Politics

Attorney General Balderas: Protect New Mexico Kids By Banning Conversion Therapy

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

From the Office of Attorney General Hector Balderas:

SANTA FE — Ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee that convened this afternoon, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced his support for SB 121, legislation that would ban the practice of “conversion therapy” for minors in New Mexico.

The so-called “therapy” involves the systematic shaming and humiliation of gender non-conforming children in order to instill self-hatred. This discredited practice is not based on medical science–it is based on prejudice. It has been rejected by the Read More

DEA Removes Marijuana Misinformation

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DEA News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of public pressure, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has removed factually inaccurate information from its website.
 
The change comes after Americans for Safe Access, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring safe and legal access to medical cannabis for therapeutic use and research, filed a legal request with the Department of Justice last year demanding that the DEA immediately update and remove factually inaccurate information about cannabis from their website and materials.
 
Americans for Safe
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House Committee Passes Memorial To Help Prevent Animal Abuse And Family Violence

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Rep. Jim Dines

STATE News:

 
SANTA FE ― The House Health and Human Services Committee has unanimously approved House Joint Memorial 6 sponsored by Rep. Jim Dines (R-Bernalillo).
 
The memorial requests that the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) consider training their providers on the connection between animal abuse and interpersonal violence.
 
“Research clearly shows that animal abuse is an important indicator of other abuse that may be occurring in a home,” Dines said. “This memorial encourages CYFD and DPS to consider
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Letter To The Editor: The Last Thing The World Needs Is A Stronger And Greater USA

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By Dr. DOUGLAS T. REILLY
Los Alamos
 
President Trump’s inaugural address advocated a stronger and greater USA. He used the word America; I remember an Argentine friend who long ago reminded me that everyone from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Ushuaia at the southern tip of South American IS AMERICAN.
 
The last thing the world needs is a stronger and greater USA. We are already strong and great. Most of us know Lord Acton’s quote, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Many countries consider the USA the most dangerous country in the world.
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Senate Passes Bipartisan Medical Canabis Reform

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STATE News:

SANTA FE – With solid bipartisan support, the Senate today passed by a vote of 29-11 legislation that strongly reforms New Mexico’s medical cannabis laws for the first time in 10 years. 

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley (D-16-Bernalillo), who also was the sponsor of the original medical cannabis law in New Mexico. Last-minute changes to SB 177 were made on the Senate floor including requiring that veterans be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition to enroll in the program, like any other patient or applicant, and mandating that patient renewals occur annually, Read More

House Education Committee Hears From Teachers

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Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, center, presents House Bill 158 with her expert witnesses LAPS Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus, right, and Pojoaque Valley Schools Superintendent Dr. Mel Morgan at Saturday’s House Education Committee hearing at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
 
New Mexico House Education Committee listens during Saturday’s hearing to teachers speak about their experiences with the state teacher evaluation system. Courtesy photo
 
More than 80 teachers line up to speak at Saturday’s special House Education Committee
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Letter To The Editor: About House Bill 50 On Gun Safety

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By ELENA E. GIORGI
Los Alamos

Friday Feb. 10, the House Judiciary Committee passed with a vote of 7 to 6 House Bill 50 (HB 50), co-sponsored by our representatives Stephanie Garcia Richard and Richard Martinez. HB 50 would close background check loopholes for buying guns in New Mexico. In our state it’s not illegal to avoid background checks when purchasing a firearm.

According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, New Mexico is the 10th-worst state for gun deaths: There were 14.6 gun deaths for every 100,000 people in the state in 2010. That’s 40 percent higher than the national average of Read More

Teachers Are Human Too Bill Passes 2nd Committee

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House Republican News:

SANTA FE – The House Education Committee approved House Bill 241, a bill sponsored by Reps. Jason Harper (R-Sandoval) and Dennis Roch (R-Quay) to allow teachers to use their contractually allotted sick leave without fear of penalty.

The legislation, also known as the “Teachers Are Human Too” bill, would allow teachers to use up to 10 days of sick leave and all personal days without it negatively affecting their annual performance evaluations. The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Reps. Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos) and Christine Trujillo (D-Bernalillo) Read More