LAFRW Meets March 12
LAFRW News:
The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women will hold its regular monthly meeting noon-1 p.m., March 12 at the Los Alamos Church of Christ, 2323 Diamond Dr.
All registered Republican Women are urged to join us.
Members are reminded to bring non-perishable food items and toiletries for the Esperanza Shelter in Santa Fe, a shelter for abused women and children that does a lot of retraining and counseling).
For further information, contact Donna MacDonald at 505.662.4001.
Pay Equity Bill Passes House Committee
STATE News:
- Change to Procurement Code Will Add Points in Bid if Companies Show Pay Equity
Today, Rep. Deborah Armstrong’s bill, HB 389, which would amend the state Procurement Code to reward businesses seeking government contracts if they demonstrate that they have a practice of paying equal wages to men and women for the same work, unanimously passed the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee.
Armstrong’s bill would allow businesses with a clearly documented record of providing equal pay to receive extra points in the procurement bidding process with any governmental Read More
Legislation To Protect Pregnant Women In The Workplace Clears Another House Committee
Rep. Terry McMillan
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Legislation that will protect pregnant women in the workplace and ensure that New Mexico meets federal guidelines passed the House Business and Employment Committee by a unanimous 10-0 vote. Rep. Terry McMillan, R-Doña Ana, of Las Cruces, is the sponsor.
“This legislation balances our desire to protect pregnant women in the workplace as well as the economic needs of our small businesses,” McMillan said. “I look forward to voting for this bill on the House floor.” Read More
Poll Shows New Mexico Business Leaders Urge More Campaign Finance Transparency
BUSINESS News:
WASHINGTON, D.C./ALBUQUERQUE – Today, a poll of New Mexico business leaders was released showing serious concern about the lack of transparency in the state’s government and campaign finance system.
The poll shows overwhelming support for reform amid serious concerns among the business community over the lopsided influence of political donors compared to every day voters. The poll was commissioned by the Committee for Economic Development (CED) of The Conference Board, a nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization, and conducted by Research & Polling, Read More
EEOC Discrimination And Harassment Report Reveals Good And Bad News For New Mexico
Courtesy/EEOC
EEOC News:
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforcement and litigation report on reported cases of discrimination and harassment in New Mexico’s workplaces revealed both good and bad news.
The good news is that in Fiscal Year 2014, which ran from Oct. 1, 2013 through Sept. 30, 2014, the number of cases filed went down compared to previous reporting period. In FY 2013, the total number of charges was 1,121, compared to the reported 955 reported cases in FY 2014.
Additionally, the EEOC speculates this could a result of businesses putting more time and effort Read More
Bill To Toughen Child Abuse Laws Passes House
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Legislation that will toughen penalties for convicted child abusers and those whose abuse contributes to the death of a child passed the House floor Thursday by a vote of 50-10.
“This bill protects our children by going after the predators that intentionally seek to harm them,” said Rep. Conrad James, R-Bernalillo, the bill’s sponsor. “Tonight, we sent a message that child abuse will not be tolerated.”
Currently, those who intentionally beat a child to death only face life in prison if the victim was under the age of 12. This is called Baby Brianna’s Law, named after Brianna Read More
Los Alamos Senior Center Officials Visit Garcia Richard At Roundhouse For ‘I Heart Caregiver Day’
Officials from the Betty Ehart Senior Center in Los Alamos and White Rock Senior Center visit the Roundhouse recently for ‘I Heart Caregiver Day’ to talk with Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard about issues affecting seniors–including the need for a kitchen in the White Rock Senior Center. Following up on their visit, Garcia Richard reports that the funding for the kitchen has been placed in SB 159 as part of a list of prioritized statewide capital projects. ‘Kudos to Pauline Schneider and all of the folks at the Senior Center for working so hard to get funding for this much Read More
Luján Statement On Funding DHS For Seven Days
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 tonight after voting for a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security for seven days.
“By passing a seven-day funding bill tonight, we are laying the foundation to bring up a full-year funding bill next week rather than prolonging it for three weeks. Tonight’s vote assures us that we will vote for full funding next week and put House Republicans’ irresponsible manufactured political crisis to an end.” Read More
Heinrich Welcomes $6.4 Million For Operationally Responsive Space Program At Kirtland Air Force Base
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced $6.4 million for the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) program in the Air Force’s fiscal year 2016 budget request, which still must be approved by Congress.
For the past three years, the Air Force has attempted to terminate ORS, and this budget request marks the first time it has reinvested in the program.
Garcia Richard’s DWI Bill Passes House 61-0
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
SANTA FE – Efforts to stop drunk driving and close loopholes in the current DWI laws secured a major victory this evening.
The New Mexico House voted unanimously (61-0) to pass Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard’s, D-Los Alamos, DWI Interlock Removal Requirements legislation, House Bill 86.
“For three sessions, I have fought alongside of DWI prevention advocates to continue to raise awareness and pass legislation to address shortcomings and loopholes hindering our state from fully eradicating its drunk driving problem,” Read More
Udall Applauds FCC’s New Net Neutrality Rules
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall welcomed a vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to approve updated open Internet rules.
The new rules prevent broadband providers from blocking or throttling lawful online content and ban agreements between broadband providers and online companies that create Internet “toll lanes.”
Udall has been outspoken in his support for a free and open Internet for all Americans. In November, he visited Albuquerque’s Levitated Toy Factory and met with its co-owner Jared Tarbell, who also co-founded Etsy, Read More
Right-To-Work Compromise Passes House Floor
STATE News:
Bill Also Raises Minimum Wage To $8
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday night that will raise the minimum wage to $8 per hour and give workers the right to choose whether they financially contribute to a union.
The legislation – which passed by a bipartisan vote of 37-30 and will now head to the Senate – is the result of hours of debate and a compromise that not only creates a right-to-work law, but also raises the minimum wage to the third highest in the region.
“A vast majority of New Mexicans agree that our workers should never have to financially Read More
Attorney General To Support Campaign Finance Disclosure Bill In House Committee Today
NM Attorney General Hector Balderas
STATE News:
Senate Bill 278, sponsored by Rep. Jim Smith, will be heard this afternoon, by the House Safety and Civil Affairs Committee.
The bill, which requires disclosure of donors to independent political action committees, picked up a new supporter this week – the Attorney General. SB 384, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth, mirrors SB 278 in the Senate.
In a letter to the bill’s sponsors, AG Hector Balderas said, “We believe your bills will allow New Mexico laws to conform to U.S. Supreme Court and federal and other appellate court precedents that have addressed Read More
Udall Leads Push To Ensure Homeland Security Employees Are Paid Despite Potential GOP Shutdown
U.S. SENATE News:
- More than 2,300 DHS employees in New Mexico could be hurt by shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced that he has joined several of his Democratic colleagues in introducing legislation that would ensure Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees are paid if congressional Republicans refuse to fund DHS by the end of this week.
Out of anger at President Obama’s immigration policies, Republicans have proposed legislation with harsh anti-immigrant penalties and threatened to block DHS funding — including programs that are critical for Read More
Plan Put Forward To Avoid DHS Shutdown
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
HSNW News:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has put forth a plan to avoid a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown after Senate Democrats on Monday refused to approve a Republican-backed $40 billion DHS appropriation which would defund President Barack Obama’s 2014 immigration actions in order to fund DHS.
According to the Hill, McConnell’s plan would let some Democrats who want to vote against Obama’s 2014 immigration actions do so, while clearing the way for a separate vote on DHS funding.
“Some Democrats give the impression Read More
New Mexico House Passes FY-2016 Budget
House Appropriations Committee Chair Larry Larrañaga
STATE News:
- Budget Invests In Education, Economic Development & Protecting Children
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed its FY-2016 budget Tuesday, which maintains fiscal responsibility while funding some of the state’s most important priorities at the highest levels. It passed by a bipartisan vote of 42-25 and will now head to the Senate.
Among other things, the budget calls for more spending on education than ever before to improve New Mexico’s schools; increased funding into programs and initiatives to Read More
Letter To The Editor: Parents Have Right To Opt Their Children Out Of Standardized Testing
By SEN. HOWIE MORALESThere is a lot of misinformation circulating regarding the upcoming Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test (PARCC) that will be administered to students from grades 3-11 this spring.
I want to clarify the options parents have in deciding to opt their children out of taking this test.
Many of you have expressed concern and, indeed, dissatisfaction with the intensity of the current amount of standardized testing taking place in our schools. One of the top concerns I share is the elimination of a parent’s right in deciding Read More
Speaker Tripp Releases Statement On Passing Of Former House Sergeant-At-Arms Gilbert Lopez
STATE News:
SANTA FE – House Speaker Don Tripp released the following statement on the passing of former Sergeant-At-Arms Gilbert Lopez:
“Gilbert Lopez dedicated his life to serving the people of New Mexico. Including his tenure as the sergeant-at-arms, Lopez served in the State Capitol for 23 years before retiring in 2014. He is a man of great honor. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Memorial honoring House Sergeant-At-Arms Gilbert Lopez at his retirement following the 2014 legislative session:
WHEREAS, after twenty-three years of working at the state capitol, Read More
Legislation To Expand State’s Voyeurism Law Passes House Floor With Unanimous Vote
Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Legislation that would crack down on sexual predators attempting to secretly view or record a person’s intimate areas has passed the House floor by a bipartisan vote of 59-5.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage, R-San Juan County, will now go the State Senate.
“We have the right to our privacy and must make sure these rights are protected,” said Clahchischilliage, of Kirtland, the bill’s sponsor. “This legislation will help protect New Mexico’s families from predators. I look forward to a vote by the Senate.” Read More
New Mexico Senate Unanimously Confirms Higher Education Department Secretary Barbara Damron
Barbara Damron
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico State Senate unanimously confirmed Higher Education Department (HED) Cabinet Secretary Barbara Damron.
Damron received numerous praises from both sides of the aisle throughout the proceedings.
“I am both honored and privileged to be given this tremendous responsibility by Gov. Susana Martinez and the New Mexico State Senate” Damron said. “All education stakeholders must work together to guide students down a successful academic path.”
Damron has more than 30 years of experience as an executive, health care provider, scientist, Read More
