ones.
Never mentioned in the proposal is the existing Los Alamos County River Trail. The Read More
Carly Fiorina To Keynote New Mexico GOP Silver Elephant Event In Albuquerque May 30
Carly Fiorina
GOP News:
ALBUQUERQUE – Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina will be in Albuquerque Saturday, May 30 to keynote the Republican Party of New Mexico Silver Elephant Event.
“We are thrilled to have Ms. Fiorina come to our event and look forward to her keynote address,” RPNM Chairman Debbie Maestas said. “New Mexico has an exciting opportunity to hear from such a high-powered and well-respected business woman paired with her political background.”
Fiorina served as CEO of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005 and was Read More
Udall To Question DOE Secretary On LANL Cleanup, WIPP Costs, Tech Transfer And Other N.M. Priorities
U.S. Sen. Tom UdallU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., will discuss steps forward for cleanup at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and several other New Mexico priorities with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.
Udall will press Moniz to work constructively with the state of New Mexico to safely reopen the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and discuss the Department of Energy’s plan to release a report on the radiological accident.
Udall also will discuss
Letter to the Editor: New Mexicans Should Stand Up
By JESSE GUILLENAs the United States and Iran work toward a historic nuclear draft accord on the status of Iran’s nuclear program, dozens of US senators have interfered in the negotiations.
Sen.r Tom Cotton and 46 others sent an ill-informed letter to Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, threatening to end any negotiated agreement regarding nuclear weapons once President Obama leaves office. This undermines the President’s ability now, and in the future, to achieve the national security goals of the United States.
It should be the long-term goal of our national Read More
Letter to the Editor: 2015 Session Was Not Fun
By RICHARD ELLENBERGCongratulations to our Legislators for coming together in our big tent to turn back efforts to hurt workers and children. The session was not fun, and was full of ‘my way or the highway’ tactics.
The Republicans at the last minute amended the bipartisan capital improvement bill, cutting programs for seniors, education and others, to create a highway slush fund for the Governor to dole out to her supporters. At the end, they gave the Senate 20 Read More
Udall, Heinrich Urge IRS To Make Paper Tax Forms Available To Rural New Mexicans
U.S. SENATE News:Udall, Rubio, Heinrich, Menendez And Grijalva Introduce Bill To Promote Historic Preservation Education
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Monday, U.S. Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Bob Menendez, D-N.J. and U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz. introduced a bipartisan bill to give colleges and universities with a high enrollment of Hispanic students access to a grant program that encourages students to engage in historical and cultural projects.
The Preservation Research at Institutions Serving Minorities (PRISM) Act would amend the National Historic Preservation Act by expanding eligibility to include Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Read More
Anti-Conservation Bills Defeated In 2015 Legislature
CVNM News:
SANTA FE — Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) advocated for or against 89 bills at the Roundhouse during the 2015 New Mexico legislative session.
CVNM and our allies successfully defeated 100 percent of the anti-conservation bills that attacked common-sense laws that protect our families and communities for the 11th year in a row.
CVNM and our allies in the Environmental Alliance of New Mexico joined together to successfully pass an eight-year extension of the solar development tax credit. SB 391, sponsored by Sen. Stewart is critical to advancing development of solar energy Read More
