Nation

Udall: President’s Budget Proposal Good News For New Mexicans Overall

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall. Courtesy photo
 
U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement about the President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request:

“The president’s budget is a statement of the administration’s priorities for the year to come, and overall, it contains good news for New Mexicans. It continues to roll back the devastating sequestration cuts that risked jobs and threatened our state’s economy. Fiscally responsible investments in innovation and manufacturing, improving Read More

Senators: Assess Risk; Deploy Mobile Monitors to WIPP

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Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad. Courtesy/wikipedia

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy Thursday asking her to provide public health analysis and deploy mobile environmental monitoring units to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad.

The mobile monitors would conduct independent tests and help respond to questions that have arisen from the community about safety following the Feb. 14 radiation leak at WIPP.

“The health and Read More

Heinrich Votes to Advance Veterans Benefits Package

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tuesday, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. voted to advance an omnibus veterans bill that includes key provisions he fought for on behalf of veterans and military families across New Mexico.

S.1982, the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act, introduced by the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Senator Bernie Sanders, and cosponsored by Heinrich, passed by a vote of 99-0 today. clearing the way for a Senate debate on the bill.

The omnibus veterans Read More

IRS Filing Season Statistics So Far

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IRS News:

PHOENIX─The IRS released 2014 tax filing season statistics showing that 15 percent more refunds were already issued this year, compared to 2013 figures.

Additionally, the average federal refund totaled $3,211, an increase of $190 compared with the same period a year ago.

The statistics issued last week, covering the period through Feb. 14, show that while the overall number of tax returns filed this year is down slightly, less than a percentage point, nearly 95 percent of all returns received were filed electronically.

For more information on tax credits available for this filing Read More

‘Stop Fracking’ Say 25 Health Professionals

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ENM News:

ALBUQUERQUE–Environment New Mexico delivered a letter from 25 doctors, nurses and other health professionals in New Mexico Thursday to President Obama asserting that fracking should be stopped, given the overwhelming threats to public health.

Environment New Mexico’s federal arm, Environment America, and its other state affiliates delivered similar letters to decision-makers from more than 1,000 health professionals nationwide.

The letters, which include signers from all 50 states, come as public awareness of the health and environmental impacts of fracking is on the Read More

Energy Secretary Moniz to Make Major ‘All of the Above’ Energy Announcement

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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

‘Helping Our Middle Class Entrepreneurs’ Act Introduced

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

U.S. HOUSE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.-1, has introduced the Helping Our Middle Class Entrepreneurs (HOME) Act (H.R. 4052), legislation to support small businesses and encourage entrepreneurship.

Specifically, the bill would simplify the income tax filing process for small business owners who operate primarily out of their homes by creating a permanent $1,500 standard home office deduction. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, home-based enterprises make up 52 percent of all small businesses.

Currently, Read More

Today Marks 129 Presidents’ Days

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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

Ranchers May Sign up for Farm Bill Drought Disaster Aid within 60 Days

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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

Officials Comment on Radiation at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

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Operators prepare drums of contact-handled transuranic waste for loading into transportation containers. Courtesy/energy.gov

STATE News:

CARLSBAD—U.S Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich issued the following statement after an air monitor detected higher than usual radiation levels around 11:30 p.m. Friday on the underground levels of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad:

“We are in close contact with officials at the Department of Energy and WIPP, and we will continue to monitor the situation as more information becomes available. The safety of WIPP personnel Read More