Udall Submits 7,515 Petition Signatures for Re-election
Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. Senate News:
ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall officially filed for re-election Wednesday, submitting 7,515 petition signatures collected by volunteers from across New Mexico, in order to appear on the ballot in November. Udall gathered signatures from every county in New Mexico, demonstrating broad-based support.
“We’ve seen an outpouring of support from people across our state, and in every county. They know there’s a lot at stake in this election and that we’re focused on what matters – fighting in the U.S. Senate for New Mexico’s middle class and working families, Read More
Vincent Chiravalle Enters House Dist. 43 Race
Vincent P. Chiravalle
Former Los Alamos County Councilor Vincent P. Chiravalle told the Los Alamos Daily Post that he has entered the race for the New Mexico House of Representatives District 43.
“As a state representative I would apply a common-sense conservative approach that reflects core Republican principles and puts state government on the side of our citizens,” Chiravalle said. “I would work to create a more efficient state government, one that promotes private enterprise, supports our public schools, and protects life.”
Rep. Garcia Richard Focuses on Education
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, at podium, honors Los Alamos AP teachers and students Tuesday at the Roundhouse. Sen. Richard Martinez, fourth from left, and LAPS Board of Education President Jim Hall, far right, participated in the event. Courtesy photo
Los Alamos AP teachers and students, shown here with education officials and Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, were honored Tuesday at the Roundhouse. Courtesy photoSen. Linda Lopez Introduces Bill to Halt Implementation of Common Core State Standard
STATE News:
Lack of Public Participation, Inadequate Fiscal Impact and For-Profit Educational Industrial Complex Pressures Cited
SANTA FE – Sen. Linda M. Lopez, D-Bernalillo introduced Senate Bill 296 that, if enacted, would halt the state’s implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) until an in-depth fiscal analysis and broad public outreach is accomplished.
The bill also withdraws New Mexico from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC) testing consortium. The assessments are linked to CCSS, high school graduation, teacher evaluation, Read More
Appointed Councilor David Izraelevitz Will Seek Election
Councilor David Izraelevitz discusses his candidacy this morning on KRSN. Photo by Nancy CoombsLos Alamos County Councilor David Izraelevitz announced this morning on KRSN that he will seek election to the council seat he was appointed to three years ago after Gov. Susanna Martinez appointed Jim Hall to fill a vacancy in House Dist. 43. That seat was held by Rep. Jeannette Wallace who died from an illness.
“It has been an honor to represent the people of Los Alamos County for the last three years,” Izraelevitz said. “This is where Read More
Sheriff Marco Lucero Announces Intent for Re-Election
Sheriff Marco Lucero riding his Tennessee Walker ‘Cavalier’ in the 2013 County Rodeo. Photo by Larry Lamsa
Los Alamos County Sheriff Marco Lucero told the Los Alamos Daily Post this morning that he is running for a second four-year term.
“The reasons I choose to run for re-election are similar to the reasons that I ran initially,” Lucero said. “When I retired after 22 years of service with the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office, I realized that I could provide a service to our community in Los Alamos by sharing my training
Breaking News: Los Alamos Council Chair Geoff Rodgers Announces Candidacy for House District 43
House Dist. 43 candidate Geoff RodgersLos Alamos County Council Chair Geoff Rodgers today announced his candidacy for New Mexico’s House of Representatives District 43.
“I’m a pragmatic, problem solving elected official with a proven track record of reaching across the aisle,” Rodgers said during an interview with the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Rodgers, 52, is in his second term on the Los Alamos County Council. He served 2001 to 2004, was elected again in November 2010 and last month his peers elected him to a second consecutive Read More
Heinrich Statement on House Republicans’ Immigration Reform Principles
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., released the following statement on the new set of principles on immigration reform put forward by House Republican leaders:
“The lack of consensus among House Republicans on immigration reform has been disappointing, so I’m encouraged by the recent progress made toward finding common ground and common sense solutions. I’m especially pleased that there’s consensus that we need to provide a special pathway to citizenship to DREAMers.
“But the reality is, passing immigration Read More
New Mexico Man Nominated to Lead Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Norman C. Bay
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall welcomed news that Norman C. Bay, a former University of New Mexico law professor and U.S. Attorney, has been nominated to chair the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC.)
Bay is currently the director of the Office of Enforcement at FERC, a position he has held since 2009.
“Norman is an outstanding example of excellence in public service. I look forward to working with him on the energy challenges facing New Mexico and the nation. We need a ‘do it all, do it right’ approach to ensure energy security Read More
House Highlights For Week Ending Jan. 31
STATE News:
House Highlights for the week ending Jan. 31:
In Committee
●House Bill 13 School Equalization Guarantee “Local Revenue,” sponsored by Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Bernalillo-19) received a Do Pass without recommendation. HB 13 proposes revisions to the definition of “local revenue” for calculating a school district’s state equalization guarantee distribution under NMSA 1978, Section 22-8-25. HB 13’s inclusion of new language clarifies the calculation by explicitly requiring any local taxes, whether authorized or not, to be incorporated into the SEG distribution. Read More
Udall, Heinrich Welcome PILT Extension in Farm Bill
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced Wednesday that the Farm Bill conference report, made public last night, includes one year of funding for the critical Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program. The news provides relief for rural counties in New Mexico, which face major budget cuts if PILT is not extended.
The senators were among a bipartisan coalition who wrote to Farm Bill negotiators to request an extension of the program, which expired at the end of last year with no plan for renewal. PILT compensates counties that host large amounts Read More
Bill to Fully Staff CYFD Gains Bipartisan Support
Sen. Michael Padilla
N.M. Senate News:
Santa Fe, NM — Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Bernalillo, has introduced bipartisan legislation to fully staff the Children, Youth and Families’ (CYFD) Protective Services Division. The Social Worker Loan for Service Act will provide a pipeline of certified social workers to meet the caseloads for children in protective services.
“This legislation will dramatically reduce caseloads for social workers at CYFD,” Padilla said.
The plan calls for CYFD to select individuals to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work programs at New Mexico higher Read More
CYFD Officials Snub Senate Rules Committee
Sen. Linda Lopez
NM SENATE News:
SANTA FE—Representatives from the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) chose not to attend a Monday morning Senate Rules Committee hearing, which they were invited to, on a high-profile Senate Memorial regarding foster families, child abuse and children’s protective services.
“One of Gov. Susana Martinez’s favorite buzz words is ‘unacceptable,’ and I wonder if she will once again find it unacceptable that her own appointees running the Children, Youth and Families Department chose not to answer questions regarding a bill that directly Read More
N.M. House Seeks Federal Holiday Designation for Native Americans
Rep. Roberto Gonzales
STATE News:
SANTA FE–By a vote of 70-0, the New Mexico House of Representatives approved a measure, which would seek the designation of the national “Native American Heritage Day” as a federal public holiday.
House Memorial 4 sponsored by Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Taos) encourages the state’s congressional delegation to advocate for the legal public holiday in honor of Native American people.
This memorial recognizes Native Americans’ historic and contemporary experiences and their substantial contributions to the United States’ cultural, Read More
Udall Urges Support for Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Recommendations
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON – Wednesday U.S. Sen. Tom Udall urged support for the recommendations of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, issued as part of a report on the constitutionality of the NSA’s spying program.
Among other findings, the board, which was created by Congress, concluded that the NSA’s bulk telephone surveillance program is illegal and ineffective.
In June, Udall led a bipartisan call for an independent review by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on the impact of the NSA’s spying program on Americans’ constitutional Read More
Udall Statement on State of the Union Address
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement after attending President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening:
“Like many New Mexicans, I’m frustrated by the tough economic recovery. People in our state are still working to pull themselves out of the recession. Now is a time for bold but practical ideas that will support middle class families and ensure they can afford to buy a house and educate their kids. I was pleased tonight to hear the president pledge to roll up his sleeves to make real changes Read More
Bill Targets Repeat DWI Offenders
Rep. Elizabeth Thomson
STATE News:
SANTA FE–The requirements to get a driver’s license reinstated for DWI offenders would become more difficult to meet under House Bill 10 sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, D-Bernalillo.
HB 10 requires an additional fee of $75 (currently $25), completion of the license revocation period, and tighter ignition interlock removal requirements.
Under the current law, a DWI offender is required to use an ignition interlock on their car for a minimum of one year regardless of the blood alcohol readings registered on the interlock. Read More
Los Alamos Officials Attend 2014 Chamber Legislative Reception in Santa Fe
Los Alamos Commerce and Development Board Chair Bill Wadt, left, and LANL Community Programs Office Executive Director Kurt Stenhaus joined a number of Los Alamos officials at Monday’s 2014 Chamber Legislative Reception together with legislators, business people, chambers and business groups from around New Mexico. The event was held at the Santa Fe Convention Center at which guests sampled hors d’ouvres from Santa Fe’s finest restaurants, made connections and networked. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of White Rock Read More
President Delivers State of the Union Address Tonight
President Obama’s Chief Speechwriter Cody Keenan takes over the White House Instagram account to give Americans a look inside the process. See more behind the scenes photos here. Courtesy/WH
WHITE HOUSE News:
Tonight at 9 p.m. ET, President Barack Obama will deliver his State of the Union Address. Watch online with an enhanced version of the graphics and charts of the President’s plan for 2014 at WhiteHouse.gov. RSVP here.
Including President Obama’s 2013 address, there have been a total of 92 in person Annual Messages/State of the Union Addresses.
Origins and Authorization Read More
$3.7 Million Aimed at Turning Around New Mexico’s Lowest Performing Schools
Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third highlighted Monday that New Mexico has been selected to receive funding under the U.S. Department of Education’s School Improvement Grant (SIG) Program. A grant of $3,754,213 will help in the effort to turn around persistently low achieving schools in the state.
“There is no better investment we can make in our young New Mexicans than providing them with a good education,” Luján said. “We have the responsibility to ensure that our children have proper support Read More
