Community Invited To GOP Meeting Featuring County Manager Harry Burgess Thursday
GOP News:
The Republican Party of Los Alamos County will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in UNM-LA Room 610.
The public is welcome to attend a presentation by County Manager Harry Burgess on “Upcoming Issues in Los Alamos County.”
A business meeting will follow the presentation.
For more information, contact Robert Gibson at 505.662.3159. Read More
Senate Confirms Fouratt DPS Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary Gregory J. Fouratt
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Senate today unanimously confirmed by a 37-0 vote Cabinet Secretary Gregory J. Fouratt to continue his leadership over the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
Secretary Fouratt was appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez and began overseeing the Department of Public Safety March 15, 2014. He has a highly qualified background equipping him to lead the Department of Public Safety. He served as a prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office in New Mexico for 17 years, prosecuting the full range of narcotics, Read More
House Rejects Voter ID Bill 61 For HB 340
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
STATE News:
Rep. Cathrynn BrownReport: Minority Families In New Mexico And Nation Falling Behind
VFC News:Letter To The Editor: Hemp Industrialization Equals Jobs For New Mexico
By Sen. Cisco McSorleyI am pleased that my bill, Senate Bill 94 (SB 94), designed to help New Mexico lay the foundation for hemp industrialization, has passed the Senate and the first committee in the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Congress recently legalized hemp for research purposes in last year’s agricultural bill. SB 94 creates the New Mexico Industrial Hemp Research and Development Fund for the agricultural, agronomical, ecological, processing, sales and marketing research purposes of hemp growth. The research will be carried out by New Mexico State University Read More
House Passes Legislation To Allow Sick-Day Transfers
Rep. Conrad James
STATE News:
- State Workers Would Be Able To Donate Sick Leave To Colleagues In Medical Emergencies
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Saturday that would allow state workers to donate sick and annual leave to their colleagues in a medical emergency.
HB403, sponsored by Rep. Conrad James, passed by a unanimous 65-0 vote
“This legislation takes extra measures to protect our state workers,” James said. “I am proud that the House took these steps to help state employees in their hour of need.”
All sick-leave donations must remain within a department Read More
Legislature Honors New Mexico Teacher Of The Year
Devin DeVargas and New Mexico Teacher of the Year Debra Minyard of White Rock with their certificates. Courtesy photo
New Mexico Teacher of the Year, Debra Minyard of White Rock was recognized by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and the New Mexico Legislature Friday in Santa Fe.
Minyard is a teacher at Pojoaque Valley High School (PVHS). She was joined at Friday’s event by her husband Joshua Minyard, neighbor Venita Chavez and PVHS Principal Michael “Skip” Hemperley and Assistant Principal Jennifer Baca.
Minyard was doubly honored Read More
New Mexico Legislature Recognizes Los Alamos Daily Post Newspaper As 2014 Small Business Success
Legislators recognize the Los Alamos Daily Post and other small businesses from across the state during a ceremony Monday morning at the State Capital. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
At center, Sen. Richard Martinez congratulates Los Alamos Daily Post Publisher Carol A. Clark Monday morning in the House Chambers. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com
STAFF REPORT:
SANTA FE—The Los Alamos Daily Post Newspaper and other small businesses from across the state were recognized last Sunday at a reception at the El Dorado Hotel in Santa Fe and Monday during a special ceremony Read More
House Passes Bill To Protect Pregnant Women
Rep. Terry McMillan
STATE News:
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday that will protect pregnant women in the workplace and exceed federal guidelines.
Rep. Terry McMillan, R-Doña Ana, of Las Cruces is the sponsor. The bill (HB 409) passed by a bipartisan 63-3 vote.
“This legislation balances the need to protect pregnant women in the workplace as well as the economic needs of our local small businesses,” McMillan said. “Today, the House took a huge step forward to protect women in
House Passes Bill To Reduce Renewable Energy Standards
Rep. Larry R. ScottLegislature Urged To Change Lottery Scholarship, Restore College Affordability Fund
VFC News:ALBUQUERQUE—Making college more affordable for its low-income population would pay the state big dividends down the road.
Having a better educated workforce would help attract higher-paying jobs to the state, which would lead to more economic activity. In addition, boosting the educational level of the state’s adults would improve the educational outcomes of our children. Those are among the points made in a report just released by New Mexico Voices for Children.
“Education and money are inexorably linked,” said Veronica C. García, Ed.D., executive director of the child
VIDEO: Heinrich On Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act
SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.―U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, delivered a speech on the Senate floor last week on the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015.
Heinrich introduced the bill with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The bill, which has growing bipartisan support, would reauthorize key conservation programs, improve access to public lands, and boost the outdoor recreation Read More
Supreme Court: Every Person Must Report Child Abuse
STATE News:House Passes Legislation To Protect Children and Mothers From Rapists
STATE News:
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday that would give women the option to terminate the parental rights of a biological father when the pregnancy is the result of rape.
Republican Rep. Conrad James and Democratic Rep. Georgene Louis sponsored the bill (HB 387), which passed by a unanimous 65-0 vote.
“A mother has every right to protect her child from a convicted rapist,” James said. “Passing this bill is the right thing to do for New Mexico’s children and mothers.”
Currently, someone who committed rape is entitled to child
House Passes Garcia Richard’s Civics Education Bill
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
STATE News:
The New Mexico House passed Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard’s House Bill 345 (62-1) Thursday.
The bill, originally proposed by former Rep. Vernon Kerr of Los Alamos, will give high school students the ability to earn dual credit for their participation in Boys’ State and Girls’ State programs in New Mexico.
This bill was passed in 2013 by both chambers but pocket vetoed by Gov. Susana Martinez.
“Words cannot begin to express how grateful I am to the amazing work Rep. Vernon Kerr has done for our community, students and American Read More
Senate Strikes Bipartisan Compromise On Driver’s Licenses For All New Mexico Residents
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The Senate Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) passed Senate Bill 653, co-sponsored by Senators Stewart Ingle, R-Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Lea and Roosevelt and John Arthur Smith (D-Dona Ana, Hidalgo, Luna and Sierra, to establish a two-tiered system for the issuance of driver’s licenses and ID cards in New Mexico.
The bill passed by a vote of 5-3.
Under the bill’s proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Code, the same licenses that would be given to United States (U.S.) citizens, may be applied for by non-U.S. citizens. These could not be used by federal agencies for official Read More
Senate Passes Bill To Reconcile State’s Accounts
Sen. George Munoz
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Senate Bill 543, which requires the State Treasurer’s Office and the Department of Finance (DFA) to balance the state budget, has unanimously passed the Senate floor.
Bill sponsor Sen. George Munoz, D-Cibola, McKinley and San Juan, said he was not surprised to see this bipartisan bill pass the Senate.
“We have a real serious problem: between $100 million to $175 million dollars have been unaccounted. It’s mind-boggling to me that we are the only state in the country that does not balance our state’s finances,” Munoz said. “We need to stop playing games and Read More
House Passes Legislation To Streamline Regulations For Ride-Sharing Services
Rep. Monica Youngblood
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday to regulate ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft in New Mexico. HB 272, sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque, passed by a bipartisan 56-8 vote.
The ridesharing services, which were introduced in Albuquerque and Santa Fe over the past year, have expanded safe, reliable transportation options for New Mexicans.
“Ride-sharing services provide a safe ride home,” Youngblood said. “Putting this law on the books will not only expand ridesharing services Read More
State Senate Passes Bill To Protect Behavioral Health Industry And Clients
Senate Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen
N.M. LEGISLATURE News:
SANTA FE – Thursday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 55 (SB 55) to clarify the definition of Medicaid fraud, and mandate that due process is given to health providers who are accused of Medicaid fraud.
The bill is sponsored by Senate Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen, D-Dona Ana. Known as a tireless advocate for behavioral health issues, Papen has been especially vocal following the debacle of 2013 in which most of the state’s behavioral health providers were accused of Medicaid fraud and forced out of business without due process by the Department Read More
Senate Bill Redirecting Non-Medicaid Funds To High-Priority Zones Passes Senate Committee
Senate Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen
STATE News:
SANTA FE – A committee substitute for Senate Bill 566 (SB 566), which aims to create behavioral health “investment zones” in the state and to prioritize those zones for behavioral health services not covered by Medicaid, has passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee (SPAC).
The bill is co-sponsored by Senate Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen, D-Doña Ana and Sen. George Munoz, D-Cibola, McKinley and San Juan.
According to the bill, the Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative, consisting of several state agencies, will Read More
