Politics

Attorney General Warns New Mexicans About ‘Making Home Affordable’ Program

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STATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Last week, Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a scam alert to warn New Mexicans about a dangerous new scam preying on New Mexicans who are having trouble paying their mortgages.
 
“Do not pay Ocwen mortgage payments by Moneygram in response to ‘Making Home Affordable’ offer letters or calls,” Balderas said. “This is a scam and if you receive one of these letters or calls please contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General at 505.222.9100.”
 
Details about the scam:
  • The Attorney
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Udall, Heinrich Welcome Passage Of New Law To Foster Innovation, Increase Competitiveness Of U.S. Space Industry

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich praised passage of the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act to modernize commercial space regulations and encourage competitiveness in the industry.

Udall and Heinrich are longtime champions of modernizing U.S. policies governing commercial spaceflight. The bill, which President Obama signed last week, provides an essential legal framework that will enable New Mexico’s commercial spaceflight industry to grow in the years ahead. 

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

The new law will Read More

IBEW President On Push To Abolish Cadillac Tax

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IBEW News:
 
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Lonnie R. Stephenson issued the following statement regarding bipartisan efforts to repeal the Cadillac Tax:
 
“I applaud the more than 300 members of Congress from both parties who added their names to legislation that would repeal the so-called Cadillac Tax, which is burdening employers and employees alike with increased health care costs.
 
“This tax unfairly punishes companies that did the right thing by offering comprehensive health plans, while squeezing the budgets of working families, many
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Heinrich Continues Call For Wildfire Budget Fix

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
 
SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― During a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) underscored the need to increase wildfire suppression efforts and continued his call for wildfire funding reform.
 
The hearing focused on a review of previous wildfire seasons to inform and improve future federal wildland fire management strategies.
 
The committee heard testimony from U.S. Government Accountability Office Director for Natural Resources and Environment
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Udall Responds To Senate Resolutions Opposing Steps To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall voted against two resolutions expressing Congress’ opposition to steps the administration has taken to reduce global warming-causing greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
Earlier in the day, he delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the pending resolutions, which express disapproval of the administration’s Clean Power Plan and its regulations of new and existing power plants.
 
Udall urged Congress to work together to develop a diverse energy portfolio and a comprehensive climate
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Governor Unveils Series Of Powerful TV Ads To Fight Drunk Driving

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STATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Susana Martinez unveiled a series of powerful TV ads to fight drunk driving on the state’s roads and highways.
 
These new ads feature New Mexico State Police officers sharing their personal stories of coming face-to-face with the real and horrible consequences of drunk driving, witnessing the devastating fatal crashes and having to inform families that their loved ones have been killed.
 
To view these new ads, visit here.
 
“Our police officers are often the first on the scene. They see firsthand — with their own two
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Udall Introduces Updated Bill To Expand DOE Tech Transfer, Build NM’s Economy

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall unveiled his updated bill to streamline the process for moving cutting-edge research and development from our national labs into the marketplace.
 
Udall has championed technology transfer as a way to advance high-tech industries and create jobs in New Mexico.
 
While Udall has successfully pushed the Department of Energy (DOE) to improve tech transfer, there is still much work to do.
 
The Accelerating Technology Transfer to Advance Innovation for the Nation (ATTAIN) Act will cut bureaucracy and
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Martinez Announces $1 Million Expansion Of CYFD’s Family Support Worker Program

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STATE News:
 
LOS LUNAS — Gov. Susana Martinez has announced a $1 million expansion of the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) Family Support Worker program, which she initiated as a pilot program in Bernalillo County in April of 2014.
 
The program will now serve six New Mexico counties and provides specifically high-risk families with service and support aimed at preventing child maltreatment. 
 
Martinez also urged legislators to enact stiffer penalties for those who assault child abuse caseworkers in New Mexico.
 
“Expanding the number
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Heinrich Urges President To Work With Bipartisan Group To Protect Working Americans From Cadillac Tax

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sens. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and U.S. Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) in sending a letter to President Barack Obama requesting a bipartisan, bicameral meeting to discuss a plan to eliminate the “Cadillac Tax,” a 40 percent excise tax on health insurance plans set to take effect in 2018.

Heinrich and Heller introduced bipartisan legislation last month to fully repeal the onerous tax.

 
“If
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MADD, Senator Udall, Sheriff Gonzales Remind New Mexicans Drive To Sober Or Get Pulled Over

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STATE News:

  • DWI-related deaths spike from Thanksgiving through New Year’s

ALBUQUERQUE – Mothers Against Drunk Driving New Mexico (MADD) have teamed up with U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales to kick off the 2015 holiday season anti-drunken driving campaign.

The holidays are a particularly deadly time of year on the roads, with DWI-related crashes and deaths spiking from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. MADD, Udall and Gonzales are reminding New Mexicans to plan ahead this holiday season and designate a non-drinking driver to get them home safely from holiday Read More