Politics

Op-Ed: Support Growing For Senate’s Bipartisan Approach To Solving Real ID Compliance

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STATE News:
 
The list of citizens, commerce organizations, lawmakers and some of the governor’s most staunch supporters is growing for the State Senate’s bipartisan solution to become compliant with federal Real ID regulations.
 
Gov. Susana Martinez’s steadfast refusal to put this issue behind us and accept a proposal that can satisfy the citizens of New Mexico must come to an end.
 
Even some of her most ardent supporters, including the Albuquerque Journal and the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, among others, have each publicly supported the Senate’s amended
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House Passes Bill To Preserve Access For New Mexico Residents To Out-Of-State Medical Care

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Rep. Terry McMillan
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― The House of Representatives passed legislation to preserve access to out-of-state medical care for New Mexicans on a vote of 34 to 27. The bill, House Bill 270, is sponsored by Rep. Terry McMillan. 
 
“The uncertainty in New Mexico’s law is jeopardizing medical care for thousands of New Mexicans who rely on out-of-state providers for treatment and services,” McMillan said. “We need this legislation to make the rules clear for out-of-state providers and to ensure that New Mexicans will continue
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Balderas Urges U.S. Senate To Pass HANGUP Act

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Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
NMAG News:
 
SANTA FE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas is urging the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to pass the ‘‘Help Americans Never Get Unwanted Phone Calls Act of 2015’’ or ‘‘HANGUP” Act. 
 
In the letter, Attorney General Balderas and 24 state attorneys general, called on the committee to pass the Act, which repeals a recent amendment to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to allow debt-collection robocalls to consumers’ cell phones.
 
“While New Mexicans need to repay loan obligations
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Annual YMCA Day At The Round House

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Celebrating YMCA Day last Thursday at the State Capitol, front row from left, Los Alamos Teen Center’s Sylvan Argo and Michael Booten, Española YMCA Teen Center’s Benjamin Sandoval and Ben Sandoval. Back row from left, YUSA Government Relations Judy Barrett Miller, YMCA Board President Christina Sierk; Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, YMCA Board Member Eric Vasquez and YUSA’s Cezar Gonzales. Courtesy photo

Michael Booten shares his experience with starting up several programs at the new Los Alamos Teen Center. Courtesy photo

YMCA News:

Thursday, Feb. 4 was declared
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Working Families Denied Tax Credit In HB 229

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Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard

STATE News:

SANTA FE – During Monday’s debate for House Bill 229, a proposal to help working families failed. The Working Families Tax Credit and Capital Gains Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla, would have rolled back the Capital Gains tax breaks and raised the New Mexico Working Families Tax Credit from 10 percent to 17 percent of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

House Democrats argued that trickle-down economics have proven year after year to fall short of promises to build a robust economy. The Working Families Tax Credit was Read More

Udall, Heinrich Welcome President’s Proposal To Fully Fund Land And Water Conservation Fund

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich applauded President Obama’s announcement that he will work to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an innovative conservation program that has helped to preserve public lands, create and expand city parks, and provide access to outdoor recreation across the New Mexico and the nation.
 
Funding through the LWCF has helped conserve special places from the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Bernalillo County to the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks and Rio
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House Education Committee Passes Truancy Bill

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Rep. Jimmie Hall
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Legislation to ensure all New Mexico students make it to class passed the House Education Committee by a vote of 7-5. The bill, HB 240, is sponsored by Rep. Jimmie Hall It would establish programs to prevent truancy, and it would also allow driver’s licenses of habitually truant students to be suspended.
 
“In order to learn, our students need to be in class,” Hall said. “The steps outlined in this bill would help schools identify and assist students before they make skipping class part of their daily routine.” 
 
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Native American Suicide Prevention Bill Passes Panel

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Sen. George K. Muñoz
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Senate Bill 250, sponsored by Sen. George K. Muñoz, passed the Senate Indian and Cultural Affairs Committee.
 
The bill appropriates $150,000 to fund a clearing house Native American suicide prevention which provides culturally appropriate suicide prevention, intervention and post-event assistance statewide to Native American individuals, families and tribes, nations and pueblos.
 
“Although Indian Health Services is legally responsible to provide healthcare to Native Americans,
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House Approves Budget With Increased Funding For Public Safety And Education

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STATE News:

  • Budget funds critical public safety initiatives to protect New Mexicans and enhance early childhood programs

SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed the FY2017 budget on a bipartisan 38-31 vote. The budget is fiscally responsible, while still funding priorities that will keep our communities safe, protect New Mexico’s children and provide students with a quality education.

“We worked hard to secure support for necessary priorities. This budget will fund the initiatives that have been passed this session aimed to protect New Mexico families,” Read More

Udall, Heinrich, Luján Welcome Partnership To Allow Public Access To The Sabinoso Wilderness

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján welcomed a partnership between the Wyss Foundation and the Wilderness Land Trust to open up the Sabinoso Wilderness for public access.
 
Created in 2009 through legislation championed by Udall, Heinirch, Luján and former Senator Jeff Bingaman, the Sabinoso Wilderness is currently surrounded by private land and therefore inaccessible without trespassing on private property.
 
That will soon change thanks
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