Politics

Governor Signs Legislation To Better Protect New Mexico Farmers And Ranchers

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STATE News:
 
CLOVIS — Gov. Martinez signs legislation that better protects New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers from encroaching urban sprawl and unfair nuisance lawsuits.
 
Senate Bill 72, sponsored by Senator Stuart Ingle (R-Portales), ensures new neighbors cannot sue agricultural producers for being too noisy.
 
Martinez also signed House Bill 270, sponsored by Representative Terry McMillan (R-Las Cruces), which helps resolve the issue of out-of-state doctors being sued in New Mexico courts. Without this legislation, doctors in other states could deny treatment
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Mountain Principal Jennifer Guy’s Surprise Recognition

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Mountain Custodial Caretaker Eileen Jaramillo and Principal Jennifer Guy at Thursday’s surprise recognition event. Jaramillo spoke to Sen. Richard Martinez about Guy’s outstanding professionalism and leadership, which led him to honor her for her efforts. Photo by KayLinda Crawford/ladailypost.com  Read More

Cardin, Delaney, Luján Introduce Resolutions Establishing National Clean Energy Goals

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CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (N.M.-3) and U.S. Rep. John K. Delaney (Md.-6) filed resolutions in the House and Senate affirming the establishment of a national goal of more than 50 percent of America’s electricity production coming from clean and carbon-free electricity sources by 2030 and calling for the enactment of new legislation to achieve this goal.
 
In a show of significant support for this initiative, the “50×30 Resolutions” are cosponsored by 30 Senators and 103
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Heinrich Pushes For New Mexico Priorities In DOE FY 2017 Budget

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D. C. ― During a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the U.S. Department of Energy’s fiscal year 2017 budget request, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich continued to push for Waste Isolated Pilot Plant (WIPP) safety and recovery efforts, a new cleanup schedule at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and technology transfer opportunities.
 
The committee received testimony from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz.
 
During the hearing, Heinrich underscored that the safety of WIPP
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Governor Signs Legislation To Fight Drug Abuse And Overdose Fatalities In New Mexico

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE — Gov. Martinez signed legislation Friday to fight prescription drug abuse and overdose fatalities in New Mexico.
 
“As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact prescription drug abuse has on our families and communities,” Martinez said. “These bills will provide New Mexico with more tools and lifesaving medicine to fight the epidemic of prescription drug abuse and overdose in our communities.”
 
House Bill 277, sponsored by Representative Terry McMillan (R-Las Cruces), and Senate Bill 262, sponsored by Sen. Richard
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Gov. Appoints VanDenzen Chief Hearing Officer

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE — Gov. Martinez has announced the appointment of Brian VanDenzen as chief hearing officer for the Administrative Hearings Office.
 
VanDenzen spent four years in both public and private legal practice, and the last ten years of his career as a tax hearing officer at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Since 2014, he has served as interim chief hearing officer, overseeing both the hearings bureau and the administrative hearings office.
 
As part of the Governor’s continuing efforts to make New Mexico more business friendly, independent
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DOE On Launch Of U.S. – Republic Of Korea High Level Bilateral Commission

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U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yul announced Thursday the launch of the High Level Bilateral Commission (HLBC). 

Republic of Korea Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul

In their roles as HLBC Co-Chairs, Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall and Vice Minister Cho also announced that the first meeting of the HLBC will take place April 14 in Seoul. Deputy Secretary Sherwood-Randall will travel Read More

Governor Signs Legislation To Help Underserved Communities Attract Air Service

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STATE News:
 
ROSWELL — Gov. Martinez signed legislation Wednesday allowing local communities to use lodger’s tax revenue to bring passenger air service to their areas, particularly those that are underserved.
 
Martinez’s announcement comes as American Airlines begins regular passenger service from Roswell’s International Air Center (ROW) to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), which is a major hub for U.S. carriers.
 
House Bill 192, sponsored by Reps. Bob Wooley and Candy Spence Ezzell (both R-Roswell), allows communities to use income
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Udall Fights For New Mexico Priorities In Interior Department Budget

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, helped lead a hearing Wednesday on the president’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Interior.
 
Udall welcomed proposals for increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and mandatory funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program.
 
He also pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on several other issues important
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Governor Martinez Signs Tough DWI Legislation

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STATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Martinez signed Senate Bill 118 Tuesday, which cracks down on the worst repeat DWI offenders and substantially increases penalties for drunk drivers who kill someone on the road.
 
In fact, the new penalty for driving drunk and killing someone will be one of the highest in the region.
 
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes (R-Albuquerque) and Senator George Munoz (D-Gallup), makes it a second-degree felony to be convicted of eight or more DWIs, increasing mandatory sentencing from 2 years to 10 years, with a maximum
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