Politics

N.M. Delegation Welcomes News That Facebook Will Build New Data Center In Los Lunas

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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement welcoming today’s news that Facebook will build its new data center in Los Lunas:

“We welcome Facebook to New Mexico and are proud to help secure this new investment in our state’s future. Facebook will bring innovative opportunities for our economy and much needed jobs. As a leader in energy development, New Mexico is an ideal fit for the new facility, which Read More

New Mexico Human Services Department Announces Nearly 25 Percent Decrease In Uninsured Rate

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NMHSD News:
 
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Human Services Department announced that the number of New Mexicans without health insurance coverage dropped by nearly 25 percent last year. Since Gov. Susana Martinez took office in 2011, New Mexico’s uninsured rate has plummeted by nearly half.
 
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual “Health Insurance Coverage in the United States” report, the uninsured rate in New Mexico dropped from 14.5 percent in 2014 to 10.9 percent in 2015.
 
“We’ve expanded and reformed Medicaid to make it more patient-centered and provide basic
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Letter To The Editor: Importance Of House Bill 145 Concerning Adjunct Instructors

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By JANE M. GORDON
Los Alamos
 
Earlier this year when the New Mexico Legislature was in session, the Adjunct Secondary Instructors Bill (HB 145) passed in the House with a vote of 37-25. It was, however, defeated in the Senate.
 
Had the bill passed, it would have allowed the Public Education Department (PED) to issue an adjunct secondary instructor license to an applicant who has earned at least a bachelor’s degree and has a minimum of three years experience in the subject matter expertise area to teach that subject in the public schools. The bill permitted
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Letter To The Editor: Fight For Economic Equality Far From Over

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By HELENA WHYTE and SYLVIA FINK
AAUW NM CO-PRESIDENTS
 
While Labor Day is the time when we recognize the social and economic achievements of American workers, the fight for economic equality is far from over.
 
Only 13 percent of American workers have access to paid leave through their employer. Two-thirds of minimum wage workers in the U.S. are women, and their income remains below the federal poverty line. Couple this with the fact a woman working full time on average still only makes 79 cents to a white, non-Hispanic man’s dollar. It’s easy to see that we still
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LANL Clean Up Estimate Still Lacks Details

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Los Alamos County Councilor Kristin Henderson and Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales at the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities meeting last week in Ohkay Owingeh. Photo by Roger Snodgrass/ladailypost.com
 
By ROGER SNODGRASS
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
A delegation from the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities is visiting Washington, D.C. this week to attend a National Cleanup Conference.
 
In scheduled talks on Capitol Hill and with Department of Energy officials, they will not have the benefit of some missing information that has been blamed
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NM Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments In Voting Rights Case Wednesday

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NMSC News:
 
The New Mexico Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at 9 a.m., Wednesday Sept. 14, in Santa Fe on whether the New Mexico Compilation Commission erred in not ordering that several constitutional amendments passed by a majority of voters in 2008, 2010 and 2014 be made a part of state law.
 
The League of Women Voters of New Mexico, the lead plaintiff, and a number of groups, which filed Amicus Curia briefs, believe that it did – and that the error will diminish voting rights in the state. Common Cause New Mexico, the NM Association of Counties, the
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Obama Faces First Potential Veto Override Of Presidency

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President Barack Obama faces the first potential veto override of his presidency on a bill that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia. Courtesy/politico.com
 
POLITICO News:
 
The House on Friday unanimously passed a bill that will allow 9/11 victims’ families to sue Saudi Arabia for damages.
 
The Senate also approved the bill unanimously in May. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the legislation, setting up a potential veto override, which would be the first of Obama’s presidency.
 
Read more: 
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Luján Advocates For New Mexico Priorities In Energy Conference Committee

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
 
CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District participated in the first meeting of Senate and House Conferees on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. 
 
The conference committee is working out differences between House and Senate legislation. Below are his remarks as prepared.
 
“Thank you Madam Chair. Our work here today on an Energy Bill is one of great importance for our nation, and particularly for an energy state like New Mexico. We need an energy policy that
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Four Steps That Could Help Keep Hackers From Hijacking 2016 Election

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Gary S. Miliefsky
SnoopWall Inc.
 
COMMUNITY News:
 
It’s a provocative question that reads like the cover blurb for a paperback spy novel, but it’s drawing serious attention in these days of cyber crime. Could hackers disrupt the U.S. presidential election and, if they did, what would be the implications for our democracy?
 
“Theoretically, there are several things a hacker could do to interfere with the election,” says Gary S. Miliefsky, CEO of SnoopWall (www.snoopwall.com), a company that specializes in cybersecurity.
 
“They could delete names from a voter list
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Lujan Grisham Announces Federal Funding For Homeless Veterans

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

VETERANS News:

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that three New Mexico agencies will receive more than $2 million in federal grants through the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program.

The program aims to prevent homeless among veteran families who earn very low incomes.

“This is money that helps our local nonprofits keep veterans and their families in sustainable housing,” Lujan Grisham said. “These services are essential for people who have served our country and deserve our support so they can lead healthy, productive Read More