Politics

Bill Promoting Use Of Local Inspectors Gets Concurrence And Awaits Governor’s Signature

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― March 14, the House of Representatives unanimously concurred with the Senate on House Bill 305. HB 305 Sponsored by Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), a strong advocate for agriculture, would ensure that our local farms are inspected by local inspectors from the New Mexico department of agriculture (NMDA), rather than federal inspectors from the FDA.
 
This increase in certified inspectors not only allows agribusinesses to grow, but it increases opportunities for them to expand into value-added enterprises that require additional inspectors.
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Egolf Hails Passage Of Sweeping Ethics Reform

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HOUSE DEMOCRATS  News:
 
SANTA FE ― After extensive work on both sides of the aisle, the New Mexico House passed a bipartisan resolution that would bring sweeping ethics reform to New Mexico government.
 
HJR 8, which gives voters the opportunity to decide on the creation of an independent State Ethics Commission, passed unanimously 66-0.
 
“The people of New Mexico have asked year after year for transparency and accountability, and the New Mexico House answered their call tonight,” said New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) “I was pleased to
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Officials Brief County Council On Library System

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Library Board Chair Jennifer Baker and Library Manager Steven Thomas present the board’s Fiscal Year 2017 work plan and details about the County library system and board to the Los Alamos County Council during its regular meeting Tuesday night at the White Rock Fire Station. During the presentation, Baker reported that in FY 2017, more than 391,000 items were checked out of the libraries and the library system had more than 333,000 visitors. Councilor Antonio Maggiore commended the library board for its work. ”ou guys run some fantastic libraries here,” he said. Read More

Udall, Heinrich Invite Energy Secretary Rick Perry To Visit New Mexico National Laboratories

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry inviting him to visit Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

“The work at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories is critical to meeting DOE’s mission of assuring national security through stewardship of the nuclear weapons stockpile, nuclear non-proliferation, and homeland security,” wrote the senators. “The labs also have extensive strategic partnerships with other federal agencies and private stakeholders that contribute Read More

Beware The Ides Of March: A Warning For All Republics

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By JAMES ROBINSON
Los Alamos GOP Chair

On this day, 2061 years ago, Roman Dictator Julius Caesar was brutally assassinated by Roman Senators in the Roman Senate.

The event was the culmination of Caesar’s victory in the Civil War with his rival Consul Pompey the Great. After the victory, Caesar contributed on to a regime change in Egypt, and returned to Rome as triumphant leader. As he concentrated his power, Caesar reportedly denied the offer to make him King of Rome. He reportedly did this three times. Instead, Caesar took to Roman law, and had himself declared dictator for 10 years, and then for Read More

Letter To The Editor: Concerns With County Financial Disclosure Forms And Public Access Procedures

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By EDWARD BIRNBAUM
Los Alamos

The Feb. 3 issue of the Los Alamos Daily Post had a story (link), which caught my eye regarding the violation of the Code of Ethics in Hobbs as reported by State Auditor Tim Keller. Apparently, Hobbs public officials were not filing the required financial disclosures and perhaps more importantly, were not recusing themselves from voting on official business issues when their personal financial interests were involved.

Members of the County Council and the Board of Public Utilities here in Los Alamos are responsible for making decisions involving many millions Read More

Bill To Help Workers Care For Sick, Elderly Relatives Heads To Senate Floor

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STATE News:

  • Caregiver Leave Act Allows Employees to Use Already-Provided Sick Leave for Caregiving

Rep. Debbie Armstrong’s Caregiver Leave Act, HB 86, is headed to the Senate floor for a final vote after it passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, moving the widely supported bill, which would allow workers to also use sick leave that is already provided by their employers to cover absences for caregiving, one step closer to the governor’s desk.

“Too many New Mexicans are in the Sandwich Generation,” Armstrong said. “My kids are grown, but my 88-year-old mother lives with me. We need to Read More

Letter To The Editor: Proposal For Workable Firearms Transfer Background Check Law

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By KHALIL SPENCER
Los Alamos

A couple of us have thought of a background check proposal that might accomplish most or all of what we really want but with far less acrimony. So here is an idea if this is to be revisited again and assuming for the moment that the present bills are not resurrected. I’ve stolen some ideas from a colleague (with thanks) but modified them with my own additions, so any rotten fruit should be thrown at me alone. Here would be the basis of the law.

1. It is of material and social benefit to society to verify that a person unknown to you is not a prohibited person before selling or transferring Read More

Heinrich: GOP Healthcare Plan Disastrous As Expected

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the GOP healthcare plan.
 
According to CBO estimates, 14 million would be uninsured by 2018 and 26 million by 2026.
 
“The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that the Republican healthcare bill will be as disastrous as we expected. 14 million will be uninsured by next year, and 24 million by 2026. The Republican plan would
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Udall Celebrates Sunshine Week By Advocating Open Government, Defending Free Press

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, will today mark Sunshine Week — a national initiative to educate the public on the importance of an open and transparent government — by advocating for transparency in our government, defending the critical role of the free press, and calling for campaign finance reform to shine a light on dark money in politics.

Starting at 10 a.m. ET, Udall will join Senate Democrats and experts at a press conference to call for increased government transparency and accountability in an age of “alternative facts.” Udall will give remarks Read More