Politics

Keller Releases Audit Of State Purchasing Practices

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State Auditor Tim Keller

  • Comprehensive study includes nearly $1 billion in procurement through loopholes in the competitive bidding process

SANTA FE – State Auditor Tim Keller has released a multiagency audit of State Agency procurement practices from July 2013 through July 2016.

The report reveals that in fiscal year 2016, more than $1 billion worth of state spending did not go through the competitive procurement process designed to safeguard public funds from patronage, fraud and corruption. In addition, more than $5 billion of healthcare dollars were spent through exemptions to the Read More

ALERT: AG Balderas Warns New Mexicans About Fraudulent ‘Make-A-Wish’ Sweepstakes Scam

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From the Office of the Attorney General:

ALBUQUERQUE – Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a Scam Alert today regarding callers posing as officers of a “Consumer Protection Agency,” who have been telling New Mexicans they’ve won hundreds of thousands of dollars in a sweepstakes allegedly conducted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The supposed winners are told they must first pay money to cover taxes, insurance and/or courier fees in order to claim their “prize.” The scammers are asking New Mexicans to send or wire upwards of $3,500 in order to claim their fictitious “prize.”   Read More

Udall Touts Kirtland’s Critical Mission & Cutting-Edge Technology In Meeting With Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski

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Udall and Pawlikowski agree that sequestration and threatened government shutdown would be dangerous for national security and service member morale. Courtesy photo
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Aug. 14, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall met with Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, commander, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) at the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center to discuss Kirtland Air Force Base’s critical national security mission, cutting-edge technology, and future plans for harnessing the base’s research and development capabilities to maintain the United
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Deputy Secretary Bernhardt: $660,000 In Historic State And Tribal Preservation Grants To New Mexico

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DOI News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt with the National Park Service has announced the distribution of $341,169 in historic preservation grants to New Mexico as well as $322,404 for historic preservation grants to eleven Tribal Historic Preservation Offices in the state.
 
This funding, part of $25.5 million going to states and tribes across the country today, represents a total of $58 million that the National Park Service has invested in the preservation efforts to every U.S. state, the District of Columbia,
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Fr. Glenn: One People Under God

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By Rev. Glenn Jones
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Los Alamos

This last week we were treated to yet another example of the truth of scripture—that “there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) The wall-to-wall coverage about the Charlottesville and subsequent protests and counter-protests reminded of the riots of the 60’s and 70’s. Sigh. Perhaps the birthing pains of eventually moving toward a more civilized society, we can only hope.

Predictably, there were myriad reactions over the Charlottesville protests and events. One wonders whether simply ignoring groups

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Udall, Heinrich Announce Open Application Process For 2018 United States Senate Youth Program

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich have announced that the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has begun its annual statewide selection process and encouraged New Mexico high school students to apply.

Each year, two students from each state and the District of Columbia – as well as two children of service members stationed and living abroad — are selected to participate in a week-long study of the federal government and its leaders. The two New Mexico students will join 102 other delegates for the program’s 56th annual Washington Week, Read More

Public Forum Targets Veterans Transportation Issues

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VETERANS News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Veterans, National Guard/Reserve personnel, and their spouses are invited to attend a public forum to address transportation issues facing veterans at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Central New Mexico College (CNM) Workforce Training Center at 5600 Eagle Rock Ave. NE.

This public forum follows a morning Veterans Transportation Summit sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) attended by representatives from public and private transportation agencies throughout the state, who will be discussing how they can improve the transportation Read More

Governor: New TV Ads Fight DWI; Distracted Driving

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Courtesy/NMDOT

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez announced powerful TV ads – called “Just a Matter of Time” – to fight drunk and distracted driving. 

Both of the new ads are from the point of view of a driver breaking the law – until ultimately they crash. The ads can be viewed here.

“When you drive drunk or distracted you put your life and the lives of every other person on the road in danger,” Martinez said. “It just isn’t worth it. Make the responsible decision when you get behind the wheel – it will save lives.”

In one ad a man is featured driving distracted over and over again, until Read More

Letter To The Editor: Response To Mr. Nebel & Citizens

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By GREG WHITE
Los Alamos
 
Yes Mr. Nebel, the free way to know the law is to READ the law for yourself as opposed to having a patronage politician like the AG read it for you (link). Which by the way the AG, a patronage politician (by your definition) does not testify in court and legally only issues guidance for state and local government bodies. I would welcome the county to request such an opinion from the patronage AG since the council, patronage politicians, refuse to believe their own attorney, a patronage position, and the AG’s already investigating my criminal complaints anyway.
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State Auditor Tim Keller To Award Financial Aid To Small, Rural Communities Across New Mexico

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― State Auditor Tim Keller has announced that the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is set to award financial assistance to small political subdivisions across New Mexico.
 
The OSA will award grants to entities, such as acequias and soil and water conservation districts, to help them complete state audit requirements that bring transparency to public funds. Over the last three fiscal years, the OSA has awarded about $420,000 to 64 small, mostly rural entities in 19 different counties.
 
Helping entities become compliant with audit requirements allows
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