Politics

GOP Representatives Present Bipartisan Bill 241 To Ease Teacher Leave Penalty

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House Republican Communications News:

SANTA FE — Thursday afternoon, Reps. Jason Harper (R-Sandoval) and Dennis Roch (R-Quay) presented House Bill 241 to the House Labor and Economic Development Committee. The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Reps. Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos) and Christine Trujillo (D-Bernalillo) as well as Sen. Craig Brandt (R-Sandoval).

Their bill, also called the “Teachers Are Human, Too” bill, would allow teachers to use up to ten days of sick leave without it negatively affecting their annual performance evaluations. It would also give local Read More

Udall Outlines Priorities For Senate Committee On Indian Affairs For The New Congress

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement Tuesday at the first business meeting of the committee in the 115th Congress:
 
“Congratulations, Senator Hoeven. I look forward to working with you to address the many issues affecting Indian Country. I’m sure you’ll agree that we need to work with Tribes to improve health care and education in their communities; housing; economic development; infrastructure; public safety – and the many other pressing
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State Auditor’s Investigation Finds Public Officials Likely Violated Ethics Code In Hobbs

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State Auditor Tim Keller
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) notified the City of Hobbs of the results of an investigation into allegations about violations of the Code of Ethics.
 
The investigation found that public officials were not filing required financial disclosures or recusing themselves from official business when personal interests were involved.
 
“This was a failure of multiple elected officials to follow their own ethics ordinance,” State Auditor Tim Keller said. “These rules help ensure decisions are being made in the
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Governor Announces 300 New Jobs To Support Facebook’s Massive High-Tech Data Center

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New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez
 
STATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Susana Martinez announced Wednesday that 300 new jobs have become available as a result of Facebook coming to New Mexico. Affordable Solar, an Albuquerque company, will invest $45 million to build three cutting-edge solar farms that will help support Facebook’s massive high-tech data center, which is expected to create thousands of long-term construction jobs in the first phase alone.
 
“Not only is Facebook’s massive data center expected to create thousands of long-term construction jobs
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State Auditor Tim Keller Announces Legislative Agenda

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Jan. 27, State Auditor Tim Keller announced the Office of the State Auditor’s (OSA) agenda for the 2017 Legislative Session.
 
The four-part plan is aimed fixing loopholes that allow deficit spending by the state and increasing accountability in state government.
 
“Our office is engaged throughout the legislative process to support initiatives that protect taxpayer dollars, crackdown on corruption and prevent deficit spending,” Keller said. “With thoughtful legislation to make the most of our tax dollars, we can make a difference
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Heinrich Supports Confirmation Of Ryan Zinke For Interior Secretary, Highlights Success Of National Monuments In New Mexico

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, right, meets Jan. 10 with Interior Secretary Nominee Ryan Zinke. Courtesy photo
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ―  U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) voted Jan. 31 in support of Secretary of the Interior nominee U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) during a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources business meeting.
 
“While we are clearly not going to agree on every issue, I believe its very important to have a Westerner in this role — particularly one who is committed to keeping public lands in public hands,” Heinrich
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Workers And Community Groups Win Temporary Restraining Order In Lawsuit Against Department Of Workforce Solutions

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COURT News:
 
SANTA FE ― Late Tuesday, New Mexicans whose legal rights were violated by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions won a major victory in their lawsuit filed Jan. 17, 2017 to remedy the agency’s failure to enforce our state’s wage payment laws.
 
Among other claims, the lawsuit challenges the Department’s illegally-imposed $10,000 cap on investigating wage theft claims and the Department’s illegal practice of not investigating or taking any enforcement action on wage claims that go back more than one year. Under these policies, the Department
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Senators Steinborn And Moores Renew Call To Ban Coyote Killing Contests In New Mexico

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― A bipartisan pair of state lawmakers have teamed up again to introduce legislation to ban coyote killing contests in New Mexico.
 
Senate Bill 268 was reintroduced Jan. 30 in the New Mexico legislature by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces) and Sen. Mark Moores (R-Albuquerque).
 
Moores and Steinborn previously passed legislation through the State Senate in 2015. The measure aims to put a stop to the dozens of organized competitions held annually in New Mexico, in which participants compete for prizes for killing the most coyotes
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Michelle Hall: Why I’m Running For UNM-LA Advisory Board

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By MICHELLE K. HALL, Incumbent
UNM-LA Advisory Board

The community of Los Alamos is a place I am lucky to call home. It has splendorous beauty and passionate and caring people. I cannot thank Los Alamos voters enough for their approval of the UNM-LA mil levy. With passage of the levy, it is critical for the campus to have strong advisory board members that bring a diversity of knowledge and experience to guide them toward a strong and vibrant future. I bring the skills and experience of a small business leader, former faculty member at the University of Arizona, and grant writer to help guide the institution. Read More

Letter To The Editor: Trump’s Misleading Attacks On Mex­ico

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By JOSEPH A. D’ANNA
Los Alamos

Throughout the election process and now as President, Donald Trump has viciously and relentlessly attacked Mexico and its people over trade and immigration. In reality, Trump’s attacks are baseless and contrived.

First, there is no rational basis to blame Mexico for the NAFTA trade agreement involving the US, Mexico and Canada. Mexico did not initiate NAFTA, and it did not coerce the US government to sign the trade agreement.

The Reagan administration initiated negotiations with Mexico to expand the global economy, the negotiations were concluded with Mexico Read More