Politics

Governor Plans To Sign Bills That Protect Health Care, Food Assistance In New Mexico

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham plans to sign emergency legislation passed by the legislature providing $162 million to protect New Mexicans from federal budget cuts that threaten health care and food benefits statewide.

“We refuse to let New Mexico families fall through the cracks because Republicans in Washington have abandoned their responsibility to the American people,” said Lujan Grisham, who called lawmakers into a special legislative session this week. “The legislation passed during the special Read More

Council Approves Considering Ordinance To Increase GRT By 5/8%, Public Hearing Set For Oct. 28

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By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Gross Receipt Tax (GRT) is hard to predict, Los Alamos County Administrative Services Director Helen Perraglio explained to County Council Tuesday night.

For instance, during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget discussion, the GRT was projected to dip 10 percent. This turned out not to be the case; the decrease was more, Perraglio said.

“What happened … when we adopted our budget in (FY) 26, we thought we were going to have a 10 percent decrease over what we had budgeted in (FY) 25,” she said. “It turned out to be a 14 percent reduction Read More

Heinrich Urges Interior Secretary Burgum To Classify Interior Employees As Essential To Protect Access To Public Lands, Keep Americans Safe During Shutdown

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is calling on U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to classify the Department’s staff as essential during the Republican government shutdown to maintain the health and safety of Americans who visit public lands, wildlife refuges, and national park sites.

During the last Trump-era government shutdown, national parks were “open” but were essentially unstaffed — leaving toilets unserviced, Read More

New Mexico House Of Representatives Passes Budget To Backfill Federal Cuts To Essential Services

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New Mexico House Democrats News:

SANTA FE – Tonight, the House of Representatives passed a budget bill for the Special Session, appropriating $125 million in critical funding to protect access to healthcare, increase food assistance, support public broadcasting, and safeguard jobs across New Mexico that are threatened by recent federal funding cuts.

“Over the last several months in meetings across our state, our Legislative Finance Committee has been closely reviewing the massive federal funding cuts and changes coming out of Washington, D.C., to understand how they will impact New Read More

Governor Convenes Special Legislative Session To Address Federal Funding Cuts And Budget Crisis

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a proclamation Sept. 30 convening a special session of the New Mexico State Legislature on Oct. 1 to address the significant challenges of federal funding cuts resulting from the Trump administration’s budget reconciliation bill, H.R.1, and related federal actions. 

The governor’s call to action comes as New Mexicans face unprecedented challenges caused by massive reductions in federal support for critical programs including Medicaid, SNAP food assistance and public broadcasting services. The federal budget Read More

U.S. Government Has Shut Down … So Now What?

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Staff Report

The government officially shut down at midnight after Congress deadlocked and failed to pass a funding measure to keep it open. Those entities critical to protect lives and property are deemed essential and will stay open.

About shutdowns

In the United States, government shutdowns occur when funding legislation required to finance the federal government is not enacted before the next fiscal year begins. In a shutdown, the federal government curtails agency activities and services, ceases non-essential operations, furloughs non-essential workers, and retains only essential Read More

Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board’s Kevin Holsapple Expresses Concerns To County Council Ahead Of Tonight’s Consideration Of Multi-Year Tourism Marketing Agreement

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By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Member
Lodger Tax Advisory Board

Dear Councilors,

Here are comments and questions that I request that you address concerning agenda item AGR1163-25 on tonight’s agenda (multi-year tourism marketing agreement).

  1. As an LTAB member, I have had very limited exposure or opportunity to provide input into the agreement or selection of the contractor. This is contrary to my understanding of the advisory purpose of the LTAB as detailed in our work plan. If Lodger Tax funds are used to fund any part of the contract, please be aware that the LTAB has not reviewed the agreement nor had any
Read More

Heinrich Tours Student Health Clinic, Convenes Roundtable, & Hosts Press Conference To Highlight Impacts Of Trump’s Health Care & Inflation Crisis In New Mexico

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) hosts a press conference to highlight how Trump’s health care and inflation crisis is harming New Mexicans, Sept. 26, 2025. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) hosted three events in Las Cruces to highlight how Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ health care and inflation crisis is harming New Mexico families by putting health care out of reach and skyrocketing the cost of living.

Heinrich’s events underscored the threat of a looming Republican government shutdown, which is becoming more likely Read More

New Mexico Readies Universal Child Care With Focus On Workforce And Quality

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STATE News:

SILVER CITY – New Mexico’s Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council on Wednesday outlined efforts to expand access, improve program quality and support its early childhood workforce as the state prepares to implement universal child care on Nov. 1.

Council members discussed several initiatives aimed at strengthening New Mexico’s child care system and ensuring universal access, including a newly launched low-interest child care revolving loan. The fund will help providers expand, renovate or build facilities to meet the increasing child care demand.

“Universal Read More

Governor Announces Pacific Fusion Selects New Mexico As Site For $1 Billion Research And Manufacturing Campus

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Keith LeChien
Co-founder/CTO
Pacific Fusion

From the Office of the Governor:

          • “Pacific Fusion project will create hundreds of jobs”.

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced that Pacific Fusion, a commercial fusion energy company, has selected New Mexico as the site for its first Research and Manufacturing Campus. 

The $1 billion facility at Mesa del Sol positions New Mexico at the forefront of the emerging fusion energy industry and cements its role as a national leader in advanced energy innovation.

Fusion, the same process that powers the sun and stars, has long Read More