Politics

House To Begin Archiving Webcasts

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Rep. Jeff Steinborn
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico House of Representatives has passed legislation changing its rules to require that it begin archiving its webcasts of committee meetings during the next legislative session.
 
The rule change House Resolution 1, introduced by Representative Jeff Steinborn (Las Cruces), requires that the House begin archiving its committee meetings beginning next legislative session. This is the 3rd year Steinborn has introduced the archiving legislation.
 
“This is a huge step
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Governor Appoints Stephen French To New Mexico Court Of Appeals

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez has announced the appointment of Stephen French to the New Mexico Court of Appeals, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cynthia Fry.
 
French brings a combined 35 years of public and private-sector legal experience to the Court. 

French served as assistant district attorney for the Second Judicial District from 1980 to 1981. Afterward, he went on to become a founding partner at Walz & French from 1982 to 1990. From 1990 to 1993, he served as legal bureau chief for the State of New Mexico

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AG Balderas: Murderer Who Stabbed Ex-Girlfriend 90 Times Will Stay In Prison

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NMSC News:
 
SANTA FE ― This week, the New Mexico Supreme Court agreed with arguments by the Office of the Attorney General and issued an opinion affirming the first-degree murder conviction of violent repeat offender Dorall Smith.
 
The victim was Smith’s ex-girlfriend. Smith had a threatening confrontation with the victim the day before the murder and repeatedly called and texted her the night of the murder. Her body was then discovered the next morning at her Albuquerque apartment. She had been stabbed approximately 90 times in a prolonged and
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DOE Cites LANS For Health And Safety Violations Related To WIPP

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DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Preliminary Notice of Violation (PNOV) to Nuclear Waste Partnership, LLC (NWP) for violations of DOE worker safety and health and nuclear safety requirements.

Concurrently, DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issued a PNOV to Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) for violations of DOE’s nuclear safety requirements.  Issuance of these PNOVs marks the completion of DOE’s investigations and enforcement process regarding two events in 2014 at DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Read More

Delegation Calls For Probe Into NM HSD Suspending Medicaid Payments To Behavioral Health Providers

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Update: Response from Kyler Nerison, HSD spokesman:

“This is nothing more than the same partisan stunt orchestrated by the same Washington politicians more than a year ago. The Feds have extensively reviewed this matter and found that the state acted in accordance with the anti-fraud regulations put in place by the Affordable Care Act. 

The companies in question overbilled the state millions of dollars in Medicaid funding that should have been used to help those in need. That’s a fact, and we’ve already collected more than $4 million on behalf of taxpayers. The Attorney Read More

DOE Secretary Says WIPP Will Reopen In 2016

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Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS) has announced that U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz recently said the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) would again dispose of plutonium-contaminated nuclear weapons waste in the deep geologic dump by the end of 2016.

WIPP has been shut down for two years following a truck fire and radiation release that contaminated 22 workers and the underground facility. Moniz made his remarks on February 9th when the Obama Administration released its proposed fiscal year 2017 budget, which includes $266 million for WIPP. Read More

Analysis Of Law; Policy Governing Office Of Sheriff

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By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos Attorney

I will give you my best analysis of the law and policy considerations governing the existence and duties of the office of Sheriff of Los Alamos County and its relationship to the Police Department, and how these are affected by legislation pending in the New Mexico Legislature. 

I will make informal citations to the constitution and statutes of the State of New Mexico, The charter and a resolution of Los Alamos County, and two pending proposed constitutional amendments. The analysis is straightforward; however there are a number of authorities that Read More

Labor Leaders And Workers Weigh In On 2016 Legislative Victories And Losses

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LABOR News:

SANTA FE – As the 2016 legislative session comes to a close, New Mexico’s labor leaders and workers offer their perspective on the 30-day session.

Maxine Velasquez, Secretary-Treasurer, New Mexico Federation of Labor: “This year’s session was bittersweet for working people in New Mexico. While attempts from the new conservative majority in the House to roll back wages and benefits were defeated, much needed conversations about how we create Main Street jobs were pushed aside to make room for grandstanding by those pushing an ‘all crime, all the time’ Read More

Legislature Passes Veterans Tuition Assistance Guarantee Act

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Tuesday Feb. 16, the New Mexico Legislature passed the Veterans Assistance Guarantee Act with unanimous support.
 
The Veterans Tuition Assistance Guarantee changes the language of the definition of “veteran” in state statute to ensure that veterans are not denied tuition assistance in New Mexico. House Bill 17 strikes “New Mexico resident” and “citizen” from the definition of “veteran” and inserts “person” in NMSA 1978 9-22-3.
 
“I am honored to have the opportunity to ensure that we keep our promise to our Veterans,” said Representative
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Sen. Sanchez Issues Statement On Senate Democrats Accomplishments Of 2016 Session

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Sen. Michael Sanchez

By Sen. Michael Sanchez
Democratic Majority Leader

During the 2016 Legislative Session, Senate Democrats worked – frequently in a bipartisan way – to do what is best for the people, while being fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ dollars.

We joined with Senate Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation that finally makes our driver’s licenses compliant with tougher federal REAL ID requirements. Our bill keeps our roads safe and supports the needs of law enforcement, while giving U.S. citizens the choice to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license, or a driving authorization Read More