Politics

New Mexico GOP Releases Statement On RNC’s New Data Center Program

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GOP News:

ALBUQUERQUE –– The Republican National Committee is rolling out a new innovative data platform for State Republican Parties and candidates to use across the country.

The Republican Party of New Mexico released the following statement on the new program:

“In partnership with the RNC, Data Center 2016 is crucial to The Republican Party of New Mexico’s data-driven political ground game. With the user-friendly interface, revamped reporting tools, and live support, we can provide Republican campaigns across New Mexico with a comprehensive voter file,” RPNM Executive Read More

Udall On Improving Voter Access For Native Americans

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced he has joined several senators, including Jon Tester, D-Mont., in introducing legislation to increase voter protections and access to the polls for Native Americans.
 
Many Native Americans live in rural communities and are often forced to travel long distances to the closest polling location. According to the National Congress of American Indians, Native American voter turnout was 17 percent less than non-natives in 2012.
 
The Native American Voting Rights Act would expand access to the polls
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Voting Rights Act Turns 50 Thursday – Congress Must Restore Its Protections

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LWVNM News:

Aug. 6 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). This landmark civil rights legislation has protected voters from discrimination for nearly half a century.

The VRA is one of the most significant laws ever passed by Congress and it changed America. But today, the Voting Rights Act does not offer the same protections it did in 1965.  

Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted key provisions of the VRA in its Shelby County v. Holder decision, weakening vital voter protections. Since then Congress has done nothing to repair the damage. Congress currently Read More

Heinrich Secures Key Provisions For New Mexico Labs

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ─ Sen. Martin Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, secured key provisions for New Mexico in the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, a bipartisan energy package that cleared the committee by a vote of 18-4.

Heinrich successfully included in the package a bill he introduced to authorize $50 million to cover the federal share of establishing off-campus microlabs that would serve as the “front-door” to national laboratories, including Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories. Read More

Attorney General To Participate In National Night Out

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STATE News:
 
SANTA FE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas will participate in the 32nd Annual National Night Out, hosted by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, state and local law enforcement agencies.
 
The National Night Out is 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 at Santa Fe Plaza.
 
The National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
 
The agencies also will utilize this opportunity
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Udall In Appropriations Subcommittee: VA Must Restore Accountability, Protect Whistleblowers

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Thursday July 30, during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall continued to press for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to improve care for New Mexico veterans in the wake of the appointment scheduling scandal and unacceptable delay in processing a backlog of benefit claims.
 
Udall questioned two VA whistleblowers about consequences they suffered after coming forward and the need for a strong VA Inspector General (IG).

Last year, Udall

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Luján And Welch Introduce National Renewable Energy And Efficiency Standard Legislation

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U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
 
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
Washington, D.C. ― Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) this week introduced legislation that creates a national renewable energy and energy efficiency standard that will reduce carbon emissions and drive the deployment of clean energy resources around the country.
 
“Promoting the use of renewable energy and increased energy efficiency is not only good for our environment, but it is good for our economy and forconsumers,” Luján said. “A number of
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Udall On 50th Anniversary Of Medicare And Medicaid

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 U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall released the following statement in honor of the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing Medicare and Medicaid into law July 30, 1965: 

“Fifty years ago today, President Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. These landmark programs now help protect the health, well-being and financial security of more than half of New Mexico’s families. They allow children, seniors and people with disabilities to see a doctor when they’re sick, get medicines they need, and access preventive Read More

NSA To Destroy Millions Of American Call Records Collected Under Controversial Program

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NSA bulk collection image. Courtesy photo

HSNW News:

The director of national intelligence said on Monday that the NSA would no longer examine call records collected by the NSA in its controversial bulk collection program before the June reauthorization of the Patriot Act which prohibits such collection.

Bulk records are typically kept for five years, but the director said that although the records in the NSA database were collected lawfully, they would not be examined, and would soon be destroyed.

The Obama administration has announced that the NSA will soon stop examining, and soon Read More

NPS And DOE Seek Public Input On Manhattan Project National Historical Park Draft Memo Of Agreement

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NPS News:

Washington, D.C. — The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Energy are inviting the public to review and comment on the Draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the National Park Service and the Department of Energy (DOE) that will guide the operation of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act established the Manhattan Project National Historical Park and required the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy to create a Memorandum of Agreement for the park by Dec. 19, 2015. 

Once signed, Read More