Navajo Gaming Compact Passes House
Rep. James Madalena
LEGISLATIVE News:
SANTA FE—The House of Representatives has approved a new gaming compact with the Navajo Nation by a majority vote of 36-30. It would allow the Navajo Nation to operate up to five gaming facilities, the most of any New Mexico tribe or pueblo.
“Congratulations to the Navajo Nation on House action to move House Joint Resolution 15 forward to the Senate,” said Rep. James Roger Madalena, D-Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, who carried the legislation. “There are challenging issues as debated in the House and I wish them well in their efforts to renew their Read More
Legislation Establishes Disabilty Oversight Council
Sen. Tim Keller
LEGISLATIVE News:
SANTA FE—Senate Joint Memorial 5 (SJM5), sponsored by Sen. Tim Keller, D-Bernalillo, and Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Bernalillo, has cleared both the Senate and the House chambers. The legislation requests that the New Mexico Legislative Council establish a Medicaid Disability Services Oversight Council.
“New Mexicans living with disabilities are in some of the most vulnerable circumstances, yet have the least say in key decisions. This legislation provides a way for people with disabilities to engage in meaningful participation with state agencies to help Read More
House Republicans Vote Against Teacher Pay Raises
Rep. Mimi Stewart
N.M. HOUSE News:
SANTA FE—House Republicans voted to kill a House Education Committee report on House Bill 391 with a 30 to 33 vote.
House Bill 391 is a sub for House Bill 67, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Bernalillo, chair of the House Education Committee, which would increase the current salary minimums for teachers over the next five years to $40,000 for Level I, $50,000 for Level II and $60,000 for Level III.
HB 67 was re-introduced in the form of HB 391 over the weekend to increase salary levels to mirror the original HB 67. Republican House Education committee members darted Read More
House Passes Memorial Requesting Major League Soccer Team in Albuquerque
Rep. “Moe” Maestas
STATE News:
- House Memorial 93 Passes House Floor Unanimously
SANTA FE—House Memorial 93, sponsored by Majority Whip Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Bernalillo, calls on Gov. Susana Martinez, Albuquerque Mayor R.J. Berry and the Bernalillo County Commission to conduct a dialogue on the possibilities of building a soccer specific stadium and bringing a Major League soccer team to New Mexico. HM 93 passed the house.
Maestas introduced HM 93 to begin the conversation here in New Mexico. It’s his dream to bring a MLS team to Albuquerque, and he truly believes the capacity Read More
Omaree’s Law Passes First Hurdle, Heads to House Floor
STATE News:
SANTA FE—Omaree’s Law, House Bill 333, sponsored by House Speaker W. Ken Martinez, D-Bernalillo, Cibola McKinley, Socorro, San Juan, Valencia, received a Do Pass from the House Judiciary on a 13-4 vote, and it now heads to the house floor.
About the Bill:
House Bill 333, sponsored by Martinez and co-sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Rio Arriba, Rep. Emily Kane, D-Bernalillo and Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Bernalillo, requires CYFD to immediately take custody of children showing specific injuries of abuse, and requires the parents, Read More
N.M. House Legislative Session Highlights
LEGISLATIVE News:
House Highlights
On the Floor
House Bill 10, as amended DWI Sentencing & Interlocks, sponsored by Rep. Emily Thomson (D-Bernalillo-24) and co-sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos, Sandoval, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe-43) & Rep. Tim Lewis (R-Sandoval-60), has passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 51-5. HB 10a Creates a new method for enforcing ignition interlock device rules by requiring evidence that the ignition interlock has recorded no more than two tests at a level greater than .05 during the six months prior to reinstatement of a driver’s Read More
Los Alamos GOP Hosts Northern New Mexico Tea Party President Feb. 20
GOP News:
Northern New Mexico Tea Party President Bill Panagakos is the guest speaker at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Republican Party meeting, Room 608, UNM-Los Alamos.
Anyone interested in listening to Panagakos’ presentation is invited to attend. He will address the subject of finding common ground and talk about his Northern New Mexico organization. Read More
Reading Bill Passes House – Heads to Senate
Rep. Mary Helen Garcia
LEGISLATIVE News:
Legislation focuses on intervention, remediation and assessment by Third Grade
SANTA FE—Legislation guaranteeing that every child from K-3 will be provided with intensive remediation if they are struggling to read has passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 34-29.
The House Committee Substitute for House Bill 93, Academic Success Through Remediation Act, sponsored by Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Doña Ana, also provides for a team approach to determine whether a student should be promoted to the next grade. The committee substitute addresses Read More
Committee Tables Proposal for Early Education Funding
Sen. Michael Sanchez
STATE News:
SANTA FE—The Senate Finance Committee Monday night voted 8-2 to ’table without prejudice’ a Senate Joint Resolution that would have let New Mexico voters decide in a constitutional amendment whether to extend the current 5.5 percent funding level taken from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to a total of 7 percent.
Concerns about the resolution grew among some legislators that the Land Grant Permanent Fund would be depleted over time. However, the sponsor of the measure, Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Valencia and Bernalillo), told members Read More
Energy Secretary Moniz to Make Major ‘All of the Above’ Energy Announcement
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz
DOE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will address the National Press Club Wednesday, where he will make a major announcement regarding the Administration’s “all of the above energy strategy” and the path toward a low carbon energy future.
Building on his recent travel across the country, the Moniz will discuss the importance of developing a diverse energy portfolio and offer insight into the Department’s next step in supporting cutting-edge energy technologies. Read More
Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members and VA Service Organizations Honored at State Legislature
Los Alamos Veterans & Riders participate in the 2014 Military & Veterans’ Day at the New Mexico Legislature. From left, Randi Moore, Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, Jim Hay, Ken Nadeau and Shaunessy Nadeau. Courtesy photo
NM Adjutant General Andrew Salas; Mary Cox, USN – Vietnam; Priscilla Rae Mares, USN – Vietnam; David Townsend, USA – WWII; Andres Gonzales, USA – WWII; General Miles, NMNG Adjutant General (WWII-era/non-combat); Don Reid, USA – Vietnam (there to escort Gen. Miles to the front); Tomas Begay, USMC – WWII (Code
Bill to Reverse ‘Brain Drain’ Clears Senate Floor
STATE News:
SANTA FE—Senate Bill 36, an initiative carried by Senate Majority Whip Tim Keller, D-Bernalillo, seeks to help reverse the “brain-drain” in New Mexico. The bill cleared the Senate Floor Monday and now heads to the House of Representatives.
An estimated 75 percent of New Mexico graduate students want to stay and work right here at home, but only 25 percent are able to do so. The bill seeks to give a $5,000 tax credit to companies who hire graduate students from Science, Technology, Health, Education and Math (STHEM) programs from New Mexico universities.
“The statistics show that the Read More
E-Cigarettes Bill Passes SPAC
Electronic cigarette. Courtesy/wikipedia.com
STATE News:
SANTA FE—House Bill 15, which prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, has passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) and now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate Majority Whip, Tim Keller, D-Bernalillo and Rep. Paul Bandy, R-San Juan are co-sponsors of the bill.
“This bipartisan bill is important because we want to avoid the chance of minors acquiring e-cigarettes under the mistaken belief that they are a ‘safer’ alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes,” Keller said.
More than 20 states around the country Read More
Comprehensive DWI Prevention Bill Passes House
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
NM HOUSE News:
- House Bill 10a targets repeat drunk drivers
SANTA FE—Bi-partisan legislation that would target repeat drunk drivers passed the House of Representatives Monday by a vote of 51-5.
House Bill 10a (DWI Sentencing and Interlocks), sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, D-Bernalillo, and Rep. Tim Lewis, R-Sandoval closes some serious loopholes in current law, prevents repeat drunk drivers from returning to the streets, and increases the penalties for repeat offenders. Read More
Foreclosure Process Task Force Memorial Passes Senate 29-13
NM SENATE News:
SANTA FE—The Senate passed a memorial Sunday that calls for the creation of a task force to develop a set of recommendations to the legislature on how to avoid the issue of improper home foreclosures.
“Passage of this legislation is a victory for all New Mexico homeowners,” Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Bernalillo said. Padilla sponsored Senate Memorial 11 (SM 11). “This legislation will bring all aspects of the home loan mortgage industry together to avoid improper foreclosures.”
The task force will be made up of housing corporation representatives, independent living Read More
Senate Proposes Elected Board of Education
Sen. Michael Padilla
STATE News:
SANTA FE—Legislation that would let voters decide whether to let public school education policy be decided by professional educators, instead of the changing gubernatorial administrations, was reviewed by the Senate Judicial Committee in the Roundhouse Saturday afternoon.
Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2) proposes to create an elected state Board of Education that will appoint a qualified superintendent of education.
“These last few years have seen the public schools in New Mexico being directed by the political climate of the governor’s administration Read More
New Mexico’s Aviation Industry on Display in Santa Fe
STATE News:
SANTA FE—Come fly with us … and see what’s happening in New Mexico’s skies. Wednesday, Feb. 19, the New Mexico Airport Managers Association, in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division, will host Aviation Day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the West Wing of the State Capitol.
Dozens of members of New Mexico’s aviation community will be on hand to discuss the impact and importance of aviation in the state. There also will be displays from organizations including the New Mexico Aviation Aerospace Association, Balloon Fiesta, the 58th Special Operations Read More
Column: Billions Sitting on the Sidelines While Critical Ideas Lack Funding
By SEN. TIM KELLER
Senate Majority Whip
As the legislative session winds down and the final budget is crafted, I can’t help but reflect on one of the great tragedies of current state government. With every tax break, education program, special interest and critical line item being accounted for, it is easy to forget that our state government is awash in cash.
There are hundreds of millions of unused tax dollars, excess bonding capacity and thousands of unfilled jobs, tucked away throughout state government. Meanwhile, critical government services, water projects, ‘big idea’ education and Read More
Lottery Solvency Bill Passes Senate Finance
NM SENATE News:
SANTA FE—New Mexico’s Lottery Tuition Fund could be a little closer to getting its solvency issue resolved as Senate Bill 347 (SB 347) passed the Senate Finance Committee Monday.
The bill appropriates $11 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2014, appropriates $11.5 million in general fund revenues for fiscal year 2015, and in fiscal year 2016 creates a distribution from the general fund portion of revenues resulting from the liquor excise tax.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Bernalillo and Valencia, who sponsored the bill, was the lead sponsor of the original Read More
Senate Passes Memorial Celebrating Fifth Anniversary of International District
STATE News:
SANTA FE–The New Mexico State Senate passed Senate Memorial 90, recognizing the fifth anniversary of the “International District,” previously known as the “War Zone.”
Sen. Tim Keller, D-Bernalillo led the charge in 2009 to erase the negative “War Zone” label by changing the name of the area in Albuquerque to the “International District.” That was accomplished with the 2009 passage of Senate Joint Memorial 24, which mirrored county and city legislation.
“Our desire for a new identity truly came from the ground up. We have much to be proud of, much to celebrate, and we offer the broadest Read More
