House Passes Legislation To Crack Down On Truancy
Sen. Craig Brandt
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation today intended to crack down on truancy and keep teenagers in the classroom by taking away their driver’s licenses if they habitually ditch class.
If the bill becomes law, a student who misses 10 or more classes will lose their driver’s license or learner’s permit. HB 117, which is sponsored by Rep. Jimmie Hall, R-Bernalillo, and Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Sandoval passed the House floor by a 36-32 vote.
“It is so important that our kids stay in school,” Hall said. “If students keep skipping class, Read More
CIR Presents: China In Africa March 14
Ambassador David Shinn‘Right-To-Work’ Bills Defeated
Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino
By NM Senate Democrats:
“… it is unacceptable that women are making 78 cents to the dollar for men who are doing the same work.” –Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino
SANTA FE – Anti-worker legislation Tuesday was defeated by a majority of members of the Senate Public Affairs Committee. Members said the so-called “right-to-work” bills would hurt working people and shrink New Mexico’s middle class.
Two bills, each entitled Employee Preference Act, failed to pass the committee by a vote of 5-3. The bills were pushed by Gov. Susana Martinez and corporate special interests including Read More
Internet Crimes Against Children Fund Bill Passes Senate Public Affairs Committee
New Mexico Attorney General’s Office Special Agent Jay Ratfliff, left, testifies Tuesday night in support of SB 380 with Sen. Jacob Candelaria before the Senate Public Affairs Committee. Courtesy photo
New Mexico Attorney General’s Office Special Agent Jay Ratfliff, left, testifies Tuesday night in support of SB 380 before in the Senate Public Affairs Committee. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
- SB 380 Will Help Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Protect New Mexico Kids
SANTA FE – Tonight, the Senate Public Affairs Committee passed SB 380. Previously, New Read More
Community Members Gather At This Morning’s ‘Coffee With Stephanie’ To Discuss Legislative Issues
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, second from left, discusses legislative issues at this morning’s ‘Coffee with Stephanie’ community event at the Rosebud Cafe in White Rock. Courtesy photo
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, left, discusses legislative issues this morning with community members in White Rock. Courtesy photo
POLITICAL News:
Los Alamos’s State Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard held a town hall “Coffee with Stephanie” event this morning at the Rosebud Cafe in White Rock.
Garcia Richard briefed community members on the current legislative Read More
Remembering César Chávez March 28
Renowned American civil rights leader César Estrada Chávez. Courtesy/NCLR
NHCC News:
The 22nd Annual César Chávez Day will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28, with a march departing from the the National Hispanic Cultural Center and returning to the Center for a noon to 3 p.m. free family festival at the NHCC’s Plaza Mayor.
Albuquerque’s Recuerda a César Chávez Committee (RCCC), the organizer of the event, was founded in 1993 following the death of renowned American civil rights leader César Estrada Chávez. Founder of the National Farmworkers Association and subsequently Read More
Senate Re-Confirms Secretary Gregg Marcantel
Secretary Gregg Marcantel
STATE News:
Secretary Gregg Marcantel has been re-confirmed as the New Mexico Corrections Department Secretary by the New Mexico Senate.
“I am humbled and honored to continue to serve the people of New Mexico and under the leadership of the Governor,” Marcantel said.
Secretary Marcantel touted several accomplishments during the past three years, but specifically highlighted his handling of the early release issues that plagued the department in years past.
“We simply didn’t have a good system to check and make sure inmates were really supposed to be released when Read More
Rep. Garcia Richard Adds Clean Water Act Provision To Stream Bed Bill
Rep. Garcia Richard
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives met Saturday to consider House Bill 235, a bill that sought to clarify the jurisdiction of stream beds on private land.
Responding to concerns that the bill could leave unclear the determination of waterways and stream beds for purposes of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), Rep. Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Rio Arriba, moved an amendment to ensure compliance between HB 235 and the federal CWA, which seeks to protect waterways from pollutants.
The amendment was adopted by a Read More
House Passes Legislation To Limit Lobbying By Government Officials
Rep. Jim Dines
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation today that would bar state officials from becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving their government post.
The bill (HB 241), which passed by a 57-10 vote, would require elected officials and some government workers to wait two years after leaving their post to become a paid lobbyist.
“This bill will bring more integrity to government, and we owe that to the people,” said Rep. Jim Dines, R-Bernalillo, the bill’s sponsor. “I am glad my colleagues joined me in voting for this common-sense legislation.” Read More
Have Coffee With Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard At Rosebud Cafe 8-9 A.M. Tuesday
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard Rep. Ben Ray Luján Visits Selma To Commemorate 50th Anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján visits the Edmund Pettus Bridge Friday in Selma, Ala., to mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday.’ Courtesy/BRL Office
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
SELMA, Ala.—U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement Friday during his visit to Selma, Ala., to mark the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.”
A water tower with flags waving Friday in Selma, Ala. Courtesy/BRL Office
“On March 7, 1965, a brave group of civil rights marchers, including my colleague Rep. John Lewis, set Read More
House Unanimously Passes Bill Closing New Mexico’s Child Pornography Loophole
Rep. Randal Crowder, Rep. Javier Martinez, New Mexico Attorney General’s Office Special Prosecutions Director Clara Moran and Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes following Friday’s House passage of HB 440. Courtesy/Rep. Maestas BarnesSTATE News:
SANTA FE—Friday night, the New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 440 on a vote of 64-0. This morning, Attorney General Hector Balderas released the following statement in response:
“This bipartisan legislation is key to shutting down the black-market child pornography industry in New Mexico that destroys
New Mexico Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation To Make Health Care Prices And Quality Transparent
By FRED NATHAN, Executive Director The New Mexico Senate unanimously (26-0) passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Substitute Thursday for Senate Bills 323 and 474. The bill will make hospital prices and quality transparent on a public website no later than Jan. 1, 2018.
The bill amends the existing Health Information System Act to allow the release of hospital-specific quality and cost information. Much of this data has been collected from hospitals for the last two decades, but the Department of Health has been barred from releasing it in a way that identifies specific Read More
Luján Voices Concerns With New Mexico’s Behavioral Health System In Hearing With HHS Secretary
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
- Luján Secures Commitment from Secretary to Work Together on Critical Issue Facing New Mexico
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District participated in an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) budget for Fiscal Year 2016.
During the hearing, he voiced his concerns with the quality of and access to behavioral health care services in New Mexico. Below is a transcript of Luján’s exchange with HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell.
Luján: I appreciate that Madam Secretary. Read More
Los Alamos Public Servants Among 44 Awarded Professional Training Certificates Across New Mexico
From left, Los Alamos County Engineering Project Manager Bryan Aragon, NMAC Vice President Sharon Stover and Los Alamos County Councilor Rick Reiss. Courtesy photo
COUNTY News:
SANTA FE – A graduating class of 44 public servants received certification in their fields in January through an education program administered by New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service.
Through the years,10 Los Alamos County employees or elected officials have graduated with certifications from this program including recent graduates, County Councilor Rick Reiss who earned his Certified Read More
Izraelevitz Featured At Lunch With A Leader March 17
County Council Vice Chair David Izraelevitz
LWVLA News:
County Council Vice Chair David Izraelevitz is the guest speaker at the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos (LWVLA) Lunch with a Leader program at 11:45 a.m., March 17 at Mesa Public Library. This event is open to the entire community.
His talk will address the subject, “Ask not what your county can do for you, ask what you can do for your county.” County government, the local business community and citizen philanthropy have complementary assets, constraints and roles that can be harnessed to move the community forward. Izraelevitz, Read More
Get Involved … Make A Difference … Democracy In Action This Monday
By ROBYN SCHULTZ, ChairI hear from people all the time who say the equivalent of “a plague o[n] both your houses!” It can seem like our current political system paralyzes our government and blocks progress on any significant issues. If there is a bright spot to be found, it can be found at the local level. YOU can make a difference locally. Democrats in Los Alamos County will have the opportunity on Monday evening.
The governance structure of the Democratic Party is simple, which makes it easy for any Democrat to participate. The structure of the party starts Read More
U.S. Rep. Luján Addresses Women’s History Month
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today on Women’s History Month, which is celebrated during the month of March.
“Women’s History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the contributions and achievements that women have made in every aspect of our society. As we celebrate the progress that has been made, we must continue to push for greater equality, not only for women today, but also for the next generations of women.
“We must continue to fight for fairness in the workplace Read More
VIDEO: Heinrich Advocates For Laboratory Directed Research And Development Program
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
- Funding for LDRD helps advance security missions at LANL and SNL
WASHINGTON, D.C – During a Senate Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., discussed the importance of funding for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program. A list of Wednesday’s witnesses can be found here.
Heinrich is advocating to increase LDRD funding up to a level of 10 percent. LDRD investments help national laboratories, including Los Alamos Read More
Los Alamos Board Of Registration Reviews List Of 1,259 Inactive Voters For Removal
Los Alamos County Board of Registration members from left, Kim Thomas, George Chandler and Audra Short. Courtesy/Sharon Stover
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Board of Registration (the board) met Tuesday and Wednesday to review the list of inactive voters (1,259) to ascertain whether they meet the criteria to be purged from the voter rolls.
The list of voters was compiled through efforts of the the New Mexico Secretary of State and the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993, (NVRA). The board, consisting of Audra Short, George Chandler and Kimberly Thomas, was appointed Read More
