Politics

Statement On Attempted Override Of Governor’s Veto Of HB 241 – Attendance Component In Teacher Evaluations

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Rep. Jim Smith (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe) released the following statement after the House of Representatives failed to override Gov. Susana Martinez’s veto of House Bill 241:
 
“In her veto message, Gov. Martinez stated that she would be willing to consider changes to attendance measures as part of a comprehensive teacher evaluation system. Attendance measures account for just five percent of a teacher’s overall evaluation. House Bill 241 sought to address only the attendance component in teacher evaluations, and we respect
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Letter To The Editor: Leave Nonprofits Alone … Bill 412 Is Double Taxation!

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Lou Santoro
President
The Family YMCA Board of Directors

House Bill 412 calls for closing many exemption loopholes to address the budget crisis that our state faces. No doubt, there are many aspects of the Tax Reform Bill that need just that—reform. However, HB 412 also calls for eliminating the sales tax exemption for nonprofits—all nonprofits large, small, 501c3, churches etc., thus subjecting nonprofits to sales and gross receipts tax.

Under HB 412, nonprofits would need to collect and pay GRT on all contracts (local, state, federal), grants from foundations and United Way, fees from programs, Read More

House Of Representatives Honor New Mexico Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― March 9 the House of Representatives honored New Mexico’s law enforcement officers and first responders.
 
Reps. Yvette Herrell (R-Otero) and Patricio Ruiloba (D-Bernalillo) invited public safety personnel from across the state to join members on the House floor so they could be recognized and honored for their commitment to service.
 
Herrell also sponsored a certificate to acknowledge the dedication of New Mexico’s first responders, public safety professionals and volunteers. The certificate recognized the sacrifices these
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New Mexico Ethics Watch: House Judiciary Committee Substitute For HJR 8, Creating Ethics Commission

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ETHICS News:
 
New Mexico Ethics Watch has significant concerns regarding the revised version of the constitutional amendment creating an Ethics Commission for New Mexico that the House of Representatives has sent to the Senate for consideration.
 
The House Judiciary Committee made sweeping changes to the legislation, changes that critically undermine a prospective commission’s independence, impartiality, and effectiveness. The legislation now before the Senate is flawed. The Senate should restore the resolution to the text it had at introduction before passing this
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Lottery Scholarship Gap Bill Goes To Governor

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Lottery Scholarship Grace Period legislation, SB 420, sponsored by Sen. Bill Soules of Las Cruces, March 15 was passed by the full New Mexico House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.
 
The bill allows students to take up to 16 months off before beginning college, and still qualify for the state Lottery Scholarship assistance. The measure was the top priority for NMSU students. It was passed earlier in the session by the Senate, and now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
“I am pleased that legislators
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Udall, Tester, Cantwell Introduce Measure To Create Jobs By Fostering Entrepreneurship In Indian Country

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and former committee chairs Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced the Native American Business Incubators Program Act, legislation to help launch small businesses and encourage job creation in Indian Country. 
 
Their bill, S. 607, creates a competitive grant program to establish and fund business incubators that will assist in cultivating
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Chile License Plate Bill On It’s Way To Gov. Martinez

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― March 15, the Senate endorsed House Bill 393 on a bipartisan 31 to 7 vote.  House Bill 393 is Rep. Cathrynn Brown’s proposal to create a specialty chile license plate for New Mexico. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Susana Martinez for her signature.
 
The specialty license plate would be available to New Mexicans for a fee of thirty-five dollars. Twenty-five dollars of the fee will be used to fund educational programs at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. The museum will design the license plate with guidance provided by the
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Secretary Zinke Issues Lease For 56 Million Tons Of Coal

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USDI News:
 
WASHINGTON. D.C. ― U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the approval of a $22 million coal lease on the Greens Hollow tract in central Utah to Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Bowie Resource Partners, LLC.
 
Coal mining in the area currently supports nearly 1,700 mining and related jobs.
 
Secretary Zinke also announced Bureau of Land Management (BLM) career veteran Michael Nedd will serve as Acting-Director of the BLM. Previously, Nedd served as Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management; his selection
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Citizens Needed For County Board Vacancies

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Senior Management Analyst Libby Carlsten encourages community members to apply for a vacancy on one of the County boards or commissions. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

 

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post

Los Alamos County is facing many issues from water rate hikes to selecting the next public art piece, and to make the right decisions the County needs its citizens’ help.  

There are a number of openings on County boards and commissions that citizens can volunteer for. Vacancies include Art and Public Places, Fuller Lodge Historic Districts Advisory Board, Personnel Read More

Los Alamos School Board Elects New Officers

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Jenny McCumber, left, and Andrea Cunningham at Tuesday’s meeting of the Los Alamos Public Schools Board of Education in the Administration Building on Trinity Drive. The meeting was the first to include newly elected members Ellen Ben-Naim and Stephen Boerigter. Newly elected school board officers include McCumber as president. McCumber, Andrea Cunningham and Stephen Boerigter supported McCumber, while Ellen Ben Naim and Bill Hargraves voted for Hargraves. Cunningham was the sole candidate for vice president. McCumber, Boerigter, Ben-Naim and Cunningham voted for her, while
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