Politics

AG Announces Completion of Internal Review Of Pending Litigation Involving Outside Counsel

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

STATE News:

  • AG confident that pending cases can move forward as meritorious

SANTA FE — Today New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced the completion of an office-wide review of all pending litigation involving outside counsel.

Moving forward, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is committed to utilizing a set of best practices to ensure the Office takes on only meritorious cases that are in the best interest of New Mexicans, as stated in today’s news release.

“As Attorney General, I am committed to operating an open and transparent Read More

Española Students Present Inventions At Annual White House Science Fair

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President Obama with students at the annual Science Fair at the White House. Courtesy photo

Española students with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. Courtesy photo

JRES News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Last Monday a sixth grade team from James Rodriguez Elementary School (JRES) in Española were part of an exclusive group of 100 elementary, middle and high school students from throughout the nation invited to present their inventions to President Obama at the annual White House Science Fair.

The 2015 Science Fair highlighted the importance of encouraging more women and minorities in science, Read More

U.S. Energy Secretary Moniz Addresses Mexico’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets

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DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

Energy Secretary Moniz issued the following statement on Mexico’s greenhouse gas emissions targets:

“We warmly welcome the announcement by the Government of Mexico on new greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The commitment Mexico has made today sends a strong signal of Mexico’s determination to do its share in helping the world reduce emissions globally; it stands as an example for countries around the world to follow as they undertake ambitious goals to combat climate change as we all prepare for the upcoming COP21 meetings in Paris this Read More

Heinrich Introduces Budget Amendment To Protect America’s Treasured Public Lands

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. introduced an amendment to the Senate’s budget resolution that would protect America’s parks and public lands, including national forests, wildlife refuges, and conservation lands, from being sold off as a deficit reduction tactic.

The amendment is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

“Selling off America’s treasured lands to the highest bidder would result in a proliferation of locked gates and no-trespassing Read More

New Mexico Delegation Responds To Report By WIPP Technical Assessment Team

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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Steve Pearce and Ben Ray Luján issued the following joint statement on the report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Technical Assessment Team, analyzing the scientific cause of the drum failure that led to the Feb. 14, 2014, radiological incident at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). 

“Today’s report answers some of the questions about what led to the radiological release at WIPP on Feb. 14, 2014. We thank the scientists, including Read More

DPS Reorganization Act Signed Into Law

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DPS Cabinet Secretary Greg Fouratt

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez has signed into law Senate Bill 95, the Department of Public Safety Reorganization Act.

This landmark bill represents the first statutory reorganization of the New Mexico State Police Division (DPS) in its 28-year history and takes effect July 1, 2015. This bill enjoyed widespread legislative support, having passed the Senate 31-9 and the House 54-1.

The primary effect of this bill is the merger of all three DPS law enforcement entities into the DPS:

  • New Mexico State Police;
  • Motor Transportation Police Department
Read More

Rep. Garcia Richard’s Legislative Session Recap

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By Dist. 43 Rep. STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD
Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Sandoval
 

As Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “You may delay, but time will not,” and as we learned this legislative session, delaying critical votes has left New Mexico in a state of confusion and panic. 

 
For three years, I have served on House Appropriations and am proud of the bipartisan work we have accomplished to deliver New Mexicans a balanced and fair budget and comprehensive capital improvement legislation. 
 
In those three years, I have never once seen a move as destructive
Read More

DOE Offers Conditional Commitment To Alcoa To Support Making Aluminum For Automotive Sector

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DOE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of the Administration’s effort to support advanced vehicles that are more affordable for Americans to drive, strengthen U.S. leadership in manufacturing advanced vehicle technologies, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased fuel efficiency, the Department of Energy has announced a conditional commitment for a $259 million loan to Alcoa Inc.
 
This conditional commitment is the first issued by the Department under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program since Secretary Moniz announced a number
Read More

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall Leads Effort To Keep Dark Money Out Of Elections

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the Senate debating amendments to this year’s proposed budget resolution, Republicans voted against an amendment offered by Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M. and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. aimed at making it more difficult for corporations and billionaires to secretly influence federal elections through unlimited and undisclosed campaign expenditures – so-called “dark money.”

Their amendment would have facilitated passage of legislation that promotes transparency in political spending and prevents big corporate and wealthy donors from evading Read More

Five-Year Plan Released To Protect Antibiotics

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Courtesy image

NMPIRG News:

  • Some Good, Some Bad in Obama Administration Plan to Protect Antibiotics … Plan fails to adequately address growing public health threat

The New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG) reports that the National Task Force for Combatting Resistant Bacteria released a five-year action plan today to tackle the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

While the plan takes several important steps necessary to control the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it misses the opportunity to call for critical reforms in the agricultural sector that Read More