Politics

Ahead Of March For Science, Udall Urges President To Fill Key Science Posts Throughout Administration

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in advance of the March for Science, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, joined a group of senators in urging President Trump to appoint well-qualified experts for critical science posts at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and throughout the federal government.

Nearly 100 days into his presidency, President Trump still has not appointed a science advisor, director for the White House OSTP, or a chief technology officer. The White House Office of Science Read More

Letter To The Editor: No Science Rally In Los Alamos

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By CATHERINE HENSLEY
Los Alamos

I have to respond to a letter in the Los Alamos Daily Post (link) suggesting that we are sleeping through the current challenges to science in our country. I think rather that it is a matter of preaching to the choir.  

In a town that exists for the pursuit of science, it seems silly to shout that we believe it. Therefore, three generations of my family will be going to Santa Fe Saturday to remind our state government that we believe in science, and that they should, too. My friends and neighbors already know that. Read More

AG: Record $54.251 Million Tobacco Settlement

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

STATE News:

  • Payment in excess of $54 million is the largest ever for New Mexico

SANTA FE – Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that Thursday New Mexico received the largest tobacco settlement payment to date, a total payment of $54,251,491.01.

In late March, the Balderas Administration announced there would be a record payment, in excess of $50 million, because the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) secured an additional $14.5 million after a judge agreed with the OAG that New Mexico was being shortchanged by Big Tobacco. The cigarette industry didn’t Read More

AFTNM On Student Well-Being PISA Results

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AFT News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly released the following statement on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s 2015 PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) student well-being results released today:
 
“Today’s PISA report highlights another troubling statistic for the United States: our students are stressed out, with nearly 68 percent reporting anxiety related to testing, a full 13 percent higher than other international peers. We must treat today’s report with the
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Letter To The Editor: Vote No On Recreation Bond

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By TOM HARRIS
Los Alamos
 
Once again it appears that a number of our fellow Los Alamos citizens feel compelled to spend our tax dollars to benefit a limited number of county residents.
 
In this particular case, the Recreation Bond Proposal is being championed by several special interest groups. These include supporters of the already-once-defeated recreational (now called multi-generational) pool, local hockey enthusiasts, softball players, and golfers.
 
Although I certainly don’t disagree with the concept of our collective taxpayer dollars funding the county’s
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Letter To The Editor: Science, Policy And Earth Day

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By KHALIL SPENCER
Los Alamos

In Honor of Upcoming Earth Day: Are Science and Politics Immiscible Quantities?

“Americans have reached a point where ignorance, especially of anything related to public policy, is an actual virtue,” the scholar Tom Nichols writes in his timely new book, “The Death of Expertise.” “To reject the advice of experts is to assert autonomy, a way for Americans to insulate their increasingly fragile egos from ever being told they’re wrong about anything. It is a new Declaration of Independence: No longer do we hold these truths to be self-evident, we hold all truths to be Read More

Rally For Science In Santa Fe … But Not Los Alamos

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By JODY BENSON
Los Alamos

Los Alamos isn’t hosting a Rally or a March for Science. Santa Fe is, though. It will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Earth Day, at the Roundhouse. Get out there with your dedication and brilliance. Remember, there is no planet B, and scientists can prove it. 

The organizers of the March state: “The mischaracterization of science as a partisan issue, which has given policymakers permission to reject overwhelming evidence, is a critical and urgent matter. It is time for people who support scientific research and evidence-based policies to take a public stand and be Read More

Luján Introduces Series Of Bills To Help States Improve Behavioral Health Systems; Address Inequities

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
 
CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) has introduced a series of three bills that will help states to address health care inequities, improve services for patients seeking behavioral health treatment and deal with critical shortages in the behavioral health care workforce.
 
The New Mexico lawmaker noted that today, due to lack of services, those who battle mental health and substance abuse issues often cycle between emergency rooms, jails, and homeless shelters. As a result, too many families are hurting, too
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Letter To The Editor: Office Of The Sheriff

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By KHALIL SPENCER
Los Alamos
 
Regardless of what any of us thinks about keeping the sheriff’s office, the public decided the question of whether to have a sheriff.
 
Now is the time to carefully define the scope of duties so that this office does more than throw out the first calf at the annual rodeo but on the other hand, doesn’t waste effort duplicating police duties.
 
Plus, any duty that involves the potential for violence or public interactions that could put the County at risk for a lawsuit requires personnel training that the
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Gessing: Governor Was Right To Wield Veto Pen

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By PAUL J. GESSING
Rio Grande Foundation
 
There has been a lot of criticism of Gov. Martinez in the wake of her use of the veto pen in the wake of the 2017 legislative session. Tough economic times are not fun and New Mexico (unlike most other states in the union) remains in the midst of tough times.
 
Democrats in the Legislature recently spoke out saying “enough is enough” referring to budget cuts and there have been increasing calls for the Legislature to override certain vetoes.
 
On can argue the merits or demerits of many of the dozens of vetoes, but the
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