Today Marks 129 Presidents’ Days
Happy Presidents’ Day:
Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government.
Traditionally celebrated Feb. 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.
While several states still have individual holidays honoring Read More
Steinborn Introduces Bill to Study Water Conservation
Rep. Jeff Steinborn
STATE News:
Legislation Brings Together Top Water Programs at NMSU and UNM to Study Best Water Conservation Ideas Across the Globe
SANTA FE—In an effort to develop new ideas to better conserve our limited water resources, Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Dona Ana, has introduced House Memorial 83 to conduct a significant far reaching study. HM 83 (Assess Best Water Conservation Practices) would bring together the New Mexico State University Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) and University of New Mexico Utton Transboundary Resources Center (UTRC) to “conduct Read More
Legislation Passed to Address Kirtland Fuel Spill
Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton
NM HOUSE News:
SANTA FE–The New Mexico Congressional delegation is being asked to fund and assemble an independent task force of experts to address the Kirtland Air Force Base bulk fuel spill cleanup—the largest toxic spill into a public water supply in U.S. history (Associated Press 2012).
House Consumer and Public Affairs Substitute for House Joint Memorial 13, sponsored by Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Bernalillo-19), was passed Friday in the House of Representatives by a vote of 39-16.
The findings are to be reported by November 2014 Read More
Jobs Bill Gets Unanimous Vote in House
Speaker of the House W. Ken Martinez
NM HOUSE News:
SANTA FE–The pledge to create jobs in New Mexico has picked up steam in the House of Representatives. House Bill 273a (Economic Development Grant & Program), an initiative put forth by the bipartisan interim Jobs Council, passed the House on a vote of 67-0.
HB 273a creates a grant program that allows the Economic Development Commission (EDC), which is attached to the Economic Development Department (EDD), to make grants to local economic development organizations.
The grants will be used to hire economic development professionals Read More
Bill to Establish Bilingual Seal Passes House
House Majority Leader Rick Miera
NM HOUSE News:
SANTA FE–Legislation that would cement New Mexico’s reputation as the nation’s leader in bilingual multicultural education has passed the House of Representatives with a unanimous vote 67-0.
House Bill 330 “Diploma Seal of Bilingualism,” sponsored by House Majority Leader Rick Miera, D-Bernalillo establishes a State Seal of Bilingualism-Biliteracyon New Mexico Diplomas of Excellence. It honors graduates who are proficient in speaking and writing a language other than English.
Several school districts and individual Read More
Ranchers May Sign up for Farm Bill Drought Disaster Aid within 60 Days
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will soon enable livestock producers to sign up for disaster assistance, which the senators helped to pass in the Farm Bill earlier this month.
The assistance is being expedited—signups will begin in 60 days—at the request of Udall, Heinrich and several other senators from western states, where producers have been struggling with several years of drought. The program provides assistance to ranchers who experienced grazing and livestock losses due to natural disasters Read More
Senate Finance Approves Substitute Budget Bill
NM SENATE News:
SANTA FE–A substitute bill for the General Appropriations Act (SB 313), which proposes a $6.2 billion budget package, was approved by the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) and is now on its way to the Senate Floor for debate.
The substitute bill was presented to SFC Sunday with an amended proposal of $17.5 million appropriated to the Department of Education for the Administration’s education reforms. The budget has an increase from last fiscal year of 5 percent in spending and a reserve of 8.7 percent.
The committee’s action to propose a budget is in response to the stalemate within Read More
Senate Passes Minimum Wage Constitutional Amendment
Sen. Richard C. Martinez
STATE News:
SANTA FE—In a 24-17 vote, Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR 13), which proposes a constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage in New Mexico, has passed the Senate. The resolution will now be making its way to the House Floor.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Richard C. Martinez, D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval & Santa Fe, said he couldn’t be happier that his fellow senators recognized the importance this resolution carries.
“Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do and passing this resolution is a great thing for the people of New Mexico who will Read More
Amendment Would Cover Fund Gap in Hospital Solvency Bill
Sen. Tim Keller
LEGISLATIVE News:
SANTA FE—Earlier this week, the Senate Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) passed a substitute bill for three senate bills focused on hospital solvency. The bill allows counties to impose an excise tax of 1/12 percent of gross receipts and requires that no action for collection of claims shall be allowed against any patient deemed indigent.
SPAC Chairman, Sen. Ortiz y Pino, D-Bernalillo said that no one was completely happy with the substitute bill, which represented a compromise.
“But there is still a bit of a gap of about $10 million that we’re hoping the state Read More
Some 2000 Attend Teachers’ Roundhouse Rally
Educators and supporters make their way to the Roundhouse Saturday for a rally to protest educational policies. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
The New Mexico band ‘Nosotros’ play a pre-rally concert in Santa Fe Plaza. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.comSANTA FE—Thousands of educators from around the state descended on the Roundhouse Saturday to protest the educational policies of Gov. Susana Martinez and her Secretary of Education designee Hanna Skandera. Chanting “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Gov. Martinez
