Senate Approves Keystone XL Pipeline
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline with a 62-36 vote. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released the following statement after voting against the measure:
“Tar sands are not the right choice to meet our future energy needs. Instead of focusing on the past, which the Keystone XL Pipeline represents, we need to look to the future of clean energy technologies and the domestic jobs they support. Our national energy policy should be focused on two fundamental Read More
ProgressNow Banned From Speaking Today In Right-To-Work Hearing
ProgressNowNM’s Alex Curtas during House Business and Employment Committee public comment. Courtesy/ProgressNowNM
ProgressNowNM News:
SANTA FE – ProgressNowNM issued a news release today saying that after allowing members of the public to read letters from business leaders and employees across the state, the Chair of the House Business and Employment Committee told ProgressNowNM’s communications director he could not read an email between the sponsor’s expert witness and political operatives discussing right-to-work legislation, then had him removed from the microphone.
In Read More
USDVA Approves $15.6 Million For New Mexico State Veterans’ Home
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved $15.6 million conditional funding for the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences to construct a new 59 bed facility.
The construction and expansion project includes 39 Alzheimer’s beds, a 20 bed Skilled Nursing Unit, a new rehabilitation section for inpatient and outpatient services and a new pool.
The N.M. State Veterans’ Home must complete Read More
Meet School Board Candidate Sheryl Nichols
By SHERYL NICHOLS, CandidateI was born and raised in Los Alamos, and after successfully navigating through the Los Alamos school system moved away until 1990. Upon returning home was hired by Los Alamos County and worked in the County Clerks Office until August – 2014, when I retired.
While working for the county I observed various interactions between the LA School Board and Administration, and Los Alamos County such as: budget issues; coordination of physical building allocations in the development of Trinity Site and Airport Basin; and of course Read More
Sanchez Proposes Bill Raising Minimum Wage
STATE News:
SANTA FE – This week Sen. Clemente Sanchez, D-Cibola, Socorro, McKinley and Valencia counties, introduced Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) proposing a minimum wage increase to $8.30 an hour.
New Mexico’s minimum wage is $7.50 an hour.
“People who are working at a minimum wage need all the help they can get. Seven fifty an hour is not enough to live on when considering mortgages or rent, bills and loans, especially when one adds children to the equation,” Sanchez said.
According to the bill, new employees will earn the current minimum wage of $7.50 an hour, while in training, for no longer than six Read More
Bi-Partisan Bill Streamlines Ride-Sharing Regulations
Rep. Monica Youngblood
STATE News:
Santa Fe – Republican Rep. Monica Youngblood and Democratic Sen. Phil Griego are introducing legislation to regulate ridesharing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, in New Mexico.
The ridesharing services, which were introduced in Albuquerque and Santa Fe over the past year, have expanded safe, reliable transportation options for New Mexicans. In addition, they provide valuable economic opportunities.
Sen. Phil Griego
“Ride-sharing services provide a safe ride home and good jobs,” Youngblood said. “Putting this law on the books will not only expand Read More
Letter to the Editor: Find Out About School Board Candidates At LAPS Foundation’s Forum Thursday
By MORRIS PONGRATZOnly 160 folks have voted in the school board election.
If you need more information about the school board candidates, come to the high school speech theater at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 29 for the LAPS Foundation’s School Board Candidate Forum. Read More
O’Leary Poses Questions To Utilities Department
Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary poses questions to the Department of Public Utilities during Tuesday’s regular Council meeting in Council Chambers. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
STAFF REPORT
At Tuesday night’s County Council meeting, Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary raised questions about the introduction of the electric rate ordinance that she would liked answered as the process moves forward.
“Our County Manager has advised me that tonight’s meeting is the appropriate forum for me to let the Utility Department know about specific Read More
IRS Commissioner: Bad Bet Hiding Money Offshore
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen
IRS News:
PHOENIX – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today said avoiding taxes by hiding money or assets in unreported offshore accounts remains on its annual list of tax scams known as the “Dirty Dozen” for the 2015 filing season.
“The recent string of successful enforcement actions against offshore tax cheats and the financial organizations that help them shows that it’s a bad bet to hide money and income offshore,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “Taxpayers are best served by coming in voluntarily and getting their taxes and filing requirements Read More
A Mere 160 Votes Cast In School Board Election
From left, Poll Workers Steve Ciddio and John Puckett assist voters Mary and Ed Van Eeckhout Tuesday who arrived to cast their ballot in the election underway including the County-wide election for two board positions at UNM-LA Advisory Board and three district positions for the Los Alamos Public Schools Board of Education. in the Los Alamos County Municipal Building. Photo by Election Presiding Judge Michael Sanchez
Los Alamos County Clerk Sharon Stover addressed County Council Tuesday evening saying just 160 voters had cast their ballot as of 5 p.m. and she wanted to encourage voters Read More
Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Legislative Priorities
SIERRA CLUB News:
- Renewing solar credits, stopping killing contests, trapping …
SANTA FE — Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter volunteers and staff are advocating for and against dozens of bills at the Roundhouse during the 2015 New Mexico legislative session.
“With new leadership in the House of Representatives, we expect corporate lobbyists to have a much greater influence, and therefore we expect many more bills that threaten New Mexicans’ health, air, water and climate, as well as the state’s wildlife and public lands,” Chapter Conservation Coordinator Dan Lorimier said. Read More
Meet UNM-LA Advisory Board Candidate Troy Hughes
By TROY HUGHES, CandidateOur college, the University of New Mexico at Los Alamos (UNMLA), is a vital part of our community that deserves more attention. I submitted my name as a candidate for the UNMLA Advisory Board so that I can be one that makes a difference and brings UMNLA the attention it deserves.
My association with community colleges started many years ago when I led an effort to create a cooperative agreement between two community colleges that allowed a fire science degree program to be taught in my hometown. My first degree was an associate’s degree Read More
Candidate James Robinson: I love UNM-LA
James Nealy Robinson
We are officially one week away from the School Board and UNM-LA Advisory Board elections.
I would first like to encourage all voters to get out and make your voice heard by casting a ballot on Feb. 3. Next, I would like to thank my fellow candidates for a wonderful campaign. It has been great to discuss the issues without negative press. Finally, I would like to thank all the organizations that have allowed me to come and present my ideas for the UNM-LA Advisory Board.
Over the last few weeks, I have written Read More
Heinrich Applauds Approval Of SunZia Southwest
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., joined U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Katherine Hammack, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, and senior Bureau of Land Management officials Saturday to announce the approval of the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line in New Mexico.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell
The $2 billion infrastructure project will connect and deliver electricity generated in New Mexico and Arizona to population centers across the Read More
Udall: Amendment To Keystone Pipeline Bill Emphasizes Homegrown Renewable Energy
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
Amendment would create thousands of clean energy jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced that he has introduced an amendment to the Keystone XL Pipeline bill to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that would create more than 250,000 jobs, reduce pollution and save consumers billions of dollars.
The legislation, which would help the United States become energy independent while establishing our leadership in clean energy production, would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity Read More
Speaker Tripp: Committees Must Meet On Time
Speaker Don Tripp
STATE News:
SANTA FE – New House Speaker Don Tripp sent a letter to the newly appointed committee chairs, asking that they meet on time in order to encourage New Mexicans to get involved in their government.
In the past, committees often ran hours off schedule, making it difficult for constituents to be part of the governing process.
Speaker Tripp sent the following letter to the chairs:
To The Honorable Committee Chairs,
I am writing to discuss my expectations of you as a newly appointed committee chair. As you can appreciate, I believe our committees must operate Read More
House Speaker Announces Committee Membership
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Newly elected Speaker Don Tripp has announced committee assignments for the New Mexico House of Representatives:
Agriculture, Water, and Wildlife
- Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, Chair
- Rep. Andy Nunez, Vice Chair
- Rep. Paul C. Bandy
- Rep. Randal S. Crowder
- Rep. George Dodge, Jr.
- Rep. Bealquin Bill Gomez
- Rep. Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales
- Rep. Dona G. Irwin
- Rep. Bill McCamley
- Rep. Bob Wooley
Appropriations and Finance
- Rep. Larry A. Larrañaga, Chair
- Rep. Jimmie C. Hall, Deputy Chair
- Rep. Paul C. Bandy, Vice Chair
- Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage
- Rep. Doreen Y. Gallegos
- Rep.
Luján Pushes Two Measures
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 announced today that he is supporting a pair of measures aimed at limiting money in politics by overturning the Citizens United Supreme Court decision and increasing transparency in elections.
Luján is a cosponsor of the DISCLOSE Act and the Democracy for All Amendment, which would amend the Constitution.
“Five years ago, Citizens United opened up the floodgates of special-interest money into our political system. Since that time, we’ve seen Read More
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard Announces Legislative Priorities And Outreach Program
Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
STATE News:
Groups Rally Against Big Money In Elections
STATE News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG) joined by Common Cause and Environment New Mexico, gathered at the Roundhouse to mark the fifth anniversary of Citizens United – the infamous decision that birthed Super PACs and opened the floodgates for special interest money in our elections.
The groups called out the flood of big money in elections and put forward solutions to amplify the voice of average Americans.
“Five years ago (today), the Supreme Court went way off track, and gave mega-donors and corporate interests free rein Read More
