Politics

Letter To The Editor: 2016 Legislation/Clearing The Air

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By MARCO V. LUCERO
Los Alamos County Sheriff

This letter is to provide clarification to those who have submitted letters in opposition to SB-203.

First of all I want to make it clear that none of my testimony at our State Capitol is self-serving. The legislation I support and have always supported since my election as your sheriff has been to enhance public safety, protect our children and to better serve our communities as law enforcement officers. If one wants to consider self-motivation for their lobbying, consider the articles written in opposition to SB-203.

Should SB-203 pass, this will Read More

Poll: New Mexico Business Leaders Concerned About Ethical Behavior Of Elected Officials

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CFED News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― A poll of New Mexico business leaders  recently found widespread concern with the history of unethical behavior from New Mexico’s elected officials, the impact that big campaign donors have on state government and how contracts are awarded in the state.
 
They believe that the campaign finance system needs significant reform and voiced support for proposals that increase transparency of lobbying, disclosure of contributions and spending in elections. They also advocate creating an ethics commission
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Capt. Mark Kelly Applauds New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee For Advancing Legislation

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NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly
 
NMSD News:
 
TUCSON, AZ ― Retired Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly, the Co-Founder of Americans for Responsible Solutions, applauded the New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee’s bipartisan vote Tuesday, Feb. 9, to advance Senate Bill 331, which closes loopholes in New Mexico law by requiring the state’s courts to report relevant mental health records to the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
 
New Mexico currently has no law requiring the state to report
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Udall, Heinrich: Tech Transfer Funding To Help NMSU Students Move Innovations To Marketplace

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will invest $368,760 in New Mexico State University’s Next Generation Entrepreneurship (Next Gen) project.
 
The funding will allow NMSU to enhance entrepreneurship programming at its main campus and extend it to the four NMSU community college campuses in Alamogordo, Carlsbad, Grants and Las Cruces. The program provides students who have developed technologies ripe for commercialization with technical
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Chandler And O’Leary Analyze Bills At Legislature

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Los Alamos County Vice Chair Susan O’Leary, left, and retiring Probate Judge Chris Chandler are serving as analysts during the 30 Day Session at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

 

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
When you really need to get something done, give it to a couple of busy people with penchants for public service. Officials did just that when they tapped the expertise of Los Alamos Attorney and Probate Judge Christine Chandler and Los Alamos Council Vice Chair Susan O’Leary.
 
Despite everything on
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AG Recognizes Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month; Offers Trainings To Students Across New Mexico

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

NMAG News:

  • Attorney General’s Community Outreach Division offers trainings to engage students in a constructive dialogue about healthy dating behaviors and the dangers of teen dating violence

SANTA FE – Today, in recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced his office’s continued efforts to educate students across New Mexico about the dangers of teen dating violence and the importance of healthy relationships.

“We want to help break cycles of abuse in our state by equipping young people with the information Read More

House Approves Bipartisan Proposal To Establish An Independent Ethics Commission

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The House of Representatives approved a proposed constitutional amendment to establish an independent state ethics commission. 
 
House Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by Rep. Jim Dines and co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Steinborn, passed on a vote of 50 to 10 Tuesday evening. Passage of this resolution would give New Mexico voters the option to adopt this commission in the next election.  
 
“New Mexico needs an ethics commission that is independent and transparent,” Dines said. “I appreciate the input and guidance
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Udall Disappointed In Unprecedented Supreme Court Decision To Halt Clean Power Plan

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to block the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change:
 
“I’m extremely disappointed in the Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision to halt the administration’s signature effort to fight global warming. The court may have put a stay on the Clean Power Plan, but no one is putting a stay on climate
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House Approves Bill To Fix Prevailing Wage Standards

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Rep. Nora Espinosa
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The House of Representatives passed a bill to exempt public school and road projects from current prevailing wage requirements. The bill, House Bill 200, is sponsored by Rep. Nora Espinosa and passed by a 35 to 32 vote. 
 
“This bill will make more money available in the budget for actual construction costs,” Espinosa said. “It will allow the state and school districts to build more classrooms and miles of highway.” 
 
Last June, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruling ordered the State to set
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New Mexico House Unanimously Passes Protection For CYFD Workers

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 142, Crimes Against CYFD Workers, creating criminal statutes that would make it a crime to assault Children Youth and Family Division workers.
 
House Bill 142, sponsored by Representative Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces), would make the assault against a CYFD worker a full misdemeanor offense and includes offenses such as, assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery and assisting another in committing a battery.
 
“We ask a lot of our CYFD workers, who often times
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